News: Dowle's Second Eleven voted best ever (January 2006)
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| The 'best ever' Second Eleven Back row: Chris Marsden, Rich Stone, Paul Davies, Chris Machin, Keith Milsom, Mac McMahon, Peter Kirk Front row: James Dack, Gerry Mulholland, Phil Dowle, Rich Stone, Dave Spink |
Phil Dowle's 2005 team have been voted have been voted the best Second Eleven ever....
The widely accepted view is that this 'cricketing renaissance' has been due, in no small measure, to a consistently strong and successful second team who have dominated Division Two of the B&D's Second XI league, winning no less than three titles in the last six seasons. In doing so, the YMCA seconds have provided the entire club with a new momentum, particularly the third and fourth elevens who have gone on to notable achievements of their own.
Therefore, this website devised a unique poll to find out who you, the readers, considered to be the finest 2nd XI team ever assembled at Golden Hill. It was a tough competition, with compelling cases for each of the three distinctly different title winning sides; ranging from Shaun Parker's team of 2000, Chris Drew's 2001 side and Phil Dowle latest heroes of 2005.
The Championship squad of 2000
At the beginning of the 2000 season Shaun Parker began his fifth successive year as 2nd XI skipper. During his reign Parker oversaw a gradual, if unremarkable, improvement in the team's final league standings, the best of which was a fifth place finish in 1999. However, the 2000 season heralded a dramatic improvement in fortunes as the 2nds transformed from mid-table mediocrity to champions, seemingly overnight.
The Championship squad of 2001
When Chris Drew accepted the 2nd XI captaincy in 2001 he did so with a huge burden of expectation on his shoulders. Drew's task was made all the more difficult as promotion to Division One did not follow the dramatic title success of the previous year. Indeed, automatic promotion, at 2nd XI level, was not introduced by the B&D until, ironically, the 2001 season.
If Drew and his squad were to equal the achievements of Parker's squad he would have to do so without the element of surprise....However, it was a task that he, and his new look squad, were up to as they secured another championship trophy and, for the first time in B&D history, promotion amongst the 'big boys' of B&D cricket.
The Championship squad of 2005
After three seasons competing in Division One, with mixed success, the seconds fell back into the more familiar surroundings of Division Two in 2004.
But, under the leadership of straight-talking captain, Phil Dowle the team made it a hat-trick of championship titles thanks to a refreshing campaign involving a blend of youth and experience that resulted in just one defeat in twelve outings and countless memorable individual performances.
Over 20 people took part in the poll, and the 2005 team received 52% of the votes, just beating off Shaun Parker's 2000 team with 43%.
