AOC’s Unsung Heroes XI

It struck us at AOC that while we have been keeping tabs on some of the country’s brightest young talent in our prospective England XI, we have perhaps not given due praise to the tireless workhorses that are so often overlooked when it comes to handing out accolades. So, better late than never, we’ve come up with a side of county stalwarts who have played out of their skins so far this season but may have slipped beneath the radar for all but the keenest of observers.

Ed Joyce – Sussex

The left-handed opener’s star has faded since scoring an ODI century against Australia in 2007 and he effectively signalled the end of his England career by switching his allegiance back to Ireland before the 2011 World Cup. However, Joyce remains one of county cricket’s most prolific and underrated batsmen and the 32-year-old has been as productive as ever so far this season, scoring Championship centuries against Lancashire and Hampshire.

Wayne Madsen – Derbyshire

The methodical opener may not be one of county cricket’s more glitzy batsmen but he sure is reliable. Madsen notched his eighth first-class century since joining Derbyshire in 2009 in a comprehensive victory over Leicestershire earlier this season and the South African has shown a new facet to his game in limited-overs cricket, blasting two quickfire fifties in the CB40.

Gordon Muchall – Durham

Durham’s No.3 is one of county cricket’s most dedicated professionals but rarely grabs the headlines. Having started last season in the seconds, Muchall forced his way back into Durham’s top order and has started 2011 strongly. The 28-year-old already has six half-centuries to his name and boasts an impressive average of 98.50 in the CB40.

Chris Taylor – Gloucestershire

The 34-year-old has been a revelation this season in an otherwise inconsistent Gloucestershire batting line-up. Taylor may be in the twilight of his career – he also works as fielding coach for the county – but the right-hand middle-order man is in the form of his life, having struck two centuries and three fifties in all competitions, including a free-scoring 117 in the Championship draw with Middlesex.

Darren Stevens – Kent

The veteran allrounder has been the one shining light in an otherwise disastrous start to Kent’s season. Batting in the middle-order and taking the new ball with his canny seamers, Stevens has become the county’s talisman of late, returning match figures of 9-136 against Essex before smashing a swashbuckling 143 in a losing cause against Northamptonshire. If time were on his side, he would surely be part of England’s ODI setup.

Gareth Cross – Lancashire

There are a host of young keepers being touted as potential England stumpers but Cross is rarely mentioned among them, and perhaps unfairly given his contribution so far this season. The 26-year-old has grasped his opportunity with both hands since Luke Sutton departed for Derbyshire, scoring 125 in the Championship draw with Sussex and a further two half-centuries, while also receiving rave reviews for his glovework.

Will Gidman – Gloucestershire

Having found his first-team opportunities restricted at Durham, Gidman decided to join his brother Alex at Bristol this season and the hard-hitting allrounder promptly notched a career-best 89 on debut against Derbyshire. He surpassed that figure by scoring 93 in the Championship draw with Middlesex and at the time of writing has four fifties to his name, while also chipping in with 14 wickets in all competitions.

Tim Murtagh – Middlesex

The 29-year-old seamer always seems to be among the country’s leading wicket-takers but rarely receives the accolades he deserves. Murtagh has played a vital part in his side’s strong start to the season and collected 21 wickets in the first four Championship fixtures to lift Middlesex to the top of Division Two.

David Masters – Essex

While Essex have had a patchy start to the campaign, Masters has been a model of consistency with 21 Championship wickets at a miserly economy rate. The former Kent and Leicestershire seamer appears to be getting with age, and now into his 34th year he is one of county cricket’s most metronomic seamers.

Gary Keedy – Lancashire

Hugely unfortunate never to have represented his country, the left-arm spinner picked up his 600th first-class wicket earlier this season before helping Lancashire to a stunning victory over Warwickshire with a return of 3-2, including the pivotal wicket of England run-machine Jonathan Trott. One of county cricket’s most underrated performers.

Lee Daggett – Northamptonshire

Another of county cricket’s often overlooked pacemen, Daggett enjoyed a strong 2010 and has picked up where he left off this season with a haul of 22 first-class wickets. The former Warwickshire seamer hasn’t run through sides but his steady flow of wickets has played a major part in pushing Northants to the upper reaches of Division Two.