First name all time XIs

[Owzat]

BBC was doing this yesterday, pick an all time XI using the same first names. To be fair different spellings will be allowed as one eg Graham and Graeme.

To help you can search by first name in cr*c*nfo. I think we'll have to have a ban, for now, on (adopted name) Mohammed

I'll start with Ian/Iain :

OPN Iain Sutcliffe (ENG)
OPN Ian Redpath (AUS)
BAT Ian Chappell (AUS)
BAT Ian Bell (ENG)
ALR Ian Harvey (AUS)
ALR Ian Botham (ENG)
WKT Ian Healy (AUS)
ALR Iain Butchart (ZIM)
BWL Ian Johnson (AUS)
BWL Ian Bishop (WIN)
BWL Ian Bradshaw (WIN)

Not the worst XI in the world to start with, Sutcliffe never opened for England, but has a county best of 203 and frankly I can't be checking every opener to see if there's one better.

Johnson played for the aussies after the war, decent lower order batsman with a highest score of 77 and half a dozen fifties in 66 innings, while bowling his off spin at under 30 average.

Bradshaw was more of a one day specialist, it was a toss up between him and Butler of New Zealand. Harvey also specialised in one dayers.

The batting is a bit thin, but if Botham were used as in devastating short spells he could up his batting average a bit. It was a toss up between Healy and Smith of New Zealand for the keeper. Neither has a strong average, but Healy did get within touching distance of 30 (29.90) when he scored his last big score of 134 against England, thereafter he didn't pass 36 and his average dipped.



So there's two ways of getting started, think of a common name or think of a few greats with the same first name and bundle an XI together - like I did with Ians Chappell, Botham and Bishop. I'd suggest Richard (Hadlee et al) and Donald (Bradman et al) would be good starting points.

Graeme/Graham

OPN Graeme Pollock (SAF)
OPN Graham Gooch (ENG)
BAT Graeme Smith (SAF)
BAT Graham Thorpe (ENG)
BAT Graham Yallop (AUS)
ALR Graeme Hick (ENG)
WKT Graham Edwards (NZL)
BWL Graeme Swann (ENG)
BWL Graham Lock (ENG)
BWL Graham Dilley (ENG)
BWL Graham Onions (ENG)

Had to leave out Fowler from the batting, very strong in that department. With Swann and and Lock (ave 25.58) among the bowling, and Onions and Dilley, this looks a fairly strong XI. Hick is in as a batting all-rounder, to provide a fifth bowler and Smith and Gooch capable of bowling a few overs too. This looks like the XI to beat, I wonder if a Malcolm or some XI with a superb bowler might provide enough batting to top it.

 

[Fenil]

I'll go with the players having the first name as 'Bill'.

1.Bill Ponsford
2.Bill Lawry
3.Bill Woodful
4.Bill Brown
5.Bill Brockwell
6.Bill Athey
7.Bill Lockwood
8.Bill Farrimond
9.Bill O'Reilly
10.Bill Johnston
11.Bill Bowes

I'm pretty satisfied with the combination of the team. We have got world class batsmen acquiring the top 4 spot with another 4 willowmen to follow. The likes of O'Reilly and Johnston can wreck havoc in any opposition camp with their bowling. Bowes, the one change bowler can bowl express pace alongwith the yesteryear allrounder Lockwood. Brockwell being an able 5th bowler.

 

[Fenil]

Another first name I find too common is Mike/Michael. Lets see what team I can come up with

1.Mike Atherton (ENG)
2.Michael Slater (AUS)
3.Michael Clarke (AUS)
4.Mike Denness (ENG)
5.Michael Hussey (AUS)
6.Michael Bevan (AUS)
7.Mike Brearley (ENG)
8.Mike Procter (RSA)
9.Michael Holding (WI)
10.Mike Whitney (AUS)
11.Mike Hendrick (ENG)

Mike Gatting (12th Man)


Not much firepower in the bowling. In fact, there is no spinner in the side but probably the best line-up with all the Michaels.

 

[Owzat]

Nice to see someone finally have a go. How about some Chris' people? Cairns, Read (if no one else for keeper), Broad for starters, if nothing better. Or Colins? Croft, Cowdrey, Milburn, Blythe. Or how about Peters? May, Pollock, Fulton.

It may be slightly harder to make an XI than name a few with the same first name, but if I do any more examples I won't leave any for the rest. What about John? Mark? David? Alan/Allan? Robert?

Come on, only takes a little bit of effort.

 

[Owzat]

Come on, supposed knowledgable folk on here afraid they can't do a simple task and might look silly.............?!?!?

I'll do another :

Chris XI

OPN Chris Nevin (NZL)
OPN Chris Broad (ENG)
BAT Chris Tavare (ENG)
BAT Chris Smith (ENG)
BAT Chris Gayle (WIN)
ALR Chris Cairns (NZL)
WKT Chris Read (ENG)
BWL Chris Old (ENG)
BWL Chris Tremlett (ENG)
BWL Chris Drum (NZL)
BWL Chris Martin (NZL)

Tougher than I thought it would be, batting isn't too bad with Gayle the strongest and Smith, Tavare and Broad giving the side reasonable batting strength. Read makes for a decent keeper if not great batting record, Tremlett is about the pick of the bowlers. Bit of a long tail after Cairns at six



I can't believe there's so much cricket on no one is going to give this a go, or maybe when the Ashes get going some might man up.