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Opinion

The greatest England Test XI this century

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Roar Guru
16th June, 2020
27

Here’s who I think should be in this England team, including a 12th man.

1. Alastair Cook
By far England’s most prolific run-scorer, Cook is up there with the greatest batsmen this century due to his consistency and his ability. Debuting in 2006 and playing over 161 matches in 12 years, he scored the fifth most Test runs in Test cricket (12,472) at an average of 45.35, along with 33 hundreds, five double hundreds (including two against Australia) and 57 fifties, as well as a high score of 294 against India in 2011 at Edgbaston. Not bad by ‘Chef’ Cook.

2. Andrew Strauss (captain)
The other half of one of England’s most prolific batting pair, Strauss is up there with England’s and the world’s best opening batsmen as well as one of their greatest captains. Yes, Cook did captain more Tests, but Strauss had a much better win rate at 48 per cent (compared to 40.67 per cent). His batting was solid too, scoring 7037 runs at an average of 40.91, and has 21 centuries, 27 fifties as well as a high score of 177 against New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier. A solid opening partner for the Chef.

Andrew Strauss

(AP Photo/Tim Hales)

3. Joe Root
A member of the big four batsmen currently, Root has shone so far in his eight-year career. Debuting at the tender age of 21 and named captain at the age of 26, so far he’s scored 7599 runs at an average of 48.4, and has 48 fifties, 17 centuries, three double centuries, along with a high score of 254 against Pakistan in Manchester. He’s an alright bowler too, taking 28 wickets in 83 innings at an average of 50.07. Not bad by the man from Sheffield.

4. Ian Bell
A top calibre batsman especially in his prime, Bell had power as well as finesse. He’s almost like a fine wine too, scoring 7727 runs, averaging 42.69, and has 46 fifties, 22 hundreds in 205 innings. He also has a high score of 235 against India back in 2011 at the Oval and has a second high score of 199 at Lord’s against South Africa. Again, not bad from the Warwickshire man.

5. Kevin Pietersen
One of cricket’s most flamboyant players both on and off the field, he is still nonetheless an extremely talented cricketer. Starting out as a bowling all-rounder in high school then turning into a superstar batsman, he got 8181 runs at an average of 47.28, and has 23 fifties, 35 hundreds, three double hundreds, and a high score of 227 against the Aussies at the Adelaide Oval back in 2010. KP has got some game on him.

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6. Ben Stokes
It was a tough choice between Stokes and Paul Collingwood, but Stokes just wins out here due to his beautiful yet powerful batting style and his ability with the ball. He’s played 63 Tests so far and is currently the vice-captain of this England team. He’s got 4056 runs at an average of 36.54, as well as 21 fifties and nine centuries, and has the second fastest double century against South Africa (which is his highest score) of 258. He’s a solid bowler too, taking 147 Test wickets at an average of 32.68 as well as a strike rate of 59. Not bad stats from the Christchurch-born all-rounder.

Ben Stokes hits a six.

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

7. Matt Prior (wicketkeeper)
Another tough one between him, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler, but Matt Prior just wins out due to his powerful batting style as well as his wicketkeeping ability. With his powerful batting style, he averaged 40.18 and scored 4099 Test runs, and has a strike rate of 61.66. He also has 28 fifties and seven hundreds, but only has a high score of 131 not out. He was really good behind the stumps though, taking 243 catches along with 13 stumpings. Good stuff from a powerful man.

8. Andrew Flintoff
The big all-rounder from Lancashire is considered one of the greatest all-rounders ever. In his prime, he was easily the best, with his fear factor always scaring every team. He scored 3845 runs in only 79 Tests, he also averaged 31.77, has a strike rate of 62.04, and has 26 fifties along with five centuries, including a high score of 167 back in 2004 against the West Indies at Edgbaston. He was a scary bowler too, taking 226 wickets, averaging 32.78, with a strike rate of 66.1 and an economy of 2.97, along with three five-wicket hauls. The ‘King of the Jungle’ is truly a king.

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9. Graeme Swann
He is one of England’s best spinners. He didn’t make his Test debut until he was 29 back in 2008. He still was brilliant during his short five-year Test career. He’s a handy batsman too, averaging 22.09. But it was his spin bowling that was so good, taking 255 wickets in 109 innings, averaging 29.96, with a strike rate of 60.1, taking 17 five-wicket hauls (best of 6-65 against Pakistan in 2010 at Edgbaston), and three ten-wicket match hauls (best of 10-132 against New Zealand in 2013 at Headingley).

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10. Stuart Broad
By far England’s second best bowler this century, Broad combines swing with aggression beautifully. Debuting at 21 back in 2007 against Sri Lanka, the boy from Nottingham has gone up to liven up Test cricket since then, taking the second most wickets for England so far with 485 at an average of 28.5, strike rate of 57.8 and an economy of 2.95, along with 17 five-wicket hauls, a best in an innings of 8-15 back in 2015 at Trent Bridge against Australia and two ten-wicket hauls. A great effort so far by the 33-year-old.

Stuart Broad celebrates taking a wicket

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

11. James Anderson
By far England’s greatest bowler ever and up there with the greatest bowlers of all time, Jimmy Anderson just continues to impress. Easily the most lethal swing bowler around, he’s still kicking at the age of 37. So far, he’s taken the most wickets by an Englishman (584), has an average of 26.83, a strike rate of 56.1, along with 28 five-wicket hauls (best of 7-42 against the West Indies in 2017 in an innings), an economy rate of 2.86 and has three ten-wicket hauls (a best of 11-71 in a match versus Pakistan in 2010). The boy from Burnley has got real game on him.

12th man: Moeen Ali
Just beating out Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Trott for the 12th man spot, Ali is another great all-rounder. Debuting at age 27 and on the edge of the current England line-up, he’s scored 2782 runs so far at an average of 28.97, and has 14 fifties as well as five hundreds, and a high score of 155 not out against Sri Lanka back in 2016. He also has taken 181 wickets, a best of 6-53 in an innings against South Africa (which included a hat trick), and has an average of 36.59, strike rate of 60.6 and an economy of 3.62. Impressive from the big hitter out of Birmingham.

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