Who Am I?

[Gingerfinch]

The two x 400's were the big giveaway


I scored over 8000 ODI runs but never played an innings lasting over 100 balls?

[sussexpob]

The two x 400's were the big giveaway

Yeah, pretty obvious.

I scored over 8000 ODI runs but never played an innings lasting over 100 balls

Almost certainly going to be Afridi, as half of his hundreds came in about 40 balls.

[Gingerfinch]

The two x 400's were the big giveaway

Yeah, pretty obvious.

I scored over 8000 ODI runs but never played an innings lasting over 100 balls

Almost certainly going to be Afridi, as half of his hundreds came in about 40 balls.

Damn, too easy!

Over to you

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ponsford?

Should have had him in my Aussie team.

[sussexpob]

I was a cricketer of pretty average note in my local club scene as I came into my 20s, playing as wicket keeper before trying my hand at off spin; all that changed when I got the ball thrown at me in a forgone conclusion match, and decided to throw down some at full pace; ending the match with 7 wickets for 1 run, and displaying some fearsome, nasty pace.

[Arthur Crabtree]

In a club game?

[sussexpob]

In a club game?

Yes, the clue is a bit vague though, so here's another.....

Not long after that I played in my first class debut as a full out paceman against a touring MCC team loaded with international talent; within my first few balls I had sent back three of England's top order test players, including Colin Cowdrey.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Jeff Thomson?

[sussexpob]

I played nearly 30 tests in the 1960s for West Indies, featuring alongside my childhood friend from Barbados, Wes Hall. I am arguably most famous for a tour match in 1962 after playing just one test. Playing against the visiting Indians, four balls into the match I send down a short ball to Indian captain Nari Contractor, who misjudged and ducked into it, hitting him above the ear and fracturing his skull. Bleeding horribly and badly hurt, Nari was taken to hospital were doctors managed to remove two blood clots and save his life, but the ball ended his career as the top level. Later in the same game, despite being shook up and bowling at half pace, I was called for throwing; accusations that would dog my career moving forward, and a reason why I never fulfilled my potential. Some argue rumours had floated around that I was a chucker long before this, but that umpires only took notice once I nearly killed someone with a fast ball.

[Gingerfinch]

Charlie Griffith?

[sussexpob]

Charlie Griffith?

Got it again GF! Apparently he went to England on a tour after that Nari Contractor incident, and every batsman in the county circuit didn't want to stick around for long; took 119 wickets at 12 in the tour, including over 30 in the 5 tests at 18!! But he was called for chucking again in England, and after that he become less effective. Brian Close once said that he could play Griffith's stock ball with one hand in his pocket, and barely trying, but then you'd only hear the thump of the wicket when he thundered in an effort ball.

The general consensus was the quicker ball was vicious, but thrown. So in the later half of the 60s, not using it, he wasn't very good.

[Gingerfinch]

I like waiting till the clues get easier!

I was known for being a difficult team mate, who played first class Cricket in South Africa as well as England?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Must be a few of those. Boycott?

[Gingerfinch]

No

Same sort of era. A tad later

[Arthur Crabtree]

I can still think of a few arses who played cricket in SA in the apartheid era. I'll wait for another clue.