Thread: Which cricketers did you admire when you were a nipper?

I grew up watching the Lancashire team of the mid 80s/early 90s and they were a great one-day team, so it's difficult to pick one, but Neil Fairbrother would probably be that man. I thought he was a really intelligent cricketer at a time when Lancy were blessed with very good batsmen. Ian Austin was another who you couldn't fail to like. Obviously, for England, Botham and Atherton stand out.

On the world stage it was Javed Miandad and Richie Richardson. When we were playing cricket in the park, I'd generally choose to be one of these two when batting.

Didn't quite have the style of either though.

Pretty much the entire West Indian teams of one era. Names like Supercat, Big Bird, Haynes, I.V.A Richards, Marshall, Holding, Roberts, Dujon, and so on. They were on a different level to every else, even as a kid that was plain to see.

Originally Posted by Headworx

Pretty much the entire West Indian teams of one era. Names like Supercat, Big Bird, Haynes, I.V.A Richards, Marshall, Holding, Roberts, Dujon, and so on. They were on a different level to every else, even as a kid that was plain to see.

I was a little later: Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.

Forgot to mention the Waugh brothers in my original post. What players they were. Dean Jones was another I really liked in the early Aussie sides that went on to dominate.

Brought up in County Durham which was only a Minor county in my youth. Yorkshire was the enemy, so I looked to England for my heroes - Ken Barrington & Fred Titmus.

I used masses of cricket scorecards to play my fantasy cricket games using 'Owthat'.
Simpler times but great fun

Richard Hadlee and then I along with every other Kiwi kid went through a Lance Cairns phase (complete with reproduction sloped-shoulder 'Excalibur' bat).

Doug Walters was my hero during my youth.

https://www.google.com/search?q=doug...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Richard Hadlee and then I along with every other Kiwi kid went through a Lance Cairns phase (complete with reproduction sloped-shoulder 'Excalibur' bat).

Caught the tail-end of Hadlee's career. NZ always produce top players no matter their supposed standing in the rankings.

Originally Posted by Happy As Larry

- Ken Barrington & Fred Titmus.

Fucking hell, its Fred Titmus, great song by half man half biscuit

Viv, innit
guy was the epitome of cool

Was cricket mad as a kid. As an aspiring fast bowler, I liked to watch the Windies' Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Ambrose, Walsh, etc. Also liked a few of the English 'maverick' bowlers like John Snow, and Freddie Trueman, a bit before my time but his read his autobiog more than a few times. -Should have played a lot more for England, but upset the MCC snobs at the time with his outspoken personality and general Yorkshire-ness.

In the early 70s loved Lillee, Thompson and Max Walker. In more recent times enjoyed watching Mitchell Johnson when on song, super fast, accurate and some swing. Only watch the occasional test match session now. Gave up on one day cricket and have never seen a ball of Twenty 20.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Richard Hadlee

Met him once, sitting in a full cafe at Cairns airport and he politely asked if he could use the spare seat at my 2 person table. He'd been there fishing and that's what we spoke about over our coffees, he was clearly passionate about it that sport too and he'd had some luck on his trip. Nice guy.

Gordon Greenage
Desmond Haines
Sachin Tendulka
Steve Smith
Viv Richards
Ian Botham
Adam Gilchrist
Richard Hadlee
Dennis Lillee
Shane Warne
Michael Holding
Jonty Rhodes 12 th man.

My best ever side who I have seen play live.

Can only think of one and I had to look him up.

Freddy Trueman.

Originally Posted by kmart

Freddie Trueman, a bit before my time but his read his autobiog more than a few times.

I don't remember seeing him play (lost to the memory) and to be honest when I think of him now I can only think of him hosting The Indoor League at lunchtimes on Yorkshire TV where teams from local pubs would compete in various pub sports. He would stand in front of the camera holding his pint long before that twat Farage thought of it.

Trueman's daughter was briefly married to Raquel Welch's son/ That should have been some reception.

The marriage only lasted around 2 years. Trueman was quoted as saying "My run up lasted longer"

As for cricket books, apart from Wisdens ( I loved scouring the county statistics) I only ever read the one by Keith Miller. I always tried to put it to practice his tips and hints on how to bat and bowl when down the nets (with very very little success)

Barry Richards the great SA batsman,watched him play a few times.
Up there with the best I have seen.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

Lillee, Thompson and Max Walker

Yup . . . the first two ripping through the opposition and then Maxi waxing lyrical about it.

Lived down the road from Tony Greig in Sydney ("looks like a cricket bat with holes", he was a wanker) and went to Uni with Geoff Lawson, though he was a few years ahead of me

And then there's Merv . . .

Originally Posted by panama hat

And then there's Merv . . .

Great Merv Hughes and Javed Miandad story here:

Hard to argue with that lineup.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Gordon Greenage
Desmond Haines
Sachin Tendulka
Steve Smith
Viv Richards
Ian Botham
Adam Gilchrist
Richard Hadlee
Dennis Lillee
Shane Warne
Michael Holding
Jonty Rhodes 12 th man.

My best ever side who I have seen play live.

Shit, I'd forgotten about Merv. Funniest cricket story I've ever read involved him farting. Only saw him once. It was at the SCG and he was on the comeback from injury. He played for NSW, yes NSW, in a one day game. Was side on to the pitch and couldn't believe his pace. I once faced an over in the nets in 1977 from Geoff Lawson at UNSW. He missed the stumps and mercifully me as well. I never saw a single ball, heard them coming and going past, but never saw them.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Yup . . . the first two ripping through the opposition and then Maxi waxing lyrical about it.

Lived down the road from Tony Greig in Sydney ("looks like a cricket bat with holes", he was a wanker) and went to Uni with Geoff Lawson, though he was a few years ahead of me

And then there's Merv . . .

Originally Posted by Headworx

Met him once, sitting in a full cafe at Cairns airport and he politely asked if he could use the spare seat at my 2 person table. He'd been there fishing and that's what we spoke about over our coffees, he was clearly passionate about it that sport too and he'd had some luck on his trip. Nice guy.

Nice one, nearest I got was simply seeing him at a coaching clinic when I was a nipper.

Originally Posted by BoganInParasite

Shit, I'd forgotten about Merv.

Me too -- I'd add him to my list.

Used to know a guy here (RIP) who worked with him to develop and introduce that gawdawful aluminum bat back in the day.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Used to know a guy here (RIP) who worked with him to develop and introduce that gawdawful aluminum bat back in the day.

I thought that was Dennis Lillee who introduced the aluminium bat?

Oh right you are, my bad.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I thought that was Dennis Lillee who introduced the aluminium bat?

Dennis Lillee turned up at a Chiang Mai Sixes tourney back in the mid 90's. Terrific bloke, and liked a few beers after a day's play. Legend has it that someone set him up with a ladyboy one evening, and he legged it immediately afterwards.

Originally Posted by kmart

Dennis Lillee turned up at a Chiang Mai Sixes tourney back in the mid 90's. Terrific bloke, and liked a few beers after a day's play.

I met the great man in the Top Ten Club in Singapore.

Yes he likes a few beers and is a favourite with the Air Hostesses.

On his way back to Perth after a coaching job in India.

Great bloke and an amazing bowler.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Great Merv Hughes and Javed Miandad story here:

The busdriver 'incident' . . . love it . . . and here's Big Merv up first on the 12th man