Draft: All-Time England Test Draft

[Aislabie]

Colin Cowdrey

Test stats: 7,624 runs @ 44.06 (22 centuries, best 182) in 114 matches
First-class stats: 42,719 runs @ 42.89 (107 centuries, best 307) in 692 matches

I have players in mind for all the other roles that I'm reasonably sure nobody else will pick up, but Colin Cowdrey to open the batting as the 52nd pick is probably the steal of the draft. Well it's either that or Amiss. Cowdrey isn't strictly speaking a specialist opener, but he did score five of his 22 centuries in the role; the rest are very evenly spread out across the top six. Something of a stonewaller, he tended to score at around two runs per over (I've used his estimated career strike rate, as the estimate in his time opening the batting is woefully incomplete), but this was around the standard of the time. So yeah, a 40+ averaging opener at this late stage in the draft, and a man whose name was synonymous with class, style and quality. Such was his longevity that none of the 344 players he played with or against shared more than 55 of his 114 Test appearances, spread as they were over 20 years.

1. Dennis Amiss ( 81.10%)
2. Colin Cowdrey ( 28.53%)
3. Ken Barrington ( 65.29%)
4. Duleepsinhji ( 25.58%}
5. Ranjitsinhji ( 15.84%)
6.
7.
8. Hedley Verity ( 105.02%)
9. George Lohmann ( 104.83%)
10.
11. Bob Appleyard ( 38.96%)

@Bevab

 

[Bevab]

I'll gladly take Elias Henry Hendren, more famously known as Patsy Hendren. Patsy was one of cricket's greatest entertainers and was the first notable cricketer to wear a prototype of a helmet (albeit it was a funny cap designed by his spouse). Entertainment and platitudes from notable cricket luminaries such as Monty Noble and Neville Cardus are not the only thing Patsy has though, for his record on paper is pretty outstanding too. He is the second oldest centurion in the Ashes and has the second most centuries in first-class cricket whilst being the third most prolific. His international career started only when he was above 30 and it winded to a halt when he was 46! He was one of the quickest on their foot in his prime, an attribute he utilized to the fullest in the field as an outstanding outfielder who would save boundaries, cut down the doubles/triples and even effecting miraculous catches, things that were a wonder to his compatriots in those days. His fitness was so good that he also spent his time playing as a right winger for Brentford, choosing to only retire at the ripe age of '38' to focus on cricket. In this time, he led Brentford from the semi-professional Southern League to the top division in the country and earned a national cap for his efforts. Here is a fun fact; he is now a member of Brentford FC's Hall of Fame. How many cricketers can claim that?

In my side, he will bat at five and play his brand of counter-attacking cricket whilst being a jovial personality off the field and in the dressing room. His occasional off-breaks will probably not be needed although the option is nice to have as always.

1. Jack Hobbs
2. ?
3. Ted Dexter
   
4. Denis Compton
   
5. Patsy Hendren
   
6. Tony Greig
7. Billy Bates
   
8. ?
9. ?
10. Fred Trueman
11. Sydney Barnes

@blockerdave with the next pick.

 

[blockerdave]

Colin Cowdrey

Test stats: 7,624 runs @ 44.06 (22 centuries, best 182) in 114 matches
First-class stats: 42,719 runs @ 42.89 (107 centuries, best 307) in 692 matches

I have players in mind for all the other roles that I'm reasonably sure nobody else will pick up, but Colin Cowdrey to open the batting as the 52nd pick is probably the steal of the draft. Well it's either that or Amiss. Cowdrey isn't strictly speaking a specialist opener, but he did score five of his 22 centuries in the role; the rest are very evenly spread out across the top six. Something of a stonewaller, he tended to score at around two runs per over (I've used his estimated career strike rate, as the estimate in his time opening the batting is woefully incomplete), but this was around the standard of the time. So yeah, a 40+ averaging opener at this late stage in the draft, and a man whose name was synonymous with class, style and quality. Such was his longevity that none of the 344 players he played with or against shared more than 55 of his 114 Test appearances, spread as they were over 20 years.

1. Dennis Amiss ( 81.10%)
2. Colin Cowdrey ( 28.53%)
3. Ken Barrington ( 65.29%)
4. Duleepsinhji ( 25.58%}
5. Ranjitsinhji ( 15.84%)
6.
7.
8. Hedley Verity ( 105.02%)
9. George Lohmann ( 104.83%)
10.
11. Bob Appleyard ( 38.96%)

@Bevab

Steal of the draft, for a 40+ opening batsman?

