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General Cricket => Your Cricket => Topic started by: DevAussie on August 17, 2013, 08:47:40 AM

Title: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 17, 2013, 08:47:40 AM

I've managed to play against a few current and ex first class players in local leagues in England since being here and was surprised at how average they performed.  We played a work cup semi final this week and their opening bowler was a guy called Mumtaz Habib who played 4 games for Durham a few years back.  I was really surprised how mediocre medium he was (to be fair he dished up a ripper of a yorkie my first ball and took my middle stump!!).  Made me think that most FC players I've seen over here have never really tore up a game.....does anyone else find that?

Perhaps they can't "get up" for local cricket.....
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: GarrettJ on August 17, 2013, 09:18:54 AM
So mediocre he ripped your stumps apart first ball!!! What more do you want.

I get it all the time when I bat. I here how I used to play international cricket and every time I play and miss I hear how I can't bat. Do they expect me to hit every ball for 6?

Even after finishing a 12 game season with 6 centuries (203,179*, 151*,143*,142 and 101) and 6 half centuries I still here how i can't bat when I got those half centuries.

Do amateurs really expect me to get 100 every game just because I played a couple of internationals which apart from one weren't against a full test quality side.

A few club cricketers I see are more talented than me but I guarantee they get to 50 and then get out. A lot get to 100 and then start slogging.

The main difference is concentration, consistently performing well and when their team really needs them they take responsibility.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: lazza32 on August 17, 2013, 10:44:57 AM
You played international cricket Garrett!! Awesome

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk 4

Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: cricketboy2010 on August 17, 2013, 11:22:24 AM
Who for!?!?!??!!? :o
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: tim2000s on August 17, 2013, 11:35:45 AM
Having played with and against a number of pros and former pros, I think it's an interesting observation. I always found that I lost my game against them, and equally I know that they sometimes struggle to lift their game at league level. When it is really tough is when I've seen them perform.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 17, 2013, 12:16:33 PM
I never said he was mediocre.....I said his pace was mediocre....he bowled good line and lengths but I expected more.

I'm basing my view on seeing a lot of state and international level players play for and against my club in Perth and they always stood out from the crowd whereas the ones I've seen over here haven't......no doubt talented to have played so high but I would have expected to think "that's the pro difference" when I saw him and I didn't.

I guess as an amateur I'm just naive.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: lazza32 on August 17, 2013, 12:26:43 PM
or the local standard is higher than perth so the difference might not be as big.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 17, 2013, 12:34:22 PM
Could very well be mate, don't think that's the case but you never know....was just an observation anyway at no point did I mean to imply that they were rubbish or should be getting 200 every innings.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: mini998 on August 17, 2013, 04:30:53 PM
So mediocre he ripped your stumps apart first ball!!! What more do you want.

I get it all the time when I bat. I here how I used to play international cricket and every time I play and miss I hear how I can't bat. Do they expect me to hit every ball for 6?

Even after finishing a 12 game season with 6 centuries (203,179*, 151*,143*,142 and 101) and 6 half centuries I still here how i can't bat when I got those half centuries.

Do amateurs really expect me to get 100 every game just because I played a couple of internationals which apart from one weren't against a full test quality side.

A few club cricketers I see are more talented than me but I guarantee they get to 50 and then get out. A lot get to 100 and then start slogging.

The main difference is concentration, consistently performing well and when their team really needs them they take responsibility.

Which country did you play for?
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Bez013 on August 17, 2013, 04:44:17 PM
Which country did you play for?

