The Housecast Dream Team - Episode 1

We've been talking for ages about the concept of the Housecast Dream teamm so here it is. Picking the best Lowerhouse XI.

Here are the rules:

- Pick your best 11 who have played over 30 games in the last 50 years.

- 10 amateurs.

- 1 professional.

Stan wanted a team per decade, but we don't have all year. We've had some great submissions from our loyal listeners and some sent in from ringers... wink, wink, Hopey.

Part 1, we talk through batters and the keeper. It gets slightly heated.

Part 2 to come later.

Enjoy

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
What have you had for your tea, dude?
Chicken Kiev, new potatoes, broccoli, sweet corn very.
Nice. 2 veg 3 veg Sorry. For a Monday.
Yeah. What are you?
What is that? I've had some salmon with some.
What's yours, Gaz? I had some anyway quarter
chicken sort of chocolate when we start stir fried veg and rice

(00:21):
that's. Why?
We're all doing really well. We'll go to Joe Martin, see what
we. I made some.
We had some Mexican chicken, some pita breads and like a PETA
tomato or salad. OK, Gavil have had McDonald's on
it. No Gavil have had chilli I bet.
I bet Gav's had chilli. Has chilli a lot.
It's a solid. Fish.

(00:41):
I like chilli. What would you have when you put
cheese on it dude? Cheese no.
No sour cream. Yeah, yeah, I've.
Got it. You look disappointed by that
suggestion. No, no, no, no, no.
Is it? Is it cheese in general or?
Oh no, biggest cheese fan on it just now.

(01:04):
We're chilling. No, that really is cheese mate.
Really is cheese. Yeah, just have to have it
straight, don't you? It's the house cast dream team,
the Kings of the West End. From Higgy to Blairs, their

(01:27):
legacy won't end. Stan wanted more than 50 years,
but it's not up to him. So who's in your team?
Who is out? Who is in?
Hello everybody and welcome to the House Cast Law House Cricket

(01:48):
Clubs podcast. With Midwinter, they don't
really matter what date we're on, but with Midwinter we're
getting towards the end of November and the five of us have
come up with a plan to pick who we feel is the best low house
side none of all time going backthe last 50 years.
So they must have played in the last 50 years.

(02:09):
So that's the topic for the nextcouple of podcasts.
So without further ado, we'll just go around the the team who
are going to be carrying out this task.
First of all, Gav, welcome Gav. I'll be you're 20 minutes late.
Sorry about that. Generally, how are we all?
You're all right. Yeah, yeah, good.
Thanks. We've we've just had a real

(02:30):
catch up all about our tea and what we've been up to whilst
you've been taking forever to get to to get out your paint.
What if you have for your tea, Gav?
Lasagna. Very sorry A.
Sweepstake and everyone send youthe back chiller.
Half and half got whack. A good chilly, but lasagna?
Hang on. That's good.

(02:51):
Everything all right, Gav? Yeah, really good mate.
Good. The SO that's host #2.
Or or vote. #2 let's call it forthe for the team vote #3 is Joe
Martin. Hi, Jeremy, are you OK?
Yeah, fine. Thanks.
Yeah, we went off then. That's why I'm going.

(03:14):
Joe, I see you're in the Joe Martin suite.
Is it? What is it cold?
No, it's warm. The radiator's on.
I think it's just making sure the pipes don't freeze up.
I don't think you need full heating on to make the pipes not
freeze up is there no no one that cares about the energy I'm.

(03:37):
Not in charge of it. It's all it's all done from the
clubhouse. Why are you parked?
Up there, that's where the clubhouse is.
For the record, that's not. Convincing you, certainly
warming the pipes just happens to be on the same night that
you're in the club. That's coincidence.
I've got nothing to do with it. I assume that it's due to.

(03:58):
I assume that it's due to the temperature dropping before
below a certain level it comes on automatically.
Wasting money anyway, Joe, thanks very much.
You're still out to doing bits of running.
There's a little bit of snow tonight, so be careful when you
get out. Yeah, I'll be all right.
Yeah, still out most days. That's every day.
That's good. So let's go to the vote #4 Joe

(04:23):
Beneducci. Now you've got a significant
role because you're still involved with the players.
Duke James, how are you going on, first of all?
How we decided the running orderfor these for these voters.
An important. OK, fair enough.
Reverse order what? So let's have a little chat.

(04:46):
About your glasses. The bonfire.
How did that go? Oh.
Great, Yeah, yeah, excellent. Great team effort from from
everybody involved. Really good.
Good to see so many people from the club getting involved,
particularly those that, you know, live close by.
It's good that people can, you know, come down and give us a
Chuck up whether it's during theweek or on the night itself.

(05:07):
It's it's good. Yeah, I mean, I've, I did liaise
with Stan a few times and he said that, you know, the
building the vampire went on, there were a lot of people then
helping with that and then, you know, the night before and, you
know, you're actually on the night.
You know, it was amazed. Some people travel some distance
as well. Didn't they do?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. People put a real, a real shift

(05:27):
in, make a real effort. It's good to see.
Joe Martin, I believe you were doing all the photography that
and and a little bit of securityin a lot of building.
That must be some time. I did.
I took two days off work. Yeah, to to come and help.
I'm not trying to. That's what happened.
I'm not trying facts. No.
Brilliant. That's so so Gavoi, have you got
your blisters gone, Gav from really heavily you did.

(05:49):
Yeah, yeah. All right.
This year, Jess. Yeah, I think, I think the
bodies found become attuned to building it.
So. So yeah, I'm just a lean, mean
bonfire building machine. Right.
What days did you go down? So you're cracking up there,
Jess. Sorry, can you say that again?

(06:10):
Sorry, just. But I'll say it again for the
listeners, Gav lives within 100 metres and didn't turn at once.
And we we had a good earlier why?
And we came to the conclusion you're a lazy bastard.
Yeah. Oh yeah.
How long did that take you to get to you?
Not long enough. Jesus wept.
For the record, Gav, I said thatyou're very busy, chap.

(06:31):
Thank you. Thank you.
Thanks Gav. Thanks and sorry we but you were
late. We're all.
No problem, Jeremy, No problem. That's why you get the stick.
And then to the fifth and final voter, Gary Moore outside.
Gaz looks like Gary's having a few issues.

(06:53):
It looks like he's got a condom on his head.
It's tremendous you're. Doing that on purpose.
So I think Gary's having technical by the looks of it.

(07:14):
Don't worry, we can edit this. No, don't it all.
Looks so well. That's such a game that we call
that the the the listeners won't.
We have to see it. We get a video of it, you know
the recorded video. I'm getting a clip of the
picture as well and. Yeah.
So Gary will probably be able tohear as not being able to to

(07:37):
transmit. So let's just start on how this
is going to work. We've all got the same brief,
all the five individuals on here.
We thought about having X amountof batters, X amount of bowlers
etcetera, etcetera. But we've Pooh poohed that what
we are going to pick by the end of these debates, which

(07:58):
hopefully don't take too long but hopefully generates really
good discussions, are 10 amateurs who've played cricket
in the last 50 years for low, high, more than 30 games in a
relatively sensible batting order.
For example, we're not going to pick 10 battles, 10 bowlers.
Obviously one of those amateurs has to be a wicket keeper and

(08:21):
then we will pick a professionalbetween us very quickly.
We'll start off and I'm sure there will be the the odd
individual that we hope picked that would fall into the team.
We will then start to debate andwe are aiming for a unanimous
vote on each position. If that doesn't occur and we
can't agree and we will have strong discussions about this

(08:44):
and try and persuade each other,almost like a jury try and
persuade each other as to why our particular selection should
be in and not the other persons who's voting and ultimately get
to what a team that we all agreeon.
It's worth mentioning now we've had lots and lots of teams come
in from the supporters and the listeners and I think Joe

(09:06):
Martin, you've been collecting those.
Can you just give us an update as to how that's gone?
Excellent. Really, what's what's that?
How many we had in. Over 100.
Wow. Brilliant.
That is fantastic. That is absolutely brilliant.
And I mean I've seen quite a few, I think some have been on
open source, EG on on X or Twitter and some on Facebook and

(09:29):
some have gone straight onto thewebsite.
Are you? I mean I've seen a pattern
around it. Are you seeing much of A
pattern, Joe? Yes, I think in in some cases
there has been some corruption in how the teams have have been
put forward. Wow, that's a strong alligator.
Which is a golden, which is a whole.

