Best England Cricket XI - 1978 to 2020

[Deleted Cyber]

Nah, not quite that big a differential. Mo will bowl at about 58-59mph when it's coming out right.

Leggies are slower in general but Rashid was *too* slow when he first started.

Noted. Cheers mucka.

 

[darlowolf64]

Swan

Tuffnell

Underwood

Phil Edmonds just misses out...

 

[Doctor Doog]

This is the most difficult, as we haven't had a world class spinner since Underwood, and he was pretty much done by 1979. So, on that basis:

Phil Edmonds
John Embury
Graeme Swann

Three nicer blokes you couldn't wish to meet. I discounted Monty and Tuffers on the basis that if you can't bat or field, and can't be bothered to try to improve, I can't pick you. Edmonds was unplayable on his day, trouble was that wasn't very often. Emburey was a good attacking spinner early on in his career, but then decided to re-invent himself as the economical, non-threatening bowler most people remember. I can't get past Swann being a mediocre county bowler for most of his career. He did suddenly click and become a decent test player, but I only remember him bowling a side out once, when he and Monty took 19 wickets against India (?)

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Swann was definitely world class. Definitively the best spinner in the world when he was at his best.

 

[Doctor Doog]

Swann was definitely world class. Definitively the best spinner in the world when he was at his best.

Possibly, but my benchmark is Warne and Murali, and he was some way behind them. My view is definitely coloured by him being crap at Northants for about 10 years as well.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Like I say, if I'm 40 next year, and all I can remember is a man who didn't even average 15 with the bat and was about Collingwood's pace and ability with the ball...

It's 1978 onwards which includes his absolute zenith. Ah well.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

My apologies for being -3 then

I mean you've got to be quite old to remember him being good and that isn't the demographic here. No offence la.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I'm not that old and I remember the 81 ashes. The parameter was set at 1978, but the jury have voted so that is all good. Watching the arse end of his career has definitely ended up colouring your view, but that is fine.

Plus I am Somerset biased as fuck as we all know!

 

[Tony Towner]

I'm not that old and I remember the 81 ashes. The parameter was set at 1978, but the jury have voted so that is all good. Watching the arse end of his career has definitely ended up colouring your view, but that is fine.

Plus I am Somerset biased as fuck as we all know!

Pick him as a bowler Paddy, he gets in just on that alone

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Botham Anderson Broad Willis are going to be my four. Got to decide on order though, and let's face it, Anderson and Broad are going to get plenty of votes.

Anybody and I mean ANYBODY putting Gough ahead needs their fucking head read.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

You only get three quicks?

Five batsmen
One Wk
One all rounder
One spinner

That's 8

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

4 votes for three spots I believe.

 

[Sniffer]

Similar to the football team thread.

As per Tony's suggestion we will choose from the following...

2 openers
A number 3 in the batting line up.
2 batsmen
1 all rounder
1 keeper
1 spinner
3 quicks

You can have a keeper/batsman if you wish and an all rounder as one of the quicks/spinner if you want.

First vote for the openers - four picks with placings getting 4, 3, 2 or 1 point. The keeper will be next so that it does not interfere with the batsmen's vote.
3 Picks for the keeper
3 Picks for a No.3 Batsman
4 Picks for the batsmen
3 Picks for the all rounder
3 Picks for the spinner
5 Picks for the quicks

...

 

[Trips]

Swann
Giles
Tufnell

 

[Tredman]

Swann
Tuffers
Ali

Pains me to do this as Swanny G is an enormous twat

 

[Sniffer]

Spinner Result

Graeme Swann 32
Phil Tuffnell 13
Ashley Giles 9
Derek Underwood 7
Moeen Ali 4
John Emburey 4
Phil Edmonds 3

Final 3 bowlers next....Type of bowler doesn't necessarily matter.

 

[Sniffer]

Team so far...

1. Cook
2. Gooch
3. Trott
4. Gower
5. Pietersen
6. Stokes
7. Stewart
8. Swann (He may not necessarily bat at 8)

 

[Tony Towner]

Botham
Willis
Anderson
Gough
Broad

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

James Anderson
Stuart Broad
Darren Gough
Matthew Hoggard
Angus Fraser

 

[Johnny75]

Anderson
Gough
Flintoff
Broad
Hoggard

Hamrison and Jones missing out as both couldn't do it consistently through mental or physical breakdown. Both more talented than Broad, Hoggard and Flintoff. I was never a fan of Fraser or Caddick even though they would tie up an end, they never had enough to get them to being an out and out threat like McGrath.