BoyBrumby
Englishman
Ok. This may’ve been asked before, but it hasn’t in my time on the Forums, so here it is. Hopefully it’s a bit less cut & dried than the “best batsmen of all time”, which is only ever gonna be one fella. I’ve limited myself to an even dozen nominations, so there’s bound to be one or two glaring omissions, but I don’t see you starting a new thread, so just leave it, ok? We’ve all had a drink…
Anyway, test averages & v brief reasons:
WG Grace: (ave 32.29) invented modern batting; the first man to score freely off either foot on each side of the wicket.
Sir Jack Hobbs: (ave 56.94) “The master”. Many rate him as the best BB (Before Bradman). Ideal, classic style. Great longevity in the game.
Herbert Sutcliffe: (ave 60.73) Superb defensively, wonderful concentration & very brave. Great hooker; constantly strove to improve his game.
Wally Hammond: (ave 58.45) Took Sir Donald’s test record with his 336no against NZ; joint top run maker in 32/33 (with Sutcliffe); 22 test centuries; wonderful cover drive off front and back foot.
Douglas Jardine: (ave 48.00) Every Aussie’s favourite Anglo-Indian Scot. Genius tactician who planned & executed the perfect tour. Iron-willed & very brave; prepared to take his own medicine against Constantine in’33. Also arguably the greatest defensive batsman of his era.
Denis Compton: (ave 50.06) Played for Arsenal (!); the original brylcreem boy largely responsible for English cricket’s post-war boom. The classic right-hander, wonderfully audacious & a stylish stroke maker.
Sir Len Hutton: (ave 56.67) the ideal opener; held test best with his 364 against the Aussies; outstanding record against Lindwall & Miller, who weren’t bad! England’s first pro captain.
Peter May: (ave 46.77) Rated by some as the best post-war English batter, v strong on leg side. An instinctive cricketer marked as FEC at early age; fulfilled his destiny by winning 20 tests in 41 as skipper.
Ted Dexter: (ave 47.89) Wonderfully dashing stoke maker. Arguably the most fluent of England’s post war batters. Attacking batsman with strong cover drive.
Ken Barrington: (ave 58.67) wonderfully gutsy batter; held himself in check, but a better stroke player than many gave him credit for.
“Sir” Geoff Boycott: (ave 47.72) the ultimate accumulator; not the most naturally gifted player, but a perfectionist who worked exceptionally hard at his game (as he will tell you).
Graham Gooch: (ave 42.58) England’s leading test run-maker. A rock of dependability in the early 90s. Last Englishman to be ranked #1 before Vaughan.
Anyway, test averages & v brief reasons:
WG Grace: (ave 32.29) invented modern batting; the first man to score freely off either foot on each side of the wicket.
Sir Jack Hobbs: (ave 56.94) “The master”. Many rate him as the best BB (Before Bradman). Ideal, classic style. Great longevity in the game.
Herbert Sutcliffe: (ave 60.73) Superb defensively, wonderful concentration & very brave. Great hooker; constantly strove to improve his game.
Wally Hammond: (ave 58.45) Took Sir Donald’s test record with his 336no against NZ; joint top run maker in 32/33 (with Sutcliffe); 22 test centuries; wonderful cover drive off front and back foot.
Douglas Jardine: (ave 48.00) Every Aussie’s favourite Anglo-Indian Scot. Genius tactician who planned & executed the perfect tour. Iron-willed & very brave; prepared to take his own medicine against Constantine in’33. Also arguably the greatest defensive batsman of his era.
Denis Compton: (ave 50.06) Played for Arsenal (!); the original brylcreem boy largely responsible for English cricket’s post-war boom. The classic right-hander, wonderfully audacious & a stylish stroke maker.
Sir Len Hutton: (ave 56.67) the ideal opener; held test best with his 364 against the Aussies; outstanding record against Lindwall & Miller, who weren’t bad! England’s first pro captain.
Peter May: (ave 46.77) Rated by some as the best post-war English batter, v strong on leg side. An instinctive cricketer marked as FEC at early age; fulfilled his destiny by winning 20 tests in 41 as skipper.
Ted Dexter: (ave 47.89) Wonderfully dashing stoke maker. Arguably the most fluent of England’s post war batters. Attacking batsman with strong cover drive.
Ken Barrington: (ave 58.67) wonderfully gutsy batter; held himself in check, but a better stroke player than many gave him credit for.
“Sir” Geoff Boycott: (ave 47.72) the ultimate accumulator; not the most naturally gifted player, but a perfectionist who worked exceptionally hard at his game (as he will tell you).
Graham Gooch: (ave 42.58) England’s leading test run-maker. A rock of dependability in the early 90s. Last Englishman to be ranked #1 before Vaughan.
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