Query for a Hull City book I'm writing

Dill has got 56 wrapped up.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...ralia-3rd-test-australia-tour-of-england-1981

 

Thanks Jimmy. Will be a long way off as the research has to be thorough, but I've not seen anything like it, so (as with The Decade) I'll have clear blue sky in front of me.

 

Yup, that was one of the first I pencilled in. Botham's duck in the Test before that is a candidate for 0 too. He walked off, was no longer the captain and seemed to think '**** it' because of that innings. Was a key part of his performance at Headingley.

 

I sincerely hope there hasn't been a better 81 than this

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...-1st-investec-test-india-tour-of-england-2014

 

I'm going to guess that there hasn't been. To be honest, I think my main issue will be working out a way to avoid filling it with gutsy 40 and 50-something scores made my Robin Smith against great West Indies attacks. Having just read his autobiography, I only love the man even more now. Graham Thorpe's 64 in the dark in Pakistan in 2000 will almost certainly be in there.

 

Good shout, am a big fan of both Smith and Thorpe. Hope Athers makes the 99 spot his own for that innings where he slipped in turning for his third / 100th run. Unfortunately my knowledge / memory pre mid 90s is pretty poor, bet it would be fascinating research though

 

Thus far, Alex Tudor is his main competition for that slot. I love my cricket history, so as with The Decade, none of it seems like hard work.

 

Ah of course, forgot about Tudor - almost certainly the better option as much as I love Atherton. Didn't he once declare on Hick when he was 97*?

 

If memory serves, Hick was on 98, but had been batting slowly when the team orders were for quick runs to set up a declaration. Athers got peed off with it and just declared. Not great for team morale, but in many of the autobiographies I've read from players around that time, there is a lot of sympathy for Athers as it is widely felt Hick wasn't putting the team first.

 

Sounds really good... And the best duck?

 

Love the idea for the book but the research is gonna be epic!

99 for me has to be Martyn Moxon against New Zealand. Actually scored 102 but inexplicably had 3 runs chalked off as leg byes after he'd middled a sweep.

0 has to be Bradman's last innings.


Random suggestions.

38 Sydney Barnes. Couldn't care less about his batting but he's the one cricketer I'd go back in time to see, just to see if he was as good a bowler as those that saw him say he was.

98 Harold Larwood. His final test innings towards the end of the Bodyline series. The greatest English bowler of his generation. Took the rap for Bodyline and never played for his country again. A travesty.

 

Thanks Ernie. It would be England innings only. The Larwood one was actually pencilled in for 98. I've got a lot of contenders from the Bodyline series - Hedley Verity's 45; Eddie Paynter's 83 (when he left his hospital bed to complete his innings); Hammond and Leyland both made crucial scores of 80-odd. Hadn't considered the Moxon one but will look into it. I have to have a Hedley Verity entry though.

 

I'm trying to work out if we are helping you with your research or just spoiling your adventure? There's many of us would love to contribute. Help or hindrance? And you have to live with your response.

 

Helping, most certainly. I think I'm going to start a new job soon, so I'd be putting the book on hiatus for a while as I'll have to throw everything in to that, but I'm keen to get this book written so when I'm ready to get it properly up and running I'll DM you if you want (and anyone else who fancies being involved the the selection of innings)?

 

Was wondering the same thing! Would love to be involved, including in the research rather than just randomly throwing out "how many did Alan Mullally score that time he spanked Wasim Akram around"?

 

24 by the way, I just googled it

 

Thank you. I'll DM you when it picks up a bit if that's OK.

 

Would really enjoy that.

 

As it's a year to the day since The Decade was released, I just thought I'd chip in with a quick update.

1616 copies sold, and more importantly £12,627 raised for Dove House. Thanks as always for all your help on here. I'll shut up about it now.

 

Talking of high and dry in the 90's. Who was the night watchman who had to stand at the other end and watch, I'm sure it was Graham Thorpe, knock off the runs required to win with a flurry of boundaries?

Him and Hick included in a chapter "Thanks a bunch, Mate. (B******d)"