Remembering the lesser lights

Throughout the history of cricket we come across certain players who define their generation and shape the image of the game. These are the players who grab the imagination of young cricket fans and demand their adoration. From Hobbs, Bradman and Trueman to Flintoff, Pietersen and Warne, these cricketing giants transcend the game itself and become milestones in history for future players to measure themselves against.

Few would argue that these gladiators do not deserve the recognition of their sporting achievements. After all in cricket, as in everyday life, very few cricketers become household names and fewer still achieve iconic status, although cynics may argue that this is ever easier in this age of hyperbole and 24hr sports coverage.

But what about those cricketers who perhaps do not achieve greatness, who do not travel the globe and perform heroic deeds in crowded stadiums?  What about those whose main goal is to earn a living doing something they enjoy, whose dreams of greatness have faded over time or been shattered by cruel circumstance? We are of course talking about the honest county cricketer, whose hard work and sweat go unheralded and oft unreported, who perform week after week in empty stadiums and in much maligned competitions.

These journeymen who, upon returning to the pavilion one last time, swiftly become a statistic in the history of the game, an average next to a forgotten name, surely deserve their own place in our hearts for the transient yet no less pleasurable moments they brought to our sport and our lives.

Never mind that they ended their career with a bowling average greater than, or a batting average less than 35. From time to time these players would find it within themselves to perform at or above the peak of their abilities, and how easy it was to share in their moment and experience the journey with them – after all, these county pros were men after our own hearts, giving their all without gaining the rewards of the more gifted or extravagant superstars. How we rejoiced at the unexpected success of an underdog, for these were times when we were reminded that there is hope for us all.

For me, an abiding cricket memory will always be the Natwest Trophy final of 1993 between Sussex and Warwickshire.  Sussex had set Warwickshire a final record target of 322 thanks to a superb innings of 124 from David Smith.  With Warwickshire reduced to 93-3 in reply Asif Din, with assistance from Paul Smith and then Dermot Reeve, made a superb century to win the trophy, with Roger Twose scoring the winning runs off the final delivery. In this match, none of the major contributors, with the exception of Reeve, were current international players – Twose would not play for New Zealand until 1995 – so this classic match was a real triumph for some of the lesser known players.

In 2001, Somerset won the C&G Trophy thanks to man of the match performances by Keith Dutch (semi final) and Keith Parsons (final). An unbeaten 110 from Phil Weston and bowling figures of 10-3-23-4 by James Averis lead Gloucestershire to a final win in 2004 against Worcestershire. This season saw an astonishing Twenty20 innings by Essex’ Graham Napier when he smashed the Sussex bowling to score 152 not out.

Such performances in trophy finals are, of course, more memorable, but the County Championship is no less notable for outstanding performances by lesser known players.  Umer Rashid will be remembered for his tragic death in 2002, but in July 2001 for Sussex against Durham came the performance of his career – a first innings 106 and match bowling of 5-15, including 2nd innings figures of 9.1-5-9-4, were major factors in a 133 run victory during Sussex’ promotion season.

Sometimes great players achieve great feats with the support of lesser players. Would Brian Lara have been able to score 501 not out against Durham in 1994 had Keith Piper not supported him with an innings of 116 not out? Perhaps not.

These are just some of the performances through the years that have been branded upon my memory, and there are others. I wondered at Lords as Middlesex wicketkeeper/batsman Keith Brown won a match against Surrey with a 2nd innings unbeaten half-century. I rejoiced as Richard Montgomerie scored a hundred for Sussex against Essex in a Norwich Union league match in 2001.

The feats of the great international players may be first in the memories of most, but cricket wouldn’t be cricket without the stirling contributions of the lesser lights. Long may it continue.