The greatest England Test XI this century

The big concern for England is not only producing few stars of the game but not having anyone to really challenge established players. Cook for example probably played 2 seasons too many, with 5 scores above 50 in his last 30 innings. Granted he scored some big hundreds in those 5 scores, but he should have been under pressure for his spot, but that wasn't the case. In fairness, we have exactly the same problem now with our batting. There was no-on seriously challenging Burns, Wade or Head last season. Hopefully that turns around this year.

Josh, I think you've probably overstated how good Anderson is, though I admit Australians are biased as he's traditionally struggled to perform in Australia, so we consider him really over-rated. I also think you've over-rated Flintoff quite a bit too. In something of a reverse situation to Anderson, Australians have an over-inflated opinion of Flintoff because of '05 and to a lesser degree '09 (plus he's just a much more likeable bloke than Anderson, who his possible the least likeable player in world cricket). In 12 years of international cricket he only averaged under 30 with the ball in two calendar years; '04 and '05. Obviously he was hampered by injuries throughout his career and it's probably not a coincidence that he played half of his tests between about '04 and '06, during which his returns were at their best (with the ball). If you've got Stokes, you don't need a second all rounder unless they can hold their place as a bowler alone and I think England has had better bowlers since 2000 than Flintoff; Simon Jones (as short as his career was) or even probably Hoggard to be honest.

Mind you, Paul, if you take the twenty years before 2000, other than Botham, who would you say is an all time England great during that period (Boycott really being a '60s and '70s batsman)? I'd actually argue that this side is much better than whatever team they'd put up from the '80s-'90s. What's sad for English cricket is that most of their true "giants" all date from pre-1950. They've had a few great players since then, Botham, I'd argue Cook, maybe Underwood, but compared to Chappell, Lillee, Border, Waugh, McGrath, Warne, Ponting and Smith, England hasn't really produced many stars. One thing I'll say about this team that has been listed here; almost all them bar Stokes and Root played long stretches together. Like it or loath it, but England circa 2010 with Pietersen, Bell, Cook, Strauss and Trott was one of the best modern batting line ups of the last 30 years and Swann, Broad and Anderson was a pretty decent bowling outfit. Certainly that team that beat us in 2010-11 was, across the board, much better than any line up Australia has fielded since 2007. The sad thing is that at one point Root looked like he might go down as a legend of the game, but now it seems more likely he'll be like Cook; in that echelon below.

You mean the guy with the best first class innings figures in history?

Anderson is a very good bowler but never rattled good sides out of England. 2 maybe 3 times he bothered Australia in Oz.

Verity?? Nowhere near Anderson's class and achievements.

Great team there Josh. Great to see you play both Flintoff and Stokes. Both of them would just about merit a place in the side as a bowler / batsman on their own. Did you consider Michael Vaughan for a batting spot? Would have been great to have him in the side and captain it but I guess there's no room.

Both good suggestions Targa.

Not sure about Moeen Ali as 12th man. A bowling average of 37, and batting average of 29 is a genuine bits and pieces all-rounder. I get the appeal of a batting number eight, but at the end of the day, you have to pick your four best bowlers from 8-11. Surely Hoggard or Harmison would be more deserving of the back-up bowling position.

McCullum opens surely.

Since 2010 I’d say South Africa on par with Australia, maybe better. Better pace bowling for SA, and Smith, Elgar, Kallis, de Villiers, Amla, du Plessis a match for our Rogers, Warner, Smith, Clarke, Hussey plus not sure who else. SA had the best record over the decade, especially away from home, despite going downhill over the last couple of years.

He was said to be, though his Test stats don’t look flash by the standards of the 1890s. Of course Wisden et al went as much by County Cricket as Tests in that period. I’m happy to keep Anderson above Bowes and Voce on the basis of sustained performance, given they didn’t play many Tests.

gee, that's a strong side, Targa. Some pretty good entertainers in this lot too.

Over this timeframe (2000-2020) best ever XIs from Australia (by a long way), South Africa, Pakistan, and India would be stronger than this England XI. Sri Lanka and NZ would be on par with England. This would be my NZ team of the 21st century: Mark Richardson, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Stephen Fleming (c), BJ Watling (wk), Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori, Neil Wagner, Shane Bond, Trent Boult 12th man- Brendon McCullum (did well as keeper, fielder, opener, no 5, and captain so pretty handy 12th man!)

Larwood, Bowes, Voce, Statham to name a few more at least as good. There was a guy named Tom Richardson who played in the 1890's. Never rates a mention in discussions about great fast bowlers but in 1963, he was named by Neville Cardus as one of the "Six Giants of the Wisden Century", along with complete nobodys like Grace, Bradman, Trumper, Jack Hobbs & Syd Barnes. Must have been a pretty useful bowler. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Giants_of_the_Wisden_Century

Good thought. Flintoff had a few good moments, but rates behind the likes of Hoggard and Jones, or even Caddick post 2000. But not good enough to hold down no.6 for much of his career. So better to keep Stokes.

Exactly. Bowlers rating higher - Trueman, Bedser, Snow, Willis, the young Botham, Sid Barnes, Maurice Tate, George Lohmann, plus the spinners - Laker, Underwood, Verity - tell me when to stop.

A formidable side. I think their best fast bowler of this century was Simon Jones. Alas injury dogged his career. Other speedsters to knock out one of the allrounders were Hoggard, Harmison, Tremlett, Finn and Bresnan. All lethal on their day. Hoggard could go and go. Quite amazing given the lack of fast bowling depth in the last 20 yrs or so of the 20th Century. Flintoff is a curious bowler. So often the catalyst but no 6 fors? Although our Bretty Lee never got a 6 for either. Interestingly Anderson and Broad have not had that excellent 3rd seamer too often in the last decade. The batting more than adequate.

“Strauss is up there with England’s and the world’s best opening batsmen”. Only in the years he played. Not in virtually any other era. But he is one of only three England captains to win Ashes series in Australia and England, with Len Hutton and Mike Brierley. Surprised you think it was close for Stokes over Collingwood or Prior over the others. Swann is an interesting illustration of how many Tests they play these days - 60 Tests in five years - that’s about the same as Ray Lindwall or Fred Trueman in 12 years. Important when comparing with the great off spinners of the past. Get to play against more weak sides. Swann averaged nearly 40 against Australia and South Africa. Still very good though.

Thorpe was a good player