I was playing the lowest grade of limited overs turf a few years back and impersonating a 1st slip. We have the opposition 3 or so down for not much and we are starting to get chirpy. Out walks this bloke in his late 50s with buckled pads, a relic of a thigh pad and this old GN from the 80s. Me in the infancy of my CBF-addiction instantly am grinning thinking what a joke. I pass comment to the keeper that the tail starts early.
This bloke then belts three consecutive cover drives off our best bowler and reels off a fifty in six or seven overs with not one chance, every shot along the carpet. Stunning.
Our captain then tells us about his pleasure to witness an ex test player so close....
Turns out the guy played in the 70s before helmets when the WI were at their peak. Played a dozen or so tests before getting bounced out... Better equipment may have altered my perception of the player, but his ability was clearly evident. His name was Rick Davies.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4900.html