The Cricinfo website has just undergone an extensive process to pick their all-time World Eleven. This is the team they arrived at.
ESPNcricinfo All-Time World XI- these blokes can play a bit.
| 1st XI |
| Jack Hobbs |
| Len Hutton |
| Don Bradman |
| Sachin Tendulkar |
| Viv Richards |
| Garry Sobers |
| Adam Gilchrist |
| Malcolm Marshall |
| Shane Warne |
| Wasim Akram |
| Dennis Lillee |
The 2nd XI isn’t exactly shabby either.
| Sunil Gavaskar |
| Barry Richards |
| George Headley |
| Brian Lara |
| Wally Hammond |
| Imran Khan |
| Alan Knott |
| Bill O’Reilly |
| Fred Trueman |
| Muttiah Muralitharan |
| SF Barnes |
As always with these exercises, debate will rage long and passionately. Cricinfo were concerned with the best. But we at the Almanac realise excellence isn’t compulsory, just a bonus. Sport isn’t always about the best, but may also be about the mediocre, or the hopeless.
We invite you to submit an XI of your choosing. They may be your best, they may just be your favourites. Perhaps they were the best Victorian country cricketers, or the best district cricketers to never represent the state. You might want to pick eleven whose names rhyme (Gigs, we’re thinking of you here). Or a side of the best lefties. A rock ‘n’ roll XI?
Anyway, you get the picture. Pick whatever side takes your fancy. No prizes are offered, just the admiration of your peers.
Let your imaginations run free folks.
You may also want to comment on Cricinfo’s efforts.
I was rather tickled by Peter Roebuck’s Stodgy XI:
Glenn Turner
Geoff Boycott
Herbert Sutcliffe
Bill Woodfull
Douglas Jardine
Ken Mackay
Jack Russell
Trevor Goddard
Bapu Nadkarni
Charlie “Terror” Turner
Glenn McGrath
Trevor Bailey (12th man)
Chris Tavare (coach)
Mike Brearley (manager)
The most famous stone-waller Alec Bannerman for Turner.
I love Roebuck’s team, but why even list below 3…on a flat track, they’d bat and that’s that!
Roebuck is being unkind to Sutcliffe who’d be my first pick to bat on a ‘sticky dog’.
How many times did Sutcliffe bat at three? I’ll say never.
He batted at six once in Adelaide. He opened the rest of the time.
PF, I agree re Bannerman.
Sutcliffe would qualify just on grounds of being a Yorkshireman.
1st XI
Clive Loyd
Len Hutton
Don Bradman
Sachin Tendulkar
Viv Richards
Garry Sobers
Adam Gilchrist
Micheal Holding
Joel Garner
Shane Warne
Dennis Lillee/Richard Hadlee
12 man Ray Bright as he made it an art form for Australia
B: Nick Maxwell, Nathan Brown, Alan Toovey
HB: Harry O’Brien, Ben Reid, Heath Shaw
C: Sharrod Wellingham, Dane Swan, Ben Johnson
HF: Alan Didak, Travis Cloke, Luke Ball
F: Dayne Beams, Chris Dawes, Steele Sidebottom
Foll: Darren Jolly, Scott Pendlebury, Dale Thomas
I/C: Tyson Goldsack, Leigh Brown, Brent Macaffer, Jarryd Blair
Andrew,
Fitting given how much time they spend going to the boundary. Swan and Beams wouldnt be able to bowl as the batsmen would have grounds for appeal based on not being able to see the ball out the hand because the tats. Shaw and Maxwell to deep leg and 3rd man so they dont have to defend an opponent and can play unaccountable cricket.
AF
Hopefully your team doesn’t become as one-dimensional as some of the supporters.
Sooooo 2010 that team.
Mike Selvey named a team of lefties.
M.Hayden
J.Langer
G.Pollock
B.Lara
C.Lloyd (c)
G.Sobers
A.Gilchrist (wk)
W.Akram
A.Davidson
B.Bedi
J.Wardle
VFL players to have played test cricket:
Warwick Armstrong (c)
Keith Miller
Jack Worrall
Graeme Watson
Sam Loxton
Simon O’Donnell
Ted McDonald
Gil Langley (wk)
Laurie Nash
Max Walker
George Tribe
Roy Park (12th man)
The theme of my XI may become apparent reading down the batting order…
Trevor Barker
Danny Frawley
Nathan Burke
Darrel Baldock
Ian Stewart
David Grant
Lenny Hayes
Max Hudghton
Fraser Gehrig
Steven Baker
Leigh Montagna
Nick Riewoldt (12th man)
Dr Roy Park was leading goalkicker for University after the home-and-away rounds of 1913. Pretty fair effort.
He played one Test under The Big Ship’s captaincy in 1920/21 and made a golden duck in his only venture to the crease.
The story goes that he was being a doctor all night prior to his innings.
His wife missed his entire Test career as a batsman.
She dropped her knitting and as she was picking up her knitting, 1-116 became 2-116.
In similar vein, my team of “Suspect Draft choices” in correct batting/draft pick order.
1.Richard Lounder
2.Andrew Walker
3.Aaron Fiora
4.Richard Tambling
5.Brock McLean
6.Murray Vance
7.Danny Roach
8.Jarrod Oakley-Nicholls
9.Caydn Beetham
10.Chris Egan
11.Richard Cole
12th man – Paul Koulouriotis
#13. I always said you could miss out on a lot of important things in life by just doing the knitting.
WTF??
Wood
Turner
Darling
Hilditch
Cosier
Colley
Francis
Gannon
Mann
Callen
Malone
Have I got a keeper?
Dips
What about John Maclean or Tim Zoehrer?
You could pick a political XI.
The problem would be today’s lot would all be stodgy openers or military medium pacers.
#12 What? No room for Harvey?
Far be it for me to even moderately tread on Crio’s ground, but anyone see the theme for this XII?
Sam Trimble
Matty Hayden
Greg Chappell
Allan Border
Ian Botham
Andrew Symonds
Ian Healy
Trevor Hohns
Jeff Thomson
Carl Rackemann
Geoff Dymock
12th man: Me!
All played for Queensland?
Dips,
Kevin Wright
Team name: Australia B
1. Charles Bannerman
2. Bill Brown
3. Don Bradman
4. David Boon
5. Allan Border (c)
6. Michael Bevan
7. Richie Benaud
8. Jack Blackham (wk)
9. Andy Bichel
10. Nathan Bracken
11. Doug Bollinger
Coach: John Buchanan
Correct JB. Excepting me. Did play in the Bali Geckos CC first ever Premiership tho. In one of the great debut performances of all time. Bowling figures: 0.1 overs, 0 runs, 1 wicket. Batting: 4 runs not out. Took the last wicket of their innings, was there with the Captain, who made it clear under no circumstances was I to score the winning runs…)
Also, on the tenuously connected line of cricket sledging.