(09:50):
Claim, isn't it? You what?
Sorry, John. Possibly.
Yeah. Yeah, let's go with that.
Yeah. Slanderous that I think in it,
yeah. Yeah.
We've haven't slandered anybody.So we've had.
Not yet, anyway. So we've had the the teams come
in from far and wide. I think it's fair to say you
know any, any names so that we can drop in and thank them for

(10:12):
submitting the teams. Yeah, we've had quite a few.
So we've had wheel driver centreteam in Francois, centre team in
Chippy, centre team in Dave Gardner, centre team in.
So there's been. There's been loads all four of
those. He did send one in, but he only
picked 10 players. For the listeners, you know,

(10:37):
this is a bit of fun. We're not here to cause mass
riots as to why he's not been picked or why he's not been
picked. We are aware that the groundsman
stroke cricket chair is not happy beyond 50 years.
But you know, even I'm starting to remember much beyond 50 years
now, Stan might be able to remember a little bit further,

(10:58):
but with those are the rules, listeners, those are the rules.
So we cannot go outside of that,that remit, Stan.
Stan actually argued, Jess, thatwe should do it decade by decade
because the cricket was so different.
He's got too much time on his hands.
Hello, Gary's back. Brilliant, Gaz.
So Gaz, welcome. You're the 5th voter.

(11:20):
We'll give you an opportunity now that you've got your
technical equipment in order. Excellent.
Are you doing all right, Sir? What's your thoughts around this
initiative that we've got going?It's.
Me thoughts. Yeah, I'm all right.
Jess. Thoughts around this?
Yes. It's been tricky trying to
anticipate various conversationsand debates.

(11:41):
We might have all the things that you've just said about
different eras, different when the league was different,
different conditions, different rules, match match rules,
etcetera. Nobody's going to be happy, are
they? Everybody will have an opinion
so. Yeah, looking forward to it.
Yeah, it will. It will be good.
And I think it's worth mentioning now as well, we did

(12:04):
think about, you know, whether we set criteria for it's got to
be talent based or it's got to be loyalty based or you know,
it's just got to be who's who's my friend, I'm going to pick him
type of thing. And we've not set anything.
We've just left it to the individuals who are on this
call, the five of us. So our ultimate aim, if we

(12:26):
manage this, I'm not really sure, but what we're aiming to
do is having maybe two or three episodes where we discuss the
team and we get to a final 11. It will be fantastic.
If we could then have the final podcast live, I'm not sure we
could. What's the word?

(12:48):
Not record. We could air it live because of
some inappropriate language. But we'd like to do it maybe
down at the Cricket Club if we could manage it on the Christmas
drink or at another time and invite a few people to come and
listen. But that's a way off yet.
So let's let's wait and see. So let's go through and have a
look at opening bats or batters.Who would be batting in the top

(13:11):
four who could open? But maybe he's opened all the
career, but we can't leave them actually lasted and four.
So I'll start with a few wild cards I've got up to, you know,
these are top four or five batters.
I think I've got about 12 listeddown here.
A few wild cards I'll throw out there.
So I want to encourage the the other voters to come back with

(13:32):
with further ones. These are not particular people
I'm going to vote for, but Stephen G, you know, outstanding
player, obviously could bowl as well.
Went on throwing elsewhere. He's one I've, you know, I've
looked at and I'm considering. And then you've got Johnny
Whitehead, you know, and Stan and Nicka.
So Joe Martin, can you throw anyof your considerations out as

(13:55):
well? Yeah, I've I had a group of 6 to
open the batting. You've already listed a couple
with Stan and Johnny that were on my list and Nikki, but the
others that I had in there were Ben Heap, current captain, you
know, second highest run score. And now I think in the pub I had

(14:17):
Vishal Tripathi because he's outstanding, fantastic batter
and Piggy because he opened batting.
His numbers are very good, very high and was a, you know,
legendary figure at the cricket.They were my selections that
were all. All fair shapes, all fair

(14:38):
shapes, Dukes, any you know, obviously Joe and I have
mentioned two or three there whowere going to be right up there
and then a few wild cards. Any you know who are you
thinking is going to be in the mix towards the end and then any
other wild cards that you thought of I.
Ain't got any other wild cards but my, my list of five have
been, you know, covered there byyours and yours and yours

(15:00):
shouts. I started with five and then got
to three fairly quickly and thenstruggled, struggled from 3:00
to 2:00, but I've eventually gotthere.
I have to say I didn't struggle a bit from 3:00 to 2:00, but I
would say that Ben was one of the first names I wrote down.
So you've, you've gone there Dutch and you're working it all

(15:21):
at yourself and you are now thatis going to be your your set on
those two opening batters that you've obviously been won and
you're set on that. Brilliant.
No, that's I like, I like to. That's a good starting point for
us to discuss. Gav, what about yourself around
the opening bats? Forgive me, did anyone throw
finching to the potential opening birth?

(15:44):
Nobody mentioned Gav. Well, you see, I, I, I think, I
think he's up there for the debate opening the batting, you
know, but again, as, as what will probably become apparent
throughout the couple of episodes, you know, the, the
same names are going to crop up.But I did quite similar to what
Benny's done. You know, I've, I've looked at

(16:06):
each position in the order, whether it be batting or middle
order or all rounders. And then, and I've actually,
I've actually got down to my 11.So, so I've actually drilled
down there and I've done that since over the last couple of
weeks. So, so Ben is one of my opening,
opening partners. Sorry, one of my opening

(16:27):
batters. Really.
I agree with Benny, I think, I think you know.
But anyway, anyway, we'll get tothat.
But Ben is definitely in my one of my own.
Yeah. And I think this is a really
good place to because we can develop it from there and
hopefully keep keep going through the individuals and
decide on. And you look at Ben, I mean,
Adam, Adam's pulled a spreadsheet together and it's a

(16:49):
continuing updated spreadsheet, you know, game by game, year by
year, which is really useful forus.
And you look at Ben 8 times and 558 rooms.
And that's just league runs. You know, it's phenomenal. 26.41
has have any of the others? Well, let me go to Gary first.
Gary, we opening bats give us, Iknow you've had a few issues

(17:11):
there, but I think you're hearing us.
What's your opening bats thoughts?
And is there any wild cards you want to throw in?
Gary's Gary's happy. A bit like you, Jess.
I had a bit like you, Jess and Steve G in the mix.

