The best eleven I have seen

Using the same selection criteria as Stephen Malkin, whose idea it was, here is the best county eleven of my time watching Derbyshire.

Kim Barnett
Peter Bowler
John Morris
Wayne Madsen
Chris Adams
Eddie Barlow (captain)
Dominic Cork
Geoff Miller
Bob Taylor
Mike Hendrick
Harold Rhodes

There are some wonderful players who have given me great pleasure and entertainment outside that eleven. I would have loved to include Billy Godleman, several other overseas stars, Ole Mortensen, Devon Malcolm, Graeme Welch and many more, but of course you can only play eleven.

The batting largely picks itself and what a top six! Most of my vintage will pick Barnett, Bowler, Morris and Adams, while Wayne Madsen has played some astonishing innings for us, over many years. The ebullient Barlow, a game-changer and captain nonpareil at six, before two contrasting England all-rounders.

The greatest of them all behind the timbers and his number of victims would grow with an opening attack of Hendrick and Rhodes. I enjoyed all of Mike's career, while in seeing only the last few years of Harold's, realising what a bowler he must have been in his absolute prime.

Bowling? After those two there's Cork and Barlow, Miller for the spin and Madsen, along with Barnett, for support.

If I had four days of cricket watching left, I would take that side, all in their prime, to handle anything thrown at it.

MY Derbyshire. As usual, I welcome your comments, if only to say what an awesome team that would be.

PS I would have Fred Swarbrook as my twelfth man. A character, a very good spinner, dogged batsman and top professional. There might be the odd game when we needed a second spinner and Fred, in his pomp, was very good indeed.