I believe he played for Bermuda....
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: toenails97 on August 17, 2013, 06:39:12 PM
Yeah he played for Bermuda
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: acko109 on August 17, 2013, 07:21:01 PM
Aaron redmond is in our league hes class wasim jaffer was aswell another class player.. played against sajid mahmood and he was awful was worrying thinking hes still playing first class cricket
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 18, 2013, 04:20:48 PM
I went to school with Aaron Redmond, the lad was a class above from 13!!
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: acko109 on August 18, 2013, 05:33:26 PM
I went to school with Aaron Redmond, the lad was a class above from 13!!
Yeh and not only is he a quality player hes one of the nicest blokes youll ever meet .. brilliant bloke i played half a season at the club he plays for now .
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: GarrettJ on August 18, 2013, 06:45:59 PM
I was with Durham from 16 to 18 and then played for Bermuda. Was in the Stanford 20-20 twice as a squad member. When I got there in Antigua I was in eligible to play!!!

played 5 games for them. Highest score was 66 v Trinidad and best performance was 43 v West Indies side in 2007 which had Taylor, Powell. Rampaul and Roach bowling. I also got 30 odd in the other 4 games so ended up with an average of about 40. I injured my wrist so needed an operation and I moved job so never played in a triangular tournament with England and West Indies which featured Piteresen, flintoff and Gayle for West indies
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Manormanic on August 18, 2013, 08:03:46 PM
A theory on this - one that is not mine, but to which I do subscribe - is that the very elite players are not so much better than decent clubbies that the clubbie can't compete ball by ball, but they are of a level such that over the course of a spell or innings or season they are that much better as to make a massive difference.

I can think of a few players I've played against who were just "too good" - Michael Vaughan, Ijaz Ahmed and Clayton Lambert with the bat and Kenny Benjamin with the ball - but have played against a lot of other first class players and coped for a while a least.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: iand123 on August 18, 2013, 08:04:46 PM
James Hockley plays for our 1's and he's a country mile ahead of any other batsmen in the Kent premier league. He's also a top bloke
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 18, 2013, 08:06:04 PM
Agreed bud, the difference is probably over a season their class rises to the top....anyone can have a bad day!!
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: toenails97 on August 18, 2013, 08:35:47 PM
Have played and batted with Ryan Pringle who is in the Durham T20 set up and is just unbelievable to say the least, absolutely belts it and is a handy off spinner aswell. Play a T20 at the start of the season against Sunderland CC who had Mitchell Claydon aswell as Washington who have Chris Rushworth who I also thought was a class above. Not to mention Tom Latham who absolutely smacks it around the park and looks like he has soo much time to play a 70-80mph ball
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: The_Bird on August 18, 2013, 09:47:46 PM
Agreed bud, the difference is probably over a season their class rises to the top....anyone can have a bad day!!


Maybe you should've played him from the crease instead of square leg...
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: GarrettJ on August 18, 2013, 10:10:57 PM
A theory on this - one that is not mine, but to which I do subscribe - is that the very elite players are not so much better than decent clubbies that the clubbie can't compete ball by ball, but they are of a level such that over the course of a spell or innings or season they are that much better as to make a massive difference.

I can think of a few players I've played against who were just "too good" - Michael Vaughan, Ijaz Ahmed and Clayton Lambert with the bat and Kenny Benjamin with the ball - but have played against a lot of other first class players and coped for a while a least.

Who were you playing for when you played against Ijaz and Lamby?

I was a 16 year old playing as keeper with Clayton and he made me stand up the whole 50 overs while he was bowling his bouncers

Superb batsman too. Seen him reverse sweep an opposing team pro first ball of the match out of the ground.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: smilley792 on August 18, 2013, 10:26:46 PM
I played against humayun farhat(pakistan international, 1test 5odi's) twice in our midweek league.

He looked every bit as class as he should have, but his ego cost him IMO.
First two league games he had two Tons in 30 odd balls.
Against us he was on 21 after the first over before smashing one to cover(who caught it but new little about it)

In the return fixture, we put on 196 in our 14overs. He got to 38 quickly but was cross batting everything to the short boundary(was very short) so I slipped in a slower ball well wide of off stump. Which he top edged and I caught it.

If he'd have batted properly,he would have knocked them off with ease on his own.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 19, 2013, 05:59:20 AM

Maybe you should've played him from the crease instead of square leg...