(17:31):
Johnny Vishal again, Stan, Ben, of course.
So yeah, I don't think anything different to what you guys were
already thrown in. Right.
So that's. We mentioned standers.
Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, I thought you. Did I mean the other thing on
Ben is that yes, he scored an anincredible amount of runs, but

(17:53):
he also always turns up in the big games.
I think to Worsley Cup finals, T20 finals, title defining
games. Ben is always there front and
centre and usually he's he comesoff and.
We've actually spoke about that quite a lot on this podcast

(18:14):
before. His record in finals and big
games is phenomenal. And when you throw the fact that
he's shouldering the captains here at the same time as opening
the batted, I think his records ridiculous really.
And I really should see how he wouldn't make his side I.
Think as well as added to all that, but you're all right as
well. It's the fashion in which he

(18:35):
plays as well, because he's not scratching around.
He really does dominate, goes atthe bowler, so it's everything.
It's the old package really. Yeah, I think safe picking it,
yeah. Yeah, I'm sure it is.
But what I want to get across now and you know, I'm only
playing Devil have a cut. But you know, the pictures are

(18:56):
better now. The bats are bigger and can hit
it further. You know, they're not playing
against test pros like, you know, in the Seventies, 80s and
90s that that was going on then.You know, I don't we don't
particularly mean Ben, you know that.
But I it shocked me. And Dukes is for the listeners.
Dukes is shaking his head and and and using hand signals

(19:19):
towards me. But.
Do you look at the averages? Has anyone studied the averages
with old players and new players?
It it really does shock me how poor some of the old averages
are from the, you know, the players who played in the late
seventies, 80s and 90s. Has anyone else identified that?

(19:40):
I I agree with you Jess, to someextent.
However, I think when you look at the upper echelon of amateur
cricket, the averages amongst them are pretty consistent.
So if the pictures are that bad back then why is everyone's
economy rate not 1.3? Well, it is a lot like.

(20:01):
Bowlers. It is quite a bit less.
But another reason as to why it's less is because the outlook
of the batters and the way that the game was played.
For example, batters in years gone bad, Stan's always talked
about it, the first, let's not get out.
You're not telling me that the likes of Ben, Johnny Whited,
other class batters in the league, they don't go out there
just to survive. They go out there to take the

(20:23):
game on. And I think that's where the
game has moved on in the last sort of 15, 15 years in
particular. I think the outlook of an
amateur, there's always been good players of course, as
they'd have to say otherwise. But I think the outlook of how a
good amateur bats these days andhow they approach their cricket,
I think that is a big factor of it as well.
Yeah. Disparity.

(20:44):
The disparity in the bowling figures is nowhere near as much
as the disparity in the batting averages.
Nowhere near. So I can't all be down to
pitches and conditions. No, no, I'll have it, Joe.
I just want to throw it out there because Stan, because Stan
asked me to. I think, I think we can all

(21:06):
agree that the Ben is going to be in the team.
Is there anyone that would disagree?
No, no. If Gary's still struggling to
get back in, can someone just message him on their house cast
and say does he agree that Ben'sin please?
Yeah, I'll let him. I'll let you know what he says.
Thank you. So let's move on to the other

(21:29):
one, the other opening bat. Now bear in mind, chaps, you
know, we can have maybe 3 or 4 who've who've opened the bat in
all the careers, but we feel that they've got to get into the
side to the detriment of a normal #3 or #4 So always bear
that in mind. So my next choice, Oh no, let me
say I would, I would unfortunately, I would kick Phil

(21:53):
out of it, out of my list of eight.
I will kick V Shall out of it. And I think Phil, because you're
looking at the average, it's less than 15.
I don't know back Phil, come back to three or four and we can
look at that. And again, you know, it is we
have to be a little bit controversial at times.
V Shall whilst one of the best players you know, I've played

(22:14):
with and watched, he hasn't played enough for us you know.
And I would throw in, there's a loyalty card there.
I know people will contest that,but that's just my view.
So I would kick those two out tomy 8.
Gooch, what about? Who would you kick out of yours?
Right, so I only have 5. OK.
The outline there was Finchy. He wasn't one of my 5, but I'm

(22:35):
going to I'm going to mention him later down.
So my 5 was Ben, Stan, Johnny, Nicky and Michelle.
So like you I agree with everything you said about
Michelle. He was one of the best players
that I played with comfortably but just on the fact that he he
didn't perhaps play as long and he and he left us at a bad time

(22:56):
and moved to a bad club. So unfortunately in my selection
criteria he he gets ejected. The next one to miss out on this
unfortunately is Nicky. Nicky's one of my favourite ever
law house players. He was captain when I made my
debut that day, got 78 not out against James Anderson at
Burnley and that was a day I'll never forget for obvious

(23:17):
reasons. But he doesn't miss out.
So that leaves a straight shootout between Johnny and
Stan. When we started thinking about
this, I was picking Stan, but now I'm picking Johnny.
And you want me to say why? Or do you want to?
Yeah, yeah, you watch. You watch the role.
Right. So I check what you're saying
about wickets and eras and everything else, but to me

(23:39):
that's, it's all quantifiable that you can't, you can't really
measure how much of a differencethat makes.
When you look at what what Johnny's done this year alone,
you know, brought the league amateur batting record, one of
these 190 at Middleton, he got atonne against Rochdale.
That's two tonnes he's had this year.
Stan didn't get a century in hiscareer.

(24:01):
Now I know we talk about different areas and everything
else, but Stan played 470 games for our house.
He scored 33 fifties. Johnny's got 28 and three
hundreds already. And I don't think in the modern
era, like Gav said about modern cricket, and now it's changed,
Stan might have been been produced into a completely
different player than he was. But Stan does not fit into my

(24:26):
team from a batting style point of view.
Except he was fantastic for the club and all that.
But to me he doesn't. He doesn't make it.
He's third or out of twos and hemisses out.
Johnny and Ben are my ultimate partnership.
Right, so we've gone from everything going honky Dory with
all picking Ben to to the issuesthat we've got now.

(24:46):
Gav, your thoughts on what was said then?
Yeah, happy to go down the the way that we're talking about it
and you know, the people who we had in would have yet it'd be
interesting to see what Benny's team is.
I think we could be quite similar again.
You know, we all had similar groups of openers dinner.
We are through Finchy in, you know, I think, but Finchy is

(25:08):
going to still be in my team or he is in my team, but not
necessarily up top. I had Nicky in in my in my top,
but again, you know, it doesn't quite make the 11.
And again, as Joe said, it was astraight shoot out between Stan
and Johnny. And I really this was this was

(25:30):
one of the few difficult ones. And I was sort of looking at the
records. And, you know, again, you're
sort of thinking about when, youknow, Stan's played at the club
throughout and you know, Johnny has been proing and he's been
here there and everywhere. But you just look at what
Johnny's has done this year. Like Joe's very, very well, you
know, just pointed out there, it's difficult to not have him
in that team for what he's done.And so I then I thought, well,

(25:53):
you know, let's look about different areas and and balance
of the team. And and again, you know, I love
watching, you know, this, this current team and either go about
it and and either play the cricket and I think, well, you
know, do we all want shot makersor, you know, would if we had
stand up top, you know, not thathe's going to anger around or
whatever, he can't play, he can't play shots, but would he

(26:13):
be the blue that all the top 6 together?
So that, you know, I was thinking, is that a plus point
for Stan? But the more I thought about it,
Johnny Wharton has to be in thatteam.
He just has to be because of theway, like Joe said, the way he
plays on what is achieved. And you look back at the two
careers together, you know, if Johnny plays, you know, a decent

