Published: Aug 16, 2017, 09:30 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 16, 2017, 09:34 PM (IST)
There are All-time XIs and then there are more All-Time XIs. And never can one say with absolute confidence that one All-Time XI is the best ever. However, Arunabha Sengupta digs out one such drafted as far back as the 1980s which can perhaps be matched but never ‘bettered’.
It is the passionate pastime of arm-chair selectors to draft All-Time XIs. Elevens of all types, from the simple ones formed on basis of country, era, decade etc to the complicated teams listing eleven men based on amount of facial hair, birth month, name-sharing with writers, philosophers, scientists, letter of the alphabet kicking off their last names and so on.
However, in spite of the plethora of such fantasy sides, seldom can one say with any degree of certainty that an All-Time XI picked based on certain criteria is the best possible. There can always be numerical and logical arguments advocating for another slightly different eleven that is arguably slightly better.
The only watertight way of being ‘sure’ of the ‘absolutely best’ XI is to use some clinching logical argument such as ‘no brainer’ for the picks and ‘bollocks lmao’ for the alternatives. Many cricket fans, in fact, specialise in such reasoning.
Yet, in the 1980s, Marcus Williams of The Times did compile what he considered was the ultimate ‘GOAT’ eleven. The Greatest of All Time, which could definitely not be bettered.
The names were listed alphabetically, since, unlike other elevens, it is difficult to determine the roles of these worthy gentlemen.
1. IJ Coulhurst, Lancashire 1919
2. TS Fox, Middlesex 1905
3. JT Griffiths, Nottinghamshire 1891
4. TJ Hearne (c), Middlesex 1908
5. FJ Hyland, Hampshire 1924
6. H Longland, Northamptonshire 1907
7. JL Matthews, Gloucestershire 1872
8. WE Mirehouse, Gloucestershire 1872
9. RJ Richards, Essex 1970
10. AJ Rickets, Somerset 1936
11. WR Thomas, Somerset 1928
This team, published in the Times Sporting Diary can indeed never be ‘bettered’.
It consists of men who have gone through completed First-Class careers without having batted, bowled or taken a catch.
Yes, the ‘best’ of them may at most match the exploits of these men. But they cannot go beyond them.
The team listed against their names denote the side they represented in the one match each played in their careers. The year, of course, tells us the year they ventured into the cricket field to leave it exactly as they found it.
Incidentally, Williams chose Hearne as the captain because he exceeded the others in this capacity. He did not bat, did not bowl … and while the others did not take a catch, Hearne did not even field.
