Best England Cricket XI - 1978 to 2020

[Deutsch Wolf]

Really don't get why Stewart is getting the nod over Cook :icon_lol:

He was captain for barely a year, we won vs SA but lost in Australia (as usual) and got drummed out of our home World Cup behind Zimbabwe. Also other than KP (which was for reasons other than on field performance, though he wasn't very good) I think he's the only captain to be actually sacked in my time. I'm too young to remember the Gatting stuff.

As I say I wasn't Cook's biggest fan, he let games drift far too often for a start, but he has actual achievements on his CV.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Vaughan and Willis were not picked. I never trusted Cook that much as a Captain. Stewart and Gower were average. Was Gower the skipper at headingly in 81?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Brearley in 81.

Gower won the 1985 Ashes as captain. His overall record is actually rubbish but it's massively skewed by us losing 10-0 to the Windies over two series.

Gatting has an absolutely bizarre record! (Not that he's in the conversation) P23 W2 D16 L5

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Stewart P15 W4 D3 L8
Cook P59 W24 D13 L22

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Stewart P15 W4 D3 L8
Cook P59 W24 D13 L22

As I say I would have had Vaughan, Gooch and Willis as my three . from that list I just went for the three.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Gooch
Cook
Gower

You really can't have Botham as captain. The first two tests of the 81 Ashes were a bomb scare until Brearley took over the captaincy duties.

Glad he made the team though. The batting line up is really bloody good.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Who's taking the new ball here?

 

[Parkins left foot]

From what choices there are then

Gooch
Cook



Gower/Stewart (either as a poor third)

 

[Parkins left foot]

Who's taking the new ball here?

Has to be Anderson & Broad (would have said Willis, but he's not there)

 

[Tony Towner]

Has to be late 70s early 80s Botham and Anderson

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Has to be late 70s early 80s Botham and Anderson

Unless we're bowling to David Warner

 

[Doctor Doog]

Gower
Gooch
Cook

 

[Tony Towner]

Unless we're bowling to David Warner

Indeed. Although you'd think their openers from the same period would be 2 of Taylor, Slater, Langer and Hayden

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Indeed. Although you'd think their openers from the same period would be 2 of Taylor, Slater, Langer and Hayden

Their team would be depressingly good!

Maybe Warner could challenge Slats. Maybe. Rogers in with a shout too.

 

[Tony Towner]

Hayden
Slater
Ponting
M Waugh
Border
S Waugh
Gilchrist
Warne
McDermott
Gillespie
McGrath

Nobody from the current side. Smith should be in but can't pick him over either Waugh, Border or Ponting. Cummins may in a couple of years

No Taylor, Langer, Martyn, Boon, Lawson, Clarke, Alderman, Healey, Hughes or Lee
Lillee and Thomson were past their best from when I can remember

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Maybe Mitchlol over McDermott?

Ryan Harris was ridiculously good too. Their Simon Jones.

 

[Tony Towner]

Maybe Mitchlol over McDermott?

Ryan Harris was ridiculously good too. Their Simon Jones.

Yes, I had Harris in over McDermott, but then looked him up and he only played 27 Tests so swapped them. Mitchell misses out as the very bad was as awful as the very good was great

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

If they're playing in Asia - MacGill, May or Lyon?

 

[Sniffer]

If they're playing in Asia - MacGill, May or Lyon?

Lyon

 

[Sniffer]

Hayden
Slater
Ponting
M Waugh
Smith
S Waugh
Gilchrist
Warne
McDermott
Starc
McGrath

A left arm bowler for Warne. Can't pick Johnson so I'd have Starc instead.