Mills my man to lead the island's all-star XI

APOLOGIES to everyone left out. You are all decent fellows, were/are very good cricketers, but I could pick only XI.

You can still buy me a drink next time we meet or simply refrain from giving me a mouthful.

Choosing Guernsey's finest all-time inter-insular team has been huge fun and brought back many memories long forgotten.

Those of similar vintage to me may choose to disagree vehemently with some of the selections but, I hazard a guess, most of the XI I have plumped for will form the basis of most cricket followers' fantasy teams.

The near misses would form a fairly useful side themselves.

For instance, I found it difficult to ignore the talents of players such as Alan Lewis, Robin Roussel and that modern-day legend, Gary Rich.

The truth is, I had the Cobo stalwart lined up to play and bat at number nine when I was overcome with guilt for ignoring the talents of the island's most capped player, Ralph Anthony, who I had hesitated to choose because of the presence of Jeremy Frith perfectly able to bowl left-arm spin. It was a toss-up decision which went the Salemite's way.

I have even had the gall to eliminate the last Guernseyman and only one of only two in the history of the series to score a century against Jersey.

Stuart Mackay was one very fine player but cannot be accommodated on this occasion, nor can the only player to pull on a Guernsey cap with a first-class hundred to his name, the New Zealander Glen Milnes.

Of my final XI, seven were born and raised here, the other four from England or overseas.

And talking of overseas, on this page you will find an all-time XI of overseas players who have graced our pitches, a best of England team and because they have been the team we have striven to beat for the last half-century, one to represent the cream of Jersey.

Guernsey's finest 1957-2007

1: TONY TAYLOR - Brought to Guernsey to succeed Jack Reddish as head of sport at Elizabeth College, this multi-talented sportsman quickly made his mark on the cricket fields.

For five years at the start of the seventies the left-hander topped the order and scored heavily for the dominant Rovers side and his adopted island. More of an accumulator than a strokemaker, but so difficult to prise out.

Also a hard-man footballer for St Martin's and decent basketballer.

2: LEE SAVIDENT - On his inter-insular record alone - just three games from 1993 - the former Rover would come nowhere near a best Guernsey XI.

But as the island's one and only graduate onto the professional scene and a fine track record in club cricket in his adopted county, the all-rounder cannot be ignored.

In this side he would not only open the batting but also possibly take the new ball.

3: AMI BANERJEE - The amiable Indian has made a huge impact on the Guernsey cricketing scene since arriving in 2002.

An underrated skiddy quick bowler, his real prowess lies with the bat where his well-honed technique and strong powers of concentration make him a formidable opponent.

It's not by coincidence that his arrival in the island has seen Guernsey enjoy their best-ever spell in the inter-insular series.

Fine close catcher, too.

4: JEREMY FRITH - Then Guernsey team manager Peter Vidamour described 'Frithy's' match-winning 88 in 2002 as the finest inter-insular innings he had ever seen.

'It was just so unorthodox,' said Vidamour of a player who, arguably, is the finest of the modern generation.

Frith deals in big scores and is a man for all situations. His under-rated left-arm spin and superb fielding make him a formidable player.

5: WARREN BARRETT - Burst onto the inter-insular scene in 1961 when he took a teaching job at the Boys' Grammar and was an institution in the island side for more than two decades.

A wonderful all-rounder, but it was his spin which worried Jersey most.

For a long while his appearance in the Guernsey attack would induce mild panic in the Jersey batting, the Caesareans simply being not used to high-class spin which, until he reached 'senior' veteran status, fizzed through the air.

Capable of prodigious turn and a high-class bat too with as good a hook/pull as the local game has seen.

6: STUART LE PREVOST - Perhaps a contentious choice, but just the type of player needed to bully a Jersey attack after the top order has produced the base for a big score.

A bludgeoner, particularly off his legs and straight, the current island captain is improving with age.

Produced a man-of-the-match fifty in 2004 and has made a habit of caning the Jersey bowling in the dying overs.

7: PIERRE LE COCQ - What a player, arguably the finest locally-raised not to play professional cricket.

First appeared in 1961 as a medium-fast bowler but by 1965 he was making big scores as well as taking wickets. That year he stroked an unbeaten 85 in Guernsey's 251 for three declared and before the end of his career had opened the batting for the island as well as occasionally the bowling.

One such year was 1974 when, sharing the new ball with the speedy Mike de Haaff, he took two for six from 12 overs.

I cannot believe he ever bowled rubbish and as a batsman he would always gently play himself in before moving up through the gears in the latter overs. A Rovers stalwart in their vintage period.

8: RICKY MILLS - My captain, standing at slip alongside Barrett, and directing operation as the Rovers all-rounder did so proficiently for years. Astute and well-respected, there is surely nobody better to bring the most out of an all-star XI such as this. A fine right-hand batsman in his own right - 61 not out against Jersey in 1976 - Millsy could also swing the ball prodigiously with his left arm and turn his hand to spin.

9: MIKE WEBBER - Not the best out-and-out gloveman to pull on a green cap, but certainly the best keeper-batsman in my book.

Fiercely brave, he would think nothing of taking a leaf out of Brian Close's copybook and allow short-pitched balls from the likes of Barry Middleton clatter into his rib cage.

A fierce square-cutter, he was capable of digging in against the new ball or forcing the pace.

10: RALPH ANTHONY - Guernsey's most capped player and nobody was more anxious to beat Jersey than the left-arm spinner. Ultimately formed a deadly spin combination with Barrett and at number 10 in the order, a very handy bat.

11: MILES DOBSON - Exactly 30 years ago a young Rovers bowler with a Zapata moustache took on Jersey for the first time.

His strength was the ability to bowl very fast, aggressively, for long periods and swing the ball, on occasion, with devastating affect.

Took stacks of Jersey wickets in the series and also the then annual inter-league game. Even when he began to lose some of his early fire, the accuracy remained.

Along with Andy Creed formed the most fearsome new-ball attack in league cricket, before swapping Rovers for Optimists.

12th man (best fielder): Alastair Tapp.