I was fishing with my uncle and a couple of cousin one time in Northern NSW. One cousin said to Uncle:
“We should call you Andrew Symonds”.
“Why?”
“All you do is pass us the drinks, while we do all the work…”
Uncle wasn’t catching any fish, while we were and, at the time, Simmo was on a fair run of 12th mans in Test Matches, so it was perhaps funnier at the time…
As a traditionalist, it pains me to say it, but this team put Australian cricket back on the map. It was not long before the 89 Ashes; I will leave you to decipher the why/when/how:
Boon
Marsh
Jones
Border
Velleta
S Waugh
O’Donnell
Dyer
McDermott
May
Reid
Truly a win against all odds.
Here’s one to try and guess……
W.N.Phillips
C.Rogers
K.Eastwood
S.Law (C)
J.Moss
P.Emery (WK)
M.Malone
D.Cullen
M.Nicholson
P.Wilson
B.McGain
Superb #26 Stmookeyj
One test wonders.
Rock and Roll XI
Elvis Presley- the Memphis flash is used to being first out of the sheds. Not afraid of the spotlight.
Buddy Holly- another good ol’ country boy. Should have a good understanding with Elvis
James Brown- need versatility and the ability to carry the show? Look no further than Soul Brother Number 1
Mick Jagger- calculating, quick runner between wickets. Will always want to be captain.
Johnny Cash- a weighty middle order presence, needed to separate Jagger and Richards.
Keith Richards- swashbuckling batsman. Will argue frequently with Jagger about who’s captain
Keith Moon- will lay down a back beat no ball shall pass. Inclined to play up at after-match drinks.
Jerry Lee Lewis- tearaway quick. Bowls at furious pace. inclined to be erratic.
Chuck Berry- insistent, consistent fast medium. Knows all the tricks.
Little Richard- another tearaway. Occasional patches of divine inspiration.
Roy Orbison- the Big O flights his offies with loop and drama. Can’t bat.
Smokie88 #25
Isn’t that the team that won the World Cup in ’87?
#26
The second word gave it away.
We’d have to knock ’em over cheaply as there ain’t too much ability with the stick, but here goes
Eastwood
Joslin L
Dodemaide
Bright
Shepherd
Hastings
Tyson
Hughes
Miller
Gaunt
Hurst
MCR
#31…..
Great stuff, Mic.
And any game that team played would definitely be played at the Western Oval.
A good mate of mine played at Footscray for many years through the late 80’s and early 90’s.
I once asked him who were the best cricketers he had seen at that level. He named three:
Peter Young, an Essendon batsman who played some shield games; Simon Davis (who ended up
playing Test and one-day cricket for Australia: but towering above them all was A.I.C. Dodemaide. He reckoned “Dodders” was far and away Victoria’s best cricketer in that era.
#29…..
Correct again, JB.
That was back when one-day cricket had (a little more) meaning and interest.
Graeme WOOD
Bill WOODFULL
Frank WORRALL (c)
Mark WAUGH
Doug WALTERS
Steve WAUGH
Clyde WALCOTT (wk)
Shane WARNE
Max WALKER
Bob WILLIS
Courtney WALSH
12th man: Everton WEEKES
Ignore the first names and just read the side out loud as quickly as you can.
#32 – Smokie
Thanx
What’s was your mates name from the Dogs ?
Peter Young – Was he originaly from the Geelong area ? Very handy bat. Simon Davis & Andrew Scott formed a marvellous opening attack for Prahran in the early 80’s, at the same time we were able to call on the services of Dodemaide, Miller & Hughes. That attack would be quite a handful on the WO – New venue (Hughes Oval)is a bit more placid.
Have to keep it tight as I failed to nominate a keeper
MCR
Mic
as keeper, the one and only Rainer Reber would not be out of place in that line-up.
Mate’s name is Paul Burns, opened the batting for many years.
Gigs
Elmer Fudd would be in heaven.
F Martin
T Richardson
AE Hall
CV Grimmett
CS Marriott
K Farnes
AV Bedser
Mohammad Zahid
AL Valentine
JK Lever
ND Hirwani
4 or so others could have made this side. Who are they?
#35 – Smokie
Very handy bat Paul Burns. Would’ve opened the batting, at some stage, with Patrick Smith’s good mate Tony Paone.
Lindsay James ahead of RR for the gloveman position
MCR
Guess the theme here….
G.Gooch
M.Hayden
D.Bradman
R.Ponting (shhh, don’t tell anyone)
M.Crowe
N.Hussein
M.Greatbatch (wk – er, I think he kept once)
S.Warne
D.Lillee …eventually
C.Rackemann
D.Bollinger
M.Vaughan (12th)
Extended squad: Jayasuriya, Azharuddin, Sehwag
37. Flynn’s team: all took 10+ wickets in their first Test. (This side might require a bench of designated batsmen.)
39. Downer’s team: all were dropped at some time in their Test careers (mostly early) but came back. Dennis Amiss might also be worth considering… or is it something to do with hair replacement?
Cheers Tony,
Good get and appreciate the dearth in batting.
I deliberately omitted 2 Aussies.
PF
1. Mike Atherton
2. Justin Langer
3. Rod Marsh (wk)
4. Jimmy Adams
5. Mudassar Nazar
6. Mohammad Azharuddin
7. Chris Cairns
8. Anil Kumble
9. Fidel Edwards
10. Andy Roberts
11. Dale Steyn
Clue: Look at the surnames
40. Tony, nicely played – it was a “follicularly challenged” ensemble.
42. Tidy work Adam. A-L-M-A-N-A-C-K-E-R-S
Dips #16
May I respectfully nominate Roger Woolley ?
Actually, I can put Roger Wolley in hos own team
Roger Binny
Chris Rogers
Roger Harper
Roger Woolley (c)(wk)
Roger Federer
Roger Milla
Mat Rogers
Roger Merrett
Roger Dean
Roger Hayden
Roger Bannerman (to be used as a runner in the event of an earlier batsman being injured and requiring one)
12th man Roger Voudouris (OK he’s a muso, but I loved Get Used To It)
Coach/Trainer : Graeme Rogerson
Steve – It’s lucky they’re not a group of Air Force pilots otherwise communication would be very confusing!
#45 Whoops no.11 is Roger Bannister not Roger Bannerman (the early 60s rock star who liked a drop or two of acid)
I was hoping Roger Ramjet would get in as 12th man.
The Test debut of Cooper Connolly in the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, as well as the title of this article, got me thinking about Australian Test players who have a first name than can be a surname.
The criteria is that the first name and surname can only be used once.
