All Time England Test XI

With all the talk going on about if this current Test side is Englands best ever, I want to know what would be your All Time England Test XI. Heres mine, thoughts appreciated.

1) Herbert Sutcliffe
2) Jack Hobbs
3) Len Hutton (C)
4) Wally Hammond
5) Kevin Pietersen
6) Ian Botham
7) Alan Knott (WK)
8) Fred Trueman
9) Sydney Barnes
10) Jim Laker
11) Bob Willis

Other Greats who deserve a mention: Harold Larwood, Jack Russell, Ken Barrington, David Gower, Derek Underwood

Pretty good, but I'd go with:

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hammond
Hutton(c)
Barrington
Compton
Botham
Knott(wk)
Trueman
Laker
Barnes

Hammond performed better the higher up the order he batted, so I'd put him at 3.
Also, with Hammond, Compton and Barrington to supply support bowling, and all 4 main bowlers capable of long spells, I don't reckon 5 bowlers are neccessary.

Alastair Cook deserves a mention

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Alastair Cook deserves a mention

Not yet.

Those two teams are very good.

Smile wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Alastair Cook deserves a mention

Not yet.

Those two teams are very good.

If KP is in the XI then Cook at least deserves a mention.

KP deserves his spot, frustrating at times but when it comes down to it there haven't been many better English batsmen - an absolute pleasure to watch when he's in form, a destroyer of attacks.

I don't think Cook deserves a mention over Hobbs or Sutcliffe - not yet.

I am not saying he should be in the XI.But he deserves a mention.

1)Alistair Cook
2)Jack Hobbs
3)Len Hutton (C)
4)Kevin Piertsen
5)Wally Hammond
6)Ian Bell
7)Alan Knott (WK)
8)Fred Trueman
9)Graeme Swann
10)James Anderson
11)Stephen Harmison

Hobbs
Sutcliffe
Hammond
Hutton (c)
Compton
Botham
Knott (w)
Trueman
Barnes
Laker
Underwood

Compton just edges out Barrington in part for entertainment value. No idea of the relative batting merits of the bowlers I have to say. I like an all-rounder at 6.

It is very difficult as usual to compare across eras. The current players are not helped by the fact that they are still relatively young. Perhaps in time names like Cook, Trott, Pietersen, even Bell and Prior (Knott was a better keeper and a decent bat, but Prior is certainly a better bat) will be up there. Bowling-wise I am certain Swann is the best since Underwood and he may well be a better bowler than Laker, but it is almost impossible to tell, given how conditions have changed. He would certainly have enjoyed bowling on sticky wickets against lighter bats and slower/bigger outfields.

KP should be nowhere near a greatest team.

And where is Marcus Trescothick? The greatest opener England have ever produced?

cricketfan90 wrote:1)Alistair Cook
2)Jack Hobbs
3)Len Hutton (C)
4)Kevin Piertsen
5)Wally Hammond
6)Ian Bell
7)Alan Knott (WK)
8)Fred Trueman
9)Graeme Swann
10)James Anderson
11)Stephen Harmison

Hoggard should probably be in the side due to the sheer amount of wickets he took

Gregers, Pietersen is one of the finest batsmen we have ever had, so to say he should be 'nowhere near' is quite frankly ridiculous.

Agree with your inclusion of Tresco though, he would certainly be in mine.

Shanky, you are remembering Harmy for the latter part of his career, but don't forget that in his pomp he was a highly effective and dangerous bowler. Maybe a little too inconsistent at times to make a greatest XI, though. James Anderson simply has to be in it.

Fists of Fury wrote:Gregers, Pietersen is one of the finest batsmen we have ever had, so to say he should be 'nowhere near' is quite frankly ridiculous.

He's not a fine batsmen. He's good but thats about it.

Gregers wrote:KP should be nowhere near a greatest team.

And where is Marcus Trescothick? The greatest opener England have ever produced?

Marcus Trescothick might get into the top 10 English openers of all time, but is no-where near the team IMO.
Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hutton, Boycott, Grace would all rank above him as, probably, would the likes of Amiss, Gooch, and possibly even Cook.

He plays shots that almost any other batsmen cannot play, or doesn't dare to (think his 'flamingo' shot from way outside off through midwicket, think his switch hits for 6, though they're not applicable to Test cricket).

He averages almost 50. Was the 2nd fastest batsman to 5000 runs behind only Bradman. Has scored double centuries against Australia and India.

They are all the hallmarks of a very fine batsman, and I think your personal dislike of the man is clouding your judgement of Pietersen the player.

His flamingo shot is a disgrace to cricket.

But thats just my opinion

it may not be the shot of a purist, but it is mightily effective, stops people bowling to off-side fields against him, and also looks very impressive.

Gregers wrote:KP should be nowhere near a greatest team.

And where is Marcus Trescothick? The greatest opener England have ever produced?

Hobbs and Sutcliffe deserve there place more than Tresco, there records are superb. Trescothick might be a candidate for the All Time ODI XI but not the Test.

Gregers you just have a hatred of Kevin Pietersen. KP on form is a threat to any side.

Fists of Fury wrote: it may not be the shot of a purist, but it is mightily effective, stops people bowling to off-side fields against him, and also looks very impressive.

Id argue that it looks ridiculous and KP gets out playing it fairly often.

Gregers wrote:Hoggard should probably be in the side due to the sheer amount of wickets he took

No way, Trueman and Willis took more wickets than Hoggard and at a better average.

Willis- 325 Wickets @25
Trueman- 307 Wickets @21
Hoggard- 248 Wickets @30

Sydney Barnes picks himself as well really.