(26:35):
amount of time for Laura actually, like you try to think
what what, what he could achieveand what those figures could be.
So I think I think Joe reasoned it very well.
And that's that one I opened in partnership, Ben and Johnny.
OK. Well, good point from from both
of you, Joe Martin. When you look at Stan's record,

(26:57):
if he'd have played more games, I know he played over 400 games,
but if he hadn't been in the police and missed large swathes
of the season, he would have been easily a 10,000 runner and
you know at that. But his record is great anyway.
I don't think you can't I, I, you can't not pick Johnny
Whitehead. He is probably the best batter,

(27:18):
naturally gifted batter that I've played with and played with
Blaze at a slightly different time.
But as a clean striker of the ball, his ability to take a game
away from any opposition, regardless of their quality, I
think he is one of the best batters and and what a character

(27:39):
as well. He's been on the podcast a few
few times and I've and he's beenone of my best friends since I
was 10 and he's and he's not been any different.
But on a pure batting front, hisstats are incredible to look at.
I think actually, and I and I actually think the fact that
he's gone proing and been successful there and come back
possibly adds weight to that. OK.

(28:02):
I mean, it's really good food for thought.
I'm, you know, mulling it all over for like as my my puts on
it. Gary, what's your thoughts?
I know you've possibly missed a little bit of what other people
said, but summarising it is thatwe can't leave Johnny Whited out
because of his volume of runs and, and the talents he's got.
And it looks like Stan certainlyfor the other three would be the

(28:25):
one that missed out. What's your view?
Yeah, you can make arguments from all.
Like I said, the opening spots Ithink will be the most
competitive slots that we that we discussed really number of
quality players and yeah, OK, your best batters are usually
top of the order. It stands to reason in amateur

(28:45):
cricket in the top 3 or 4. The only reason, the only reason
I'd like put Steve G4 at the beginning was he only played 8
odd games and he underscored 2000.
But he brought the league batting, he broke, he broke our
batting record in that time in an era when, you know, the
tracks were, were uncovered, weren't, weren't taking a

(29:08):
majorly strong side. So, you know, we, we, we were
often chasing lot, chasing plenty or, or wickets falling
around and sort sort of thing. I just think it's that age-old
question. What would a player from a
different area be like in now you have that displaying
football and everything else andI and I just think from from
that point of view sets brick controversial, slightly

(29:29):
controversial. Yeah.
Could you leave Johnny out? In reality, you probably
wouldn't, but I'm just thinking like for right balance to the
side. The guy also bowled tightly.
He he in those 80 odd games, he played nearly 50 wickets.
So, you know, he was no mug withthe ball and and it just gives
that that other bit of balance there as well.

(29:51):
So I can't say don't pick Johnny, but I just didn't have
him in the final knockings in myin my side.
OK, gals, thanks. Thanks very much.
And you're looking again at, youknow, Adam's done a great job
with these stats and I will keepdishing him out so people, you
know, they can go in and have a look for the self.
But you're right, what you said there, Gary, I mean, Steve G

(30:12):
played those eight job games. He's averaging 26 1/2, you know,
and Stan was down to 18. Like I said, Phil was 15, Nicky
19, you know, Vishal 32, but Johnny Whiteheads up there with
20, nearly 28. Yeah, yeah.
If we, if we're going down into picking who scored the most runs
and who, you know, who's most attractive to watch and that

(30:33):
might be a criteria for somebodyand there's nothing wrong with
that because you everyone wants to see probably the most
attractive cricket, then we'd probably pick a different side.
But that just wasn't my approachin this case to my friend.
Yeah, OK. I've got to say that I in my
team was Stan, you know, and my rationale for that was it was it

(30:55):
was extremely committed, work very hard, was a real talent.
You know, early in his career, Ididn't see much of him then, but
he could, you know, really good attacking type of player.
And, you know, and the fact thathe's been there all the time and
I know this is really cloudy in my judgement and I understand
that and maybe I'm being too biassed, you know, that way.

(31:16):
And I have no problem players, you know, leaving and they going
proing, you know. But I do like that commitment
side and the one that would, youknow, if you're in a bunker and
who sat stood around you, I think I knew what next to me and
it would probably be stamp Johnny would be he'd be probably
trying to chase some pigeons around or something or do

(31:37):
something daft. And so I think the best way we
can, you know, and then I'm thinking we can't squeeze
standing anywhere else. You know, that's we have to be
realistic. You know, he's an opener is is
nothing. But could we squeeze Ben or
Johnny in at 3:00 and 4:00? So Stan gets in there.
So what we will do for the time being is leave that the second

(31:59):
opening spot open. So Benzin, the number 2 will be
left open and it's it's been trimmed down to Johnny White,
said Steve G and and Stamp. And we can come back to that
once we've looked at the next maybe 3 or 4 batters.
So I will go on for my options for 3-4 and five, you know, got

(32:22):
to be genuine batters. So my first one who's got to be
batting at 3 or 4, depending on the line of what we do is Bless.
I'll quickly go around the room.Is anyone going to disagree that
Bless shouldn't be in in that 3-4 or five?
Ahead of it #3. OK.

(32:42):
OK. You you're happy with that?
I'm sure you are. Absolutely.
Yeah, yeah, no issues whatsoever.
He's got as, as we were just talking about 50s and hundreds
today. He's got more than them three
put together in both categories.Yeah.
And then bad tracks that they'replaying on, then bad tracks that
they're playing on didn't seem to bother him, yeah.
But he slogged it then. Do you think we've talked about

(33:05):
bleds enough on this podcast? I mean, he's he's lower house,
as great as bats, if not player right, And is Korea has gone
from the 80s and still playing now and still, you know, still
supporting the team and still producing, you know, still
contributes and to the team. And I think the quantity of

(33:27):
runs, a discord is incredible across lots of different eras.
And to still stay relevant as a cricket, I think it's
remarkable, especially, especially because, you know, we
play at a reasonable level. It's not, you know, like it's
not a game that we just happen to play.
It means something to people, doesn't it?
So to have played with it, I can't believe that I've played

(33:48):
with him since 2009. And it's been magnificent to be
able to do that and also be chauffeur for the past, I don't
know how many years that's been thoroughly enjoyable.
Well, you're better off being his chauffeur than him being
your chauffeur for that stoppingus.

(34:09):
Agree with you Joe. And I think it's testimony to
the below that we don't even need to discuss the fact that
you know, he's in there. Whether it's whether it's it
could only be 3 or 4. I can't think down at 5:00.
So so blessed is is definitely in as far as other people
around, you know, we've got the two that are in the side.