But that's my style....back away a waft ;)

Watched you face Lister too much I guess mate
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: acko109 on August 19, 2013, 02:42:15 PM
mohammed zahid is another who ive played against.. lara said he was the quickest hed faced.. bowled 8 overs of gas before getting injured again year later was bowling maybe mid 70s..
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: King pair on August 19, 2013, 02:50:53 PM
I went and watched the final of our leagues cup comp the other week (haslingden vs burnley) and Michael brown now chairman of burnley, ex Middlesex, Hampshire and Surrey. (Sponsored by red back, really nice looking stuff! Bat sounded awesome! That's irrelevant though) he went in at 5 with 14-15 overs left and ended up 83 no. Just times everything. Put one over the pavilion at burnley, no small feat! But my point was that he has literally not had a score the rest of the games he's played really. No one can do it everytime they walk out
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: tailender on August 19, 2013, 02:54:44 PM
mohammed zahid is another who ive played against.. lara said he was the quickest hed faced.. bowled 8 overs of gas before getting injured again year later was bowling maybe mid 70s..

I played with Zahid when we first came to the UK and he was recovering from a bad motorcycle accident.... he was still very quick but admitted to only being able to bowl quick for 3 or 4 overs before needing a cold shower.

I believe he then signed for a lower league club and lost all interest.

Liverpool comp has seen many quality ex players but just as many rubbish ex players.

Mahmood playing for Ainsdale should, in theory be ripping through players on their pitch but hes not. in fact hes taking tap!

I find its the younger lads who are trying to prove themselves who are the stand out performers... the older fellas have probably had enough!
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Vitas Cricket on August 19, 2013, 02:59:32 PM
Ray Tudor plays for a club in the league below me. Alex turned out for their Sunday side yesterday, but Ray outshone him with an unbeaten 49 ball ton.

http://rutland.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11615139 (http://rutland.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11615139)

I've played with or against a number of top players plying their trade around Cambridgeshire. The main thing they have in common is a lot of them are just going through the motions, not exerting themselves unless they have to. Fahad Masood (current first class player in Pakistan) spends most UK Summers playing club cricket over here. He spent 2 seasons at a club local to us, breaking wicket taking records in the Lincolnshire Prem League while he was there. We spent a fair amount of time with him and he told us that in the UK he runs in off ten paces, then he showed us some video of him playing for Habib Bank in Pakistan, pushing off the sight-screen!
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Johnny on August 19, 2013, 03:04:24 PM
A theory on this - one that is not mine, but to which I do subscribe - is that the very elite players are not so much better than decent clubbies that the clubbie can't compete ball by ball, but they are of a level such that over the course of a spell or innings or season they are that much better as to make a massive difference.

This

Matt Sinclair apart, all other pros I've played with or against you felt you could hold your own against.

Even some international cricketers. So if you are talking about a county pro, the ability gap is even less. And if you're talking about an ex-pro (so either they failed as they weren't actually up to the standard, or else retired through injury/old age) then it's even less again.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: trypewriter on August 19, 2013, 03:08:06 PM
I think it might depend how many seasons they've been playing at the lower level, more from the batting point of view than bowling.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: acko109 on August 19, 2013, 03:09:30 PM
I played with Zahid when we first came to the UK and he was recovering from a bad motorcycle accident.... he was still very quick but admitted to only being able to bowl quick for 3 or 4 overs before needing a cold shower.

I believe he then signed for a lower league club and lost all interest.

Liverpool comp has seen many quality ex players but just as many rubbish ex players.

Mahmood playing for Ainsdale should, in theory be ripping through players on their pitch but hes not. in fact hes taking tap!

I find its the younger lads who are trying to prove themselves who are the stand out performers... the older fellas have probably had enough!
completely agree mate.. played ainsdale 2 weeks ago.. nazim was a far better bowler than saj was.. Dissapointed cant argue with how jaffer n redmond go though
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: tailender on August 19, 2013, 03:11:28 PM
Main difference between average Joe who works all week and plays on a sat at a decent standard and a county pro is the fact that the pros are netting most days and so become more consistent.

