I was unsure of whether to go for Kanhai or Harvey. I went for Harvey in the end because I don't want to deny anyone the opportunity to get Kanhai as a keeper when I already have a keeper. Neil Harvey is one of the most prominent figures in Australian cricketing history. A batsman of supreme quality and a fielder whose athleticism was ahead of his times, Harvey was first an foremost, an entertainer. He had a great technique and could play any shot in the book. He was honored as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1954 and was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame 2000. In addition, he "was one of the 55 inaugural inductees into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame". He was also selected in the Australian Cricket Board's official Test Team of the 20th Century. In 79 tests (137 innings), he scored 6149 runs at an average of 48.41 with 21 centuries and 24 fifties. This included a highest score of 205. He also took 64 catches.
At number 4, I have Herbert Taylor. Herbie Taylor was one of South Africa's finest. He was quick on his feet and was great at playing back foot shots on the bouncy bowler-friendly "matting pitches" of South Africa. He was selected as Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1925. At times, he carried his teams as in the 1913-14 series when he scored 508 runs @ 51 in a series in which Sydney Barnes took 49 wickets @ 11! It has been reported that the "English cricketers were unanimous that finer batting than his against Barnes at his best they never hoped to see". Other praises included "perhaps the most skilful of all Test performances by a batsman" and "one of the six greatest batsmen of the post-Grace period". In 42 tests (76 innings), he scored 2936 runs @ 41 with 7 centuries and 17 fifties. This included a highest score of 176. However, I am picking him as a number 4 in my team. At number 4, he averaged 47 with 3 centuries and 6 fifties. It was the position at which he played the most matches.
Gordon Greenidge is described as a "superb technician". He was an aggressive opener, well known for his pull, hook, square cut and drive. However, he also had a very solid defensive technique to fall back on. He formed a deadly partnership with Desmond Haynes. The pair made 6482 runs while batting together in partnerships, the highest total for a batting partnership in Test cricket history. This included 16 century stands, 4 of which were in excess of 200. I am confident a batsman of his ability can strike a similar if not better partnership with Len Hutton.
Greenidge scored 7558 runs in 108 tests (185 innings) at an average of 45 with 19 centuries and 34 half centuries. This included a highest score of 226.
Never mind his average. Everybody who knows anything about cricket knows that Harold Larwood was a far better bowler than his average suggest and that he would definitely gone onto have better average if career weren't unfairly ended. All he did what his captain asked. What people don't realize when they moan about how Bodyline was unfair is how incredibly difficult it is to pull off. Larwood bowled at searing pace and possessed a lethal bouncer and is one of the few bowlers in the history of the game to genuinely send a chill down batsmen's spines. Frank Tyson recalls that attempts to measure his speed were highly variable "Larwood, for instance, was measured by high speed photography at between 90 and 130mph!" However, what separates Larwood from the rest is his ability to maintain accuracy at such high speeds. He was without doubt, the most dangerous bowler of his time, if not of all time. When he was banned from International cricket, he took 82 cheap wickets for Notts that summer, and over 100 in 1935 and 1936, topping the national bowling averages in 1936 for the fifth time in his life, a deed unmatched by any other fast bowler. In 21 tests, he took 78 wickets at an average of 28 and at a strike rate of 63.7. This included 3 four-fors, 4 five-fors and took 10 wickets in a match on one occasion. However, as I said earlier, it is quite evident that he would have had a much more successful career if he wasn't so unfairly treated. His first class record paints a far prettier picture and is a much more accurate reflection of his ability. In 361 matches Larwood took 1427 wickets at an average of 17.51 and at a strike rate of 40.6. He took 98 five-fors and took 10 wickets in a match on 20 occasions.
On a side note, he was no mug with the bat. He averaged 19 with 2 fifties in 28 innings with a highest of 98.
Sir Leonard Hutton (6971 runs @ 57)
Gordon Greenidge (7558 runs @ 45)
Neil Harvey (6149 runs @ 48.41)
Herbert Taylor (2936 runs @ 41)
Stanley Jackson (1415 runs @ 49, 24 wickets @ 33)
+ Adam Gilchrist (5570 runs @ 48, 379 catches, 37 stumpings)
Aubrey Faulkner (1754 runs @ 41, 82 wickets @ 26.58)
Johnny Briggs (815 runs @ 18.11, 118 wickets @ 17)
Malcolm Marshall (1810 runs @ 18.85, 376 wickets @ 20.94)
Harold Larwood (485 runs @ 19.40, 78 wickets @ 28)
Fred Trueman (981 runs @ 14, 307 wickets @ 21.57)