(34:31):
We've we've named another three that could be in and I'm going
to throw this out there to you in my team in that top five.
There's got to be a place for Fincher for me.
There's got to be and I but my reasoning behind that is the
ability he's got as an all roundcricketer, not just the batting

(34:52):
or the bowling. The way he thinks about the game
he's fielding. You know he's a strange lad.
He's a quirk in his own right, the way he plays.
We've all played with him, but he is a talent that just will
win your games from from nowhereor will always be there to
contribute in some way. You know, he's he's bowling
cannot be under underestimated and I think if we're not picking

(35:16):
him, this is me, my sales pick. If we're not picking him,
there's some serious good players if he's not getting in.
Agree 300%. Everything that you just said
there. I mean, that's why I haven't got
him opening. I just threw him up there
because, you know, he did open batting for a while for his
Inter, but he's I've got him down in my team at 5:00 because

(35:37):
he's going to be bowling in my team again for the balance and
you know, and the, the, the goodquality options we had up top.
But it's at 5. I had Blizzard 3, the pro, I've
picked up four, and I had Finchyat 5:00.
Yes, he has to be in. He has to be in the 10 best
amateur players that we've had. He has to be.
Yeah, I I do agree with what you're saying to there Gav, But

(35:59):
we're, you know, we're obviouslysinging from the same sheet.
Let's see what Gooch thinks, because I know I don't like
finching. And I I couldn't have a team
without finishing it, that's forsure.
But I won't, he's not at 5 in myteam.
I think we're forgetting someonewho could bat at 5 and I've got
finishing down at six or seven, probably 7 actually, looking at

(36:20):
who I've got at six. But my Fives Francois as an
amateur, he's amateur record 4 hours.
He qualifies, he qualifies to play as an amateur.
He's played enough games as an amateur.
He scored a phenomenal amount ofruns.
I mean, he would forget his bowling.
He, he would get in the side as a batsman, as an amateur
batsman, and then if you're chucking in his bowling as well,

(36:40):
Patrick in a cup final as an amateur bowler.
He, he, he definitely makes the side.
I know you could, you could argue that him and Finchy will
potentially do a similar kind ofjob.
But I've I've got room for him both no question and just on
volume of runs. I'd have him at 5 and Finch a
bit further down. Oh, you agree with Finchley

(37:01):
being in the the? Finch is in, definitely.
Yeah, yeah. The top half of the team, Joe
Martin, I mean, let's we can talk about Frankie separate.
Would Fincher be in your team? Absolutely.
OK. So we can discuss batting places
once we've got these these players together.
Gary Fincher. All day, yeah.

(37:21):
Right end off. So Finch is in.
He's the third person in, albeitwe're not sure where he's going
to bat. 5000 runs, 400 wickets for 16.
Yeah, yeah, he's a game changer.I won't have him anywhere near
captaincy. What was your reason for that,
Joe? So thinking the modern era go

(37:42):
down as one of the most unsuccessful, unpopular captains
we've ever had. Unsuccessful and unpopular.
Yeah, yeah, all I've said to hisface.
So there's no issue there all. Right.
Just just give us some examples.Well, I mean, let's look at how
it ended. You know, he got banned for
falling out with the opposition professional at Burnley and then

(38:04):
quit. So so not only do we have to
deal with the discipline issue, we had to find another captain
in the middle of the season. Brilliant, brilliant, right?
So we've established Finch, he'snot going to be captain.
Let's look at you know, we've got, so we've got at least
another two, maybe 3. Couldn't push it to four further
the batters because we've got 2 bowlers in there, you know, and

(38:27):
Ben can also bowl. Let's talk about Frankie.
I think Gav, I'll come to you first.
Just talk me through your thoughts around Frankie.
Be in your side. If he is, why?
And if he's not, why not? Yeah, I thought, yeah, we're
always going to be in my team. I actually had Finch at 5:00 and
I have Frankie at six. But what I understand what Joe

(38:48):
said about weight of runs and I think we're splitting as if one
were at five and one were at six.
Yeah. I mean, it's a no brainers in
that team. Like you say, the battle ball.
When if when, if this came to us, Yeah, they were a pro.
His bowling were phenomenal ball.
Well, like Joe says, there's an amateur, there's a batter.
You look at the way to run this course and see how since his
bowling has got less and less and less and yeah, just goes

(39:12):
bucket loads. But to watch plays all around
the wicket, yeah, he's in there.It was in my team.
And again, you know, once we've once we've finally got to an 11,
it's going to be it's going to be good fun talking about his
batting order and where they go and either team play.
But yeah, another easy selectionfor me is in.

(39:33):
Good, good. Gary, your thoughts on Frankie?
Yeah, I had him in two in Blaze and Fincher coming in, in that
in that sort of order only really from why would you not
have Blaze with 17,000 on batting as I, you know, if he's
not going to open batting at three, it's good shape.

(39:55):
You could toss it out. I just think, you know, Francois
probably wouldn't. I don't know.
You guys played with him. I haven't.
You know, I've seen Bleds go through the gears and really,
you know, taking innings away atthe end.
And I just think doing that and batting with what what obviously
wouldn't be a weak team, but batting through with Laura, I

(40:17):
just think that'd be better. So, yeah, Frank, Frankie in
whether you like, say, you bowl him or not, Yeah.
Thinking is an amateur job. Job.
Perfect point about his about his status.
He's right. Yeah, yeah.
No, I, I agree with that Gary, but I'll come, I'll come on to
that Duche. Anything to add over and above
what you mentioned when you werediscussing Finch here in in that

(40:40):
position? Yeah, he's he's played six full
seasons for as an as an amateur as Frankie.
Well, I'll say full seasons. There are a couple in there
where he where he he only played14 and 13 games, but in in six
seasons is 2018, six hundreds inthe last six seasons.
There will not be many in the league who can, who can live

(41:02):
live with that. No.
That's my point, Joe, about him batting, batting longer through
the innings. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Very good player and like say he's bowling as well so I won't
have any any problem with that. I so then my view, it's funny
really with Frankie when he proved, when he came for that
and he proved for three years. It was a bit of a strange call

(41:25):
initially when you know, knew him.
He came into the side of I'd obviously finished but watching
a lot and I had I found him an incredible cricketer, how he
could change again. And he was, you know, we say a
real intelligent player, a real thinking cricketer.
But then you chat to him afterwards.

(41:46):
And I'm not sure if he is a realthinking cricketer, but I
remember watching him and he would come on, this is when he
was a pro. It would come on to both in a
really significant part of the game for just two or three
overs. And we'll just stop that pro
from scoring or, you know, dominate the game, which upset
their rhythm, whether it was a partnership or an individual.

(42:09):
And it's a change the game. And I really admired him in
respect of that from right from back, you know, as a pro and you
won the league with him. And then I look at him now, you
know, and he's such a character in in the way he plays and he
clearly is struggling to bowl now, you know, because of what
he's done in his career, you know, maybe an age thing and a

(42:32):
fitness thing, you know, so he he hardly ever bowls on the last
couple of years. And yet he's completely changed
it with his batting now how he dominates games with the bat for
the first team in the last couple of years.
You know, when we look to in a bit of trouble or even over a
period of two or three games, you know, nosing away or
somewhere where it's looking difficult and we've we've not
played that well, he all of a sudden just grinds out to either

(42:56):
a 30 or gets to 30 and 40 and then you can see he's going to
get 100 and you know, and for those reasons, I can't leave him
out either. So.
So that's the the 4th definite that's in.
Hold on. Hold on.
Oh, I haven't. I haven't picked him as an
amateur. I thought you went.
I thought I came to you earlier.You know, Joe Martin, go on and

(43:19):
be outrageous. I mean, we're talking about the
pros lesser, aren't we? But I haven't picked.
I've picked him as an amateur. OK.
Because this must be so difficult for you, John, must be
painful for you actually making a decision and picking players
and you want 25 aside, I think normally.
I've picked a squad, get ready. Definitely.

