The Alphabet XI’s : H

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Matthew L in Opinion, Tests

When I saw the ‘G team’ a few days ago I was worried that no team would be able to match it, but this ‘H team’ is certainly right up there. It includes three men who have received Knighthoods for services to cricket (Hutton, Hobbs & Hadlee) and the middle-order is quite sensational. Perhaps the only Achilles heel is the lack of a match winning spinner, and there was a temptation to bring Merv Hughes in for Carl Hooper. Such is the strength in depth of this team that along with Merv, Neil Harvey, Nasser Hussain, George Headley, Phillip Hughes, Steve Harmison and Wes Hall are all left waiting in the wings.

 

Matthew Hayden (Australia 1994-2009) 103 Tests, 8625 runs @ 50.73 A powerhouse at the top of the innings, Hayden had the strength and the mindset to bully even the most fearsome of bowling attacks. One of the best openers of all time

Desmond Haynes (West Indies 1978-1994) 116 Tests, 7487 runs @ 42.29 Teamed up with Gordon Greenidge to form the second most fruitful opening partnership in Test history, having plundered 6482 runs together.

* Leonard Hutton (England 1937-1955) 79 Tests, 6971 runs @ 56.67 An all-time great. Scored what was then a world record score of 364 in his 6^th test and fought back from a serious arm injury suffered in WWII to score 2000+ First Class runs every year from 1947-1953, including a frankly ridiculous record 1294 runs scored in June 1949 alone.

Wally Hammond (England 1927-1947) 85 Tests, 7249 runs @ 58.45, 83 wickets @ 37.80 An incredible batsman and slip fielder, Hammond is possibly second only to Jack Hobbs as England’s greatest ever cricketer. His bowling wasn’t bad either, Sir Donald Bradman once remarked, “he was too busy scoring runs to worry about bowling.”

Jack Hobbs (England 1908-1930) 61 Tests, 5410 runs @ 56.95 No one has scored more first class runs (61,760) or more first class centuries (199) than Jack Hobbs. He remained in the test arena until he was 47 years old, and in 1953 was Knighted for services to cricket.

Michael Hussey (Australia 2005-2012) 68 Tests, 5435 runs @ 51.76 A late comer to test cricket, making his debut aged 30, the man nicknamed Mr Cricket made a stunning start to his international career and despite a slight blip has gone on to be one of the most dogged run makers over the past 6 years.

Carl Hooper (West Indies 1987-2002) 102 Tests, 5762 runs @ 36.46, 114 wickets @ 49.42 A classy strokemaker who perhaps failed to live up to his potential as a batsman, Hooper makes it into this side largely to provide a holding spin option role, while the quicks do their damage.

+ Ian Healy (Australia 1988-1999) 199 Tests, 4356 runs @ 27.39, 366 catches, 29 stumpings Was named as wicket-keeper in Australia’s team of the 20^th Century and formed a potent partnership with the bowling of Shane Warne. Can now be found flogging cheap tat during Channel 9’s televised games.

Richard Hadlee (New Zealand 1973-1990) 86 Tests, 3124 runs @ 27.16, 431 wickets @ 22.29 Without doubt New Zealand’s greatest cricketing export. The all-rounder was the first bowler to reach 400 test wickets and almost single handedly carried his country during his long career.

Michael Holding (West Indies 1975-1987) 60 Tests, 910 runs @ 13.78, 249 wickets @ 23.68 A cool demeanour, mesmerising action and a voice like melting chocolate lead to the nickname ‘whispering death’. Holding is one of the most devastating fast bowlers ever to play the game and was a key part of the great West Indies side of the 70s and 80s.

Matthew Hoggard (England 2000-2008) 67 Tests, 473 runs @ 7.27, 248 wickets @ 30.50 Immensely popular with England fans due to his unbounded energy and never say die attitude, Hoggard could be quite unplayable when the ball swung and was particularly lethal when bowling to left handers. A reliable night-watchman for many years