I'll see your Colin Cowdrey and raise you one MICHAEL VAUGHAN. Vaughan averaged 45.48 as an opener, which he played in 38 of his 82 matches. He scored over 3,000 (of 5.7k career) runs and 10 of his 18 test hundreds as an opener.

But if all goes to plan, I'll not even have that Vaughan. Because I DON'T want Vaughan to captain. And the Vaughan who opened but didn't captain scored an absurd 8 hundreds in just 18 matches on his way to 1,870 runs at 62.33!!

Opening with Sutcliffe, Vaughan gives me a "made in Yorkshire" opening pair where both players averaged over 60 in the roles I'll be giving them.

For a man who helped return the Ashes Urn to England after 18 long and painful years, Vaughan left precious little legacy. Partly because of the speed with which that side disintegrated, and partly due to his descent an into odious media "personality". But Vaughan was a great captain. It's a shame it affected his batting so much though, because before that (and tbf, the injuries) he was a truly great opening batsman, and the memories I have of staying up all night and watching him batter McGrath, Warne and a peak Gillespie all over their own turf in 02/03 Ashes are some of the best memories I have of watching England.

Now THAT is the steal of the draft.

1. Herbert Sutcliffe
2. MICHAEL VAUGHAN
3. -
4. Graham Thorpe
5. Basil D'Oliveira
6. Ben Stokes
7. -
8. Jack Russell
9. Harold Larwood
10. Darren Gough
11. -

[DOUBLEPOST=1606587114][/DOUBLEPOST]Next to pick is @Ashutosh.

 

[Bevab]

I saw Vaughan's name when I was looking up Gibbs' stats and was very confused, until I remembered that he was beastly before becoming captain.

 

[Aislabie]

MICHAEL VAUGHAN

You see, Vaughan is good but I can only presume that having to listen to his opinions for five days would be enough to make his teammates throw the game to get away

 

[blockerdave]

You see, Vaughan is good but I can only presume that having to listen to his opinions for five days would be enough to make his teammates throw the game to get away

Or win it quicker

 

[Ashutosh.]

Matthew Hoggard

1. Graham Gooch
2.
3. Joe Root
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Ian Bell
6.
7. Matt Prior
8.
9. Graeme Swann
10. James Anderson
11. Matthew Hoggard

@Yash.

 

[ahmedleo414]

@Yash. has another day to make his picks since he has two picks

 

[Yash.]

1. Wilfred Rhodes
2. Sir Geoffrey Boycott
3. Wally Hammond
4. Peter May
   
5. 
   
6. Leslie Ames
7. ?
8. Jim Laker
9. Stuart Broad
10. Sir Alec Bedser
11. Frank Tyson

PETER MAY


Peter May scored 4537 Test Runs at an average of 46.77, which seems good at first sight, but he was even better, as he was almost god-like at no. 4. A simple query on Statsguru for English batsmen who played at least 10 innings at no. 4, Peter May has the second highest batting average (a whopping 58.12) among them, second only to Ken Barrington. He also has the highest individual score for a no. 4 batsman for England when he made 285* against West Indies.

SIR ALEC BEDSER

He took 236 wickets in Test Cricket with his extremely clever medium-fast bowling, with a sharp inswinger and a fizzing leg cutter which was the cause of most of his Test wickets. Was an excellent bowler and would be a great addition to my team.[DOUBLEPOST=1606708479][/DOUBLEPOST]@Ashutosh.

 

[Ashutosh.]

Moeen Ali

1. Graham Gooch
2.
3. Joe Root
4. Kevin Pietersen
5. Ian Bell
6. Matt Prior
7. Moeen Ali
8.
9. Graeme Swann
10. James Anderson
11. Matthew Hoggard

@blockerdave

 

[Bevab]

Mo?

 

[blockerdave]

I want to maintain a threat with the old ball, and a lot of the best spinners are gone. So I'm plumping for the best "English" reverse swing bowler I've seen, SIMON JONES.

Injuries restricted him to just 18 matches over a span of 3 years, in which he took 59 wickets at 28.23 - not overly amazing numbers to be sure, but his strike rate of 47 hints at his class. Injuries robbed him of many more wickets, and England of a genuinely world class bowler.

