Last week (click here to remind yourself) saw the first four players of the Sunday 1st XI 2002-2004 All Stars revealed. So far we have (in batting order):

John Winder
Ian Sharrock
Dave Potter
John Huggett

After much head scratching and many attempts to balance the side, the identity of the middle order can be revealed.

Ahmed Kamal - Ahmed first joined Upton about the time I started as captain. Always on the look out for players, I eagerly tracked down this promising newcomer. Ahmed instinctively understood what friendly cricket was all about, always willing to turn his arm over and bat wherever he was needed. His unpredictability and ability to improvise flummoxed many an opposing captain. Ahmed's levels of commitment could never be faulted. He apologised for being a couple of minutes late one time because his "kitchen has burnt down". He was never one to do things by halves. An engagingly modest man, Ahmed never gave the slightest hint that he was a person right at the top of his field of medicine.

Darren Warburton - The batting order seems a little top heavy with mavericks and enthusiasts. On a good day they would all come off. If not, who better to repair the damage than Warbo? Darren always had his personal pre-match preparation rituals. They sometimes consisted of approaching me at 1.55 pm and asking, "Am I playing today or what?" Once out on the field Darren would give his all. He could hit outrageously to help the team's recovery from a slow start, bowl seam up, try a few leg breaks and field in a way which surprised many an opposition batsman. It was always handy to put another fielder in at cover point for a ball or two, encourage the quick single and then craftily put Darren in there. While clearly more talented than some of his Sunday team mates, Darren played for the love of the game and he was happy to celebrate the relative successes of the lads who didn't play on Saturday with great enthusiasm.

Gavin Byrom - The all-rounder slot is always a prestigious one. Gav's record in league cricket speaks for itself. A double century, a nine wicket haul and a Jack Gardner Cup triumph all confirm his ability to mix it at higher levels. Like an artist, a younger Gavin used Sunday cricket as a blank canvas to experiment and to hone his developing skills. This perhaps best demonstrated during a remarkable game at Old Parks. We rang a series of tactical changes and Gav was brought on at the top end. John Huggett was standing back, having been warned that the bowler was "pretty rapid". Gavin then surprised me by announcing, "I'm going to start off with a couple of googlies, John". I'm not sure whether the first one turned. It was difficult to tell as it landed about twenty yards behind our bemused keeper. There was no second googly as Gavin promptly reverted to more traditional seam up. As well as experimenting freely, Gavin was always there to step up to the plate when needed, seeing the Sunday Firsts home in many an exciting run chase.

Chris Camden - It was handy to have Chris ready and waiting down the order. His ability to turn a game in half an hour has been well documented. Chris was a great safety net in the event of a collapse. However, on Sundays he was often tasked with opening the bowling. He also did so for Neston in an Over 40s game against Upton a couple of years back. It brought a tear of nostalgia to my eye as I saw him glide in effortlessly with that classic cartwheel action. On this occasion Barrie Burns showed him none of the respect he had enjoyed from batsmen in the good old days. Chris scored runs when they were required and did indeed chip in with a few wickets. At the UCG he preferred to field at long off or long leg, for tactical reasons he claimed. With his family and friends in tow, bar profits were always healthy. Chris struck many stupendous boundaries, most notably a straight six through the side of Mr Huggett's Ford Focus. The insurance claim was successful although the details are still a little sketchy.