Comp over at cricinfo.com

[chickenfeet]

www.cricinfo.com is running a competition to select the best post 1945 England cricket XI.

My picks in batting order:

Boycott
Hutton
Cowdrey
Compton
May
Botham
Knott
Lock
Laker
Trueman
Snow

Anybody think they can do better?

Comments

[boegle.livejournal.com]

I have no idea, but I have to say that you are insanely prolific on live journal.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

I lead a very boring life!

You'll be lucky to get away with two specialist spinners

[atpotch.livejournal.com]

Unless we're playing on the sub-continent, Willis for Lock. Or should it be Laker?

If I substitute Barrington for May, can I sneak in Brearley for Cowdrey? I'm firmly of the belief that a captain is worth a place on captaincy alone. I'd pick Stephen Fleming for the Rest of the World vs Australia next year.

TCH

Re: You'll be lucky to get away with two specialist spinners

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Two specialist spinners used to be the norm everywhere when there were class spinners to select. I suppose if one put in Barrington for may you could claim him as the second spinner.

If one were to pick another seamer, perhaps Bedser or Statham would make more sense than another out and out quick?

Much as I admire brearley, I wouldn't pick him over Cowdrey. Cowdrey was a very good captain and an infinitely better batsman.

Well, of course a lot of this is guesswork

[atpotch.livejournal.com]

Since I've barely seen anyone pre-'90.

I did think about saying Bedser instead of Willis, and of course you've got Botham at siz as another quality quick bowler.

I have no compunction about ceding the 'N was an infinitely better batsman than Brearley argument'. I think Cowdrey's captaincy is too ancient to have entered my consciousness as Brearley's in the 70's and 80's has.

Of players I've actually seen for England:

Gooch
Atherton
[indisputable opening pair]
R Smith
[dropped too early]
Hussain (c)
Vaughan
Stewart (w)
Flintoff
Fraser
Gough
Harmison
Tufnell

The weakness of the tail's batting annoys me, and I don't have a really proven spinner to prove. Just have to hope that Tuffers doesn't get into one of his downhearted moods. The batting line-up is damn good- too good even for Thorpe.

TCH

Re: Well, of course a lot of this is guesswork

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

If we are looking at post 1990, I think I would pick Alan Lamb and David Gower ahead of Hussein and Smith. It really is sad if Tufnell is the best spinner of the last 15 years but I don't have a better suggestion.

[atpotch.livejournal.com]

I was never entirely convinced of Gower's ability to graft. On the Lamb/Hussain issue, I fall back on my captaincy excuse. Though Nasser isn't a great batsman, (though amazingly bloody-minded), he's easily my favourite captain of the five since 1990, (and no, Adam Hollioake doesn't count!)

TCH

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

On reflection, I would go Gower and Smith, and make Atherton captain.

Stats (tests)

Gower 8231 runs @ 44.25 HS=215
Smith 4236 runs @ 43.67 HS=175
Lamb 4656 runs @ 36.09 HS=142 (much worse than I imagined)
Hussain 5764 runs @ 37.17 HS=207

Gower could graft but usually he didn't need to! He was also a superb fielder. His falling out with captain and management was largely because he was respectful enough of Gooch's very dour style of leadership. Anyhoiw, with Gooch, Atherton, Vaughan and Stewart in the side it would be nice to have a batsman who was enjoyable to watch.

[atpotch.livejournal.com]

There aren't enough cricket threads on liverjournal. I could prattle on interminably. For now, I'll sulk that I think Vaughan, (unlike Gooch, Atherton and Stewart), is beautiful to watch. He plays the most lovely cover drives, and a lethal pull shot to strokes only marginally short of a length.

I suspect my Gower prejudice comes mostly from watching too much ey Think It's All Over which is lame lowest common denominator comedy anyway.

Thanks for the stats. Although they are fallible, it must always be mentioned. Anthony McGrath, veteran of about 6 tests before everyone realised Flintoff was the better option, has an average of 41. If that makes him a better batsman than Hussain, then I'm Curtly Ambrose. And for the record, I'm a tiny white guy ;-)

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Agreed stats don't contain the whole truth but when you are looking at people with over 100 test innings they are a pretty good guide.