Best Lancashire team from 1965 onwards

[ClaretTony]

Interesting lunchtime chat between Atherton & Bumble with Bumble picking his all time Lancashire team from the time he joined the club in the mid 1960s. Only stipulation was no overseas players so no Hubert, Farokh or Wasim.

His team was:

Michael Atherton
Graeme Fowler
John Crawley
Neil Fairbrother
Frank Hayes
Andrew Flintoff
Warren Hegg
Glenn Chappell/Mike Watkinson (depending on conditions)
James Anderson
Brian Statham
Matt Parkinson

Very similar to the team I’d have chosen. What do you think fellow Lancastrians?

[Dark Cloud]

Interesting lunchtime chat between Atherton & Bumble with Bumble picking his all time Lancashire team from the time he joined the club in the mid 1960s. Only stipulation was no overseas players so no Hubert, Farokh or Wasim.

His team was:

Michael Atherton
Graeme Fowler
John Crawley
Neil Fairbrother
Frank Hayes
Andrew Flintoff
Warren Hegg
Glenn Chappell/Mike Watkinson (depending on conditions)
James Anderson
Brian Statham
Matt Parkinson

Very similar to the team I’d have chosen. What do you think fellow Lancastrians?

Kind of picks itself in many ways, especially without the overseas element, but no Flat Jack Simmons, Ian Austin, Jack Bond or Hughes which all look unfortunate to miss out!

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Just watched the lunchtime chat. That is a strong team!

[Bordeauxclaret]

Parkinson is the one that stands out there.

[ClaretTony]

Kind of picks itself in many ways, especially without the overseas element, but no Flat Jack Simmons, Ian Austin, Jack Bond or Hughes which all look unfortunate to miss out!

He mentioned Flat Jack, Hughes & Keedy as potential spinners. Didn’t hear the chat on the openers but batting he mentioned Pilling and for bowlers there were Higgs, Lever, Shuttleworth. No mention of Bond but there was no discussion on a captain.

He did add that he’d include Clive Hubert Lloyd & Wasim Akram if he could include two foreigners.

[minnieclaret]

He mentioned Flat Jack, Hughes & Keedy as potential spinners. Didn’t hear the chat on the openers but batting he mentioned Pilling and for bowlers there were Higgs, Lever, Shuttleworth. No mention of Bond but there was no discussion on a captain.

He did add that he’d include Clive Hubert Lloyd & Wasim Akram if he could include two foreigners.

I missed the start and hadn’t picked up on the no foreigners proviso. Faroukh Engineer would have to be behind the stumps otherwise.
I’ve just posted on the match thread how pleased I was to hear them praising Ian Austin.

BTW. Should that be SINCE the 60s? Some of the team are much later.

[ClaretTony]

I've changed the title - should be from 1965 onwards

[ClaretTony]

Bumble put Farokh Engineer & Warren Hegg on a par as wicket keepers but when it came to batting, Farokh would win hands down.

[onewillieirvine]

I had nine of the X1, my spinners were Flat Jack and Gary Keedy.

[Dark Cloud]

He mentioned Flat Jack, Hughes & Keedy as potential spinners. Didn’t hear the chat on the openers but batting he mentioned Pilling and for bowlers there were Higgs, Lever, Shuttleworth. No mention of Bond but there was no discussion on a captain.

He did add that he’d include Clive Hubert Lloyd & Wasim Akram if he could include two foreigners.

Actually I was thinking fast and that's dead right. More big misses with Higgs, Lever, Pilling and Shuttleworth and if you were allowed an overseas I'd probably go for Lloyd myself, JUST, over Wasim and I'd not entertain Muralitheran due to his suspect action (IMO!!! )

[ClaretTony]

Actually I was thinking fast and that's dead right. More big misses with Higgs, Lever, Pilling and Shuttleworth and if you were allowed an overseas I'd probably go for Lloyd myself, JUST, over Wasim and I'd not entertain Muralitheran due to his suspect action (IMO!!! )

Murali wasn't here long enough really the other three I mentioned had years with Lancashire that they almost felt like they were Lancastrians. Two of them are now committee members I believe although one of them doesn't look in good shape to keep wicket any longer.

[Dark Cloud]

Murali wasn't here long enough really the other three I mentioned had years with Lancashire that they almost felt like they were Lancastrians. Two of them are now committee members I believe although one of them doesn't look in good shape to keep wicket any longer.

