Best England Cricket XI - 1978 to 2020

[Sniffer]

Easter innit.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

It's not a popularity contest, Gooch went on a rebel tour, you'd want to thump Swann after two minutes in his company, Flintoff may or may not get a spot but he could be a right knob, etc etc.

I do maintain that we didn't lose out in cricketing terms from ditching him in 2014, he was comprehensively done at the top level and was no longer worth the bother. Although it did create an unnecessary distraction for ages.

Dan , you're not wrong mucka. I first saw KP in about 2001 at Notts I think. I thought," he's a bit good". Little did I know! 12 years later, fucked knees et all and t20 was his limit. He would, however, be one of 5 cricketers I would have at an England cricket dinner party . The others, if you're interested, are Boycott, Phil Edmonds,Ian Botham, Mike Brearley .

 

[Sniffer]

You better hope that Edmonds doesn’t bring his Mrs with him. Your conversations will be in the press the following day.

 

[Tredman]

Once in a generation as Tredman said. Just a pity that he and Dario forgot to pick the other once in a generation player in this round.

I got into cricket just as Gower was winding down unfortunately. Seen lots of him on highlights, but felt I couldn’t pick a player I never really saw.

I met Lamb once, I didn’t pick him because he’s a cunt.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

You better hope that Edmonds doesn’t bring his Mrs with him. Your conversations will be in the press the following day.

Lol! But any spinner who bowls an 85 mph bouncer in a test gets my respect!

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I got into cricket just as Gower was winding down unfortunately. Seen lots of him on highlights, but felt I couldn’t pick a player I never really saw.

I met Lamb once, I didn’t pick him because he’s a cunt.

You're not the first to tell me that which is a shame. However Phil Nixon was called a cunt but when I met him he was brilliant fun. Humourous and charming so hey ho!

 

[Deleted Cyber]

I got into cricket just as Gower was winding down unfortunately. Seen lots of him on highlights, but felt I couldn’t pick a player I never really saw.

I met Lamb once, I didn’t pick him because he’s a cunt.

I spent the day watching Gower at Abergavenny in 1981. He was great fun. He was taking the piss out of us on the hill while Ken Higgs bowled. That man had a huge arse for a pro sportsman BTW!.

 

[darlowolf64]

Once in a generation as Tredman said. Just a pity that he and Dario forgot to pick the other once in a generation player in this round.

I picked Gower at #3

 

[Doctor Doog]

Lamb is probably getting a bit of a favourable run, his record isn't anything special.

Not the most consistent, but a very good player of fast bowling.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Not the most consistent, but a very good player of fast bowling.

Lamb was great when the rest of the team, frankly, wasn't!

 

[Tony Towner]

There hasn't been a dominant Test side home and away since the early part of this Century. It means that the likes of Trott, Pietersen and Cook haven't faced the type of challenge home and abroad that those who played earlier did with the Windies side of the mid 70s to the mid 90s and the Aussie team of the mid 90s to about 2004. Home dominance has inflated averages

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Lamb was great when the rest of the team, frankly, wasn't!

Apart from Gooch Gower Gatting Smith Botham Edmonds Emburey it was pants.

 

[Johnny75]

Not the most consistent, but a very good player of fast bowling.

From memory it was Smith that was the better of the two against fast bowling.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

Apart from Gooch Gower Gatting Smith Botham Edmonds Emburey it was pants.

Rose tinted specs my friend. Don’t forget that lot were supplemented by Norman Cowans. Pat pocock, Richard Ellison and others

 

[Deleted Cyber]

There hasn't been a dominant Test side home and away since the early part of this Century. It means that the likes of Trott, Pietersen and Cook haven't faced the type of challenge home and abroad that those who played earlier did with the Windies side of the mid 70s to the mid 90s and the Aussie team of the mid 90s to about 2004. Home dominance has inflated averages

Fair comment but Cook and Pietersen do stand out with the bat . Anderson with the ball and Broad too. They will be two of my quirks with Botham and Willis.

 

[Tony Towner]

Fair comment but Cook and Pietersen do stand out with the bat . Anderson with the ball and Broad too. They will be two of my quirks with Botham and Willis.

Agreed, I put Cook and Pietersen at the top of my picks for their categories, just suggesting why someone like Lamb averaged in the mid 30's

 

[Sniffer]

Results for positions 4&5

Kevin Pietersen 36
David Gower 18
Joe Root 18
Graham Thorpe 18

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Those three have to swap in and out every game then, just like the 90s. Even if they did well in the game they played.

I blame people who voted for Allan "Test average of 36" Lamb.

 

[Sniffer]

Any thoughts on how to decide this?

Gower on the basis that he has more top marks than Root or Thorpe?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Yeah, that's how I split it on the Wolves one.

It'd be Gower 4 and Pietersen 5 if those go through, not the other way round.