IT would have been nice if, when selecting England’s dream team, that, some of the current players could have been included.

However, in my esteemed opinion, none from the current England contingent warranted a place.

Like Australia, when one seeks to select an England all-time XI, you are aware that you could have selected two or three teams, just as good.

However, as I have said in the beginning of this series, this is my personal choice -- so here goes!


My all-time England Test XI (129 yrs)

1. JACK HOBBS: (Surrey).
Born December 16, 1882.
Died December 21, 1963.
ARGUABLY the most accomplished batsman of all-time (stats wise).

Many who saw Hobbs are on record saying he was the most skilful batsman on all surfaces and in all conditions.

A grandmaster right-handed opening batsman justified the epithet of “The Master”, bestowed upon him by his peers.

Serenely calm and classically effortless, he scored more runs and centuries than any other batsman in cricket’s history.

In 41 Tests against Australia, he scored 3,636 runs (average 54.26).

Test Record: Matches - 61; Runs - 5,410; Average - 56.94; 100s - 15; Highest Score - 211.
F.C. Record: Matches - 826; Runs - 61,237; Average - 50.65; 100s - 197; Highest Score - 316 not out.

2. LEN HUTTON: (Yorkshire).
Born June 23, 1916.
Died September 6, 1990.
As A top-draw right-hand opening batsman, Hutton was classical in style and temperament -- cool and firm in movement of feet and stroke.

A perfect planner, he made runs everywhere.

He was the only England batsman to completely master Ram and Val, in 13 Tests against West Indies; he notched 1,661 runs (average 79.09) hitting scores of: 196, 165 n.o., 202 n.o., 169 and 205.

Hutton once held the world record Test score and captained England in 23 Tests, winning 11.

Test Record: Matches - 79; Runs - 6,971; Average - 56.67; 100s - 19; Highest Score - 364.
F.C. Record: Matches - 513; Runs - 40,140; Average - 55.51; 100s - 129; Highest Score - 364.

3. WALLY HAMMOND: (Gloucestershire).
Born June 19, 1903.
Died July 1, 1965.
A SUPREME all-round cricketer, Hammond was the outstanding England batsman of the war years.

He was one of only two batsmen to amass 900 runs in a Test series, an intelligent right-arm medium fast outswing bowler and an ace slip catcher.

A flamboyant batsman in his day with a classical off-drive coupled with application, concentration and an appetite for monster scores.

He made 36 double centuries in first class cricket and still holds the record jointly with Cowdrey and Boycott for most Test centuries by an England player.

Test Record: Matches - 85; Runs - 7,249; Average - 58.45; 100s - 22; Highest Score - 336 not out; Wkts. - 83; Average - 37.80; Catches - 110; Best Bowling - 5/36.
F.C. Record: Matches - 634; Runs - 50,551; Average - 56.10; 100s - 167; Highest Score - 336 not out; Wkts. - 732; Average - 30.58; Catches - 819; Best Bowling - 9/23.

4. DENNIS COMPTON: (Middlesex).
Born May 23, 1918.
Died April 23, 1997.
A NATURAL genius, Compton had a glorious sense of fun and charm.

A precocious talent, he played both cricket and football at international level, with calmness, confidence and resourcefulness.

Compton was an adaptable player with a large measure of genius and big-match temperament.

In the 1947 season, he hammered 3,816 f.c. runs, with 18 centuries at 90.85.

In 1948 he hit 184 and 145 vs Don Bradman’s Invincibles for Middlesex.

He also bowled slow left-arm chinamen and googlies.

Test Record: Matches - 78; Runs - 5,807; Average - 50.06; 100s - 17; Highest Score - 278.
F.C. Record: Matches - 515; Runs - 38,942; Average - 51.85; 100s - 123; Highest Score - 300.

5. KEN BARRINGTON: (Surrey).
Born November 24, 1930.
Died March 14, 1981.
THE rock of England in the 1950s/60s.

A fantastic, flowing, front-footed right-hander, he was the first player this writer saw make a Test century (1968).

One of the most consistent of post-war England batsmen, he was stocky, strong and technically sound.

Test Record: Matches - 82; Runs - 6,806; Average - 58.67; 100s - 20; Highest Score - 256.
F.C. Record: Matches - 533; Runs - 31,714; Average - 45.63; 100s - 76; Highest Score - 256.

6. IAN BOTHAM: (Somerset, Worcester, Durham).
Born November 24, 1955.
THIS guy would rate as just about England’s greatest Test match all-rounder ever.

He failed only against West Indies.

Botham was a massive entertainer -- an attacking swing bowler with the England record for wickets (383).

