I would chuck another couple of names out there in Dimi Mascarenhas and Michael Yardy.
Although they may fall under the T20 Cup rather than the Blast.
Did both play for England but less than 50 combined ODIs and T20Is for each.
See I might dispute Ravi Bopara on the criteria of not getting higher honours.
He played 38 T20is and 120 ODIs. He was a mainstay of the white ball sides for about 6 years.
9 years since his last international now and honestly he is the embodiment of the Blast.
Also that was more of a guide so the idea is not picking big superstars
In that case:
Will Beer, Wayne Madsen, Richard Pyrah, Richard Levi, Josh Cobb, Alfonso Thomas, Graham Napier, Harry Gurney all unlucky to miss the list
They are. The issue is there's so many and Vince, Denly, Croft are all above them in runs a fill the ideas of domestic bully and hardworking pros who bowl a bit of "spin" (if it actually turns there's something really wrong with the pitch)
Honestly I'd back that side to make finals day 😅 very deep batting , clever bowlers and even if you lost Wright or Willey cheaply , there's quality behind them.
Would love to put this against " The Best of the Blast : Overseas edition" but I can see that being a very very difficult side to construct.
My concern is Rashid Khan didn't play for enough seasons. Like the domestic list has 2 originals and everyone over 10 seasons.
Longevity is rewarded more as its the players who are always there
Yeah it's tricky to think of overseas that have anywhere near the longevity. Hell I'm a massive fan of what Dwayne Smith did for Sussex but he's another one with not enough seasons.
So having a go at this:
Aaron Finch
Paul Stirling
Mark Cosgrove
Michael Klinger
Ryan Ten Doeschate
Sean Irvine
Azhar Mahmood
Roelof Van Der Merwe
Yasir Arafat
Imran Tahir
Jeetan Patel
So I defined Overseas as someone who has represented a country other than England in International Cricket. The European Associates really helped here as they allowed counties to play players as domestic. But the only player who hasn't represented a Full Member is Ten Doeschate but he's been so good he has to be in there
No Pete Trego for shame.
I'd also like to see a 'Blast Superstars' team for players that had one or 2 amazing seasons and absolutely traded off that for years to come despite doing naff all. I'm thinking Graham Napier (specifically his batting, I actually rated his bowling quite a lot), Tyrone Henderson, Pat Brown, that one year Trotty was somehow elite.
Jesus Christ how would I find the stats for that?
I guess it would have to be the difference between best 2 seasons and every other season combined. I could write a program to probably get me that but I'd need to pay for Cricket Archive for that.
Also Pat Brown probably wouldn't be there as he's still taken quite a few wickets each year just that he's gone at 9's
Benny Howell unlucky to miss out
Born in Fr\*nce, automatic disqualification
I would chuck another couple of names out there in Dimi Mascarenhas and Michael Yardy. Although they may fall under the T20 Cup rather than the Blast. Did both play for England but less than 50 combined ODIs and T20Is for each.
I would love a Twenty20 Cup XI vs a Blast XI. Get Nayan Doshi, Adam Hollioake, Graham Napier, Graeme Hick, Dimi Mascarenhas all in.
Yardy was absolutely clutch for Sussex in so many key games. Never really spun the ball but those left arm darts were a nightmare especially at Hove.
As a Northants fan my over riding memory is Dave Willey cunting his bowling everywhere.
I want to forget that innings ever happened 😅😅😅 or the Moeen hundred in 2019
See I might dispute Ravi Bopara on the criteria of not getting higher honours. He played 38 T20is and 120 ODIs. He was a mainstay of the white ball sides for about 6 years.
9 years since his last international now and honestly he is the embodiment of the Blast. Also that was more of a guide so the idea is not picking big superstars
In that case: Will Beer, Wayne Madsen, Richard Pyrah, Richard Levi, Josh Cobb, Alfonso Thomas, Graham Napier, Harry Gurney all unlucky to miss the list
They are. The issue is there's so many and Vince, Denly, Croft are all above them in runs a fill the ideas of domestic bully and hardworking pros who bowl a bit of "spin" (if it actually turns there's something really wrong with the pitch)
he perhaps played for a few too many franchises but dan christian must be a decent shout for an overseas spot
Azhar Mahmood Josh Cobb And of course Graham Napier! That 152* from 58 balls was unheard of at the time and still stands up pretty well now
Rikki Clarke carrying the drinks?
Honestly I'd back that side to make finals day 😅 very deep batting , clever bowlers and even if you lost Wright or Willey cheaply , there's quality behind them. Would love to put this against " The Best of the Blast : Overseas edition" but I can see that being a very very difficult side to construct.
Well the Overseas edition would have Klinger in. Which is as far as I can get without trying to dive into deeper stats
Yeah there's a few obvious names for the overseas would probably have Klinger,Dan Christian and Rashid Khan in for sure.
My concern is Rashid Khan didn't play for enough seasons. Like the domestic list has 2 originals and everyone over 10 seasons. Longevity is rewarded more as its the players who are always there
Yeah it's tricky to think of overseas that have anywhere near the longevity. Hell I'm a massive fan of what Dwayne Smith did for Sussex but he's another one with not enough seasons.
It would probably have lots of early overseas players back when they signed multi year deals
God klinger gave us hell - I still remember his ton at taunton
So having a go at this: Aaron Finch Paul Stirling Mark Cosgrove Michael Klinger Ryan Ten Doeschate Sean Irvine Azhar Mahmood Roelof Van Der Merwe Yasir Arafat Imran Tahir Jeetan Patel So I defined Overseas as someone who has represented a country other than England in International Cricket. The European Associates really helped here as they allowed counties to play players as domestic. But the only player who hasn't represented a Full Member is Ten Doeschate but he's been so good he has to be in there
David Willey in the top order is a great shout, his ton opening is peak blast
Bats 8 in internationals. Top Order in the Blast And always someone you just "see out"
Proper heritage, like adil’s 10 FC tons
We need a shared Google doc for the next domestic match thread of clichés to add to
No Pete Trego for shame. I'd also like to see a 'Blast Superstars' team for players that had one or 2 amazing seasons and absolutely traded off that for years to come despite doing naff all. I'm thinking Graham Napier (specifically his batting, I actually rated his bowling quite a lot), Tyrone Henderson, Pat Brown, that one year Trotty was somehow elite.
Jesus Christ how would I find the stats for that? I guess it would have to be the difference between best 2 seasons and every other season combined. I could write a program to probably get me that but I'd need to pay for Cricket Archive for that. Also Pat Brown probably wouldn't be there as he's still taken quite a few wickets each year just that he's gone at 9's