1. Herbert Sutcliffe
2. Michael Vaughan
3. -
4. Graham Thorpe
5. Basil D'Oliveira
6. Ben Stokes
7. -
8. Jack Russell
9. Harold Larwood
10. Darren Gough
11. SIMON JONES

@Aislabie to go again

 

[Aislabie]

John Snow

Test stats: 202 wickets @ 26.66 (8 5WI, best 7/40) in 49 matches
First-class stats: 1,174 wickets @ 22.73 (56 5WI, best 8/87) in 346 matches

He might have been a bit of a penis, but John Snow was a phenomenal fast bowler. I remain a little baffled by how his VARP can be as low as +6.9% when his bowling average is nearly five runs per wicket lower than his replacement player. I guess it just throws out strange results sometimes, but regardless, Snow was someone I had my eye on for a while. Like Dennis Amiss, Snow has become a bit of a forgotten legend, but maybe that's because of his personality. Simon Jones was my backup plan here, but I guess there was never much chance of Dave picking another acquired taste to share the dressing room with Vaughan.

1. Dennis Amiss ( 81.10%)
2. Colin Cowdrey ( 28.53%)
3. Ken Barrington ( 65.29%)
4. Duleepsinhji ( 25.58%}
5. Ranjitsinhji ( 15.84%)
6.
7.
8. Hedley Verity ( 105.02%)
9. George Lohmann ( 104.83%)
10. John Snow ( 6.90%)
11. Bob Appleyard ( 38.96%)

@ahmedleo414

 

[blockerdave]

John Snow

Test stats: 202 wickets @ 26.66 (8 5WI, best 7/40) in 49 matches
First-class stats: 1,174 wickets @ 22.73 (56 5WI, best 8/87) in 346 matches

He might have been a bit of a penis, but John Snow was a phenomenal fast bowler. I remain a little baffled by how his VARP can be as low as +6.9% when his bowling average is nearly five runs per wicket lower than his replacement player. I guess it just throws out strange results sometimes, but regardless, Snow was someone I had my eye on for a while. Like Dennis Amiss, Snow has become a bit of a forgotten legend, but maybe that's because of his personality. Simon Jones was my backup plan here, but I guess there was never much chance of Dave picking another acquired taste to share the dressing room with Vaughan.

1. Dennis Amiss ( 81.10%)
2. Colin Cowdrey ( 28.53%)
3. Ken Barrington ( 65.29%)
4. Duleepsinhji ( 25.58%}
5. Ranjitsinhji ( 15.84%)
6.
7.
8. Hedley Verity ( 105.02%)
9. George Lohmann ( 104.83%)
10. John Snow ( 6.90%)
11. Bob Appleyard ( 38.96%)

@ahmedleo414

Good pick. Wasn't on my radar at all.

I was caught between Jones and a "lesser" spinner, or Craig White (for reverse swing and balancing the side only - I'm under no illusions he's worthy of a place per se) and a better swinger.

As it is, my team will be more of a team for Durham in May than the Oval in August... (though Gough, Stokes and Jones are all good reverse swing bowlers). That said - I've a couple of pretty good spin options on my radar.

 

[ahmedleo414]

My pick will be Jonathan Trott

Stats|Matches|Runs|HS| Ave|100s/50s
First-Class |281|18,662|226|44.32|46/92
Test |52|3,835|226|44.08|9/19

A bit of his bio from wiki:

"A right-handed top-order batsman and occasional medium-pace bowler, he played two Twenty20 Internationals for England in 2007. Good performances for his county in 2008 and 2009, as well as a productive tour in 2008–09 with the England Lions, led to a call-up to the senior England Test squad in August 2009 for the fifth Ashes Test. He scored a century in that Test, becoming the 18th England player to do so on his Test debut. 18 months later, he scored another century at the MCG to set up the victory which saw England retain the Ashes. His highest England score in a Test match is 226, made against Bangladesh at Lord's on 28 May 2010, and he took his first Test wicket in the same match. He often fields at slip, particularly to the spinners."

​

ahmedleo414's England all time playing XI:

1. Leonard Hutton
2. W.G. Grace
3. Jonathan Trott
4. Frank Wooley
5. ?
6. Ian Botham
7. Alan Knott
8. ?
9. Jofra Archer
10. Tony Lock
11. Bob Willis

@Dale88 you have the next pick