And a supreme batsman: A blistering right-hander with a sound technique.

He smacked 80 sixes in one county season and made many Test hundreds.

Test Record: Matches - 102; Runs - 5,200; Average - 33.54; 100s - 14; Highest Score - 208; Wkts. - 383; Average - 28.40; Catches - 120; Best Bowling - 8/34.
F.C. Record: Matches - 402; Runs - 19,399; Average - 33.97; 100s - 38; Highest Score - 228; Wkts. - 1,172; Average - 27.22.

7. ALAN KNOTT: (Kent)
Born April 9, 1946.
ALAN KNOTT is still the finest wicket-keeper I have ever seen (1968 - 2006).

Nimble-footed and quick-witted with lightning reflexes, Knott was a clean, fit, beautifully balanced glove-master -- one of the greatest of all time.

A supremely talented right-hand bat -- and 4,000 Test runs attest to that fact.

He worked very hard on his game and fitness/agility and his on-field callisthenics became a familiar sight during his long and illustrious cricket career.

His keeping to the deadly Derek Underwood and his medium-pace left-arm seaming spin bowling was unbelievable -- Underwood’s deceptive and varied pace and late movement were expertly anticipated by the great Alan Knott.

Test Record: Matches - 95; Runs - 4,389; Average - 32.75; 100s - 5; Highest Score - 135.
Catches - 250; Stumpings - 19.
F.C. Record: Matches - 511; Runs - 18,105; Average - 29.63; 100s - 17; Highest Score - 156; Catches - 1,211; Stumpings - 133.

8. ALEC BEDSER: (Surrey).
Born July 4, 1918.
DUBBED “Alexander The Great”, Bedser was a six-foot tall, economical, master swing bowler.

From just six strides and a bound, this massively built right-arm bowler extracted such control and varied late movement, all at fast medium pace.

Sir Don Bradman rated him as the most difficult bowler he had to face.

As one of the world’s all-time great bowlers, his stock ball was the inswinger but he at times could combine this with a lethal leg-cutter.

(On responsive tracks, it seemed a leg-break).

He took Bradman’s wicket in five successive Test innings and Arthur Morris’ on 18 out of 20 meetings in Tests.

Test Record: Matches - 51; Wkts. - 236; Average - 24.89; Best Bowling - 7/44.
F.C. Record: Matches - 485; Wkts. - 1,924; Average - 20.41; Best Bowling - 8/18.

9. JIM LAKER: (Surrey/Essex).
Born February 9, 1922.
Died April 23,1986.
THE ultimate spin meister of English cricket.

He holds the world record of capturing 19 wickets in one Test match -- 9/37 + 10/53 v Australia at Manchester in 1956.

Laker is the most accomplished off-spin bowler England has ever had and rates as one of the best of all time.

Exceptionally accurate and highly intelligent, he was a master of flight and angle variations.

He turned the ball square on all surfaces.

Test Record: Matches - 46; Wickets - 193; Average - 21.24; Best Bowling - 10/53.
F.C. Record: Matches - 450; Wickets - 1,944; Average - 18.41; Best Bowling - 10/53.

10. FRED TRUEMAN: (Yorkshire).
Born February 6, 1931.
SIMPLY England’s greatest fast bowler ever.

His black-haired gallop to the wicket and the cartwheel of latent energy he formed before delivery were so exciting that while many others have long since over-taken his once world record 307 Test wickets, none will better him in this regard.

Expertise was backed by aggression, confidence, “hate” and artfulness.

He once had India four down without a run on the board.

Test record: Matches - 67; Wickets - 307; Average - 21.57; Best Bowling - 8/31.
F.C. Record: Matches - 603; Wickets - 2,304; Average - 18.29; Best Bowling - 8/28.

11. DEREK UNDERWOOD (Kent).
Born June 8, 1945.
For 20 years, Derek Underwood alias “Deadly”, alias “The Undertaker”, was the leading spin bowler in England.

At five-foot-11 and left-handed, he operated from a longish, splay-footed approach and was totally unlike any other bowler in the world.

His left-arm pace was normally slow-medium but he could vary it a notch or two either way according to the conditions.

Apart from his varied range of pace, angle, length and flight, what he could tailor for any wicket was his forte.

Had he not joined Kerry Packer’s cricket circus nor toured South Africa, he would have reached 500 Test wickets.

Test record: Matches - 86; Wkts. - 297; Average - 25.83; Best Bowling - 8/51.
F.C. Record: Matches - 676; Wkts. - 2,465; Average - 20.28; BB - 9/28.