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1. Bob Simpson [ 4869 runs @ 46.81 and 71 wickets @ 42.26]
2. Len Hutton* [6971 runs @ 56.67]
3. Dudley Nourse [2960 runs @ 53.81]
4. Eddie Paynter [1540 runs @ 59.23]
5. C.B Fry [1223 runs @ 32.18 and 30866 FC runs at 50.22]
6. Tony Greig [3599 @ 40.34 and 141 wickets @32.20]
7. Farokh Engineer [2611 runs @ 31.08 and 66 catches, 16 stumpings]
8. Hedley Verity [669 runs @ 20.90 and 144 wickets @ 24.37]
9. Allan Donald [ 652 runs @ 10.68 and 330 wickets @ 22.25]
10. Derek Underwood [937 runs @ 11.56 and 297 wickets @ 25.83]
11. George Lohmann [ 26 runs @ 8.86 and 112 wickets @ 10.57]
12. Jacob Oram [ 1780 runs @ 36.32 and 60 wickets @ 33.05]
Three of the top four average in excess of 50 and actually when opening the batting so does Bob Simpson, meaning there's clear strength at the top of the order. Bob Simpson was also a fairly handy legspinner if needed.
CB Fry looks like the weak link here, and in terms of test statistics he clearly is. However a first class average of 50+ and 94 centuries shows he was no slouch with the bat.
Tony Greig is next in, with a solid batting average and will certainly get a bowl. Farokh Engineer was one of the world's best wicket keepers behind the stumps and was pretty handy with the bat too. I'd presume therefore that he would stand up to Gerig putting the stumping into play.
The front line bowling is lead by the ineffable George Lohmann, a quality bowler and ridiculous wicket taker. He's backed up by the pace and swing of Allan Donald to provide a fiery new ball pairing.
The brunt of the bowling would be done by two of England's finest spinners. Hedley Verity and Derek Underwood weren't slow spinners by any means, and would have the ball shooting all over the place. Jacob Oram in his allrounder role makes up the team, and would probably come in for Underwood on a particularly seam friendly wicket.
Given the relative strengths of the players, and 7 Englishmen in the team, I'd have thought playing on uncovered English pitches would be hugely beneficial to the team.
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