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My Best Grade team - Martin Haywood 1986 to 2006

Martin Haywood | May 24, 2023

I was up for the challenge, “why not I thought.”

Picking my best grade team wasn’t as easy as first thought so I thought it best to make life a little easier for myself.

So I’m going to pretend it’s a World Cup year and many of the International players I had the good fortune to play with maybe on duty for their country. I say maybe because I’m reserving the right to pick one or two because after all there is a game of cricket to be won.

The players on International duty that I have not selected in my best grade team include:

Trent Johnston (Ireland - Mosman) – played with the big fella and there weren’t many that played with as much passion as this bloke. Bowled many great spells up at Rawson and Allan Border Oval and chipped in with a few runs as well.
Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan - Mosman) – Only had 4 or 5 games with Shoaib and they will live with me forever. Bowled the fastest spell at Hurstville on a green nasty quick wicket and I’ve never had so much fun at first slip. Lightning. Not convinced it was all “legal” but a whole lot of fun all the same. Full credit to Saints for giving it a red hot crack.
Brett Lee (Australia- Mosman) – Wish I could pick him but had to be consistent here. Many games with Brett and a whole lot of fun. Rapid.
Anthony Stuart (Australia – Randwick) - Played a year with Stuey. A wholehearted and skilful bowler, he’d bowl all day
Andrew Strauss (England - Mosman) – Would love to have him opening up but just can’t pick Internationals.
Bruce Patterson (Scotland – Ayr) – Played with Bruiser in Scotland and would have had him opening up with Straussy.
Mike Whitney (Australia - Randwick) – Again, loved every minute playing with Whit, but just can’t pick him as he’s taking poles at the World Cup
Michael Bevan (Australia - Campbelltown) – Played a lot with and against Bev. Just a freak.
Junior Murray (West Indies – Mosman) – Great fun and brilliant Keeper / Batsman.

My Best Grade team

I have tried to sprinkle a few players from each of the teams I played with in First Grade. I played for Easts (Canberra), Ayr (Scotland), Campbelltown, Randwick and Mosman in Sydney from 1986 to 2006

It’s a tough gig and apologies for any oversights, I’m sure there might be a few

1. Alan Simpson – Ayr

Tough to pick ahead of his brother (David) but one knock at Poloc to win us the Championship will be with me for a long time. Dodgy deck and “carried his bat” and got us home. He was good for running out his partners but had to pick Albert just ahead of Grant Woodbridge.

2. Rodney Davison – Randwick

The Horse just made huge runs every single week. Batting at 3 in his team you were always safe if you were a bit late back in the sheds after a warm up. Never failed and was as bad as Albert with regard to “run outs”. He knows what I mean!!

At this stage we are 1 – 10. Albert run out.

3. Richard Chee Quee – Randwick

Mountain of runs at Club level. He was so good he even managed to get himself out twice in one session at the WACA. He played against us one day at Mosman against a very quick Akhtar spell and played a magnificent innings. Much preferred playing with Cheeqs rather than against.

4. Shane Lee - Mosman and Campbelltown

Delivered every single time we needed it. Made grade cricket look like a “net session” at times including two very important innings against Saints in the Grand Final and a particular brilliant century against UNSW who’s attached included Ian Salisbury, “did it easy”. Bowled some serious spells but the body just packed it in. Won’t be needed too many times with this bowling line up.

Shane and Cheeqs have taken us to 2 – 120 at lunch. Lunch generally spells the end of Cheeqs!!

Shane now joined by:

5. Neil Fairbrother - Easts and England

My mentor from Canberra days and he set me up for a “crack in Sydney”. He scored a mountain of runs as a left hander in the middle order and I’ve nominated Neil as my Captain. He sure knew how to get the very best out of some very different individuals, as you would expect in any Cricket team – 11 very different characters. Just wish the England selectors gave him more opportunities. He offered so much.

I imagine we now are 3 for plenty. Can’t see anyone getting past Shane and Neil. Declaration coming but want to push on here and give the quicks some overs just prior to stumps.

6. Craig Hughes – Campbelltown and Mosman

Not too many more devastating players to come in at 4 – 250. The skipper has said get on with it and Craig loved bombing them. He was also great with the ball and would weasel his way into the slip cordon for some great chat.

7. Andrew Milican – Randwick and Wicket Keeper

Gets the wicket keeping role ahead a hot field. Spike and I put on plenty of runs together one day at Petersham and he gets the keeping job due to so many runs and he was a wonderful keeper and captain. All the keepers I played with were brilliant including Cam Guthrie, Richard Noble, Michael Goeke and Michael Robinson. Tough selection.

I now want to declare at 4-380 and have some fun with the following

8. Warwick Adlam – Mosman

He gets the all-rounder gig and deserves it with some great spells with the ball behind the likes of Brett and Shoaib. Wick often ended up with the best figures, had a good laugh, had a Tim Tam then belted the ball as far as anyone late in the day. Loved a leggie!!

9. Kenny McLeod - Easts and Campbelltown

LA lightning. I just can’t imagine playing Test Cricket if this bloke couldn’t get a gig. Tall, fast and left Arm but most of all – great lad. There were some days at training where the coach says “pad up” and where Ken had the ball I had to say “forgot my kit mate”!!

Not many teams have two left armers but … this one does.

10. Phil Alley – Mosman

Left Arm Quick – incredible talent that just kept taking bags of wickets as well as a terrific fielder and could hold a bat. It was only a bloke by the name of Glenn McGrath who kept Phil out of the Test side in my opinion. Brilliant cricketer.

11. Tom Shiner – Campbelltown

The most bamboozling wrist spinner I ever faced in the nets. Had every trick in the book and used every one of those to literally have fun with some batters! Has to batt 11 and field at fine leg!!

12th man Adam Ward (Ogres) – Possibly the best fielder I have played with so earns the gig and gets my social cricket team (The Ogres) a mention.

Great times and so many great friends made through this wonderful game.