(43:40):
They'd all be involved, yeah. I've not picked him as an
amateur. Well, I think we know what
you're saying, Joe. You might as well say.
I think he had an incredible impact on the club as a
professional. He I think he probably changed
the course of it actually. After we won the league in 2005,
we didn't win anything until 2011 and he brought a culture to

(44:05):
the club over those three years and the years after that.
That was a real winning mentality.
His impact on making cricketers better certainly did for me and
he did that for Paddy as well. The fact that as a pro he won
everything that you can win and was an outstanding performer too

(44:27):
has meant that he I picked him as my pro.
There were other people, there were other professionals that I
could include in that, but Francois's just his impact on
that team at that point. He was the right man at the
right time. And I think, I think it's
immeasurable actually. A bit emotional to that, Joe.

(44:48):
Francois, I say this to Francoisa lot.
He's he's genuinely one of the most inspiring people I've ever
met. He inspires me now when I go and
sit at when I watched, I was at his house on Saturday and I
watched Gladiator with him and my brother and and his wife were
there as well. But it's just it's a very
inspiring chat your. Brother's got married.

(45:08):
Francois's wife. All right, Yeah, I know what
you're saying. But you know, I feel and maybe
us for a baby cheating the system a little bit in, we're
trying to get him in and the quality pro.
The 100%, but that's alighted within the.
Absolutely allowed. I'm not going to.

(45:29):
I don't think, I don't think you're cheating.
I think it's, I think it's fair.I'm just looking at the pros
I've played with and the ones that I've seen because that's
only, that's only what I can measure things on.
Yeah. OK, so so.
Can I just say, Jazz, before youmove off that topic, that that
view about Francois's pros also backed up by a very well

(45:51):
respected judge who I was talking to last weekend, Charles
Cotton would also go down that route.
Think about all all the pros he's played with and captained.
Yeah, he's he's view echoed. But what Joe was saying there
about impact and everything else.
So it is maybe something that wewill leave it.

(46:13):
I will just pencil him in because it could be that Joe
Martin persuades us for to squeeze another amateur in and
leave him as pro at the end of this.
I know Gaff's shaking his head thinking not in a million years.
Let's just, you know, it's a democratic process this.
So let's let's pencil him in andthen see who else that we could,

(46:35):
we could move around. So I, I personally think we need
one more batter at least. So I will just throw it out
there, You know, and we're talking now between 456, maybe
7. I'll just throw some names out
there, Charlie Cotton and HassanKhan Pancakes Tripathi.
Obviously we've we've got Frankie in there.

(46:58):
You know, wiki keepers. Let's start to get that into our
minds as well, because wiki keeper could squeeze in whether
that's he get or, or Joe Martin or, you know, Scott it chippy.
Let's have a start getting thosein our minds.
Anyone else's thoughts on that? Higher middle order spots, maybe
2 spots. Yeah, this was the way I went

(47:20):
about it is I I just thought I selected my captain and it were
a no brainer for me really. But whilst I've been listening
and whilst this has been going on, I've thought perhaps, you
know, doing pick 11, we'll be doing pick 11.
And then because of the characters that are going to be
in that team, a lot of them havecaptains anyway.
Do we then just pick a captain from that?
Whereas when I was on my own doing it, I picked a captain

(47:43):
because that was one of the facets of of the bloke who I
picked. It would be in my 11 and I would
have The Who we've named so far in my team.
The next person who I've got in our bat at 7 would be Charlie
Cotton and it'd be my captain. Because if you know, you can
look and think, well, you know, there's, there's been other

(48:04):
players might jump at your passers, but you actually look
at Charlie's record and you and you look at the runs, you know,
you just just shy 6000 runs. You know he's 16.
He's 6 in his you know, he's 6 in the list.
He's played some huge innings over the years in some massive
games. He's he's captained successful
teams, captained by example, catching some strong people.

(48:28):
You know, watching that team when he worked captain, they'd
gone through a brick wall for him.
The best field, best amateur field I've ever seen of the
absolutely unbelievable and thenhell of a player to boot.
So that's who I am genuinely at #7.
I mean, you know, but I can playas well.
But because of all those stringsto his ball, he was my captain

(48:49):
and he was at #7. OK, Duke, what's your thoughts
on that? Was was Charlie and your team?
I absolutely hate seeing this but I'm fully we have on this.
1CC would be my team. Most successful captain the
club's ever had. Longevity.
Fantastic fielder. Still now at the age of 44, a

(49:12):
ridiculous fielder. The cup game at Ramsbottom this
year but nobody else in the teammaybe the pro accepted would
have would have done what he didthere.
The catch to get rid of their pro that went to the moon and he
just right at the business end of the game with a cup semi
final at stake. And he just he just pouched it

(49:33):
like it was nothing. And then the last ball of the
game or the penultimate ball of the game, they need 2 to win and
they take two to him and he he throws it right over the stumps
for a run out. We win the game.
I mean, talk about clutch. He's batting all right.
You could look at his average and look at other people who

(49:53):
could potentially bat in that spot, like Hassan, who's been
mentioned a number of times. Matt Walker, he'd throw him into
there. Bosch, Pan cage.
There's plenty of people who've probably got slightly better
numbers than Charles in the middle order.
But as a package, again, I'm struggling to see how you'd
leave him out. Captain batsman, Fielder Shui

(50:14):
either. Yeah, Joe Martin.
I completely agree, I picked himas captain bat at 7 again
similar to Ben in those really big games he always shows up.
The 2018 cup final when he battered with Mark Cosgrove for
a long period of time and got man of the match as the game was
outstanding. Unbelievable fielder as

(50:35):
everybody said. It reminds me a bit of like
action man, like all action and can kind of do anything.
Does he have a scar on his G? And he's always in combat.
If he can't see him, he yeah, I think he's a definite for me.
And I've picked him as captain as well because because we won

(50:55):
everything was the cup league title, double, T20, Yeah.
Magnificent, Gary. Any views over and above what
they've said? Well, I I'll.
Throw another name in who was there for slightly different
reasons. Again, probably a little bit
controversial because he did play many games for equality.
Cricketer and the left hand bat.Everyone we've gone for so far

(51:16):
is right hand this guy bat and bolded many double 500 wickets.
550 sorry 50 wickets, 500 runs in a in a season and played
minor counties played for like asecond.
You know, good pedigree cricketer.
You didn't. We'd obviously only saw it for a
couple of seasons in three seasons or something at Laurice.
So again, sort of loses out on the argument of longevity and an

(51:39):
overall contribution. But John Hartley, I'd have, you
know, he could hit a big ball. He could, you know, really turn
the game in a few overs in that middle order.
And that would just be another name that kept coming back to me
about just having that balance side like, say, left hand back
sharpish bowler. Yeah, they were just another

(52:00):
one. I can't add anything to what you
guys have said about Charlie. Absolutely not.
Yeah, I I agree with, you know, and you could throw Bush into
that as as well into that sort of, you know, position within
the side. And but you're right, what you
say about the left-hander, it's a good option, Gary.
And I think, you know, we may be, we move on.

