Ding gong!

From Paddy Briggs, United Kingdom
One of the Australian team's sledges during England's woeful last tour of Australia was the one directed at Paul Collingwood who had been awarded the honour of becoming a Member of the 'Most Excellent Order of the British Empire' (MBE) for his innings of 7 and 10 and his 0-17 in the 2005 Oval Test match. Lovely chap Colly but, as the Aussies suggested, was this performance really worthy of a gong?

This brings me to the subject of honours and cricket and an invitation to you to join in a discussion of the most surprising omissions from the cricketing gong list.

Let's start with a trio of England captains, Wally Hammond, Ted Dexter and Tony Greig. When I was a kid Dexter was referred to as 'Lord Ted' but I was disappointed to learn that (like Geoffrey Boycott's knighthood) this was an honorary title. Boycs has an OBE but Ted remains not even a Member of the British Empire, let alone anything more distinguished. Greigy's involvement with Packer perhaps scuppered his chances and Hammond did have some dodgy business dealings but their cricketing achievements are surely not in dispute?

There are a fair number of batsmen in the gongless list who would be close to the top of a cricket fan's list of England batting greats. Herbert Sutcliffe, Frank Woolley and Ken Barrington to name but three, and Allan Lamb and Robin Smith wouldn't be far behind. Add all-rounder Wilfred Rhodes and you have the core of a pretty good side. Then the fast bowling would be lead by John Snow aided by Andy Caddick, Devon Malcolm, Graham Dilley and spinners Laker, Lock and Verity would be in the frame 'how can they all never have been honoured?'

But for me the biggest omission of all on the list of cricketers unhonoured in my lifetime is the man I regard as England's greatest ever wicket-keeper Alan Knott. Now it may be that the shy and elusive Knotty turned down an honour - but if not it's not too late is it? But what do you think, are there even more deserving cases than his?