Ive seen plenty of county pro's in club cricket who on the face of things look very average but you look at the stats at the end of the season and they have scored 1000 runs. Its just al down to consistency.

Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: tailender on August 19, 2013, 03:13:24 PM
completely agree mate.. played ainsdale 2 weeks ago.. nazim was a far better bowler than saj was.. Dissapointed cant argue with how jaffer n redmond go though

Difference with Redmond and in particular Jaffer is the fact that they could probably still play at the elite level where as many other pros we see in the league are on their way down the slippery slope
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: MD2812 on August 19, 2013, 03:15:13 PM
To some distaste of bottom of the league captain, it seems current pros are still doing well:

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/10593053.Burge__Michael_Carberry_is_too_good_for_the_Surrey_Championship/?action=complain&cid=11885661 (http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/10593053.Burge__Michael_Carberry_is_too_good_for_the_Surrey_Championship/?action=complain&cid=11885661)

Spencer CC in SW London. I played against their 2s earlier in the season and Carbs was playing for their 1s. He got a fifer and 150.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Manormanic on August 19, 2013, 03:18:55 PM
Who were you playing for when you played against Ijaz and Lamby?

I was a 16 year old playing as keeper with Clayton and he made me stand up the whole 50 overs while he was bowling his bouncers

Superb batsman too. Seen him reverse sweep an opposing team pro first ball of the match out of the ground.

Northallerton in NYSD League, way back in my very young days.  Both were a class apart from most pros, so I guess three classes too good for me! 
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: DevAussie on August 19, 2013, 07:15:14 PM
To some distaste of bottom of the league captain, it seems current pros are still doing well:

[url]http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/10593053.Burge__Michael_Carberry_is_too_good_for_the_Surrey_Championship/?action=complain&cid=11885661[/url] ([url]http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/10593053.Burge__Michael_Carberry_is_too_good_for_the_Surrey_Championship/?action=complain&cid=11885661[/url])

Spencer CC in SW London. I played against their 2s earlier in the season and Carbs was playing for their 1s. He got a fifer and 150.


It's a shame that attitude from thier skipper because I remember the excitement that everyone felt when we knew a WA or Aus player was playing against us....
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: acko109 on August 19, 2013, 07:35:16 PM
Difference with Redmond and in particular Jaffer is the fact that they could probably still play at the elite level where as many other pros we see in the league are on their way down the slippery slope
Well i think redmonds been leading run scorer for otago for a few years... and jaffers gone back over to get knee surgery so hes fit for india ... who do you play for mate?
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Chmaiden on August 19, 2013, 07:45:08 PM
I have come up against /played with a few ex first/test players but the most impressive that I played with was Ross Edwards - played about 20 tests for AUS in the 70s. He was impressive because we played together in Singapore for a season where it's pretty tough to play due to the temp and humidity and even though he was well into his 50s he would score a 50 and take 5 fer near enough every game!
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Chmaiden on August 19, 2013, 07:49:10 PM
Goin back a few years we used to get a load of decent test players in the Surrey champs either at the end or the begging of their careers - jimmy Adams, Ian bishop, taibo, gripper. Most were still pretty handy. Reon king bounced a bat  that went straight over the keeper and straight over the boundry without bouncing once!!! But he didn't take that many wickets against us - bowled way too short
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: LEACHY48 on August 19, 2013, 08:03:23 PM
I have played against 4 first class players, 2 of which are now playing england u19 namely Ben Duckett and Ryan Higgins. Ryan played us in a T20 competition, and made 160 odd not out off 70 odd balls. both are incredibly good cricketers, the other two are again exceptional, one of them got offered a 2nd XI contract at the age of 13, with the view to playing 1st XI in 2 years however he turned t down as he plays for mumbai.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Chmaiden on August 20, 2013, 10:02:42 AM
I used to play with butch as well...class with so much time
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: bruggers100 on August 20, 2013, 10:27:10 AM
I used to play with butch as well...class with so much time

Casper, is that you ?
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: jamesisapayne on August 20, 2013, 07:56:13 PM
I don't think I've ever played against anyone remotely near some of the names being bandied about here.

