The identity of Goring’s All-Time League 1st XI has been a hotly debated topic over the years. Here is my take on the age old discussion.
No 1: Ollie Carrier. Over 3400 1st XI Runs at an average of 26.2 including 16 half centuries and 4 centuries. Best of 120*. Captained the 1st XI in 5 seasons.
No 2: John Pickering. Over 1500 1st XI runs at an average of 39.6 including 13 half centuries and 1 century. Best of 106.
No 3: Graham Nicholson. Average of 34.8 in the 1s including a best of 134*. 3964 runs in the 1st XI including 23 half centuries and 2 centuries.
No 4 & Captain: Duncan Kent. Top run scorer in the 1s with over 7000 runs including 46 half centuries and 1 century. Batting average of 29.1 and bowling average of 16.2, with six 5-fers. Top score in the league of 109 and top bowling analysis of 6/43. Captained the 1st XI in 10 seasons.
No 5 & Keeper: Chris Lewis. Average of 32.2 in the league with a top score of 108*. Over 900 1st XI runs with 6 half centuries and one century.
No 6: George Taylor. Over 1000 1st XI runs at an average of 24.5 with 5 half centuries and a strike rate of over 150. Has a 17-ball league fifty and a top score of 94*.
No 7: Alex Crawford. Spin bowling all-rounder best bowling in the league of 6/76 and best batting of 70*. Average of 19.7 with the ball and 30.6 with the bat. Took 93 1st XI wickets with 2 five wicket hauls. Scored 734 1st XI runs with 3 half centuries.
No 8: Dave Sexon. 80s legendary swing bowler with a best of 9/50 in the league. 145 1st XI scalps including eight 5-fers at an average of 15.6. 1444 1st XI runs at an average of 24.1 including 9 half centuries. Best batting of 89*. Captained the 1st XI in 2 seasons.
No 9: Jamie Vickery. Pace bowling all-rounder. Over 320 1st XI wickets at an average of 20.0 including eleven 5-fers. League best bowling of 8/56. Over 2800 1st XI runs scored at an average of 21.2 with 14 half centuries. Best batting of 79.
No 10: Peter Slade. Highest 1st XI wicket taker in the club with over 340 scalps. 1s bowling average of 14.4 with eleven 5-fers. League best bowling of 8/21. Over 1900 1st XI runs scored with the bat at an average of 19.4 including 10 half centuries. Best batting of 72.
No 11: Steve Wright. 90s legend with the best GCC bowling analysis in the league of 10/32. Pace and accuracy- 1st XI bowling average of 11.2. 184 1st XI wickets including fourteen 5-fers.
Don’t agree? Email me (Tom Hedge: stato@goringcricketclub.com) with your All-Time 1st XI and I will endeavour to include it as an alternative.
Indeed we have already recieved one such Alternative XI, from Stephen Wincott which is shown below:
No 1: Ian Grant. Scored 1645 1st XI runs with 5 half centuries and 1 century. Average of 21.9 with the bat with a best of 111* in a 10 wicket victory. Captained the 1st XI in 1 season.
No 2: Matthew Armitage. Over 2100 1st XI runs at an average of 25.2. 11 half centuries and 2 centuries. Best of 114. Captained the 1st XI in 2 seasons.
No 3: Andy Steele. Scored 420 1st XI runs with 2 half centuries. Average of 28.0 in the league, best of 79.
No 4: Owyn Tong-Jones. 850 1st XI runs at an average of 38.6. 4 half centuries and 2 centuries. Best of 135 scored at the age of 16.
No 5: Jimmy Lennox. “The Doc” scored 880 1st XI runs at an average of 30.3. 5 half centuries and 2 centuries. Best of 132.
No 6 & Captain: Jim Ross. Pace bowling all-rounder: batting average of 22.6 and bowling average 21.5. 2888 runs scored including 16 half centuries and 1 century. Took 125 1st XI wickets including 3 5-fers. Best batting 116 and best bowling 5/28. Captained the 1st XI in 5 seasons.
No 7 & Keeper: Dan Harrigan. Scored 471 1st XI runs including 4 half centuries. Batting average 18.1 in league, best of 97.
No 8: Darren Clarke. Spin bowling all-rounder: batting average of 20.2 and bowling average of 18.9. Scored 665 1st XI runs including 1 half century. Took 87 1st XI wickets including 2 5-fers. Best knock 97*, best bowling 5/30.
No 9: Mark Dickinson. Pace bowling all rounder, average of 22.4 with bat and 18.4 with ball. 471 1st XI runs scored with 3 half centuries. 43 1st XI wickets taken with 1 5-fer. Best batting 55*, best bowling 6/35.
No 10: Adrian Chilcott. Aggressive paceman with a bowling average of 17.4. 123 1st XI wickets taken with 6 five wicket hauls. Best bowling of 7/33. 509 1st XI runs scored at a batting average of 13.8 including 2 half centuries.
No 11: Steve Plumb. Took 155 1st XI wickets at a bowling average of 12.8. Picked up 8 five wicket hauls and had a best performance of 8/25.
Other Ones Stars and Notable Picks:
Players who made a big impression but unfortunately haven’t played enough for the Ones (yet!!) to make the main list, or narrowly missed the cut.
Chris Walsh. Over 1000 1st XI runs in 24 games at an average of 47.6 including 10 half centuries and 1 century. High score of 133.
Johann Toerien. Over 850 runs scored in 25 1st XI games at an average of 43.3. 4 half centuries and 2 centuries. High score of 107*.
Chris Winterbottom. All rounder scoring over 900 runs at 35.0 in 31 1st XI games including 5 half centuries and 2 centuries. High score of 102. With the ball took 61 1st XI wickets at an average of 15.0 with 1 five wicket haul. Best of 7/12.
Mark Beard. 829 runs scored at 33.2 in 27 games in the mid 1980s. 5 half centuries and best performance of 94*.
Max McGee. Over 1100 1st XI runs scored at an average of 25.5 with the bat with 5 half centuries and 1 century. Top 1st XI score in the club of 139.
Dave Lockwood. Led the 1st XI bowling attack in the late 70s and early 80s in the Trinity League with distinction. 127 1st XI wickets taken at an average of 16.7 with seven 5 wicket hauls. Best bowling of 6/50.
Richard Shepherd. Fast bowler and son of club legend Les, he took 62 1st XI wickets at an average of 14.1 including four 5 wicket hauls. Best of 5/14.
Clive Kent. “Superman” took 20 1st XI wickets at an average of 14.8 including one 5 wicket haul. Best of 6/43 (including 4 wickets in 4 balls).
Peter Wild. 91 1st XI wickets at an average of 14.5 including six 5 wicket hauls. Best of 7/33. Former editor of the Goring Gap News Sports section.
Graham Jackson. “Golden Graham” was a lightning quick South African bowler in the early 2000s who was also a marine (and was rumoured to have trained with Shaun Pollock). He bowled a mere 55.4 overs in the Ones, taking 20 wickets at an average of 8.1 with three 5 wicket hauls. Best of 7/29.
Notes:
- League & Cup 1st XI figures only (does not include 1st XI friendlies).
- Last update: April 2024
