An eleven I would have loved to see

I have often been asked over the years in which I have written this blog what my best Derbyshire side would be from those I have seen.

I recently offered an eleven of players I enjoyed watching, rather than necessarily the best, which I have done a few times

It made me think that I should offer eleven players who I would most have wanted to see in their prime. I can't really present it as a playing eleven, because given our history, there are more bowlers than batters. But here you go. As always I would welcome your own thoughts

Les Jackson

I saw him once, in a match against the International Cavaliers at Chesterfield in 1968, but he had been retired for several years and was 47 years old. He still managed to bowl his nine overs straight, for just 19 runs, taking the wickets of South African dasher Fred Goldstein, as well as Geoffrey Boycott. A benchmark player for my old Dad; every seamer since he would say to me 'he's good - but he is no Les Jackson'

Cliff Gladwin

He played his last county game in August 1958 and I was born the following month. Bad timing on my part! Feisty and combative, his strength, according to contemporaries, was to be able to bowl a ball that only started to swing half way down the pitch, not from the hand. But besides that inswinger, he had a lethal leg cutter, and sometimes managed to swing it in THEN cut it away. 

Not especially quick, but a real handful in helpful conditions. There were plenty of those when pitches were uncovered

George Pope

Another real competitor, with many stories to attest to that. Tall and strong, capable of powerful runs as well as awkward, probing bowling, he would have been a joy to watch and to skipper. 

To think we won the title in 1936 largely without him, because of a knee injury. One of the best all rounders and another who finished too soon

Stan Worthington

A powerful bat, good enough to play for England when there were plenty of options, a very handy seam bowler who reduced his workload as others came to the fore. Walter Goodyear told me he was a 'grand fella' - as well as being an excellent mechanic, which helped out Walter a few times! 

Close to 20,000 runs and 700 wickets. A serious player.

Les Townsend

A genuine all rounder, probably the most consistent, hard hitter of the pre-war period. Also an excellent off spin bowler who would have had many caps for England had it not been for the many others in that period. Tom Mitchell used to bowl at him in the nets then run away, so powerful was his driving..

Based on his record, a serious rival to Geoff Miller in an all-time county eleven

Tom Mitchell

Lots to love about a good leggie! Tom was one of the best, but very aware of the value of money and very much his own man, so hard to handle at times. He could have returned after the war, but opted for the job security and money down the pit. Had spells when he was quite ordinary, but when the muse took him he could run through sides - and frequently did.

If I write another book, Tom would be a strong contender for the subject, as he was a fascinating character!

Bill Bestwick

Probably not fast in the modern sense, but quick enough and awkward. Not the easiest man to handle, when he was in drink, but if his captain got him on to the pitch he was happy to bowl long spells and frequently had to. I think of Bill when I see Joe Leach of Worcestershire bowl, he's the closest I can imagine him being in the modern game.

Mick Pope's brilliant biography of him is an essential read.

George Davidson

Another lively character who died tragically young, but what a player he must have been! Widely reckoned to have been the man to keep Derbyshire as a first class county in the late nineteenth century. Probing, penetrative bowler from a curving run up, hard hitting bat and never short of a pithy word or comment. Definitely worth the price of admission. I wrote a lengthy piece on his career and tragic end here

Levi Wright

The finest Derbyshire bat of the early period and apparently a graceful accumulator at a time when we didn't have too many. Often the burden of runs fell heavily on him, but he was a consistent scorer who lived longer than most of his age, surviving to the ripe old age of 91. There is a longer read about him here

Arnold Hamer

Another bat who carried the side over the years, he scored so heavily against Nottinghamshire, in particular that their bowlers would often, half jokingly, offer to buy his wicket for a half century before the start of play.

Powerful, stylish, prolific. Not especially an athlete but it didn't matter too much when he brought other things to the party. With one more quality bat to take pressure from him, we would have won titles in the 1950s.

William Mycroft

Of course, the game was different then, but he took 863 wickets at just 12 runs each. Maybe he did throw his fast, left arm yorkers, or maybe he was just too quick for opponents keen to apportion blame for their dismissal.

Took five wickets in an innings 87 times and is one of only two players to take 17 wickets in a match and still be on the losing side...

One of the benefits of advancing years is that I have had the opportunity to watch many outstanding players over the last half century and more. 

Those players would have been special to watch live. But be assured there are plenty in the current county ranks who in years to come you'll be able to talk about with equal reverence and great fondness.