Here is the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames:
Cameron Bancroft (wk)
Martin Kent
Graham Yallop
Dean Jones
Warwick Armstrong (c)
Hilton Cartwright
Cooper Connolly
Murray Bennett
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Scott Boland
12th man: Jackson Bird
This team will be a play an exhibition match against the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names:
Matthew Hayden
Mark Taylor (c)
Arthur Morris
Neil Harvey
Ian Craig
George Bailey
Matthew Wade (wi)
Jack Gregory
Brendon Julian
Greg Campbell
Adam Dale
12th man: John Dyson
The match will be played at a stadium with naming rights.
Entertainment will be provided by songs from Michael Jackson, George Michael, Elton John, Alice Cooper and Billy Joel.
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket, where every player will try to make a name for himself!
I forgot to mention Allan Border, who has now been included at number 6 for the Australian Test Team of First Names that can be Surnames.
I also forgot to mention Cameron Green, who has now been included at number 7 for the Australian Test of First Names that can be Surnames, and Hilton Cartwright has been demoted to 12th man for this team. He is a great fieldsman.
Cooper Connolly has been demoted to the Concussion sub for this team.
The venue for the match between the Australian Test Team of Players with First Names that can be Surnames and the Australian Test Team of Players that have Surnames that can be First Names will be Allan Border Field.
Following the excellent century by Alex Carey yesterday in the 1st innings of the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, he has now been included at number 7 in the batting line up for the Test Team of Surnames that can be First Names.
Carey will also be the wicket keeper for this team. Matthew Wade, with 4 Test centuries, can remain as a batsman only and will bat at number 6.
Ian Craig, with at Test batting average of less than 20, has been omitted and George Bailey can move up to bat at number 5.
Ian Craig can now be the Concussion sub for this team.
In further developments, Mickey Arthur will be the coach of the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names.
Cameron White, together with Simon Katich have been appointed as coaches for the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames. Simon can also be a surname as in Paul Simon, from Simon & Garfunkel. Simon Katich can also help out with the television commentary, leaving the coaching duties to Cameron White.
The umpires for the match will be Paul Reiffel (Paul can also be a surname, as in Tommy Paul, the tennis player currently ranked number 9 in the world in singles) and Peter Willey.
The television commentators for the match will be Alison Mitchell and Frank Tyson.
Bruce McAvaney will host the television coverage (Bruce can also be a surname as in Josh Bruce, the former GWS, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs AFL footballer).
Kevin Dennis will sponsor the match.
Anon, where would Glenn Maxwell line up ?
Re first names that can be surnames would Ross Edward(s) or Max(well) Walker be options?
Glen!
Yes, Glen, good pick up re Glenn Maxwell. I had thought of him myself and was thinking the same thing.
After careful consideration, for team balance, I have omitted Arthur Morris, who is now the concussion sub and included Glenn Maxwell. Therefore, the amended Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names is now:
Matthew Hayden
Mark Taylor (c)
Neil Harvey
Glenn Maxwell
George Bailey
Matthew Wade
Alex Carey (wk)
Jack Gregory
Brendon Julian
Greg Campbell
Adam Dale
12th man: John Dyson
Concussion sub: Arthur Morris
I had considered both Max(well) Walker and Ross Edward(s) and after careful consideration, I have decided to include both them in the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames. Ross can be a surname as in the BBL Adelaide Strikers cricketer Alex Ross.
Martin Kent has been omitted, although he can open. Bancroft was preferred to him for his wicket keeping and Ross Edwards was also preferred to Kent as an opener because of Ross Edwards better Test average and Edwards could also adapt to opening.
Murray Bennett was omitted and Allan Border can be the spinner. Glenn Maxwell can also be the spinner for the opposition, who also have four pace bowlers in their team.
Jackson Bird was also omitted and he can return to BBL duties.
Here is the amended Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames:
Cameron Bancroft (wk)
Ross Edwards
Graham Yallop
Dean Jones
Warwick Armstrong
Allan Border (c)
Cameron Green
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Max(well) Walker
Scott Boland
12th man: Hilton Cartwright
Concussion sub: Cooper Connolly
It’s been brought to my attention that I’m only allowed one Cameron as a first name for the amended Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames.
Therefore, I have kept Cameron Bancroft as the Test opener and wicketkeeper and left Cameron Green out of this team.
Cameron White can remain as the coach of this team as he is not part of the actual playing team on the field.
For team balance, Martin Kent has been brought back into this team as the other Test opener.
Ross Edwards can take Cameron Green’s place at number 7. Edwards will play as a batsman only, although he is an occasional wicketkeeper. Allan Border can still be the all rounder for this team and Glenn Maxwell is the all rounder for the other team.
The selectors of the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames have now decided to drop Martin Kent again from this team and he has been replaced by David Boon as the Test opener. David can be a surname as in Tim David.
Hilton Cartwright and Cooper Connolly will remain as 12th man and Concussion sub respectively for this team.
The amended Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames is:
David Boon
Cameron Bancroft (wk)
Graham Yallop
Dean Jones
Warwick Armstrong
Allan Border (c)
Ross Edwards
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Max(well) Walker
Scott Boland
12th man: Hilton Cartwright
Concussion sub: Cooper Connolly
Overall, on paper, this team looks stronger than the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names but upsets can always happen.
Unfortunately for Australia, who can forget this time last year when the West Indies upset Australia in a Test match in Australia!
Of course, with this pretend exhibition match, at least one Australian team will win, unless of course it’s a draw or a tie!
There’s now sensational news for the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames.
The one and only Don(ald) Bradman has been added to the team and he will bat at number 3 and be the new captain of this team. Donald can be a surname as in Allan Donald.
After careful consideration, the selectors have decided to omit Ross Edwards from the team. Although Ross Edwards was a superb cover fielder and had a slighter better Test batting average than Warwick Armstrong, the fact that Warwick Armstrong was a good all rounder in batting and bowling, meant that he was kept in the team and Armstrong can now bat at number 7,
Ross Edwards can now be the 12th man, because of his fielding.
Hilton Cartwright has now been dropped completely for this team. Instead, Cooper Connolly will remain as the Concussion sub because he would be a bit more adaptable to bat anywhere in the Test batting line up than Hilton Cartwright.
This is the amended Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames:
David Boon
Cameron Bancroft (wk)
Donald Bradman (c)
Graham Yallop
Dean Jones
Allan Border
Warwick Armstrong
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Max(well) Walker
Scott Boland
12th man: Ross Edwards
Concussion sub: Cooper Connolly
The changes keep coming for the better for the Australian Test Team of First Names that can be Surnames.
David Boon has been omitted as the Test opener and will be replaced by David Warner.
Cameron Bancroft has been dropped as the other Test opener and will be replaced by Simon Katich, a former Australian Test Opener. As mentioned previously, Simon can be a surname as in Paul Simon, from Simon & Garfunkel.
Therefore, Katich will no longer coach this team and will also no longer be part of the television commentary for this match. Cameron White will remain as the sole coach for this team.
