Ajaz said: “I’ve based it on players who I have played with and against and funnily enough I’ve played with everyone in my team apart from David Christmas. It’s not necessarily who I think are the best players but the ones who have performed brilliantly in local cricket over many years. That might explain why there’s no Nadeem or Saleem Mohammed for example. They ar two of the best players I’ve played with, but just didn’t play enough local cricket.”
Ajaz, a former Peterborough Town and Cambridgeshire captain, also nominated a coach, scorer and tea lady!
Coach: Neil Lowndes. “Transformed a sleepy Market Deeping on his arrival to the village into one of the team of the 90s. Hard, tough and never took a backward step..and that was just with his own team mates. Great company in the bar and would definitely keep this team in check and then buy them a beer in the bar!”
Scorer: Wilf Morgan. “The legendary Town batter and in his very late years Town’s scorer. Introduced coloured pencils in a black and white era and has to be in because he was the only one who knew the direction to every ground in the country! Would stand on the outfield and hold up the game until a fellow scorer arrived. RIP old boy.”
Tea Lady: Julia French- “Her legendary teas at Town in the noughties increased both the number of members at the club and their waste lines. Superb spread, strawberries, cakes, pasta you name it she made it! Her lad Callum was a decent player too, but a bit overweight for obvious reasons!”
9.
GARY RICE: "Gary was a brilliant fast bowler, hard hitting batsman and a great all-round chap. He bowled genuinely quick inswingers in his youth, but don’t be confused by his niceness, as he was also very competitive. Gary won three Northants Premier League titles and over 17 trophies for Peterborough Town. He also always had the best car and best girlfriend so has to be in my team every time. Would also be team groundsman if required.”
10.
GED MCDOUGALL: “Really? Another Market Deeping player you are thinking! Ged learnt his trade playing indoor cricket at Shrewsbury Avenue, but went on to become a brilliant wicket-keeper for Deeping. Ged had the quickest hands I ever saw and he was particularly good standing up to medium pacers. Ged could give it a whack too and finally, like all great keepers, he was very loud and annoying behind the stumps.”
11.
DOMINIC RALFS: “Dom was the best bowler I ever bowled with in partnership. He was calm and unflustered and could bowl long spells into the wind. Dom was zippy in his day and would bowl about two bad balls a season for Peterborough Town. Dom claimed over 100 wickets for Cambs and was also a very useful batter, once putting on over 200 for Cambs with pro Simon Kellet against Monty Panesar."