Taking the Mickey

Michael 'Ebba' Neser is the 11th Michael to play Test cricket for Australia - and a reasonably well-balanced team they would make too, including a long-term captain, a strong top 3 with about 50 tons between them, a viable stand-in keeper, a choice of four new-ball bowlers, maybe not much in the spin department but two of the batsmen have won matches bowling part-time spin.

Surprising fact #1: The chronological second of them got his cap in 1977.

Surprising fact #2: England have been captained by more than half that many Michaels since 1966.

Ebba it is then.

Took me ages to work out who was the first Michael because he was known as Roger throughout his career. Dunno why! Maybe Roger the Cabin Boy or something like that.

Interesting post, Fred!

Michael Slater
Michael Veletta
Michael Clarke (c)
Michael Bevan
Michael Hussey (w)
Michael Kaprowicz
Michael Neser
Michael Malone
Michael Whitney
Michael Beer

Who have I missed?

Ah, Michael Joseph Roger Hartigan.

So, Nerky's well-balanced team of Michaels...

Michael Slater
Michael Veletta
Michael Clarke (c)
Michael Bevan
Michael Hussey (w)
Michael (Roger) Hartigan
Michael Kaprowicz
Michael Neser
Michael Malone
Michael Whitney
Michael Beer

Yeah, I reckon it'd be competitive.

Thinking Veletta might have kept wicket slightly more often than Hussey although both were competent with the gloves.


Do we want Slater in the same team as Beer?

Point 1 - fair enough.

Point 2 - hehehe.

What about their opponents in the Michael Ashes then?

Off the top of my head… Atherton, Vaughan, Gatting, Brearley, MJK Smith. All England captains of course. A bit light on bowling so far…

Selvey, Hendrick

Who can forget Mike Smith from the 97 Ashes. Took 0-100+

Denness

Did Mickey Stewart (Alec's old man) reach Test level?

Certainly. In the early 60s.


Michael Hunt could be the groundsman.

skully wrote:Who can forget Mike Smith from the 97 Ashes. Took 0-100+

Yeah, he was the first bowler I thought of actually, then remembered Hendrick.

Doesn’t look like a Mike/Michael has ever taken 100 Test wickets for England. Though it’s Jimmy Anderson’s middle name, does that count?

Not yet.

You'll know when it does, because you'll see Ian Chappell, Terry Alderman and Nathan Lyon and possibly others suddenly show up in the Oz team..

OK, here goes… there are 12 Michaels/Mikes/Mickeys to have played Test cricket for England.

Michael Atherton
Michael Stewart
Michael Vaughan
Michael Gatting
Michael Denness
Michael (John Knight) Smith
Michael Brearley*
Michael Watkinson
(Andrew) Michael Smith
Michael Selvey
Michael Hendrick

Sub: Michael Carberry (too many batsmen, though he could replace Mickey Stewart who becomes the coach…)

Not sure if any of them have kept wicket on a regular or occasional basis…

Incidentally, MJK Smith was the first Michael to be capped for England, as recently as 1958 (cap #386). Most recent was Carberry (debut 2010, cap #646). All except Denness are still alive, I believe. Not sure if there’s many knocking about in county cricket now, it’s certainly among the traditional names that have fallen out of favour over here in the last 20 or 30 years (see also John, Richard, Peter etc…)

WideWally wrote:Michael Hunt could be the groundsman.

Hehehe.

beamer wrote:OK, here goes… there are 12 Michaels/Mikes/Mickeys to have played Test cricket for England.

Michael Atherton
Michael Stewart
Michael Vaughan
Michael Gatting
Michael Denness
Michael (John Knight) Smith
Michael Brearley*
Michael Watkinson
(Andrew) Michael Smith
Michael Selvey
Michael Hendrick

Sub: Michael Carberry (too many batsmen, though he could replace Mickey Stewart who becomes the coach…)

Not sure if any of them have kept wicket on a regular or occasional basis…

Incidentally, MJK Smith was the first Michael to be capped for England, as recently as 1958 (cap #386). Most recent was Carberry (debut 2010, cap #646). All except Denness are still alive, I believe. Not sure if there’s many knocking about in county cricket now, it’s certainly among the traditional names that have fallen out of favour over here in the last 20 or 30 years (see also John, Richard, Peter etc…)

This side would make for a great English counterpart to the Aus "Michael" side. England possibly stronger in the batting while Aus holds the bowling upper hand.

Quite remarkable that the sum totals of "Michael"s in English and Australian Test Cricket history would throw up two competitive combinations.

Nice work, Nerkles.

Can we come up with a “Rest of the World” XI? Holding is the first name that comes to mind, but must be others from WI, NZ, SA perhaps…

Mike Proctor.

Problem is "Mike" or "Michael" is probably only common in England, Australia, New Zealand, and possibly South Africa.

I looked at West Indies earlier. A couple of them didn't like being called Michael.
Michael Conrad Carew preferred to be known as Joey.
Michael Robin Bynoe preferred to be known as Robin.

And yet for reasons that I cannot understand, Thaddeus Michael Findlay preferred to be known as Michael.
Michael Frederick played one test in the 50s.
Along with Michael Holding, I think they are the only 3 Michaels to have played tests for the Windies.

For New Zealand, Michael Mason, Michael Owens, Michael Shrimpton & Michael Papps.

Some South Africans also didn't like to be known as Michael.
Michael Kelsey Elgie preferred to be known as Kim.
Michael Arthur Seymour preferred to be known as Kelly.

Michael Macaulay, Michael Melle & Michael Procter are probably the only Michaels from there.