Michael Clarke has replaced Graham Yallop in the team, at number 4. Michael can be a surname as in George Michael.
For team balance, Warwick Armstrong has been omitted and has been replaced at number 7 by Ian Healy, who will be the wicketkeeper for this team.
Cameron Green has now replaced Ross Edwards as the 12th man.
Ross Edwards has replaced Cooper Connolly as the Concussion Sub, as Edwards is not only versatile where he can bat, but can also be the wicketkeeper, in the event that Ian Healy should suffer concussion as the wicketkeeper.
Border and Clarke can also be the spin options for this team.
Here is the stronger amended Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames:
David Warner
Simon Katich
Donald Bradman (c)
Michael Clarke
Dean Jones
Allan Border
Ian Healy (wk)
Ryan Harris
Mitchell Starc
Max(well) Walker
Scott Boland
12th man: Cameron Green
Concussion Sub: Ross Edwards
I forgot to mention that the the reason Ian Healy was also selected as the wicketkeeper for the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames is because Ian can be a surname as in the singer, Janis Ian.
Anon if you wanted an Australian side from the 60’s which had surnames that could be first names, and ditto, you’d need to consider John Martin the left arm spinner from NSW.
In his debut series, the classic 1960-61 series against the Windies he announced himself to the test arena with a 3 wickets in 4 balls spell. He really didn’t go to any great heights after that though was a good bowler for NSW as well as playing 8 tests.
Glen!
Thank you Glen. For team balance, I was desperate to get a specialist spinner into the Australian Test Team of Surnames that Can Be First Names, for team balance and to help Glenn Maxwell, who would otherwise have bowled many overs of spin to the strong opposition batting line up.
The selectors have also agreed with you and John Martin has now been added to this team. Adam Dale has been omitted. John Martin will bat at number 10 and Greg Campbell will bat at number 11.
To be honest, I don’t like the chances of the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names beating the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames, but stranger things have happened!
Um ehrlich zu sein, mag ich die Chancen, dass das australische Testteam fur Nachnamen, die Vornamen sein konnen, das australische Testteam fur Vornamen, die Nachnamen sein konnen, schlagen nicht, aber es sind seltsamere Dinge passiert!
It’s quite obvious to me that the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names needs more help to try to dismiss the very strong batting lineup of the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames.
Who better than Dennis Lillee? Although not originally published, the criteria states that the spelling of the name doesn’t need to be exact, as long as it sounds the same. It also doesn’t matter if the name in question is more for a female than a male. Therefore, the name Lillee can be Lily, for the purpose of this team.
The exceptions are that plurals of names are not allowed. For example, Ross Edward(s) was only eligible for the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames. He wasn’t eligible for the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names because Edwards is a plural of the name Edward.
I have also included into this team as bowlers Graham McKenzie (Mackenzie as a first name as in the Melbourne Renegades cricketer Mackenzie Harvey, Brett Lee (Lee as a first name as in American singer Lee Kernaghan), Tim May (May or Mae as a feminine first name as in Mae West). Mike Whitney (Whitney as a feminine first name as in Whitney Houston) misses out on selection, as the other fast bowlers selected have better Test records.
Matthew Hayden had to be omitted as the Test opener for this team as it’s been brought to my attention that there was another Matthew in Matthew Wade already in this team. As you can only have 1 Matthew in the team, Matthew Wade, for team balance, was needed to bat in the middle order.
Bill Lawry (Laurie as a first name as in Laurie Serafini) just edges Arthur Morris out to replace Hayden as the Test opener for this team. Bill Lawry will also be mic’d up to provide television commentary for this match.
Arthur Morris can therefore remain as the Concussion sub.
George Bailey, the current chairman of selectors for the Australian men’s Test cricket team, has also given his input into selecting this team!
This is the amended stronger team of the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names:
Bill Lawry (Laurie)
Mark Taylor (c)
Neil Harvey
Glenn Maxwell
George Bailey
Matthew Wade
Alex Carey (wk)
Brett Lee
Tim May
Dennis Lillee (Lily)
Graham McKenzie (Mackenzie)
12th Man: John Dyson
Concussion sub: Arthur Morris
This is certainly a much stronger team on paper. It lacks the middle order batting depth of the opposition but it now makes for a more competitive exhibition Test match between the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames and the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names.
Entertainment will also be provided by the song, C’Mon Aussie C’Mon!”
Fur Unterhaltsung sorgt auberdem der Song ‘C’Mon Aussie C’Mon!”
I forgot to mention that Taylor (Taylor can also be a surname) Swift will also be a part of either the pre match or halftime (lunchtime) entertainment!
Iche habe vergessen zu erwahnen, dass Taylor (Taylor kann auch ein Nachnamen sein) auch Teil der Virspiel-oder Halbzeitunterhaltung (Mittagsunterhaltung) sein weird!
Oh je, ein Fehler Anon.
You mention, (Lee, as a first name as in American singer Lee Kernaghan). My mother recalled Lee’s grandfather droving stock through the streets of Corowa. They were a family of drovers. Lee Kernaghan himself was born up on the Murray.
Glen!
Yes, Glen, my apologies. I should have known better that Lee Kernaghan is Australian, not American, especially with the four ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) Music Awards he has won. Unfortunately, country music is not my forte. You’re right, according to Wiki, Lee Kernaghan’s grandfather was a third generation drover of sheep and cattle.
From what I can gather, the only American connection that Lee Kernaghan has is in 1986, Kernaghan traveled to the United States to represent Australia at the Nashville ‘Fan Fair’ country music festival.
Soweit ich weiB, besteht die einzige American is he Verbindung, die Lee Kernaghan hat, Darin, dass Kernaghan 1996 in die Vereinigten Staaten registered, um Australian beim Country-Musikfestival “Fan Fair” in Nashville zu vertreten.
Getting back to one of the late inclusions in the Australian Test team of Surnames that can be Surnames, being Dennis Lillee, his surname of course is mentioned at the beginning of “C’Mon Aussie C’Mon”, as is Mr Walker.
There’s also “Lily (Lily is the first name used for Lillee for this team) of Leguna”, which of course is now used as the tune for the Carlton Football Club song.
I forgot to mention that Lee Kernaghan himself can also be part of the pre match entertainment for the pretend exhibition match at Allan Border Field between the Australian Test Team of First Names That Can Be Surnames and the Australian Test Team of Surnames That Can Be First Names.
His first name of Lee can be a surname, as in Brett Lee, the former Australian (I made sure I typed Australian, not American this time) Test cricketer, Brett Lee.
The recent debut of Hudson O’Keeffe from Carlton got me thinking of doing an equivalent football team, where the players’ first names can also be surnames.
Preference was given to players currently playing in the AFL, as it was more common, and the first names could only be used once in the team.
The name Aliir Aliir is eligible for this team and some players have been named out of position, so they can be included in this team.
