Chris Simpson

Posted by jrod on March 15, 2009 under QLD, VIC | 3 Comments to Read

Someone asked in the comments the other day if this was the worst Shield Final Bowling line up of all time.

Maybe not, but I can’t think of an attack more tacked together than this.

Jimmy Hopes is opening the bowling, which is scary enough.

Andrew Symonds is the lead wicket taker in the match.

Ben Cutting has the best average of the full timers, with 37.

Ben Laughlin may have been chosen for Australia, but averages 65 in three shield games.

And Daniel Doran must be the luckiest man alive. 27 first class matches with an average of 54. He is an English pro leg spinner, I doubt he could get me out, and if he wants to make me on, and he finds himself in London this year, I will happily take him on.

But without the rain, New Texas could have won this game.

It all comes down to Chris Simpson, someone with a batting average of 20 and a bowling average of over 60.

Last year someone with similar stats captained South Australia, Nathan Adcock, and it was a shambles.

Even before this season started, Simpson seemed like the real deal, at least compared to Adcock.

In the media he said all the right things, and on the field he have done all the right things.

And the team has played out of its skin well.

Considering that he followed Law, Border, and Maher, it’s a risky decision.

If it wasn’t for the rain, Simpson might have ended up with 2 titles this year.

Not bad for a bloke who can’t really bat or bowl.