What's new

Fans vote for all-time XI as England become the first side to play 1000 Tests!

hadi123

Test Debutant
Joined
Oct 19, 2010
Runs
15,247
Post of the Week
1
England cricket fans have voted for their best-ever men’s Test XI to celebrate the 1000th England men’s Test match at Edgbaston, starting on Wednesday 1st August.

Cricket fans from across the country were invited to pick their team from over 100 players ranging from W.G. Grace in the 1880s to current Test captain Joe Root in a survey completed by over 6,000 England cricket fans.

After two weeks of voting and, with some selections coming down to only three votes, the official nation’s best-ever England men’s Test XI, is:

Alastair Cook
Sir Leonard Hutton
David Gower
Kevin Pietersen
Joe Root
Sir Ian Botham
Alan Knott (w)
Graeme Swann
Fred Trueman
James Anderson
Bob Willis
The team will be celebrated with a day of activity at Edgbaston on day three of the Specsavers Test against India on Friday 3rd August. Selected players will be invited to a parade to thank the fans for their votes.

Speaking about the poll for the nation’s best-ever XI and his inclusion in the side, England Test captain Joe Root said:

“To be selected in the best-ever England men’s Test XI side by cricket fans across the country is incredibly humbling.

“When I think of some of the incredible players who haven’t made the cut, legends of the game such as Denis Compton and Wally Hammond, I’m not sure I would have voted for myself, but I certainly want to thank the fans for thinking of me.

“It’s great to see my current team-mates Alastair Cook and James Anderson be recognised for their contributions to England Test cricket too."

ECB Chief Executive Officer Tom Harrison added:

“To be playing our 1000th men’s Test is a true testament to the enduring importance of Test cricket. It is the pinnacle for players and fans at home and abroad.

“This selection, chosen by England followers, has Test careers ranging from 1937 to the present day and encapsulates both the history of this great game and showcases the fine players we’ve produced in this country.”
 
Bring in Jack Hobbs in place of AN Cook and Wally Hammond in place of D Gower. Rest is fine.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">England's 1000th Test match starts tomorrow. Here's a few pictures from some of my favourite Test matches <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/Sza8SVcBwb">pic.twitter.com/Sza8SVcBwb</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1024337428432252934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:ashwin
 
Congrats to England on this glorious achievement and i find it fitting that this event will be celebrated with us. From the inventors of the game to the country that made Cricket a rage in modern era.

It is the hardest job to pick an all time English XI but Bhaijaan gave it a try :-

Len Hutton
Geoffrey Boycott
Wally Hammond
Ken Barrington
Jack Hobbs
Douglas Jardine (capt)
Ian Botham
Les Ames (wk)
Jim Laker
Sydney Barnes
Harold Larwood.


This might as well be the greatest test team for any nation ever, period.
 
Hobbs
Hutton (capt.)
Barrington
Hammond
KP
Compton
Knott (w)
Statham
Laker
Trueman
Barnes
 
My England all time XI would be:-

Hobbs
Hutton(C)
Hammond
KP
Root
Botham
Knott(wkt)
Swann
Willis
Trueman
Barnes

I think the fact that Hobbs and Hutton still widely make into top 10 in the list of greatest cricketers by many experts around the world definitely makes a strong case for them.

Hutton is a captain because I dont see any other option except maybe Swann who didnt led them in international arena.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Post 70s:-

Gooch
Boycott/Cook
Gower
KP
Root
Botham
Knott(wkt)
Swann
Broad
Willis
Anderson
 
Wasn't Compton a HTB and no Botham??

Ok swap in Gower if it is an away match.

Botham doesn’t bring anything special to that side. You would improve the batting by swapping him for Statham, but weaken the bowling. Hammond can do the fifth bowler job.
 
Post 70s:-

Gooch
Boycott/Cook
Gower
KP
Root
Botham
Knott(wkt)
Swann
Broad
Willis
Anderson

Agreed but I would have Underwood fir Jimmy on a turning wicket, and John Snow for Jimmy elsewhere.
 
Back
Top