Any player with Jack as a first name could have been used, as Kieren Jack was an AFL footballer with a surname of Jack.
This is the AFL team of First Names that can be Surnames:
B: Lawson Humphries (Geel), Darcy Moore (Coll), Jackson Archer (NM)
HB: Steele Sidebottom (St K), Harris Andrews (BL), Hunter Clark (St K)
C: Ryan Byrnes (St Kilda), Jordan Dawson (Syd/Ad) (c), Bailey Smith (WB/Geel)
HF: Thomson Dow (Rich), Oliver Dempsey (Geelong), Jack Billings (St K/Melb)
F: Logan Morris (BL), Cooper Sharman (St Kilda), Hudson O’Keeffe (Carl)
R: Reilly O’Brien (Adel), Harley Reid (WC), Taylor Adams (GWS/Coll/Syd)
Coach: Ross Lyon (St K/Frem)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against an AFL Team of Surnames that can be First Names:
B: Caleb Daniel (WB/NM), Sam Taylor (GWS), Dougal Howard (PA/St K)
HB: Mitch Duncan (Geel), Tom Stewart (Geel), Joel Jeffery (Gold Coast)
C: Farren Ray (WB/St K/NM), Jack Ross (Rich), Bailey Scott (North M)
HF: Jack Graham (Rich/WC), Oliver Henry (Co/Ge), Nic Martin (Ess)
F: Charlie Cameron (Ad/BL), Jeremy Cameron (GWS/Ge), Bailey Laurie (Melb)
R: Rhys Stanley (St K/Geel), Clayton Oliver (Melb), Tom Mitchell (Syd/Haw/Coll)
Coach: Chris Scott (Geel)
Venue: Any stadium with naming rights
Entertainment: Sings from Billy Joel, Elton John, Alice Cooper, George Michael and Michael Jackson
Let’s hope for a good game of football where every player can make a name for themselves!
Firstly, there was a typing error. In the AFL team of First Names that can be surnames, Steele Sidebottom plays for Collingwood, not St Kilda. I’m sure St Kilda want him playing for them, just like when Gary Sidebottom and Alan Sidebottom played for St Kilda many years ago.
The selectors have decided to include Tyson Stengle (Adel/Rich/Geel) on the half forward flank of the AFL Team of First Names that can be Surnames, instead of Jack Billings.
Miles Bergman has been added to the back pocket for the AFL Team of First Names that can be Surnames. Jackson Archer has been demoted to the interchange bench with Jack Billings.
Following the selection of Australia’s Test team a few days ago for the upcoming Ashes Test series against November, it got me thinking of doing an Australian Test team, where they every player has ASH or ASHES somewhere in his first name, surname or in any combination of his first and surname.
The first name and surname can only be used once and presence was given to those players who had performed the best in Test cricket.
This is the Australian Test Team of Ash/Ashes:
Arthur Morris (A in first name/S in surname/H in first name)
Usman Khawaja (A in surname/S in first name/H in surname)
Marnus Labuschagne (ASHE in surname/S in first name)
Lindsay Hassett (ASHE in surname/S in in first name)
Michael Hussey (A in 1st name/SH in surname)
Steve Waugh (c) (A in 1st name/S in first name/H in surname)
Adam Gilchrist (wk) (A in first name/SH in surname)
Ryan Harris (ASH in surname)
Mitchell Starc (AS in surname/H in first name)
Shane Warne (ASH in first name)
Josh Hazelwood (A in surname/DH in first name)
12th man: Travis Head (AS in first name/H in surname)
Concussion Sub: Greg Matthews (ASH in surname)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against the equivalent England Test team of Ash/Ashes:
Marcus Trescothick (AS in first name/HES in surname)
Peter Richardson (34 Tests England 1956-63/ASH in surname)
Mark Ramprakash (ASH in surname)
Nasser Hussain (c) (ASH in surname/ES in first name)
Owais Shah (6 Tests England 2006-09/ASH in surname)
Alex Hales (wk) (11 Tests England 2015-16/ASH in surname)
Ashley Giles (ASH in first name/ES in surname)
Abdil Rashid (19 Tests England 2015-19/ASH in surname)
Phil De Freitas (AS in surname/H in first name)
Steve Harmison (ASH in surname/ES in first name)
Brian Statham (70 Tests England 1951-65/ASH in surname)
12th man: Richard Dawson (7 Tests England 2001-03/AS in surname name//H in 1st name)
Venue: Perth Stadium (AS in second name/H in first name)
Entertainment: The song “Ashes to Ashes”, by David Bowie and “CMon Aussie C’Mon”, by Mojo Singers
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket and as Australia is much stronger on paper than England, let’s hope that Australia retain the Ashes!
The fact that England’s 1st Test Team in Perth contained the names of Jamie Smith and Mark Wood reminded me that Australia also have Smith and Wood surnames that have played Test cricket, such as Steve Smith and Graeme Wood.
It got me thinking of doing a cricket team where the surnames of each player has been the same surname for both Australia and England in Test matches.
This is the Australian Test Team of the Same Surnames that have represented both Australia and England:
Mark Taylor
Graeme Wood
Dean Jones
Steve Smith (c)
Michael Clarke
Keith Miller
Cameron White (4 Tests Australia 2008)
Richie Robinson (wk) (3 Tests Australia 1977)
James Pattinson (21 Tests Australia 2011-20)
Mitchell Johnson
Glenn McGrath
12th man: Simon Cook (2 Tests Australia 1997)
Concussion Sub: Joe Burns (23 Tests Australia 2014-20)
This is the England Test Team of the Same Surnames that have represented both England and Australia:
Alastair Cook (c)
Rory Burns (32 Tests England 2018-22)
Jamie Smith (15 Tests England 2024-present)
Craig White (30 Tests England 1994-02)
Anthony McGrath (4 Tests England 2003)
Rikki Clarke (2 Tests England 2003)
Geoff Miller
Bob Taylor (wk)
Mark Wood (37 Tests England 2015-present)
Simon Jones (18 Tests England 2002-05)
Ollie Robinson (20 Tests England 2021-24)
12th man: Richard Johnson (3 Tests England 2003)
Concussion Sub: Darren Pattinson (1 Test England 2008)
These teams will play a pretend exhibition match against each other.
Venue: Keith Miller Oval, Sunshine
Entertainment: “The Name of the Game”, by ABBA
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket, where every player can make a name for themselves!
The recent passing of England Test Cricketer Robin Smith got me thinking of doing a cricket team of Smiths, as a tribute. Hyphenated names with Smith are allowed.
