overseas players to one to stop it becoming a Manley XI!
1. Brian Clemow. (CLEM).
Simply the most amazing batsman I have ever played with. The ball only ever hit the middle of his bat. Hit quality league bowlers where ever he wanted for fun. Used to get bored in nets so batted left handed equally well. Had a Gray Nicolls contract and opened the batting for NSW. I probably don't need to say any more after that! Oh, he could
bowl serious heat. Almost as quick as me! First over of the season he was stood at slip to NTB (supposedly quick at our level). Once the first ball hit the keepers gloves he shouted to the skipper "is that it! I'll take the next over skip. I'm miles faster than that!" Got a golden in the one game I played with him! Lost a bet to try and hit his first ball for six!
2. Danny Leech. (LEECHEY).
Quality left handed batsman. Would be the man to bat for your life. Technically perfect and looked so elegant. Had every shot in the book. Good pair of hands at slip. Which was good as he used to run as though he had a fridge on his back!
3. James Lewis. (LULU)
Became a brilliant and destructive batsman. Showed what spending hours in the nets can do for you. Would be there for hours with his dad having throw downs. I was batting with him for his first of many centuries. Was a pleasure to watch. Bowled a bit of part time spin. Was deadly as long as we were playing a blind school! Brilliant outfielder.
4. Stuart Eaton. (STU 2)
Brilliant batsman. Bla bla bla. Became a very fast and accurate seamer. Top all rounder. Played one game of first class cricket. So slightly better than me!
5. Rob McMillan. (er.....ROB!)
Quality batsman. Played positively and took the game to the opposition. Match winning left arm slow bowler. Batsmen just can't get him off the square.
6. Eoin Welch. (OINK). Keeper.
We have been blessed at the rec in the keeping department. Alec Butcher, Sam Speak, Greg McKeown........Gary Marshall! Eoin was a cut above. Lightning hands but above all, and most importantly for a keeper, great banter! Eoin's sledging used to have me in stitches at gully.
7. Geoff Sharp (PRO BOY)
Not the best batsman. Not the best bowler. But the best banter by miles. This team can win with ten players anyway. Set his fields by shouting football formations. Always wore the worst shorts ever and a stringed vest. Too many funny stories to tell. You all must have heard the one about his alligator fighting days.
8. Paul Allen. (PA THE SECOND)
Fast(ish) opening bowler. Decent hitter down the order. Did one of the best run outs ever. Having verbals with an opening batsman (I forget who). Both stared each other out as Paul walked towards him. The batsman didn't want to back down so pail slowly picked the ball up and just rolled it to the stumps to run him out. Brilliant!
9. Stuart Hayes. (HAYSEY(bit of a boring one)).Captain
Quality slow bowler. Made batsman look foolish. As easy as 1,2,3 with his batting. A brilliant captain. Inspirational. Lead by example. Would tell you face to face if he was dropping you. (Not pissed up over the phone at 2am on the Friday night). Read the game and seemed to know what was going to happen next. Wasn't afraid to take a chance. Lead us to one of our best ever victories in the T20 cup away at Grappenhall.
10. James Cowell. HATRACK (etc)
Brilliant bowler. Just brilliant. Hit a length every ball could make it swing in or out. Could seam it both ways also. Went mad if he conceded a run and you really didn't want to drop a catch off him. Constantly took wicket after wicket as batsmen just couldn't get him away. Was the fastest padder ever. Used to wait for the wicket to fall before he kitted up. Still managed to never get timed out!
11. Steve Johnson. (SILVER)
Brilliant slow left arm seamer. Just ran in and bowled slow left arm, hit a length (Sounds familiar!) and took wicket after wicket. Would easily get five a match and was a top bloke. Once gave his wicket away in the last game of the season so that he would have an average and win the league batting prize. Would always score 5 not out!
12th man. Me so I could watch Clem bat and listen to pro boy!