I C Great Cricket Teams Set 1

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GREAT CRICKET TEAMS BACKGROUND NOTES All the players in the Great Teams in these three sets, seventeen teams in all, are carded to reproduce the form they displayed in the particular year in question. So when using the teams it is useful to know a little about the players’ performances that season. A little D-I-Y research is recommended but we will briefly summarise the teams for you here, highlighting any exceptional performances.

AUSTRALIA 1948 Don Bradman’s 1948 tourists feature high in almost everyone’s list of great international teams. The Test series against England was won 4-0 with one drawn and they remained unbeaten throughout a long tour. Eleven batsmen scored fifty centuries in the 34 matches, they scored 300 or more in 27 innings, including 721 in one day against Essex. This is still a first class record. The bowling attack dismissed the opposition for under 200 no less than 34 times. Solid batting (three averaged over 70 in the Tests, two more over 50 and another two over 40) combined with a well balanced bowling attack headed by Lindwall, Miller, Johnston and Toshack to make Bradman’s final tour a triumph for both him and the entire team.

WEST INDIES 1950 After losing the opening Test against England by 202 runs, John Goddard’s 1950 tourists picked themselves up and thoroughly thrashed the home side; winning the remaining three matches by 326 runs, 10 wickets and an innings and 56 runs. In doing so six of their batsmen (led by Frank Worrell’s 89.93) averaged over 40 while only Hutton, Washbrook and Bailey reached that target. Most remarkable of all however, was the bowling of Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine; they had both only played two first class matches prior to making this tour. Ramadhin, who always bowled in his cap, mesmerised the English batsmen and took 26 Test wickets at 23.23 runs apiece. Meanwhile Alf Valentine did even better, 33 wickets at 20.42 each. Not only did West Indies win a Test for the first time in this country and of course the series; but they did it without a fast bowler of anything like Test quality.

ENGLAND 1953 Len Hutton regained the Ashes for England after nearly 19 years and although this team might struggle against some of the other great sides featured in this series, their inclusion is justified if only for that reason. The batting was solid (nine players averaged 23 or more) but only Hutton was outstanding (55.37) in a modest scoring series. In Alec Bedser (39 wickets at 17.48) England had the outstanding bowler of the series. Lock, Laker, Wardle and Bailey also all played their part and overall this was a great team, as opposed to a team of great players.

SOUTH AFRICA 1969/70 Ali Bacher led this final pre-banishment South African team to a brilliant 4-0 win in the four match series against Australia. Their winning margins were 170 runs, an innings and 129 runs, 307 runs and 323 runs. Grahame Pollock (73.85) and Barry Richards (72.57) scored freely, with Barlow and Irvine also averaging over 50. It was however, the bowlers who contributed most to Australia’s thrashing. Procter claimed 26 wickets at 13.57 and Peter Pollock 15 at 17.2. A great side in 1969/70, they might have been greater still over the next few years if politics hadn’t intervened.