Best ever England Cricket Team

[lefty goldblatt]

Knott was hands down the best keeper England have had in my lifetime.....nobody else is even worth mentioning.

Bob Taylor???
Knott was certainly a better batsman, though

 

[Brightwell’s left peg]

At least Marshall would just get you out, some of the others were trying to kill you! Remember Curtly getting pissed off with some Aussie once and bowling an series of throat high bumpers that were all delivered from about 3 yards over the no ball line.



Found it, it was Steve Waugh

I was speaking to Curtly last week about the time Dean Jones told him to remove his wristband. He’s still sore about it.

 

[Vienna_70]

That is some attack. However, I'd argue that if you only take two bowlers, bowling alternately, over after over after over, there was nothing quite as scary at Thommo and Lilley in their pomp. Thommo did his back in, unfortunately (always wondered if it was something to do with his action, which I always found a bit odd). As I remember it, helmets with protective grills were brought in in the wake of their tour of England ( mid-seventies?).
Also, honourable mention for Wes Hall and Charlie Griffith — not as accurate, perhaps, but grisly fast. (Both still alive, I see. Incredible. And both from that tiny island that used to produce so many great cricketers — Barbados).

I agree what about Lillee and Thomson. They were fucking scary. And they had Max Walker, who was a completely different type of bowler, with his swing, to complement them.

I’m too young to remember Hall and Griffith, though my Dad spoke about them often. He also told me that there were questions about Griffith's action.

 

[BringBackSwales]

Indian Nasser desperate for them to come out in bad light with the ball darting about

 

[Blue Feather]

I think there’s a case for Brearley as captain. He was not a great batsman but his ability to get the best out of his players was second to none.

I think Brearley was a bit of a myth to be honest. Can't remember him playing much against the West Indies and a 'proper' Aussie side won the 'non -ashes' test series 3-0 in 1980 after the World Series players returned. A good captain no doubt but fortunate enough to benefit from the return of Boycott, the emergence of Gooch and Gower and having prime Botham and Willis to call on, particularly against average Pakistan and New Zealand teams. The Australian squad had a heap of politics going on in 1981 (no Greg Chappell, Lillee not respecting skipper Kim Hughes) and Botham and Willis etc., might have done it anyway

 

[Dr Jacoby]

At least Marshall would just get you out, some of the others were trying to kill you! Remember Curtly getting pissed off with some Aussie once and bowling an series of throat high bumpers that were all delivered from about 3 yards over the no ball line.



Found it, it was Steve Waugh

His 7/1 spell was something else.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

I think Brearley was a bit of a myth to be honest. Can't remember him playing much against the West Indies and a 'proper' Aussie side won the 'non -ashes' test series 3-0 in 1980 after the World Series players returned. A good captain no doubt but fortunate enough to benefit from the return of Boycott, the emergence of Gooch and Gower and having prime Botham and Willis to call on, particularly against average Pakistan and New Zealand teams. The Australian squad had a heap of politics going on in 1981 (no Greg Chappell, Lillee not respecting skipper Kim Hughes) and Botham and Willis etc., might have done it anyway

Many of players who played under him would disagree with you.
After Botham’s disastrous tenure as captain he was broken. Brearley returned as captain took him under his wing and brought him back to peak Botham.

 

[normskih]

I think there’s a case for Brearley as captain. He was not a great batsman but his ability to get the best out of his players was second to none.

Botham said he was a brilliant captain.

 

[stan bowles]

Botham said he was a brilliant captain.

Even Boycott said he was very good at man management. High praise indeed from the obdurate Yorkshire man.

 

[Blue Feather]

Many of players who played under him would disagree with you.
After Botham’s disastrous tenure as captain he was broken. Brearley returned as captain took him under his wing and brought him back to peak Botham.

