North Down Cricket Club All-Time Greatest XI
As selected by North Down stalwart and prolific cricket author and historian Clarence Hiles
(Includes one overseas player and one specialist wicketkeeper).
1. RAMAN LAMBA
The ultimate professional, batting, bowling and fielder. Never smoked, no alcohol and fitness fanatic. Five Tests and 25 ODIs, and topped the aggregate batting and bowling regularly. Sad ending at only 38. The only North Down player that is rivalled by Taimur Khan, another outstanding cricketer.
2. MICHAEL REITH
Brought North Down from post-war doldrums and was credited rightly for the return to the top tier of NCU cricket. Brilliant dashing batsman and frugal swing bowler. Ireland batsman and a gentleman in every way. His captaincy was a huge asset to North Down and our progression.
3. DAVID KENNEDY
Came from Ballymena in 2002 and we had him for five years. During that time Ireland biographer Edward Liddle said ‘he was undoubtedly the best Batsman in NCU cricket and possibly all Ireland." He was a prolific batsman, but he only played once for Ireland because he wasn’t available on Sunday depriving him of Interprovincial and Irish honours. . Typically, DK never complained, but one wonders how many caps he would have acquired. David was hugely popular with the members and supporters. A stylish right-handed batsman who also won the NCU Larry Warke Batting Trophy in 2007 beating all the overseas professionals.
4 .JAMES MACDONALD
Ireland captain in the Twenties and Thirties ending on the Second World War 1939. The most accomplished performer in Irish cricket that Yorkshire’s Maurice Leyland once said the only problem was 'he was never born in Yorkshire'. His records were outstanding for North Down, batting, bowling and fielding. He was the finest cricketer in that era between the wars. Just look at his achievements! Also capped 25 times at hockey. He was my Headmaster at Regent House.
5. OSCAR ANDREWS
Without doubt the most accomplished cricketer in the Andrews family. He dominated NCU cricket from 1894 to 1899 and when he moved from North Down to North of Ireland, the landscape was transformed. A dual international, he was an exceptional all rounder. He was capped only a few times for Ireland but wasn’t available many times due to business reasons. His NCU records batting and bowling were only matched by James Macdonald.
6. ROBIN HAIRE
Robin was a fierce competitor and didn’t win many friends on the pitch with his aggression, sometimes arrogance. A dogged batsman and tricky left-arm slow bowler, ‘Da Haire’ was ofter the catalyst that opponents wanted to get him out. He was the youngest North Down captain in 1982 and was capped three times in 1986 at Zimbabwe, but it probably came at a cost, as he was a clubman, and should have been capped more. Michael Reith weaned him as Captain and I feel in an All-Time Greats, Robin would be my choice. as Captain.
7. ANDREW WHITE
His records in Irish cricket speaks for itself, not just longevity, but his determination, batting, bowling and fielding, perhaps a role model in many ways. In the modern era of professional we lost him to Instonians, and virtually every game, he put on a big performance at The Green. We missed the boat when “Whitey’ moved.
8. JACK DEARDEN (W/K)
Dearden was a prolific North Down stumper in the post World War 1 and snared 46 victims in a season. He was born in Lancashire and played for Lancs 2rd XI and later performed brilliantly for Ulster XI and Ireland 1922-26. His partnership with James Macdonald’s slow bowling and batting was exceptional. It brought me a problem as Denis Artt was also an outstanding gloveman, very different from Dearden. Artt’s combination with Lawrence Hunter’s bowling won many games, but at the end of the day I sided with Dearden.
9. PAUL McCRUM
A fine fast bowler and excellent batsman. In my All-time Greats XI North Down had some fine bowlers with very different ways, from the fast tracks these days to people like Willie Turner in the 1890s. Paul had some great performances for Ulster Country and Ireland and although he played a short time, I always recognized his class.
10. LAWRENCE HUNTER
Capped by Irish rugby, it was a shame that he didn’t make the Irish cricket like his brother Raymond. He was the fast bowling reserve 12 times because O’Riordan and Huey performed well and they were not injured! An excellent seam bowler and useful batsman, he came from Lisburn in 1972 until illness in 1980. His leadership in the Seventies was vital for the team in all its struggles. His bowling and stumping from Artt often won games.
11. WILLIE TURNER
Willie was the star for North Down from 1880 to 1899 with his round-arm bowling, better know as ’trundling.” I wonder how he would adapt to the modern game and I think he would do very well. NCU doyn Jimmy Picken said he was “the best of the North, possibly in all Ireland. He was a prolific bowler in tandem with spin kings brother Sam and Tommy Graham. In 1887 he bowled 473 overs and missed narrowly to get 100 wickets. Willie would certainly have played for Ireland but the national team were controlled by two Dublin clubs and the Ireland team was not representative. It took 30 years to get is sorted! Willie also scored 108 not out in the Senior Cup semi-final against Gilford. He was an exceptional cricketer!
12TH MAN TOMMY GRAHAM
Tommy opened both the bowling and batting in the 1890's, an era when North Down dominated cricket in Ulster. Later he became an outstanding cricket administrator.
SCORER - JOHN PATTON.
That’s my North Down All-Greats XI.
I could have several teams in different eras but this is the complete picture. There are many others over 145 years of should-be’s and could be’s, but I have the benefit of the history of our club and these are the cricketers that I have selected.
Thanks to Clarence Hiles, Ulster Cricketer, North Down CC, Rowland White and Ian Shields for photos used to accompany the article.
