Following on from John Helm's all time XI, life member David Abbott gives his thoughts.
1 Richard Robinson
2 Simon Davies
3 Ian Philliskirk
4 Paul Spragg
5 Mick Emmerson (capt)
6 Roger Pawson
7 Colin de Grandhomme
8 Geoff Kay (WK)
9 Jaffar Nazir
10 Mushtaq Ahmed
11 John Marshall
There are many more good players and have only included those from when I started playing senior cricket in 1964, so have not considered the treble championship team of the early fifties (although I did play in the same side as both Ronnie Burnet & Pat Robson) or Chris Balderstone who played in the late 50’s.
Richard Robinson - picks himself,the best player in the League in the last 30 years (at his peak)
Simon Davies - obviously home grown, with all the shots, but a perfect foil for Richard too.
Ian Philliskirk - a class player and gutsy too, when needed. Could also bowl, but don't think he'd be required in this team.
Paul Spragg - a stylish batsman all round the wicket.
Mick Emerson - the natural captain, good batsman, fielder and leader of men
Roger Pawson - a good attacking batsman - could open. A great seam bowler who took all 10 against Yorkshire Bank
Colin de Grandhomme - picked basically on what he has done recently rather than at Baildon, although he did score one of the best centuries I have seen in quick time when he took Jaffar Nazir (a later pick) apart when he played for East Bierley.He does balance the side, as an attacking middle order batter and quick bowler.
Geoff Kay - in my opinion the best wicket keeper to have played at Baildon, county class, and a good batsman too.
Jaffar Nazir - top rate pace bowler - won the League prize at least 3 times (once for Baildon)
Mushy - has shown his qualities over 20 years with 1000 wickets
John Marshall - again,top notch bowler with over 1000 wickets
A balanced side with Jaffar, Colin and Roger to bowl pace & Mushy and John to bamboozle them with spin or totally stop the other side scoring.
In reserve if those 5 main bowlers couldn’t get wickets you have Richard and Ian to back you up.
The batting should get lots of runs with the top 7 all capable of hundreds (and we know Mushy had one against Yeadon with his record partnership with Tom Atkinson).
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