Would Botham make it to your England ATG XI?

[Sliferxxxx]

Not sure you are correct about England not having an elite 3rd paceman, Larwood was a great bowler, Willis was a great bowler, Botham was too in his peak years, but dropped off rapidly, Snow and Tyson are in their too,

Fwiw who opens the bowling for England with Trueman. I dont consider Barnes a pace bowler. Anyway England's third pacer frankly aren't in the same league as the other top teams:

WI:

Marshall 1
Ambrose 2
Holding/Garner/Walsh/ 3

Aus

McGrath 1
Lillee 2
Lindwall/Miller/Davidson 3

Rsa

Steyn 1
Donald 2
Pollock 3

Pak

Imran 1
Wasim 2
Waqar 3

 

[Coronis]

Just remember if you pick Barnes you have to open the bowling with him.

 

[subshakerz]

I mean, can you really say that against Australia, Windies or SA? Though tbh idk how well they can compete with those 3 teams anyway. Perhaps the main focus of the construction of the team should be to ensure victory over Ind/Pak and ensure their place as #4

Well, there is an argument that stacking the batting with Compton/Root at 6 and Botham at 8 at least shores up your chances of draws.

I think they can compete well against SA ATG XI though.

 

[Qlder]

1. Jack Hobbs
2. Herbert Sutcliffe
3. Len Hutton (C)
4. Walter Hammond
5. Ken Barrington
6. Joe Root
7. Alan Knott (WK)
8. Ian Botham
9. Jim Laker
10. Fred Trueman
11. Sydney Barnes

sadly, the lack of a third Elite ATG pacer lets England down, always. For Botham vs Jimmy, well, think Botham won England a lot more games than Jimmy, and honestly, that's all that matters at the end of the day.

Absolutely no chance Knott would ever bat above Botham so Knott would bat #8 in your team. That's crazy deep batting that forces out Larwood, Snow or Willis as a much needed pacer

 

[bagapath]

Hutton is an opener/ he will not bat at 3

Sir John Berry Hobbs
Sir Len Hutton (C)
Walter Hammond (6)
Joe Root
Denis Compton
Ben Stokes (5)
Lord Ian Botham (3)
Alan Knott (Wk)
Jim Laker (4)
Fred Truman (1)
Syd Barnes (2)

12th man: Wilfred Rhodes

 

[capt_Luffy]

Fwiw who opens the bowling for England with Trueman. I dont consider Barnes a pace bowler. Anyway England's third pacer frankly aren't in the same league as the other top teams:

WI:

Marshall 1
Ambrose 2
Holding/Garner/Walsh/ 3

Aus

McGrath 1
Lillee 2
Lindwall/Miller/Davidson 3

Rsa

Steyn 1
Donald 2
Pollock 3

Pak

Imran 1
Wasim 2
Waqar 3

If Barnes play you better give him the new ball, or else he will sulk and bowl **** all day.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Hutton is an opener/ he will not bat at 3

Sir John Berry Hobbs
Sir Len Hutton (C)
Walter Hammond (6)
Joe Root
Denis Compton
Ben Stokes (5)
Lord Ian Botham (3)
Alan Knott (Wk)
Jim Laker (4)
Fred Truman (1)
Syd Barnes (2)

12th man: Wilfred Rhodes

Stokes???!!

 

[capt_Luffy]

Hutton is an opener/ he will not bat at 3

Sir John Berry Hobbs
Sir Len Hutton (C)
Walter Hammond (6)
Joe Root
Denis Compton
Ben Stokes (5)
Lord Ian Botham (3)
Alan Knott (Wk)
Jim Laker (4)
Fred Truman (1)
Syd Barnes (2)

12th man: Wilfred Rhodes

I think it will be better if Rhodes plays for Stokes and you take another pacer for Laker like Anderson or Larwood or Statham or Snow.

 

[sayon basak]

Wilfred Rhodes might be twice the cricketer Stokes ever will be.

 

[subshakerz]

My England XI:

Hobbs
Hutton
Sutcliffe
Hammond
Root
Compton
Barrington
May
Cowdery
KP
Botham


I figure the bowling stocks are low so might as well stack with batting and play every game for a draw.

 

[sayon basak]

My England XI:

Hobbs
Hutton
Sutcliffe
Hammond
Root
Compton
Barrington
May
Cowdery
KP
Botham


I figure the bowling stocks are low so might as well stack with batting and play every game for a draw.

You forgot Gooch.

 

[Johan]

The bowling stocks aren't bad, Barnes/Trueman/Laker is lethal enough, the problem is the third pacer.

 

[capt_Luffy]

The bowling stocks aren't bad, Barnes/Trueman/Laker is lethal enough, the problem is the third pacer.

Larwood and Jimmy are really Great.

 

[number11]

Assuming OP was refering to tests, then yes, of course Beefy makes it.

 

[Johan]

Larwood and Jimmy are really Great.

Jimmy without the new ball and is like picking Gavaskar and asking him to bat #8

 

[capt_Luffy]

Jimmy without the new ball and is like picking Gavaskar and asking him to bat #8

That's why I prefer Larwood. He was express as well.

 

[Coronis]

Larwood and Jimmy are really Great.

Eh

 

[subshakerz]

Jimmy without the new ball and is like picking Gavaskar and asking him to bat #8

Botham may legit be a better third seamer than Jimmy.

 

[reyrey]

Third pacer ideally should be a tall fella as the others are all skiddy types. Bob Willis is really the only option.