England’s best-ever Test XI – ECB survey

[MagicPoopShovel]

Fans were invited to pick their team from over 100 players ranging from WG Grace in the 1880s to current Test captain Joe Root in a survey completed by over 6,000 England cricket fans.

There is no place for legends such as Grace, Jack Hobbs, Denis Compton, Wally Hammond, Ken Barrington, Peter May, Derek Underwood, Jim Laker or Sydney Barnes.

After two weeks of voting and, with some selections coming down to only three votes, the ECB announced the outcome of their survey on Monday.

England’s best-ever Test XI – ECB survey

Alastair Cook
Sir Len Hutton
David Gower
Kevin Pietersen
Joe Root
Sir Ian Botham
Alan Knott (wk)
Graeme Swann
Fred Trueman
James Anderson
Bob Willis

Joe Root said: “To be selected in the best-ever England men’s Test XI side by cricket fans across the country is incredibly humbling.

“When I think of some of the incredible players who haven’t made the cut, legends of the game such as Denis Compton and Wally Hammond, I’m not sure I would have voted for myself, but I certainly want to thank the fans for thinking of me.

“It’s great to see my current teammates Alastair Cook and James Anderson be recognised for their contributions to England Test cricket too.”
https://www.wisden.com/stories/features/england-best-test-team

 

[MagicPoopShovel]

Which Eng fans from here voted on this ECB poll??

As a comparison CW - All time Eng Xi

England XI
1 J Hobbs
2 L Hutton
3 W Hammond
4 K Barrington
5 D Compton
6 I Botham
7 A Knott+
8 H Larwood
9 J Laker
10 F Trueman
11 S Barnes

 

[jimmy101]

Terrible looking team. This is why democracy doesn't work.

 

[Starfighter]

Anyone even consider any pre-war players? No Hammond is a travesty.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah, so out of sync with this forum haha

 

[S.Kennedy]

Awful. Joe Root cannot even convert a 50 and why the heck people would choose Cook over Hobbs (or Sutcliffe).

 

[Starfighter]

Awful. Joe Root cannot even convert a 50 and why the heck people would choose Cook over Hobbs (or Sutcliffe).

Much easier to choose the recent player than one from a century ago.

 

[trundler]

The omission of Hobbs, Hammond and Barnes is a travesty beyond simply the unforgivable. I'll take Hobbs at 50 over a hundred Cook's. Hammond is no doubt the greatest English middle order batsman. Barnes over Anderson is a no contest too. Anderson just hasn't ever been that good though his durability is astonishing. Laker over Swann too. Compton as England's post war superstar deserves a place. Laker over Swann too although this one isn't that absurd.
Mine would be identical to the CW XI.

Pietersen, Cook and Anderson should come nowhere near an all time XI.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Where's Broady?

Alastair Cook
Sir Len Hutton
David Gower
Kevin Pietersen
Joe Root
Sir Ian Botham
Alan Knott (wk)
Graeme Swann
Fred Trueman
James Anderson
Bob Willis

 

[jimmy101]

Where's Broady?

Sitting next to Binga on the bench I imagine.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

These sorts of polls always tend to gave a very strong recency bias, produces some questionable results. Most ridiculous of all was a BBC one back in summer, can see no logic at all in picking Jimmy 34.55 Anderson in an all time Ashes squad

 

[MagicPoopShovel]

I am just gonna come out and say it..just for the Poms deserve The 100. Go on ECB. Do your duty.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Cook over Hobbs and Root over Hammond is questionable tstvl.

 

[kingkallis]

What? No Hobbs, no Hammond, no Laker, no Barnes?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Lol Graeme Swann is the best one

Not sure why anyone here would expect much better from a survey of largely casual fans though

 

[Red]

Ridic team. This is correct, imo.


Hutton
Hobbs
Hammond
May
Compton
Botham
Ames
Larwood
Barnes
Trueman
Laker

 

[fredfertang]

Remarkable how quickly the casual enthusiast has forgotten about Andrew Flintoff

 

[quincywagstaff]

Almost half of that side taking part in the 5-0 2013/14 Ashes loss is hilarious.

 

[Bolo]

Pretend this is a post war only team. It might not be the best, but it's not terrible.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Since they filled the team up with currentt players and commentators/rhose in public eye I'm surprised Bairstow, Mooen Ali, Broad, Nasser H, and Vaughan didn't make the side too.