This is the Test Cricket Team of Smiths:
Graeme Smith (c)
M.J.K. Smith (50 Tests England 1958-72)
Robin Smith
Steve Smith
Jamie Smith (16 Tests England 2024-present)
Collie Smith (26 Test Windies 1954/55-1957/58)
Ian Smith (wk)
Peter Smith (4 Tests England 1946-47)
Jim Smith (5 Tests England 1935-37)
Chuck Fleetwood-Smith (10 Tests Australia 1935-38)
Mike Smith (1 Test England 1997)
12th man: Dwayne Smith (10 Tests West Indies 2004-06)
Concussion Sub: Devon Smith (43 Tests West Indies 2003-18)
This team will play 2 pretend exhibition matches against the Test Cricket Team of Taylors:
Mark Taylor (c)
Johnny Taylor (20 Tests Australia 1920-26)
Ross Taylor
Herbie Taylor (42 Tests South Africa 1912-32)
James Taylor (7 Tests England 2012-16)
Brendan Taylor (35 Tests Zimbabwe 2004-present)
Bruce Taylor (30 Tests New Zealand 1965-73)
Bob Taylor (wk)
Peter Taylor (13 Tests Australia 1987-91)
Jerome Taylor (46 Tests West Indies 2003-16)
Paul Taylor (2 Tests England 1993-94)
12th man: Michael Taylor (Although he didn’t play Test cricket, he’s been given permission 75 FC Vic/Tas 1977/78-1988/89)
Venues: Tailor Cricket Academy & Ground, Jaipur, India & H.G. Smith Oval, Parkville
Entertainment: Songs from Taylor Swift, James Taylor and Sam Smith
Let’s hope for good games of cricket that are tailor-made and where every player can live up to their name!
The sledging in the recently completed 2nd Ashes Test in Brisbane between Joffra Archer (Archery) and Steve Smith got me thinking of doing a cricket team where every player’s surname has something to do with a different sport.
This is the World Cricket Team of Surnames that resemble another sport:
Graeme Wood (Woodchopping)
Jonathan Trott (Harness Racing)
Lawrence Rowe (Rowing)
Cameron Green (Golf)
David Hookes (Boxing)
Warwick Armstrong (c) (Weightlifting)
Ben Dunk (wk) (5 T20s Australia 2014-17/Basketball)
Max Walker (Race Walking)
Ashley Mallett (Croquet)
Joffra Archer (Archery)
Josh Hull (1 Test England 2024/Sailing)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against a World Cricket Team of Names of Types of Cards.
Venue: Any Sports Stadium
Entertainment: “The Name of the Game”, by ABBA
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket where every player will be a good sport!
Moin Anon, wie geht es dir?
If you’d like an all rounder who can participate in many sports how about Jake Ball, the English medium pacer? His surname is applicable for a whole gamut of sports.
Glen!
Mir geht es gut, Glen, dance. Yes, good pick up Glen. To be honest, I had thought about Jake Ball. The reason I didn’t include him is because as you mentioned, ball relates to many different sports and I wasn’t sure which one to pick, although soccer would have been the favourite, as soccer is very big in England and the English players have been warming up before play, with soccer balls.
If this team was short of recognised bowlers, like other teams in the past, I would have definitely picked him. Also, I have just checked Jake Ball’s bowling Test average and after playing 4 Tests for England from 2016-17, it was 3 Test wickets at an unflattering average of 114.33 and his Test batting average was 8.37. Ball, at the age of 34, currently still plays for Somerset, but it appears his Test playing days are over.
However, Ben Dunk, the wicketkeeper, never played Test cricket, which is why it’s a World Cricket Team, as opposed to a World Test Cricket Team. Dunk, of course, was also a wicketkeeper in the Big Bash league. He was selected as the wicketkeeper in this team because there were no Test wicketkeepers I could find where their surname resembled another sport. Dunk will also be a handy batsman, batting at number 7 for this team.
Josh Hull, aged 21, was also selected ahead of Jake Ball in the starting 11, as Hull took 3 Test wickets in his only Test match to date in 2024, at an average of 30.33, and his Test batting average was 9.
Anyway, Jake Ball can be 12th man for the World Cricket Team of Surnames that resemble another sport/s.
Firstly, I meant to type danke not dance at the start of my last comment.
I had also thought about John Snow as I was making the team but didn’t think that snow itself related to any sport. However, upon further consideration, the selectors have decided to include Snow because of the various sports on snow in the Winter Olympics. After all, Green was included as Golf.
I also thought about Matthew Wade previously but a wading pool wasn’t a sport for swimming. However, Wade Fishing is definitely considered a sport, an immersive form of angling where you stand in the water (fresh or saltwater) to fish, offering a unique, skill-based challenge by getting you closer to the fish, requiring self-sufficiency, and involving physical exertion, observation, and precise casting in shallow waters like flats or streams, making it a true test of angling skill.
As Matthew Wade has now replaced Ben Dunk as the wicketkeeper, this team has now become a World Test Cricket Team, instead of a World Cricket Team.
I had previously thought of Doug RING (13 Tests Australia 1948-53/Boxing) but his Test batting average off 22 was below that of the other all rounders in Cameron Green and Warwick Armstrong. However, Ring can now be the Concussion Sub, as he’s more versatile than Josh Hull and Jake Ball to bat anywhere in the batting order. Ring will also be the cricket radio commentator for this match.
This is the Amended World Test Cricket Team of Surnames that Resemble Other Sports:
Graeme WOOD (Woodchopping)
Jonathan TROTT (Harness Racing)
Lawrence ROWE (Rowing)
Cameron GREEN (Golf)
David HOOKES (Boxing)
Warwick ARMSTRONG (c) (Weightlifting)
Matthew WADE (wk) (Wade Fishing)
Max WALKER (Race Walking)
John SNOW (Skiing)
Ashley MALLETT (Croquet)
Joffra ARCHER (Archery)
12th man: Josh Hull (Sailing)
Concussion Sub: Doug RING (Boxing)
Another Test player who missed selection for this team was Matthew FISHER (fast medium bowler 1 Test England 2022/Fishing).
First class cricketers who previously missed selection include Ian FISHER (all rounder Yorkshire/Gloucestershire/Warwickshire 1996-2009/Fishing) and Gary PUTLAND (26 FC South Australia 2005/06-2015/16/Golf).
Jesse RYDER (18 Tests New Zealand 2008-11/Equestrian Sports Rider) has replaced David Hookes at number 5 in the batting order, as Ryder had a better batting Test average and made more Test centuries than Hookes.
Entertainment will also be provided by the songs “Sailing”, by Christopher Cross and Rod Stewart and “Up There Cazaly”, by Mike Brady.
Now that there are enough players, the pretend exhibition match will now be between the Best and Second Best Teams, the latter team containing some first class cricketers only.
