James
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Yes sorry, this is an England thread. But we have discussed the greatest Pakistan, India, South Africa and Australia batsmen recently I believe, so how's about England this time.
I see a few candidates, with arguments depending on era, context, bowlers faced, averages, runs scored, achievements, and impact. Given the relatively younger age demographic on PakPassion. I would not be surprised to see honourable mentions for the likes of Vaughan, Stewart, Trescothick, Cook and Trott. Further suggestions and of course intense debate are welcome. (Years internationally active added for your pleasure.)
Jack Hobbs (1907-1930). One of the more complete batsmen that the game has seen. The man born with the name of John played first-class cricket either side of the First World War and into his 50s, racking up 197 hundreds including 15 in Tests. Averaged 56.94 as an England opener, often alongside Herbert Sutcliffe. Never known for murdering the bowling and blasting the boundaries, he was a pristine runner between the wickets and sticky pitch specialist.
Herbert Sutcliffe (1924-1935). One of the three great Yorkshire batsmen to score 100 first-class hundreds, and possibly the most immaculately turned-out and courageous player to ever open an innings for England. Known for his expert hook stroke, he is the only English batsman to retire with a test match batting average of 60.
Wally Hammond (1926-1946). The famous captain-batsman and run machine, rated as the best player of the 1930s behind Donald Bradman, with 22 test hundreds at an average of 58.45. Hammond's performance on the 1928-9 tour of Australia is still one of the greatest a touring batsman has ever contributed Down Under. His A-class offside play has proven both legendary and influential in the English game.
Len Hutton (1937-1955). The second Yorkshire batsman to register 100 first-class hundreds. A more defensive player than some of his contemporaries as he was so depended upon, this classical batsman registered 19 test hundreds and is known for his aesthetically pleasing and orthodox back-foot style. He retired with a test average of 56.67.
Denis Compton (1937-1957). 17 hundreds at an average of 50.06. One of the more gifted sportsmen to be born in this country, Denis was a chinaman bowler and Arsenal footballer as well as a member of test cricket's '50 Club'. Compton played famous innings against Australia and South Africa, epitomising the theory that English cricketers fight their hardest with their backs to the wall. But he also holds the record for the fastest ever triple century (scored in three hours), for MCC against NE-Transvaal in 1948). Denis's friendship with the great Keith Miller led to the inception of the Compton-Miller Medal.
Ken Barrington (1955-1968). Recipient of pretty much every 'Cricketer of the Year' accolade the various test nations have come up with, Ken scored 20 test hundreds and holds the highest average (58.67) of any post-War English batsman. Fiercely patriotic yet quintessentially English and cautious, Barrington was next to undismissable at times, which could explain an astounding average in away tests of close to 70.
Geoffery Boycott (1964-1982). Possibly the last great Yorkshire batsman and the most famous, infamous, liked and disliked of all English opening batsmen, this beautifully turgid campaigner achieved 173 first-class hundreds and a test average of over 47. Like Barrington, Boycott viewed batting as an art form, a way of life, and placed the most extreme of prices on his wicket. Boycott has been criticised for his one-dimensional strike rates and difficult personality, but England often won when he succeeded; 22 test hundreds is the mark of a true match-winner. He may be the best candidate in history to select to bat for your life.
Graham Gooch (1975-1995). Still England's highest-ever run plunderer in every form of cricket, this supremely fit and talented butcher of an opener was also an enigma and a tough man to know - like many sporting geniuses. Amongst Graham's 20 test hundreds, his Lord's masterpiece against the great West Indies fast bowlers has been dubbed by some as the best innings of all time.
David Gower (1978-1992). A liquid batsman whose effervescence could both mesmerise and infuriate, he is one of the finest left-handers that England has produced; 8231 test runs is a tally second only to Graham Gooch. A refusal to buckle down explains a slightly lower average of 44, but his (18) test centuries - especially those against Ye Auld Enemie - were typically massive, thrilling and significant. Arguably England's greatest player of the late twentieth-century along with Gooch, both could have achieved even more had they got on better personally and professionally.
Kevin Pietersen (2005-present). As early as 2006, respected cricket writers were inducting KP into all-time England XIs, but others would not even entertain the idea. KP is indeed the most divisive player on this list, his South African heritage and isolationist discourse often leading to the questioning of his national and team-player credentials, but he may also be the most brilliant. Pietersen is the only modern England player to be constantly hovering around an average of 50 in tests, and he is surely his adopted country's finest limited-overs batsman. 21 hundreds and over 7000 runs in the test arena make Pietersen a potential record-breaker - if he can keep his helmet screwed on. This brash nature sees his international career at times hanging by a thread, but it has additionally allowed Pietersen to decimate some of this century's greatest bowlers along the way: Warne, McGrath, Murali, Kumble and Steyn, to name but a few. And KP has also made the game more popular and fashionable again, through a glitzy celebrity status and Indian adulation. He has history in the palm of his hand.
So, PP - who wins?