He's clearly still in good enough shape to have kept wicket (or even play in goal) for Redrose!!!

[JohnDearyMe]

Interesting lunchtime chat between Atherton & Bumble with Bumble picking his all time Lancashire team from the time he joined the club in the mid 1960s. Only stipulation was no overseas players so no Hubert, Farokh or Wasim.

His team was:

Michael Atherton
Graeme Fowler
John Crawley
Neil Fairbrother
Frank Hayes
Andrew Flintoff
Warren Hegg
Glenn Chappell/Mike Watkinson (depending on conditions)
James Anderson
Brian Statham
Matt Parkinson

Very similar to the team I’d have chosen. What do you think fellow Lancastrians?

Very impressive selection. If it were a one day team I'd probably swap Anderson for Ian Austin.

He was a tremendous one day player

[ChrisG]

Interesting lunchtime chat between Atherton & Bumble with Bumble picking his all time Lancashire team from the time he joined the club in the mid 1960s. Only stipulation was no overseas players so no Hubert, Farokh or Wasim.

His team was:

Michael Atherton
Graeme Fowler
John Crawley
Neil Fairbrother
Frank Hayes
Andrew Flintoff
Warren Hegg
Glenn Chappell/Mike Watkinson (depending on conditions)
James Anderson
Brian Statham
Matt Parkinson

Very similar to the team I’d have chosen. What do you think fellow Lancastrians?

That's some bowling attack. Who would swap out of that team if you were allowed Wasim?

[Silkyskills1]

Sent down a few deliveries to Frank Hayes back in the 1960's. He attended the same school as I did in Salford and always seemed to be in the cricket nets at lunch time during the summer. I was younger than him but always enjoyed playing cricket and was able, on a few occasions, to bowl to him. He had brothers who attended the school and I was so pleased when he made the England team. I stand to be corrected on this but I recall him batting for England at the end of a days play once supposedly seeing out the final over when he so unexpectedly hit one of the deliveries for six. Anyone else recall this?

[ClaretTony]

That's some bowling attack. Who would swap out of that team if you were allowed Wasim?

It would have to be Chappell or Watkinson - I'm old enough to remember Statham and you don't leave him out and you definitely don't leave Anderson out.

[ClaretTony]

Sent down a few deliveries to Frank Hayes back in the 1960's. He attended the same school as I did in Salford and always seemed to be in the cricket nets at lunch time during the summer. I was younger than him but always enjoyed playing cricket and was able, on a few occasions, to bowl to him. He had brothers who attended the school and I was so pleased when he made the England team. I stand to be corrected on this but I recall him batting for England at the end of a days play once supposedly seeing out the final over when he so unexpectedly hit one of the deliveries for six. Anyone else recall this?

I once batted with Frank Hayes in a trial match and we but on a partnership of over 130. I batted unbelievably well that day and finished on 17 not out. This was before he signed for Lancs and he was absolutely awesome. I've never been so close to a batsman of that quality either before or since. In the end I just leaned on my bat and watched.

Got a ton on his test debut, first since Jackie Hampshire years earlier but every test he played was against the then all conquering West Indies.

[AfloatinClaret]

...never been so close to a batsman of that quality either before or since...

I'm not sure if it counts, but I did once run into Gordon Greenidge (literally) on a beach in Goa, I wasn't close for very long though, I sort of bounced off him and fell over.

[Silkyskills1]

Just reading up on Frank and just two days short of the 8th anniversary of Gary Sobers hitting Malcolm Nash for six 6's in an over Frank hit the same bowler for 34 on the same ground.6,4,6,6,6,6. Born in Preston but he travelled to school from the Cheshire area.

[dandeclaret]

There wasn't a lot from 1965 to the late 80's early 90's then....... good to be around at a time when all those greats were around.

Bumble's doing his Yorkshire team of the same time tomorrow at Tea. Reckon Bresnan, Ballance, JJ Sayers, Rafiq, McGrath are all shoe ins

[ClaretTony]

There wasn't a lot from 1965 to the late 80's early 90's then....... good to be around at a time when all those greats were around.

Bumble's doing his Yorkshire team of the same time tomorrow at Tea. Reckon Bresnan, Ballance, JJ Sayers, Rafiq, McGrath are all shoe ins

He'll have Trueman if so he can do his impression of him I would think. In fairness, they had a superb side in the 1960s when Bumble was starting out with Lancashire.