This is the Best World Test Cricket Team of Surnames That Resemble Other Sports:
Graeme WOOD (Woodchopping)
Jonathan TROTT (Harness Racing)
Lawrence ROWE (Rowing)
Cameron GREEN (Golf)
Jesse RYDER (Equestrian)
Warwick ARMSTRONG (c) (Weightlifting)
Matthew WADE (wk) (Wade Fishing)
Max WALKER (Race Walking)
John SNOW (Skiing)
Ashley MALLETT (Croquet)
Joffra ARCHER (Archery)
This is the next Best World Cricket Team of Surnames That Resemble Other Sports:
Ken ARCHER (5 Tests Australia 1959-51/ARCHER)
Will JACKS (Lawn Bowls)
David HOOKES (c) (Boxing)
Ron ARCHER (19 Tests Australia 1953-56/ARCHERY)
Doug RING (Boxing)
Ian FISHER (Yorkshire/Gloucestershire/Worcestershire 1996-2009/Fishing)
Ben DUNK (wk) (5 T20s Australia 2014-17/Basketball)
Matthew FISHER (1 Test England 2022/Fishing)
Jake BALL (4 Tests England 2016-17/Soccer)
Josh HULL (1 Test England 2024/Sailing)
Gary PUTLAND (26 FC South Australia 2005/06-2015/16/Golf)
Once again, let’s hope for a good game of cricket and any spectator who behaves badly will be considered to be a spoilsport!
The recent publicity in the media of England spending time in Noosa Heads (Travis Head), got me thinking of doing a cricket team where every player’s surname or resembles the name or part of the name of either a suburb, town, bay, island or peninsula in Australia.
The spelling doesn’t matter, as long as it sounds the same. The player’s surname can only be used once.
This is the Australian Test Cricket Team of Surnames that Resemble Suburbs, Towns, Bays, Islands or Peninsulas in Australia:
Graeme WOOD (WOOD WOOD/town in the rural city of Swan Hill, Victoria)
Travis HEAD (Noosa HEADS/coastal town Sunshine Coast, Queensland)
Shane WATSON (WATSON’S Bay/Harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney)
Neil HARVEY (HERVEY Bay/city on coast of Fraser Coast region of Queensland)
Wayne B. PHILLIPS (27 Tests Australia 1983-86/PHILLIP Island/Island in Victoria)
Allan BORDER (c) (BORDERTOWN/town in South Australia)
Rod MARSH (wk) (Bacchus MARSH/town in Victoria)
James FAULKNER (1 Test Australia 2013/FAWKNER/suburb in Melbourne, Victoria)
Paul WILSON (1 Test Australia 1998/WILSON’S Promontory/peninsula in Victoria)
Simon COOK (2 Tests Australia 1997/Point COOK/suburb in Melbourne, Victoria)
Greg CAMPBELL (4 Tests Australia 1989-90/Port CAMPBELL/seaside village in Victoria)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against the best World Test Cricket Team of Surnames That Resemble Other Sports.
Venue: BC Place (Multi-purpose stadium in Vancouver, Canada)
Entertainment: The song “From St Kilda to Kings Cross”, by Paul Kelly and “Along the Road to Gundagai”, by Slim Dusty
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket, where every player will go places!
Moin Anon.
Could Rick Darling carry the drinks? He can represent Darlinghurst.
Glen!
Yes, good pick up Glen. I was also thinking of Alan Hurst for Darlinghurst too, but he can represent Hurstville.
Alan Hurst (Hurstville) can be the 12th man and Rick Darling (Darlinghurst) can be the Concussion Sub because a concussion sub needs to be more versatile in the batting order,.
The current Almanac Music Theme of “Carnivalesque” – Songs Referencing Carnivals, Circuses, Parades and the Like, got me thinking of doing an equivalent cricket team of that particular theme.
The player’s first name or surname can represent that theme in some way. The spelling doesn’t matter, as long as it sounds the same.
This is the World Test Cricket Team of Carnivals, Circuses, Parades and the Like:
Grant FLOWER (Flower Festivals)
Julien WIENER (ShnitzFest at Schnitz/Wiener Schnitzel)
Ian BELL (Carnival Bell Ringers)
Andy FLOWER (c) (Flower Festivals)
Jesse RYDER (18 Tests NZ 2008-11/Carnival Rides)
Alan KNOTT (wk) (Knotfest Music Festival)
ASHTON Agar (5 Tests Australia 2013-2023/Ashton’s Circus)
Doug RING (13 Tests Australia 1948-53/Circus Ring)
Jackson BIRD (9 Tests Australia 2012-17/Bird Festivals)
Joffra ARCHER (Acrobatic Archery in the Circus)
Michael BEER (2 Tests Australia 2011-12/Beer Festivals)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against the Australian Test Cricket Team of Surnames that Resemble Suburbs, Towns, Bays, Islands or Peninsulas in Australia, named in the above comment.
Venue: Sydney Showground Stadium
Entertainment: The song “The Carnival Is Over”, by The Seekers
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket that has a carnival atmosphere!
Following the Australian Test Cricket Team wearing black armbands during the recently completed 3rd Ashes Test, to show respect for the victims of the barbaric terrorist act in Bondi, got me thinking of doing a cricket team where every player’s surname or part of their surname represents peace in some way, a profession that is meant to represent peace, such as the police or religious positions, or has law in the surname.
The surname can only be used once, but not the idea. The spelling doesn’t matter, as long as it sounds the same.
This is the World Test Cricket Team of Peace:
Harry MAKEPEACE (4 Tests England 1920-21/Make Peace)
Craig SERJEANT (c) (12 Tests Australia 1977-78/Sergeant)
Ollie POPE (wk) (64 Tests England 2018-present/Pope)
David SHEPPARD (22 Tests England 1950-63/became Church of England Bishop)
Stuart LAW (1 Test Australia 1995/Law and Peace)
Collis KING (9 Tests WI 1976-80/King’s Peace)
Malcolm MARSHALL (Police Marshal)
Geoff LAWSON (Law as part of the surname)
Mark PRIEST (3 Tests New Zealand 1990-98/Priest)
Fred TRUEMAN (True Man of Peace)
Ian BISHOP (43 Tests WI 1989-98/Bishop)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against the World Test Cricket Team of War/Violence:
Michael SLATER (Charged for Domestic Violence/Stalking)
Mark BUTCHER (71 Tests England 1997-04/Butcher)
Joe BURNS (23 Tests Australia 2014-20/Burn)
George GUNN (15 Tests England 1907-30/Gun)
Steve WAUGH (c) (Surname sounds like WAR)
Ben STOKES (Stoke can mean to incite)
Andrew FLINTOFF (Pro Boxing fight in 2012)
Billy MURDOCH (wk) (19 Tests Australia 1877-92/Part of surname Murd for Murder)
Andrew HOLLIOAKE (4 Tests England 1997-98/Pro Boxing Fight 2012)
Paul REIFFEL (35 Tests Australia 1992-98/Rifle)
Joffra ARCHER (18 Tests England 2019-present/Archers in War)
Venue: The Valley of Peace Cricket Club, Christchurch, New Zealand
Entertainment: The songs “Peace Train”, by Cat Stevens and “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”, by John Lennon
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket where every player will keep the peace!
