The Greatest Ever roll of honour is now complete after a series of online polls in which Warwickshire supporters have voted in their thousands.
It’s the series that has had Bears fans and former players talking across the world this year.
Lockdown may have kept cricket on ice but there was no holding back on the debates about who was the Greatest Ever in the 17 categories.
After being voted Greatest Ever Overseas Bear, Allan Donald said: “I am very humbled and honoured. Just to be on the short-list was amazing, I would have been happy with just that, but to be voted Greatest Overseas Bears makes me very, very proud.”
“I’ve followed the Greatest Bear series closely, it’s been great, and it means so much to me, just like it did to A.D when he was voted Greatest Overseas Bear. Warwickshire is tattooed on all our hearts.” Andy Moles
Andy Moles, who was voted Greatest Ever Bear Never To Play Test Cricket, said: “It is very humbling. I was so lucky to play for a great club like Warwickshire and play with, and be coached by, such brilliant people. To be voted on to the Greatest Ever list is just the cherry on the top. Thank you to everyone who voted for me.
Based upon all the votes cast, the Greatest Ever Bears team is:
1. Jameson
2. Amiss
3. Moles
4. Lara
5. Penney
6. Reeve
7. Cartwright
8. Piper
9. Small
10. Donald
11. Hollies
All the winners:
Overseas: Allan Donald
Captain: Dermot Reeve
Spinner and Individual Bowling Performance: Eric Hollies
All-rounder: Tom Cartwright
Batsman: Dennis Amiss
Seamer: Allan Donald
Fielder: Trevor Penney
Wicketkeeper: Keith Piper
Opening pair (batting): Dennis Amiss and John Jameson
Opening pair (bowling): Allan Donald and Gladstone Small
Individual Batting Performance: Brian Lara
Player Never Capped by England: Andy Moles
Championship Match: v Surrey (The Oval) 2002
Lord’s final: 1993 NatWest Trophy v Sussex
T20 match: 2017 Quarter-Final v Surrey at The Oval
T20 player: Jeetan Patel
T20 innings: Brendon McCullum
Brian Halford Club Journalist