All-time XI: England

[SJS]

Not sure Sir Alec would like to hear you saying that he bowled at the same pace as Deadly...

Well maybe I exaggerate a wee bit but Underwood was decidedly medium pace.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Actually I think that's a slightly different point - I look at just about every Lancashire player from the 70's and 80's through rose tinted spectacles.

If the current selection policy was in place in the 70's Jack Simmons, David Hughes and Peter Lee would probably have been first choice for the England ODI squad.

 

[fredfertang]

If the current selection policy was in place in the 70's Jack Simmons, David Hughes and Peter Lee would probably have been first choice for the England ODI squad.

Don't forget John Sullivan

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Don't forget John Sullivan

I think John Abrahams would have been a candidate for the captaincy after his Man of the Man winning duck in one of the one day finals.

 

[archie mac]

I think John Abrahams would have been a candidate for the captaincy after his Man of the Man winning duck in one of the one day finals.

ha ha, I remember that. JA played with my club in Canberra (Weston Creek) was a very nice fellow, but did not overly impress as a great player

 

[Lillian Thomson]

ha ha, I remember that. JA played with my club in Canberra (Weston Creek) was a very nice fellow, but did not overly impress as a great player

You say that as though it excludes him from being selected for the England ODI squad.

 

[archie mac]

You say that as though it excludes him from being selected for the England ODI squad.

Well England have been know for picking non playing captains

Although Australia can't boast, not after the Mark Taylor saga

 

[Furball]

I realise Herb was probably excluded because he's known primarily as an opener, but I personally think that's wrong-headed.

Haha, that's insane.

Anytime I think of an England all time XI, my top 3 is automatically Hobbs, Sutcliffe and Hutton. No thought process or debate required.

 

[Days of Grace]

Except that they are all openers.

 

[Furball]

Except that they are all openers.

So?

 

[aussie]

Well not all openers can make the transition to number 3. In an All-time team with so many great options, i dont think you need to be manufacturing positions TBH.

 

[marc71178]

Well not all openers can make the transition to number 3. In an All-time team with so many great options, i dont think you need to be manufacturing positions TBH.

Ironic that you now say that.

 

[aussie]

Ironic that you now say that.

Well there could be exception to the rule. I just don't agree with for the ENG ATXI, all three of Hutton, Hobbs, Sutcliffe starting.

 

[archie mac]

Well there could be exception to the rule. I just don't agree with for the ENG ATXI, all three of Hutton, Hobbs, Sutcliffe starting.

Interesting when both Miller and Hutton were asked to pick their all time English and Aust.XI, that is just what Hutton did drop himself down the order and open with the other two

 

[aussie]

Interesting when both Miller and Hutton were asked to pick their all time English and Aust.XI, that is just what Hutton did drop himself down the order and open with the other two

Yes i've seen that. But i guess its just my personal preference. I sort of worry about Sutcliffe in hypotetical match-ups againts the 90mph bowlers, given he never faced much of those bowlers in his time.

I dont know if you ever managed to checked, but in Yorkshire vs Nottinghamshire during the 20s & 30. Sutcliffe wasn't too successful againts Larwood.

 

[archie mac]

Yes i've seen that. But i guess its just my personal preference. I sort of worry about Sutcliffe in hypotetical match-ups againts the 90mph bowlers, given he never faced much of those bowlers in his time.

I dont know if you ever managed to checked, but in Yorkshire vs Nottinghamshire during the 20s & 30. Sutcliffe wasn't too successful againts Larwood.

I have not checked that

I do know that Sutcliffe had one of the best hook shots in the game, a young tear away Bill Bowes was reduced to tears and thought his chances of playing for Yorkshire over, after Sutcliffe hooked him repeatedly off his eye line in a intra Yorkshire match

 

[Furball]

Well not all openers can make the transition to number 3. In an All-time team with so many great options, i dont think you need to be manufacturing positions TBH.

Hobbs, Hutton and Sutcliffe are 3 of the greatest, if not the 3 greatest batsmen that England have produced. Leaving any of them out of an all time lineup in my opinion is utter madness.

 

[aussie]

Hobbs, Hutton and Sutcliffe are 3 of the greatest, if not the 3 greatest batsmen that England have produced. Leaving any of them out of an all time lineup in my opinion is utter madness.

Ha..camn down. Firslty see Sutcliffe could be greater than Hammond & Compton. Secondly you only can pick 2 openers. Theirfore given the strenght of options an ENG ATXI would have in the middle order, there is no need to manufacturing positions - especially when Sutcliffe has some question marks IMO.

 

[aussie]

I have not checked that

I do know that Sutcliffe had one of the best hook shots in the game, a young tear away Bill Bowes was reduced to tears and thought his chances of playing for Yorkshire over, after Sutcliffe hooked him repeatedly off his eye line in a intra Yorkshire match

The clips i have seen of Bowes i never got the impression he was much a tear away. The only other English quick i would say was really sharp other than Larwood was Ken Farnes.

Whenever you get the time, you should defiantely check those York v Notts matches in the 20s & 30s to see how Larwood got the better of him. Which is why for great batsmen like him in an era where quality 90mph where non-existant really, i worry about picking him to open in a ENG ATXI in hypotetical match-ups againts AUS, WI, SA, PAK & even NZ.

I would also always prefer Boycott & Gooch instead Sutcliffe, as back-up to my first choice opening pair of Hobbs/Hutton.

 

[GIMH]

aussie, got links to these matches? Sounds interesting