Probably because he was more intelligent, used long words, dabbled with psychology and spoke proper English. He had a poor record against really good sides, didn't know what to do when a Gavaskar inspired India nearly squared the series chasing well over 400 in 1979 and thought it was a good idea to use Wayne Larkins, Graham Gooch and Geoff Boycott as the' 5th' bowler in the 1979 World Cup Final (their 12 overs cost 86 runs at 7.17 compared to 48 for 189 at 3.94 for the regular bowlers)) rather than play Geoff Miller and employ Graham Gooch as an opening partner for Boycott. His record is good against average sides and Aussie reserves and is revered for 1981 thanks mainly to brilliant individual performances from Botham and Willis. Brearley may also have been broken by the West Indies if he had actually played against them more than a couple of times after 1976. Ian Botham's first 10 Test matches as captain were peak West Indies home and away......

 

[Uncle Wally One Ball]

You cant pick a best ever England X1 at cricket we have too many and nobody should be left out over another. Ive read the lists here, and its all subjective anyway but youre comparing what was a pro era against what is now really pro, cant do it. Seen a lot of Botham talk. Great as he was he couldnt have played in this era, just couldnt have done it. They are athletes these days, werent when he played. Flintoff wasnt. Stokes is

 

[Vienna_70]

You cant pick a best ever England X1 at cricket we have too many and nobody should be left out over another. Ive read the lists here, and its all subjective anyway but youre comparing what was a pro era against what is now really pro, cant do it. Seen a lot of Botham talk. Great as he was he couldnt have played in this era, just couldnt have done it. They are athletes these days, werent when he played. Flintoff wasnt. Stokes is

That is utter nonsense.

Ian Botham would be as professional and as fit as any of them nowadays.

That’s like saying Frannie couldn’t be a professional footballer today; it’s complete tosh.

 

[Pubteam Lomas]

Botham was a fantastic batsman in his own right. A great slip fielder and, well, just made things happen with the ball.

He wasn’t the best all-rounder of his era for me, Imran Khan was my favourite.
But to say Ian Botham wouldn’t be able to do it today is nonsense.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Tony Greig
Kevin Pieterson
Allan Lamb
Andrew Strauss
Ben Stokes
Nasser Hussain
Colin Cowdry
Robin Smith
Eoin Morgan

All as English as St George

 

[stan bowles]

Can remember Colin Milburn, who was a folk hero to us schoolboys. Didn't often do it, but when he was on it, would simply destroy the opposition bowling. Real violence. Bazball before there was Bazball.

Olly Milburn would probably have been on the 70/71 Ashes tour if he hadn't lost an eye in 1969 in a car accident. He had a great series vs the West Indies in '69. Pure entertainer.

 

[eastmanc]

You cannot leave Boycott or Trueman out

Sod the Yorkies.:-)

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Bravest batting I’ve ever seen.

Was at that Test Match. Phenomenal fast bowling attack but because they had four quickies and the wickets fell quite rapidly, the over rate fell from almost 20 an hour to 13. It has never recovered.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

Don’t expect the first conversation from Edrich to Close was “I’ll nick a quick single and take the rest of the over”

Whispering Death and Denis Lillee we’re the two finest fast bowlers I ever saw in action.

Holding and Viv Richards my favourite ever players.

 

[The Colonel]

I think Brearley was a bit of a myth to be honest. Can't remember him playing much against the West Indies and a 'proper' Aussie side won the 'non -ashes' test series 3-0 in 1980 after the World Series players returned. A good captain no doubt but fortunate enough to benefit from the return of Boycott, the emergence of Gooch and Gower and having prime Botham and Willis to call on, particularly against average Pakistan and New Zealand teams. The Australian squad had a heap of politics going on in 1981 (no Greg Chappell, Lillee not respecting skipper Kim Hughes) and Botham and Willis etc., might have done it anyway

In fairness Willis was getting written off by many at this time and Botham unperforming (as captain). Brearley is widely credited for getting the best out of them again.

 

[The Colonel]

My dad saw Truman bowl through teams in Tests at Old Trafford and has seen nothing better since. Has to be in with Anderson as the opening attack.