(52:21):
You know, we could have a full team of all rounders really.
But you know, but so be it. Would anyone?
So we've got three votes for Charlie.
I've got to say he was in my side.
So, Gary, would you leave Charlie in or would you want to
wait until we discuss the rest of the batters?
Yeah, we're getting fairly low down now, aren't we in the

(52:42):
order? So you're talking about specific
batters, but I mean, I can't go against Charlie.
OK, so that is we've got 5 definites and that doesn't
include an opener and Fincher. Sorry, it doesn't include
Fincher. So we need another opener if
it's not going to be Fincher. So that will be 6 batters.
Do we discuss? I think what we'll do because

(53:04):
it's rolling on now it's 9:20. I think we discuss wiki keeper
and then we try and make a decision on the the extra
batter, you know, the extra opener, whether it's, I think
it's between Steve G, Stan and Johnny.
And if, if we do decide on SteveG or Stan and then we look at
Johnny coming in at at 4-5 O 6. So wiki keepers, I'll start on

(53:30):
this. You know, we've got the the
absolute legend that is Brian Higgin broke a lot of records,
played in an era. I know Dutch won't have it.
He'll just keep screaming and shouting that it's it's all the
same. But he was in a poor side,
carried them for a lot. If you listen to, you know what
Stan says, I've got a lot of rooms.

(53:52):
I've got to say, you know, for my tuppent worst is that I don't
think he was as good a wicket keeper as the three others I've
got on my list, you know, and that's Joe Martin.
I know it's difficult to talk about that Joe whilst you're on
here. Chris Scott or Chipper and I
wouldn't even put Jack McGregor in that.
I think I think he gay, you know, was outstanding at what he

(54:13):
did at the time and how he managed it, but technically it
just wasn't the the training or the understanding of, you know,
certainly with spin balls that we that he would get into my
side. So, you know, as a wicketkeeper
who battered low down. So I would have to consider
consider he get to either go in as a batter early on, but but

(54:33):
not wicketkeep. So unfortunately they apologise
if you're listening. The best wicketkeeper I've seen
or played with, and this is around his, you know, his
technical ability, you know, andhis management to the game with
Chris Scott. He was just, you know, the way
he could pick the ball up, his attitude and he had this aura

(54:54):
about him, you know, where he was always in the game.
You know, he used to be gutted. He used to try.
I don't know if anyone's aware of this.
He used to tell me, I think I'vetold Joe Martin that at the
start of the game he would be hewould try to go through every
game and not miss field any ball, whether it's been thrown
in by a fielder, whether he's, you know, he's taking the ball

(55:15):
from the bowler or anything. And he'd get really crossed
himself every time he miss fielded one or but he didn't
catch it correctly correctly. But his batting wasn't up to it
when he came in. So I've got rid of Scott Chippy
was outstanding the way he was, you know, way he played when
when Corrie was in the team, worked hard, stream the

(55:38):
proficient, really good clean pair of ham that you know, would
always seem to stick in there. But again, he's batting just
wasn't up to it much. So I would go for Joe Martin in
my side gaff. What's your thoughts?
Yeah, I hear what you say about the, the names that you've and I
think probably all, all fathers have probably got, you know, the

(55:59):
same names really. And you know, they're covered.
The teams, sorry, the keepers that we played with, with
regards to Iggy. I didn't play with Iggy
obviously when they were younger, but it still kept
helping us out and what have you, you know, the start of my
career. So I played with Iggy Chippy.
I agree with what you were saying.
Never played with Scotty, unfortunately I've never.

(56:21):
I've only played with Joe after the start.
But I've watched a lot of Joe and obviously, you know, I
watched Jack McGregor. Now I hear what you say about
Iggy and you know, perhaps beingstood up there were others
better than him. And I would agree again with
what you said. But again, I just always refer

(56:42):
back to what I've said about other players when I was looking
at my team and because of his batting, I did pick again.
Sorry Joe, but I I did pick again because I had Iggy at 8:00
because the only I would I was only picking 1 spinner in my
team. Therefore, I don't think
standing up would have been a massive issue, if I'm being

(57:04):
honest. So I had him at 8 to not that I
don't think that battle line up needs lengthy, but again, just
to add a bit of a bit of someonecoming in to take to you know
who, who would score those runs.I hear what you say and I agree
with what you were saying about how you brought the other the
others down chippy, etcetera andand definitely draw.
But I would go for it because I'm only picking, I was only

(57:28):
picking one spinning in my team and just his ability with the
bat and obviously a decent wicketkeeper in any event, so I
picked again. OK, OK, wicketkeeper.
Yeah, same names to the chase. Sorry Joe, I went Scottie purely

(57:49):
not seen anybody play cricket like I mean you, you just knew
like say everything you carried about him, you you knew he was
professional standard. He was, he was just about and
you talk about standing up only picking 1 spinner you have he
just stood up to we won't pick abowler today who he couldn't
stand up to seriously. And he'd have got an extra 1015

(58:11):
wickets a season even if he worked stumpings or caught me
out or whatever, by the fact that he was just there with the
stifled runs. I saw him do it.
He was. He was amazing.
Yeah, Jazz, you're right. The one weakness was his
batting, albeit again. And throw it in there, just
another left-hander. But yeah, you know, he's
averaging sort of single figures.
So he's not going to sort of addanything in like the top 98 to

(58:34):
9:00, is it? But but for a pure, wicked,
wicked keeping, purist sort of view on that, I won't be Scotty.
OK, Gary, thank you. This is going to be an
interesting debate then dude. Only the one I struggle with the
most. And again, same names.
I loved watching McGregor keep, I thought stood up to the likes

(58:57):
of Finchy and Matt all back thenand probably even Johnny Russell
at various stages of games. He was brilliant to watch.
Probably the best out of that wicketkeeper that I played with.
I only played with Scotty a very, very few times when I
first got into the 2nd 11 and I can't remember of what I've
obviously had lots, of, lots of people talk about him.

(59:20):
Chippy wonderful character to having back in and around the
place recently again. Excellent wiki keeper Joe Martin
watched him stand up to draw plenty of times in tight games.
But I went for a year as well and what's what swung it for he
give for me was if you look at if we're batting this wiki

(59:40):
keeper at #8 all respect to Joe,what what's what's Joe's role
going to be batting at #8 in that in that side.
He probably doesn't suit his style of play at all to bat at
#8 whereas Higi would probably slot right into that #8 spot
perfectly. So yeah, I get I take what

(01:00:01):
you're saying about standing open.
And if I were picking a pure, just a glove man would probably
be Jack Butt. If we're picking someone to come
in at #8 in that side, I'm goingfor Brian.
OK, so we've got two votes for Brian Higgin, one vote for Chris
Scott, and one vote for Joe Martin.
I know it's very difficult. Joe Martin, just give us your

(01:00:24):
views as a wiki keeper as to whoyou would pick and why.
There were two. There were only two names
because one. I only actually saw one wiki
keeper, well one that I can actually remember wiki keeping,
and the other one was on quantity, so it was between Higi

(01:00:45):
and Jack McGregor. Jack McGregor is by far and away
the best wicket keeper I've seenas an actual wicket keeper.
Unbelievable, by far and away the best.
And Iggy for the kind of weight of weight of runs.
And you know, he holds the record, the club record for the
the most number of victims based, I mean, based on my team

(01:01:08):
actually picked Jack because I don't think I didn't think I
needed a batter for the team that I picked because I picked a
different, I picked another batter who also bowled.
So I thought if I got a wiki keeper that can make the
difference, if he can stand up to anything then that would that
would be desirable. So I picked.

(01:01:28):
I picked. OK, so we're real loggerheads
there. We've got four different
wicketkeepers and we've got a vault.
You know, there's 2 voting for Higa and then one, one of us for
the other three. I've, you know, this is awkward
because he's sat here, but I don't care.
He's I don't think you can. For what job?

