James Hildreth

When former Australian cricketer, Justin Langer became the captain of Somerset, he rated James Charles Hildreth quite highly and was sure that the talented player will one day play for the Three Lions. However, his career never truly blossomed and Hildreth remains County cricket’s one of the most promising players never to have played for his nation. 

A right-handed middle order player, Hildreth was a prodigy in Millfield school, but his shortcomings against the bumpers counted against him.

Hildreth has represented England at youth levels and has also been a part of the England squad for the 2004 ICC Under-19 World Cup. The free-flowing strokemaker made his first class debut for Somerset in 2003, and since then has been a regular feature for the County team.

In just his second County game against Durham, Hildreth scored a stellar 101 and 72 against an attack that included Shoaib Akhtar. The innings was unorthodox by all means, but it came at a time when Somerset were at an all-time low.

Hildreth’s career took an upward trajectory when the elegant batter played a cameo role of 38 off 24 balls to help Somerset chase down 343 to defeat the tourist Australians in 2005. 

In his opening innings of the 2009 County season against Warwickshire, Hildreth slammed an unbeaten 303- the earliest triple century in an English County Championship. However, it was the 2010 Championship season where Hildreth really came to the party. The Milton Keynes born struck seven centuries and registered 1,440 runs at an average of 65.45. 

The following two domestic seasons were disappointing by his standards. Hildreth averaged 38.82 and 43.00 in the next two Championship seasons, and the national selectors were unsure about him, especially considering the fact that Hildreth was vulnerable against the short pitched deliveries.

By 2018, Hildreth was already a legend in the County circuit and was hopeful of an England national callup. But, England turned their attention to Joe Denly, who made fewer runs than Hildreth in the 2017/18 season, but offered leg spin options to the England squad for their tour of Sri Lanka. 

A team player and arguably a star in the domestic circuit, Hildreth will always regret not playing for his nation. Despite piling up runs in the Championship for fun, Hildreth was ignored and now towards the twilight of his career, his dream of representing the Three Lions are fading rapidly. 

(As of July 21)