Top talents, great characters and super sledgers in an unbeatable all-star local cricket team
By Alan Swann
Published 11th May 2020, 12:59 BST
Updated 11th May 2020, 13:08 BST
The Peterborough Telegraph have published a few all-star local football teams, but now it’s officially the cricket season it’s time to switch sports.
I’ll start with the best team based on players I played with and against in the local area. I spent 30 years playing for Peterborough Town CC in the Northants Premier Division, South Lincs Premier Division and the Rutland League.
Only players from within the PT circulation area were considered with professionals and overseas players banned.
I make no apology for the abundance of PTCC players in my line-up as they have been the dominant local club in the last 30 years. E-mail your all-star team to [email protected]
I make no apology for the abundance of PTCC players in my line-up as they have been the dominant local club in the last 30 years. E-mail your all-star team to [email protected]
9.
DOMINIC RALFS: Akhtar and Ralfs became the most lethal bowling attack in my time at PTCC. Ajaz was complemented perfectly by the seam movement Dom generated on any surface. Dom was a hopeless trainer who didn’t believe in warm-ups, but he rarely went for more than two runs an over. He was also an underrated batsmen who often contributed valuable runs low down the order. Dom captained PTCC for a while and played successfully alongside Ajaz for Cambs. Spent time as a pro in the Norfolk League before retiring to lower further his single-figure golf handicap.
JOHN WAKE: I have picked a team with four top-class seam bowlers and a quality leg-spinner so I need a second off-spinner after Bruce to complete the perfect bowling attack and John was the best I played with at PTCC. A great character who would liven up a dull session of play by gurning at opposition batsman as he ran into bowl. He was loyal to Northampton Saints so never played for PTCC in the Northants League, but he was a star performer in a couple of South Lincs Premier Division title-winning sides. A top coach who was a popular Master of Cricket at Oundle School.
MARK ROLLINSON: The Spalding and Burghley Park wicket-keeper is one of the greatest characters the local scene has ever seen. He’d chirp non-stop during a game, but never in a nasty way, and he was fantastic company in the bar afterwards in a happy time when socialising with the opposition wasn’t frowned upon. ‘Rolly’ was also a brilliant ‘keeper with safe and fast hands who could stand up effortlessly to fast-medium bowlers. He was a hopeless batsman though, but in my all-star team I wouldn’t need him to wield the willow. He’d rarely get to the crease.
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