If you think this team bears a striking similarity to the all-conquering Kent
sides of the 1970s you would be right. While the likes of Les Ames, Tich
Freeman and Frank Woolley were more prolific in terms of the record books
their names are generally shrouded by the mists of time and it is so
difficult to judge exactly how they might have fared in the present era. It
is rather akin to asking what kind of impact Stanley Matthews would have had
on the present England football sides. With this set of players it is all
rather different and while we know for certain that George Best would have
shone in the Premier League, we also know that the qualities of Underwood,
Knott, Cowdrey and Asif would stand the test of time. How England could do
with a spinner of Underwood's quality now or a wicketkeeper of Knott's
consistency, not to mention a batsman of Cowdrey's technique.
1. Brian Luckhurst: 48 first class centuries and a 1,000 runs in a
season on 14 occasions, Luckhurst or "Lucky", as he was affectionately
known, served Kent as player and manager and was president at the time of
his death in 2005. His name was synonymous with the great sides of the 1970s
and the weight of runs accumulated from his bat earned him 21 Test
appearances.
2. Mike Denness: the 1975 Wisden cricketer of the year might have
struggled to impose himself as a captain and a player at Test level when he
came up against Lillee and Thomson at their peak but at county level he was
hugely dependable, amassing more than 17,000 runs for his county whom he
captained between 1972 and 1976. Despite a torrid time Down Under, he still
averaged nearly 40 at Test level.
3. Colin Cowdrey: Along with Knott and Underwood, perhaps the most
obvious choice. One of the greatest English batsmen to grace a cricket
field, at the St Lawrence Ground he was known quite simply as The Master.
Stylish and courageous he was among the finest players of fast bowling and
among that elite band of players to have reached 100 first-class centuries.
4. Bob Woolmer: Time to remember the man for his cricketing exploits
rather than his demise, Woolmer's work ethic transformed him from
lower-order all-rounder to prolific batsman at county level and Test level
where all three of his Test-match centuries came against Australia. More
than 12,500 runs for his county spoke for themselves.
5. Asif Iqbal: A dashing batsman who always made excellent use of his
footwork and a more than useful bowler, Asif captained Kent for three seaons
in two spells and was a significant force for the county during their
prolific 70s achievements.
6. John Shepherd: A controversial choice ahead of someone such as Carl
Hooper but Shepherd, an entertaining West Indies all-rounder, was the
darling of the Kent members. Shepherd's time at the county was, unlike that
of Hooper, synonymous with success. Remains a firm favourite at the St
Lawrence Ground.
7. Alan Knott: Veteran of 95 Tests, including an Ashes winning series,
Knott needs no introduction as one of the most charismatic and prolific
cricketers to have graced the stage at county or international level. As
well as his remarkable consistency behind the stumps, his batting was a joy
to behold with an aptitude to defend or attack with equal expertise.
8. Richard Ellison: nice to have a bit of variety and at its best
Ellison's swing bowling was devastating, as Australia will testify when he
took ten wickets against them during the 1985 Edgbaston Test including a
spell of four for one in 15 balls. Lack of fitness shortened his Test career
and he missed the 1987 season because of injury. At county level he was a
popular product of the Tonbridge School production line and as well as being
an excellent bowler, was also a decent left-handed batsman.
9. Derek Underwood: a heavy smoker, his lifestyle might not have gone
down too well with today's coaches but of course "'Deadly" as he was known
was to become one of the foremost spinners in international cricket for more
than a decade, developing a formidable partnership with Knott behind the
stumps. The longevity of his Kent service gained him two benefits and he
passed 100 first-class wickets in a season on ten occasions. On poor wickets
he could be more or less unplayable.
10. Terry Alderman: spent two seasons with the county in 1984 and 1986
but will be best remembered as the scourge of English batsmen in taking 42
wickets in the 1981 Ashes series and 41 in 1989.
11. Graham Dilley: another Ashes hero who was given his chance with
Kent after tapping on the window of the car of Colin Page, the then Kent
coach. At one stage regarded as the fastest bowler in England, Dilley will
be best remembered for his part in Botham's Ashes when he partnered the
England all-rounder to a match winning partnership of 117 at Headingley in
1981.