[Aclaret]

Is there room for Bumble in David Lloyds team ?

[Culmclaret]

I once batted with Frank Hayes in a trial match and we but on a partnership of over 130. I batted unbelievably well that day and finished on 17 not out. This was before he signed for Lancs and he was absolutely awesome. I've never been so close to a batsman of that quality either before or since. In the end I just leaned on my bat and watched.

Got a ton on his test debut, first since Jackie Hampshire years earlier but every test he played was against the then all conquering West Indies.

Frank was a boyhood hero of mine. I was 10 when he made his England debut. Not only was he a great batsman but in the days before Derek Randall he was a stand out fielder. Just seemed to lose his confidence and his way after his brilliant Test debut, and the best bowling did expose some technical flaws. Unfortunately, I copied his grip which was low down the handle and did my batting technique no favours at all!

[ClaretTony]

Is there room for Bumble in David Lloyds team ?

Wasn’t permitted to pick himself but he wouldn’t get in ahead of Atherton or Fowler.

[ChrisG]

Was fortunate enough to bump into 2 members of Bumble's team at our local club a couple of years ago

[ClaretTony]

Was fortunate enough to bump into 2 members of Bumble's team at our local club a couple of years ago

The one on the left of the pic wasn't a bad player was he? As for the one on the right, he's a bit special.

[ChrisG]

The one on the left of the pic wasn't a bad player was he? As for the one on the right, he's a bit special.

Quite a funny story about that picture. I saw Chappy and was telling my lad how he was the first Lancashire captain to win the Championship for 70 odd years, so I asked him for a picture.

He looked really taken back that I wanted a pic with him, as did his wife and her mate.

It was only as my wife was taking the pic when I spotted Jimmy come back from the bar, and I asked him if he'd like to join us. Evidently Chappy doesn't get too many phot requests when JM Anderson is around.

Thankfully he saw the funny side and obliged, and I've got the memory of a lifetime!

[ClaretTony]

Quite a funny story about that picture. I saw Chappy and was telling my lad how he was the first Lancashire captain to win the Championship for 70 odd years, so I asked him for a picture.

He looked really taken back that I wanted a pic with him, as did his wife and her mate.

It was only as my wife was taking the pic when I spotted Jimmy come back from the bar, and I asked him if he'd like to join us. Evidently Chappy doesn't get too many phot requests when JM Anderson is around.

Thankfully he saw the funny side and obliged, and I've got the memory of a lifetime!

Brilliant - where was it taken?

[bodge]

Shared a dressing room with Chappie for a few years, top lad.

Clearly a real talent at a young age, his Dad would have been a County Cricketer if he was born later, a fantastic swing bowler and a huge hitter as people at Earby and Nelson will testify.

[fatboy47]

His team was:

Michael Atherton
Graeme Fowler
John Crawley
Neil Fairbrother
Frank Hayes
Andrew Flintoff
Warren Hegg
Glenn Chappell/Mike Watkinson (depending on conditions)
James Anderson
Brian Statham
Matt Parkinson

Very similar to the team I’d have chosen. What do you think fellow Lancastrians?

Mine was very similar, with Barry Wood and Peter Lever displacing Foxy and Glenn.
Picked before I saw Bumble's..

[ChrisG]

Brilliant - where was it taken?

Bowdon CC, my lad is in the juniors there. It's a lovely ground.

[onewillieirvine]

Did Chappies dad have a year as the Darwen pro early 70's as well?

[joey13]

Some big misses there Peter Lever , Jack Simmons and David Hughes

[Quickenthetempo]

Murali wasn't here long enough really the other three I mentioned had years with Lancashire that they almost felt like they were Lancastrians. Two of them are now committee members I believe although one of them doesn't look in good shape to keep wicket any longer.

Murali is the best bowler I've seen in the last 30 years and had 4 years at Lancs. Over 200 fc wickets in 28 games. He would be in any cricket side I ever picked.

Wasim was very good and here a long time but there's been plenty of very good swing bowlers. Only Warne gets anywhere near Murali in the spin department.

[the_magic_rat]

He's clearly still in good enough shape to have kept wicket (or even play in goal) for Redrose!!!

How dare you cast aspersions regarding the physical characteristics of Redrose wicket-keepers / goalkeepers! Having done both at different times, admittedly only in a Clarets-style injury crisis as goalkeeper, I refute your suggestion!

[Untinted Glasses]

I would have had Phil Defreitas in there before chappell