No ones mentioned Flintoff yet either?

Gregers wrote:KP should be nowhere near a greatest team.

And where is Marcus Trescothick? The greatest opener England have ever produced?

Your post does not make any sense.

I am 17.I will pick players whom I have seen live.


Trescothick
Cook
Vaughan(c)
Trott
KP
Thorpe
Prior(wk)
Flintoff
Swann
Jimmy
SiJo

Gregers wrote:No ones mentioned Flintoff yet either?

Flintoffs overrated, Broad and/or Bresnan will have a far better career than him.

Flintoff had a good series against the West Indies, Terrific series against the Aussies and then what? Nothing.

I thought Flintoff was overrated too but equally was surprised that he hadn't been mentioned.

Broad will be in all time squads

cricketfan90 wrote:1)Alistair Cook
2)Jack Hobbs
3)Len Hutton (C)
4)Kevin Piertsen
5)Wally Hammond
6)Ian Bell
7)Alan Knott (WK)
8)Fred Trueman
9)Graeme Swann
10)James Anderson
11)Stephen Harmison

Too early to say on Cook, Jimmy, and Swann. Couple years time you might well be right.

Harmison? Really?

Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

At this early stage Cook over Hobbs or Sutcliffe? No doubt he will be in the All Time XI though.

KP was a close call in my team, just edged it over Barrington . A lot of the Middle-Order candidates had similar records.

I wouldnt pick Cook atm.But he deserves a honourable mention.

Liam_Main wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

At this early stage Cook over Hobbs or Sutcliffe? No doubt he will be in the All Time XI though.

KP was a close call in my team, just edged it over Barrington . A lot of the Middle-Order candidates had similar records.

KP averages almost 50. Barrington averaged almost 60.
Quite a difference.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

Liam_Main wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

At this early stage Cook over Hobbs or Sutcliffe? No doubt he will be in the All Time XI though.

KP was a close call in my team, just edged it over Barrington . A lot of the Middle-Order candidates had similar records.

KP averages almost 50. Barrington averaged almost 60.
Quite a difference.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

Liam_Main wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

At this early stage Cook over Hobbs or Sutcliffe? No doubt he will be in the All Time XI though.

KP was a close call in my team, just edged it over Barrington . A lot of the Middle-Order candidates had similar records.

KP averages almost 50. Barrington averaged almost 60.
Quite a difference.

Pietersen can dominate. Barrington never did.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

Liam_Main wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

At this early stage Cook over Hobbs or Sutcliffe? No doubt he will be in the All Time XI though.

KP was a close call in my team, just edged it over Barrington . A lot of the Middle-Order candidates had similar records.

KP averages almost 50. Barrington averaged almost 60.
Quite a difference.

True, at one point KP did average in the mid 50s till his lapse in form. He's regained that form so I can see that average going back up.

Smile wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

Liam_Main wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:Liam
Cook has a similar record to KP.Yet you have picked KP.

Harmy is a joke though.

At this early stage Cook over Hobbs or Sutcliffe? No doubt he will be in the All Time XI though.

KP was a close call in my team, just edged it over Barrington . A lot of the Middle-Order candidates had similar records.

KP averages almost 50. Barrington averaged almost 60.
Quite a difference.

Pietersen can dominate. Barrington never did.

There's plenty of people in an all-time England XI who can dominate. Personally I'd go for Barrington's consistency in the middle-order over another batsman who might dominate, but who may not.

Would

Hutton
Hammond
Barrington

Be to one paced?

Hobbs can dominate.As can Botham

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

cricketfan90 wrote:1)Alistair Cook
2)Jack Hobbs
3)Len Hutton (C)
4)Kevin Piertsen
5)Wally Hammond
6)Ian Bell
7)Alan Knott (WK)
8)Fred Trueman
9)Graeme Swann
10)James Anderson
11)Stephen Harmison

what now

If we assume this team is playing the best ever from another country rather than, say, the current Indian side then Barrington has got be in the team.

Among those who should not be in the team are Flintoff and Harmison,

cricketfan90 wrote:

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

cricketfan90 wrote:1)Alistair Cook
2)Jack Hobbs
3)Len Hutton (C)
4)Kevin Piertsen
5)Wally Hammond
6)Ian Bell
7)Alan Knott (WK)
8)Fred Trueman
9)Graeme Swann
10)James Anderson
11)Stephen Harmison

what now

Harmison was good, in his prime, but not good enough to make a England all-time XI. As others have said, Bob Willis, Sydney Barnes?

i put harmison in cos i like his pace, aggresion and bounce.

But is he a great? No.

I'd go for Barnes....

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:I'd go for Barnes....

Barnes is one of 4 'shoe-ins' for this team IMO. The others being Hobbs, Knott and Trueman.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:Barnes is one of 4 'shoe-ins' for this team IMO. The others being Hobbs, Knott and Trueman.

Not Hammond, Sutcliffe?

Makrish wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:Barnes is one of 4 'shoe-ins' for this team IMO. The others being Hobbs, Knott and Trueman.

Not Hammond, Sutcliffe?

Hammond possibly, although Barrington actually has a better average batting at 3, but Sutcliffe could easily be replaced at the top of the order by Hutton (not that I'd do that personally).
I just reckon that the 4 I've mentioned would be the best English candidates for inclusion in a world all-time XI so, for me, they're absolute certainties for inclusion in an England one.

Ashley Giles.

CF
Dont get angry mate.I think your team is very good apart from Harmison whom i dont rate.
plz dont get angry mate

im not getting angry