My favourite XI
You've got to pick a maverick or two when it comes to a county who only in
recent times have started to move away from being run like some sort of
gentlemen's club. Kent still have their stuffy moments with the
public-address announcer at Tunbridge Wells this year urging some lads
playing a perfectly orderly game of cricket on the outfield in front of a
redundant marquee to put back immediately the plastic chair they had dared
to borrow to form a wicket, but mercifully strides do appear to have been
made away from the Jim Swanton era. Reflected in my team are a couple of
aforementioned mavericks, one or two whose approach to the game has given me
immense pleasure at the St Lawrence Ground, the Mote and the Nevill down
they years, some others who carry personal resonance and one youngster who
is more than capable of flying the county flag in future Test sides.
1. Neil Taylor: how he never achieved a Test cap is a mystery on a par
with corn circles and the Bermuda Triangle. A model of concentration and
technique who served the county so well over 15 years, forming alongside
Mark Benson one of the most dependable opening partnerships in county
cricket. And always liked a curry too.
2. Brian Luckhurst: His death in 2005 knocked the stuffing out of the
county for a time. No one served Kent more dilligently and in so many roles
as the title of his autobiography From Boot Boy to President emphasises. A
great batsman and one of the most likeable and approachable people on the
county circuit, who always found time to dispense advice even to the most
average of club players.
3. Joe Denly: Should be opening the innings really but mention has to
be made of one of the brightest young batting prospects to emerge for Kent
for some time. Made his mark with 83 for the England Lions against the
Indians this season and one senses that it will not be the only occasion in
which he will be representing his country. Would be nice to see him get a
really big score before the season is out. A credit to the Kent League
system and in particular his club Whitstable who will be justifiably proud
of him.
4. Trevor Ward: an infuriatingly gifted player who when in his pomp
could be one of the most destructive batsmen on the county circuit with an
exceptional record in the one-day game. Left the club under a cloud for
Leicestershire in 1999. Living proof that players don't have to have been
part of some elitist educational establishment to develop a talent for the
game.
5. Ed Smith: a former member of elitist educational establishments but
nevertheless an elegant and hugely gifted batsman who also left Kent under
unhappy circumstances, although his excellent seasonal diary On and Off the
Field, detailing the eventful 2003 season when he earned Test recognition,
did not give any clear indication that he was to become alienated from the
dressing-room. Kent's loss was Middlesex's gain.
6. Eldine Baptiste: lean, athletic all-rounder for both Kent and West
Indies who was a great favourite at the St Lawrence Ground. Had an
unfortunate tendency in more recent times to detain his former devotees into
the daylight hours at Lashings bar in Maidstone.
7. John Shepherd: would claim a place among most Kent fans' favourite
XIs. Genial off the field and aggressive on it he was an important component
of the 70s sides that asserted such a dominant grip on county cricket
silverware.
8. Steve Marsh: surprised that Kent and their then leanings towards the
old shool, allowed anyone who listed Mid-Kent College as his alma mater to
captain the side, but he did a good job during difficult times. A
wicket-keeper, Marsh claimed nine victims in a match on two occasions and
scored more than 10,000 runs for his county.
9. Kevin Masters: fast bowler, father of David Masters, the
Leicestershire and former Kent player, "Hodd" as he was known
because of his out of season work on building sites was the provider of
arguably one of the best sledges ever to be heard. After a batsman played
and missed at him several times in succession in a club game at the Mote
ground, Hodd walked down the wicket and said to him: "Hold the bat
still mate and I'll hit it for you."
10. Norman Graham: a larger than life figure in more ways than one at
six feet eight inches. Affable and popular he claimed more than 600 first
class wickets, while his dismally poor batting and ground fielding were a
frequent source of mirth. Less in doubt was his beer drinking capacity.
11. David Sayer: one of the quickest bowlers of his generation "Slayer"
as he was known, is still instantly recognisable from his playing days
although he turned 70 last year. Once admitted to bowling a beamer to Brian
Close because the former England player was getting on top of him with the
bat, so proving that things were not always gentlemanly in days of yore.
Another anecdote concerns a bus journey to Tunbridge Wells when two Kent
members were talking, one saying to the other: "I hear we've got some
young lad called Sayer playing for us today." The young Sayer was sat
immediately in front of them legs astride his cricket bag travelling to his
Kent debut.