Is it a case of you're playing at a higher level, or just that you're in the right areas?
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: LEACHY48 on August 20, 2013, 10:10:38 PM
what league do you play mate? I met all the pros I know via the college circuit, at national tournaments and one via Berkshire.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Twelfth Man on August 20, 2013, 10:15:21 PM
It could be a mixture of both. The higher the level you play at the more chance there is that your paths will cross with somebody who has or is currently playing first class.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Chmaiden on August 21, 2013, 01:41:48 AM
Bruggers....how many others do you know with my name???!!!!  of course its me...just about to smash the new season over here!!!
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Kaz092 on August 21, 2013, 02:07:58 AM
To some distaste of bottom of the league captain, it seems current pros are still doing well:

[url]http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/10593053.Burge__Michael_Carberry_is_too_good_for_the_Surrey_Championship/?action=complain&cid=11885661[/url] ([url]http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/10593053.Burge__Michael_Carberry_is_too_good_for_the_Surrey_Championship/?action=complain&cid=11885661[/url])

Spencer CC in SW London. I played against their 2s earlier in the season and Carbs was playing for their 1s. He got a fifer and 150.

Actually got 124 mate I know because that's my club lol here's the scorecard

[url]http://spencer.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11757524[/url] ([url]http://spencer.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=11757524[/url])


Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Simmy on August 21, 2013, 06:45:19 AM
we have just the one x pro in are league hes old now..

1st year in our league he smashed 1200 runs and got 200 againts us this year hes not doing to well and doesnt look all that
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: jamesisapayne on August 21, 2013, 08:43:51 AM
what league do you play mate? I met all the pros I know via the college circuit, at national tournaments and one via Berkshire.

Div 3 of the Somerset league. We're top by 30 points with two games to go so hopefully we'll be Div 2 next season and maybe more of a chance of playing against ex pro's?

I'm pretty sure most ex-first class players play in the WEPL, as it's a the next step up from our league - basically county 2ndXI
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: bruggers100 on August 22, 2013, 07:20:39 AM
Bruggers....how many others do you know with my name???!!!!  of course its me...just about to smash the new season over here!!!

Good to see a mate on the forum. Hope you and the family are well.  Will PM you seperately.

Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: RichW on September 10, 2013, 01:25:58 PM
Theres quite a few in the Northampton Leagues mainly those who have some relationship with the county.
Alec Swann
Rob Keogh
David Willey (a few years ago)
Richard Stemp
Dion Embrahim played for Stony Stratford for a number of years
David Wigley

Most are in the Prem division but even in Div 2 where I play there was Tim Roberts and Tony Pemberthy.

This year Rothwell have a indian first class player who had an IPL deal with the Royal Challengers.
Title: Re: Rating ex first class players that play local league now
Post by: Gingerbusiness on September 10, 2013, 02:24:02 PM
Reminds me of a bowler I faced about two years back who a local club had signed for £9k for the summer. He was on the books for the Mumbai Indians, at the time. Fortunately, he didn't quite understand the fact he was playing club cricket and the best way to get us out was not bowling short ALL of the time.

The best pro's I have played against are the clever ones. About 10 years ago (Baring in mind I am only 29) John Emburey was playing for Maidenhead and Bray CC. He was in his late 40s but he was an incredibly good bowler, and probably the best spin bowler I have faced to date.

Others included Alex Hales (Notts and England), Aftab Habib (England), Alan Jones (Glamorgan), Trevor Gripper (Zimbabwe), Jon Moss (Australia), Krishamar Santokie and Gavin Tonge (West Indies) and most recently Ashton Agar (When he was playing for Henley CC). I wouldn't say all are what I would consider to be 'light years' ahead of me as a player, but certainly can appreciate the ability of these guys to make things happen when needed.