First-Class Counties Second Eleven Annual 2012

6 and the Unicorns A. In all, a total of 108 centuries was scored in the Championship. The Unicorns A is the new name for the Minor Counties XI and is made up of non- contracted players. The MCC University side does not always meet with universal approval but it certainly benefited Luis Reece in 2011 as he ran up a total of 551 runs at an average a smidgen below 46 for the side. This was the highest run total for a player with the combined XI and also resulted in him re-appearing for Lancashire, a county he had last represented in 2008. He responded well with over 400 runs for them in all formats. Finally on the matter of batting, three players carried their bats in 2011. Joe Sayers made 51* for Yorkshire as they were routed for just 91 by Durham at Darlington. The rain saved Yorkshire there. Other instances were Chris Vernon’s 24* (out of 62) for Kent against Sussex at Canterbury and 66* by Nick Browne for Essex (125) against Somerset at Taunton Vale. Browne was also noticeable in the field as he took six outfield catches in the game against Kent at the King’s School in Canterbury. The Second Eleven can serve many purposes. It can be an area of recuperation for those trying to get back after injury, an area of relaxation for those about to get out or retire and, finally, an area of ambition for those trying to get on and perhaps no cricketer better showcased his talents than Keith Barker of Warwickshire. In two early Second Eleven Championship games against Leicestershire and Yorkshire, Mr Barker returned match figures of 10-87 against Leicestershire and 11-69 against the Yorkies. This was the best match return of the season. Oh, and he also scored 143 against Leicestershire and 69 and 10* against Yorkshire. Not surprisingly, he did not figure in the Second Eleven in any format for the rest of the season. Andy Dibble’s 9-26 for Somerset against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl Nursery, were the best figures of the season in an innings and eighteen players recorded match figures of nine wickets or better. Dan Housego of Middlesex was the highest run- scorer in the Championship with 883 and Tom Allin`s 37 wickets for Warwickshire secured him the corresponding honour. Max Waller of Somerset was awarded the title of Second Eleven Player of the Season and will receive the Les Hatton Trophy when a suitable occasion presents itself. No Championship hat-tricks were recorded in 2011. And finally on the bowling front, a heart-warming tale. Glen Querl, although born in Zimbabwe, has spent many years in school in England and had played for Essex and Hampshire, as well as MCC Young Cricketers and the Unicorns A XIs, without ever making his first-class debut. So he returned to his native Zimbabwe where he did make his first-class debut for the beautifully named Matabeleland Tuskers. There he took 18 wickets in his first two first-class games, and recorded some of the best-ever early-career figures in the game of cricket.