(01:01:51):
I'm just kind of persuade one ofyou to move across and I know
you won't do it, Joe Martin. But I just think for what Joe
brings, you know, for commitment, for longevity, for
games, you know, play the, the, the reliability and also the
batting. Could I not, you know, Gav or or
Gary or Duke, could I not try and justify that?

(01:02:12):
We've got to get him in there. If we need someone to go out
there and open batting and bat for 30 overs and get 40, then
we've we've got him and kind of persuade either of you to
reconsider. I think, I think for me, I think
Joe may have, you know, a valid point.
And again, when you're picking your sides, you know, I mean,

(01:02:33):
it's frustrated to me over the years that, you know, Joe's
always at #11 and he's got, he'sgot 100 for God's sake, the boy
you can play. But I thought Joe, what Joe said
was right about with that top, with that top six or seven, you
know, we're going to want someone to come in at 8 and you
know, jaw, even even in form is not going to come in and start
with bang, bang, bang, bang and starting start teeing off wicket

(01:02:56):
keeping. I absolutely agree.
You know, at times, you know, it'll take catches and the stuff
that make you just stand up and clap, you know, absolutely
brilliant. Love the boy to pieces like we
do. We all chippy and Jack and
people like that. You can only pick 1.
And I think purely based on balance of team, that's all mine
is on balance of team. That's that's how I made my

(01:03:18):
vote. That's that's who I picked.
I've I've changed my vote to Higgy.
Let's. Brought that on.
I think it'd be, it would be quite enjoyable to watch.
I think it would be, I think andand you know, he's a, he's a,
he's a record holder. He should be in this team,
definitely. He's only a record holder

(01:03:40):
because you're still playing. Well, we can address this at the
60 year 1. Can you be persuaded, Gary, to
move at all? I'm not.
I'm not yet. I'm not.
Yeah, I'm, I'm. I just think, you know, this is,
this is going to sound really horrible.
I just think there is, there's such a difference in the ability
of some of those wicketkeepers stood up and stood back and it's

(01:04:03):
a weakness for the side. Well.
It's valid. You can't, you can't convince me
yet until we've discussed the bowlers because the the three or
four bowlers who I've got in my side.
I just think a night keeper. And if it's not Scott and you
think, you know, Jackie's is a better bet or had a better

(01:04:23):
batting, better quality batter, then then that's that's where
I'd be going at the moment. Based on what I think I'm going
to add to in terms of my bowling.
If the bowlers are different, then fine.
I think we've got we've got a stellar batting line up without.
I think it's got a point becauseif.
We're going to need someone to pick Corey's wrong and.

(01:04:43):
We could go for chipper. Well, we'd have to go for
Chippy, won't we? Because we all know that story,
don't we? When Chippy and it is, it is
something to discuss. That's why we can't, we can't
finalise that. We're cheaper now because you
know, you're talking about the rooms that Brian got and the
ability this, you know, it's notin question, but we're talking

(01:05:04):
about the make up of the side. Do we need it?
When you look at the quality that's already there, do we not
just need an outer now? All right, good wicket keeper.
But that's the that's but that'sthat's the age-old question.
And that question will be asked if people picking teams forever
because they talk about it in England, don't they?
They talk. Should you pick, should you pick
the best wicket keeper or shouldyou pick someone who, who is

(01:05:27):
more than adequate, who can, whocan then perhaps do a job at 8
or whatever? It's a very, I thought Gary was
right, You know, let's talk about the bowling attack because
that might, but I think it's an impossible question too.
You're never, you're never goingto call me a definitive answer,
right? Because.
We are talking about, we are talking about a bloke who's got
500 victims. It's not like we're not saying

(01:05:49):
we're either picking Jack or Frank, for example.
And that's no disrespect to Frank or Charlie or Nicki.
You know, we're not talking about part time wicket keepers
who come back. We're talking about a guy who's
got 500 victims. So I don't know.
I won't have an issue picking asa wicket keeper in that in that

(01:06:11):
side just purely from a keeping point of view.
And I think what extra that he brings with the with the bat and
the style and everything, I'd, I'd like to see him in there,
but we'll see. OK, right.
We'll see. Do we want each 25 to 10?
We would cut it there. Or do we do one more?
Yeah, I think cut it now and then we'll do the bowlers
perhaps in a different section next week.

(01:06:32):
Yeah, it's just the bowlers and the pro and the one all rounder.
But I think the all rounders to the into that lower middle order
automatically on the you know, Iwas thinking the all rounders
were going to be Johnny Hartley Bush and it would, you know,
genuine and Fincher. But I think we're getting those
sorts of people in with with Frankie.
So so let's leave it there. So we're, you know, we've.

(01:06:55):
Just been through Jesse. We've got then.
So the definites of Ben, Bless, Fincher and Charlie, they're all
definites. As amateurs we've all agreed
that Frankie will be in but I think we're waiting on the make
up of the side as to whether he's going to be in as amateur
or pro wicket keepers. We, we've unfortunately and I

(01:07:16):
can't handle yet in this, but we've, we could only break it
down to three at the moment. But again, the make up of the
side maybe could could dictate how we manage that going
forward. Thank you, Lisa.
He's not a definite Lisa. When When are we picking manage
and scorer? Oh good shout guy.

(01:07:37):
Team Manage. I have food tech Pete.
Right. Put Norman Dale down.
Yes. Are you all right with that?
The scorer. Yeah.
Yeah, as long as he brings his bet, he's felt Tips.
You won't really make a time again, will you?
If you think they felt tips, I will, I will.
So anything else that we need toto discuss?

(01:07:58):
I think we we're recording againnext Monday and we'll try and
finish it. Then we'll get it to a stage
where we've only got half an half an hour left.
And if we can do it live, that would be great.
I don't get, I guess you're not up north in the over Christmas
period Gas. It's not.
Decided, yet could be not decided.
OK, well if you are then then that could work out a treat.

(01:08:20):
So we'll just quickly run range.It's been really enjoyable that
talking about it and looking at the figures that we've had, you
know, going through the figures clearly do think it's exactly
the same plane now as it was in the don't.
Put words in my mouth. I never said exactly the same.
What I said was the difference is in quantifiable.
So. So we'll leave that for for

(01:08:41):
debate, maybe give us some comments the listeners through
the the website or on on Twittergap anything before we wrap it
up. No, no, I thought that we were
thought that. I mean we're always going to be
good, weren't it? But I enjoyed that talking about
the same players, I think there was some definites that were
going to be in Word there. Let's be honest about it.

(01:09:01):
But not really looking forward to next week, mate.
Yeah, enjoyed it. Brilliant.
Thanks, Gav. Gavs anything before we just
wrap up? No good to be back on with you
boys. Good, good lad, Good lad, Duch.
Not from me, Jess. Well, thank you very much for
for dialling in. And finally, Joe Martin,
anything yourself? I can't believe you've not
picked me. No, I'm only joking.

(01:09:26):
I know you did, Jess. Yeah, well, you'll be on my
Christmas card list. Don't.
Lie. Thanks on your way out, Joe.
No, I'm only joking. No, Very enjoyable and we're
going to have an excellent team by the end of it.
Brilliant. Thanks very much.
I can see the title of this podcast.
I can't believe you didn't pick me.
Bye everyone. Thanks very much for listening.

(01:09:49):
This this is likely to come out before the the second part,
which would make it, I think really, really good and wet
people's whistles for the the bowling end of it.
So thanks everyone for listeningand we'll catch up very soon.

(01:10:24):
Gordon Gordon, send more house to save the house.