Best England Cricket XI - 1978 to 2020

[Paddingtonwolf]

We played Ravi Bopara at three. Jesus.

 

[Tony Towner]

Vaughan was good there for a brief period. Can’t be having Trott.

Not biting on Trott, but wouldn't Vaughans best stats be as an opener? Seemed to score centuries in every Test on Hussain's tour to Aus.

Nevertheless he'll be in my middle order and captain

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Keeper will also be interesting as it might fill a potential three spot in Stewart.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

We played Ravi Bopara at three. Jesus.

We're currently playing Old Man Denly there!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Not biting on Trott, but wouldn't Vaughans best stats be as an opener? He'll be in my middle order and captain

Vaughan is a four for me.

 

[Tredman]

Not biting on Trott, but wouldn't Vaughans best stats be as an opener? Seemed to score centuries in every Test on Hussain's tour to Aus.

Nevertheless he'll be in my middle order and captain

Probably, but he’s not good enough to be there. We’re very short of options at 3, Bell perhaps?

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Woolmer was at three for a chunk of the 81 Ashes. Not really our Strongest position that I can pick out easily. I will definitely be putting Bell in there and Root, but then I fear for Gower making the cut in the lower batting positions. And that would be a crying shame as he was majestic to watch.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Bell overwhelmingly performed at his best at 5 or 6 (very occasionally 7 too when a nightwatchman came in ahead of him).

Only ever scored two Test hundreds at 3 (both within a couple of weeks of each other when we battered India in 2011), didn't average 40 there and never held down a place there for good reason.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

If Stewart wins keeper, then number three is actually a bit moot.

He has a chance, but I am going Alan Knott as my number one there.

 

[Tony Towner]

Woolmer was at three for a chunk of the 81 Ashes. Not really our Strongest position that I can pick out easily. I will definitely be putting Bell in there and Root, but then I fear for Gower making the cut in the lower batting positions. And that would be a crying shame as he was majestic to watch.

Without Googling I always think of Gower as a 3

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I wish we'd never had Stewart as a keeper tbh. His record with the gloves is miles off when he played as a specialist batsman. Trashed his overall record there in the name of "balance" (normally so we could pick some shite player who was never good enough to get in the team).

 

[darlowolf64]

Not sure why Trott is being so easily dismissed. Can't remember England ever having a world class #3 from the 80's onward and he did average a little over 44

 

[Deleted Cyber]

So openers

Denly obviously ..............

:icon_lol:

Cook
Gooch
Atherton
Strauss.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Not sure why Trott is being so easily dismissed. Can't remember England ever having a world class #3 from the 80's onward and he did average a little over 44

If you look at that position Trotts record is right up there.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Without Googling I always think of Gower as a 3

As did I - but there seems to be a huge chunk when he was four. He's going in as a three for me.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

56 innings at 3, 91 at 4 (where he actually wasn't particularly flash) and 49 at 5.

Fine to have him in either category. Or neither, if you're like me and not *that* old. I mean I did see him play, but when I was very young and he was past his best.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That decade I have on you means I saw him at his best. He's in for me.

 

[Sniffer]

Trott has to be up there as a pick for 3. IIRC he had 3 or 4 years amongst the best in the world at the time.

Unlike Tony I did google Gowers record at three and he had a reasonable record there. Helped by a poor Australian mid eighties team. I loved watching him unless he was getting out early to the likes of Mudassar Nazar(sp?).

 

[Tony Towner]

Trott has to be up there as a pick for 3. IIRC he had 3 or 4 years amongst the best in the world at the time.

Unlike Tony I did google Gowers record at three and he had a reasonable record there. Helped by a poor Australian mid eighties team. I loved watching him unless he was getting out early to the likes of Mudassar Nazar(sp?).

His response to always getting out caught at slip wafting outside his off stump was nobody counted the runs he made playing the same shot.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I will see who gets the opener slots before Gower stands a chance at three. Can’t have too many abhorrent lefties up the order can we [emoji23][emoji23]