The recent publicity in the media about Bazball (named after England Cricket Coach Brendan McCallum) and now Ronball (named after Australian Cricket Coach Andrew McDonald) got me thinking about doing a composite cricket team where every player’s first name or surname or part of every player’s first name or surname has either Ron, Barry or Ball somewhere consecutively in their name.
Both Brendan McCallum and Andrew McDonald were included in this team as well, as Bazball and Ronball were named after them respectively. Barry was chosen as a first name for some of the players as Baz is more common as a nickname for the name Barry.
Several former Australian Test players with Ron as a first name were overlooked, as preference was given to players who performed better at Test level. The side was also picked for team balance.
This is the Composite World Test Cricket Team of Ronball and Bazball in Name:
CAMERON Bancroft (10 Tests Australia 2017-19/Ron at end of first name)
AARON Finch (5 Tests Australia 2018/Ron at end of first name)
BARRY Shepherd (9 Tests Australia 1963-65)
Brendan McCULLUM (c) (England Coach whom Bazball is named after)
CAMERON Green (Ron at end of first name)
Andrew McDONALD (Australian Coach whom Ronball is named after)
RON Archer (19 Tests Australia 1953-56/Ron as first name)
CAMERON White (4 Tests Australia 2008/Ron at end of first name)
BARRY Jarman (wk) (19 Tests Australia 1959-69/Barry as first name)
Jake BALL (4 Tests England 2016-17/Ball for Bazball/Ronball as surname)
Bert IRONMONGER (14 Tests Australia 1928-33/Ron hidden at start of surname)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against the World Test Cricket Team of Carnivals, Circuses, Parades and the Like, named in these comments on December 21, 2025, because Geoffrey Boycott characterised “Bazball” as a “circus act”.
Venue: RON Field Oval, Wellington Point, Brisbane
Entertainment: The song “Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)” by the Crystals and songs from The Ronettes
Let’s hope for an entertaining game of cricket where both Bazball and Ronball are on show.
The current publicity in the media regarding the state of the MCG pitch in the recently completed 4th Ashes Test at the MCG, got me thinking about doing a cricket team where either every player’s first name, surname or nickname or part of every player’s first name, surname or nickname has got something to do with a type of cricket pitch, a former groundsman at a cricket ground or something that can be done on a type of cricket pitch.
The spelling doesn’t matter, as long as it sounds the same.
This is the World Test Cricket Team of Names That Have Something to do with a Type of Cricket Pitch:
Alan TURNER (14 Tests Australia 1975-77/Turning Pitch)
Cameron GREEN (Green Pitch)
Jonty RHODES (“Roads” Flat Pitch)
David HOOKES (Play Hook Shot on Bouncy Pitch)
HARDIK Panya (11 Tests India 2017-18/Hard Pitch)
Courtney BROWNE (wk) (20 Tests WI 1995-97/Brown/Dry Pitch)
Geoff Miller (nickname “DUSTY” 34 Tests England 1976-84/Dusty Pitch)
Wasim Akram (c) (nickname “Sultan of SWING”/Grass cover pitch to help swing bowling)
Nathan Lyon (former groundsman at Adelaide Oval)
Freidel de WET (2 Tests South Africa 2009-10/Wet Pitch)
Mitchell SWEPSON (4 Tests Australia 2022/Sweep shot on turning pitch)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match against a World Test Cricket Team that are only good on playing on “roads”.
Venue: Pitcher Park, Alphington, Melbourne
Entertainment: Songs from the film “Pitch Perfect”
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket that will reach fever pitch!
The number of cricket articles in the Footy Almanac during the current Ashes series got me thinking of doing a Test Cricket team where every player’s surname or part of every player’s surname is the same or resembles the name or surname of their equivalent FA namesakes, who either has their own articles and/or contributes to comments in articles in the FA.
The spelling doesn’t matter, as long as it sounds the same. The cricketer’s surname can only be used once. The side was selected for team balance.
This is the World Test Cricket Team of Footy Almanac Contributions:
Geoff BOYCOTT (Rodney Boyd/Boy as part of surname)
Mark BUTCHER (71 Tests England 1997-2004/Glenn Butcher)
Kusal MENDIS (75 Tests Sri Lanka 2015-present/Philip Mendes)
Greg RITCHIE (30 Tests Australia 1982-87/Colin Ritchie)
Derek RANDALL (47 Tests England 1977-84/Mickey Randall)
Allan BORDER (c) (the whole name resembles Allan Barden)
Jamie SMITH (wk) (19 Tests England 2024-present/George Smith)
Simon O’DONNELL (6 Tests Australia 1985/Dips O’Donnell)
Steve HARMISON (63 Tests England 2002-09/John Harms/Harms hidden in part of surname)
Sam GANNON (3 Tests Australia 1977-78/Anon hidden in part of surname)
Simon DAVIS (1 Test Australia 1986/Glen Davis)
12th man: Joe DENLY (15 Tests England 2019-20/surname resembles Kevin Densley)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match a team of professional sports/music writers that have a surname that is the same as or resembles a Test cricketer’s surname.
Umpire: Paul WILSON (1 Test Australia 1998/Umpired 8 Tests 2019-2023/Ian Wilson)
Venue: Authors Cricket Club, Lords
Entertainment: The songs “Paperback Writer”, by The Beatles and “I Write The Songs”, by Barry Manilow.
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket that will be something to write home about!
As today is New Year’s Day, it got me thinking of doing a New Australian Test Cricket Team, to be selected from the Newest Australian Test players, who made their Test debuts for Australia from 2020 onward. This includes Test player numbers 459 to 473. In brackets next to the players’ names are their player numbers in order of their debut.
The team was selected for team balance. Will Pucovski, who made his Test debut during this period was completely overlooked, as he is unfortunately no longer playing top level cricket anymore, due to repeated concussions. Mitchell Swepson was the other unlucky player not included.
This is the Australian Test Cricket Team of their Newest Players:
Sam Kostas (468)
Jake Weatherald (473)
Nathan McSweeney (467)
Cameron Green (459)
Alex Carey (c) (wk)
Josh Inglis (470)
Beau Webster (469)
Michael Neser (462)
Todd Murphy (463)
Scott Boland (463)
Brendan Doggett (472)
12th man: Matthew Kuhnemann (466)
Concussion Sub: Cooper Connolly (471)
This team will play a pretend exhibition match on New Year’s Day against the Australian ODI team that are famous for winning a one day match against the West Indies exactly 30 years ago on 1st January, 1996, against the odds.
Venue: Newlands Cricket Ground
Entertainment: The song “New Year’s Day”, by U2
Let’s hope for a good game of cricket to celebrate the New Year.