With the national cricket squad changing on nearly a weekly basis, hardly a match goes by that doesn't leave the armchair experts wondering how their favourite son failed to win the prestigious baggy green.
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However, a new competition run by the NTCA promises to give cricket lovers the chance to try their own selecting skills by picking the NTCA Team of the Century.
The competition will be held to commemorate the end of the century, and celebrate the association's long and proud history of preparing the region's best cricketers for State duty.
To mark the occasion, readers are asked to name their most worthy 12 NTCA-bred State representatives from a squad of 33 since World War II, and place them in their batting order.
The winning team will be that which matches a team already picked by a panel of NTCA experts, including legendary statistician Ron Williams, who first played with the NTCA in the 1930s.
If more than one entrant chooses the correct team as selected by the experts, the person who picks closest to the same correct order as the selectors will win a $500 open order from Gunns Launceston Mitre 10.
A formal dinner to name the Team of the Century will be held at the Tramshed at Inveresk on January 25, complete with guest speakers and a memorabilia auction, and the final 12 will receive medallions especially struck for the occasion.
Bookings for the evening, which will be catered for by Matson's Catering, can be made by contacting Trevor Flynn at the NTCA clubrooms on 6331 4593.
Competition entry forms are also available from the clubrooms, and entrants are asked to pick five batsmen, four bowlers, two all-rounders, a wicketkeeper and a 12th man.
THE SQUAD BATSMEN
Max Thomas (South Lton, lhb)
Ron Thomas (South Lton, lhb, dec.)
Alf Wilkes (North Lton, lhb, dec.)
Rex Davidson (NW, Lton, rhb)
Stephen Howard (Lton/Rside, rhb)
David Boon (Lton, rhb)
Ricky Ponting (Mowbray, rhb)
Robbie Knight (South Lton, rhb)
Jack Maddox (Lton, rhb)
Richard Bennett (Lton, rhb)
Scott Mason (Lton, lhb)
Bruce Cruse (Sth Lton, rhb)
Michael Farrell (Sth Lton, lhb)
Graeme Farrell (Mowbray, rhb)
Brian Booth (Lton/West Lton, rhb)
BOWLERS
Terry Cowley (Mowbray, rf/m)
Bill Hird (Mowbray, rf/ m)
Roger Brown (Mowbray, rf/ m)
Glenn Summers (South Lton, lf/ m)
Mike Leedham (Midlands, rf/ m)
Greg Campbell (Mowbray, rf)
Greg Wilson (L'ton, rf/ m)
Graeme Miller (Lton, osb)
ALL- ROUNDERS
Peter Faulkner (Lton, rhb/ rm)
Ian Crowden (Westbury, rhb/ osb)
Kevin Badcock (Sth Lton/Lton/
Mowbray, rhb/ rm)
Tony Benneworth (Rside, rhb/rm)
Shaun Young (Sth Lton, rhb)
WICKET- KEEPERS
Bruce Doolan (Lton)
Tim Coyle (Lton)
Richard Soule (Mowbray)
Allen Jacobson (Sth Lton)