I see a few candidates, with arguments depending on era, context, bowlers faced, averages, runs scored, achievements, and impact. Given the relatively younger age demographic on PakPassion. I would not be surprised to see honourable mentions for the likes of Vaughan, Stewart, Trescothick, Cook and Trott. Further suggestions and of course intense debate are welcome. (Years internationally active added for your pleasure.)
Jack Hobbs (1907-1930). One of the more complete batsmen that the game has seen. The man born with the name of John played first-class cricket either side of the First World War and into his 50s, racking up 197 hundreds including 15 in Tests. Averaged 56.94 as an England opener, often alongside Herbert Sutcliffe. Never known for murdering the bowling and blasting the boundaries, he was a pristine runner between the wickets and sticky pitch specialist.
Herbert Sutcliffe (1924-1935). One of the three great Yorkshire batsmen to score 100 first-class hundreds, and possibly the most immaculately turned-out and courageous player to ever open an innings for England. Known for his expert hook stroke, he is the only English batsman to retire with a test match batting average of 60.
Wally Hammond (1926-1946). The famous captain-batsman and run machine, rated as the best player of the 1930s behind Donald Bradman, with 22 test hundreds at an average of 58.45. Hammond's performance on the 1928-9 tour of Australia is still one of the greatest a touring batsman has ever contributed Down Under. His A-class offside play has proven both legendary and influential in the English game.
Len Hutton (1937-1955). The second Yorkshire batsman to register 100 first-class hundreds. A more defensive player than some of his contemporaries as he was so depended upon, this classical batsman registered 19 test hundreds and is known for his aesthetically pleasing and orthodox back-foot style. He retired with a test average of 56.67.
Denis Compton (1937-1957). 17 hundreds at an average of 50.06. One of the more gifted sportsmen to be born in this country, Denis was a chinaman bowler and Arsenal footballer as well as a member of test cricket's '50 Club'. Compton played famous innings against Australia and South Africa, epitomising the theory that English cricketers fight their hardest with their backs to the wall. But he also holds the record for the fastest ever triple century (scored in three hours), for MCC against NE-Transvaal in 1948). Denis's friendship with the great Keith Miller led to the inception of the Compton-Miller Medal.
Ken Barrington (1955-1968). Recipient of pretty much every 'Cricketer of the Year' accolade the various test nations have come up with, Ken scored 20 test hundreds and holds the highest average (58.67) of any post-War English batsman. Fiercely patriotic yet quintessentially English and cautious, Barrington was next to undismissable at times, which could explain an astounding average in away tests of close to 70.
Geoffery Boycott (1964-1982). Possibly the last great Yorkshire batsman and the most famous, infamous, liked and disliked of all English opening batsmen, this beautifully turgid campaigner achieved 173 first-class hundreds and a test average of over 47. Like Barrington, Boycott viewed batting as an art form, a way of life, and placed the most extreme of prices on his wicket. Boycott has been criticised for his one-dimensional strike rates and difficult personality, but England often won when he succeeded; 22 test hundreds is the mark of a true match-winner. He may be the best candidate in history to select to bat for your life.
Graham Gooch (1975-1995). Still England's highest-ever run plunderer in every form of cricket, this supremely fit and talented butcher of an opener was also an enigma and a tough man to know - like many sporting geniuses. Amongst Graham's 20 test hundreds, his Lord's masterpiece against the great West Indies fast bowlers has been dubbed by some as the best innings of all time.
David Gower (1978-1992). A liquid batsman whose effervescence could both mesmerise and infuriate, he is one of the finest left-handers that England has produced; 8231 test runs is a tally second only to Graham Gooch. A refusal to buckle down explains a slightly lower average of 44, but his (18) test centuries - especially those against Ye Auld Enemie - were typically massive, thrilling and significant. Arguably England's greatest player of the late twentieth-century along with Gooch, both could have achieved even more had they got on better personally and professionally.
Kevin Pietersen (2005-present). As early as 2006, respected cricket writers were inducting KP into all-time England XIs, but others would not even entertain the idea. KP is indeed the most divisive player on this list, his South African heritage and isolationist discourse often leading to the questioning of his national and team-player credentials, but he may also be the most brilliant. Pietersen is the only modern England player to be constantly hovering around an average of 50 in tests, and he is surely his adopted country's finest limited-overs batsman. 21 hundreds and over 7000 runs in the test arena make Pietersen a potential record-breaker - if he can keep his helmet screwed on. This brash nature sees his international career at times hanging by a thread, but it has additionally allowed Pietersen to decimate some of this century's greatest bowlers along the way: Warne, McGrath, Murali, Kumble and Steyn, to name but a few. And KP has also made the game more popular and fashionable again, through a glitzy celebrity status and Indian adulation. He has history in the palm of his hand.
So, PP - who wins?
admired his batting. That to me is the ultimate vote for Hobbs. 
. And as someone mentioned, Thorpe is hugely underrated. Was tough as nails.
