Whats the best England side you can come up with....?

Question

without ANY of the team that has just lost to SA?

How do you think a 5 dayer would go between the two sides?

Answer 1

Marcus Trescothick (just stop being a big nellie Marcus!)

Paul Horton (consistent scorer over past couple of seasons)

Owais Shah (has been knocking on the door for years)

Rob Key (another good, consistent scorer, with a competitive spirit, and a good knowledge of game. He would be my captain)

James Hildreth ( a star in the making, if he can achieve some discipline and consistency)

Ravi Bopara ( talent in abundance)

Chris Read (lets just pick the best 'keeper)

Liam Plunkett ( has performed well this season)

Saj Mahmood (diito Plunkett)

Simon Jones (England's best fast bowler)

Gary Keedy ( the best English spinner around. And he has learnt to bat!)

On paper, this side is not as strrong as the current one. However, I feel that Trescothick at the top is more positive than any of the current top 3, Horton and Key are very consistent scorers, Shah can be brilliance or bust, Bopara was unfairly dumped after a disappointing first series. Bowling wise, Keedy is every bit as good as Panesar, and has a little more guile, and there are three genuine quicks who can offer a cutting edge.

There are also 3 Lancashire players!

Answer 2

mate in my time i go with this

1 m.atherton

2 g.boycott

3 d.gower

4 a.lamb

5 d.randall

6 i.botham

7 a.knott

8 a.fraser

9 b.willis

10 e.hemmings

11 j.snow

.

Answer 3

Michael Carberry

Ed Joyce

Robert Key

Owais Shah

Paul Collingwood

Ravi Bopara

Matt Prior

Adil Rashid

Ryan Sidebottom

Chris Tremlett

Simon Jones

The current England team should win, the top three is pretty weak although the equivalents aren't pulling up any trees.

Answer 4

Good Q

1. Marcus Trescothick (c) (he's allowed right?)

2. Paul Horton

3. Rob Key

4. Mark Ramprakash

5. Owais Shah

6. Ravi Bopara

7. Matt Prior (wk)

8. Adil Rashid

9. Ryan Sidebottom

10. Simon Jones

11. Steve Harmison

12th man- Matthew Hoggard

Tresco is still good enough to play for England, Horton looks like a good young talent, then there's the players who are on the fringe (Key, Shah, Ramps, Bopara and Prior).

Then there's the Ashes heroes, who all should return to the side in due course. Rashid's the only spinner capable of filling Monty's boots, and Sidey is a regular in the actualy squad

The test match would be closer, as the bowling attack is more potent, the batting line-up is weaker, but would still make around 200! and with that bowling attack England would definitely be able to win the game

EDIT- Horton said he would prefer to play for England over Australia mate, he has English parents and has lived here for 7 years i think :)

Answer 5

OK here goes

Boycott

Gooch

Gower

Cowdrey

Pieterson

Botham

Knott

Underwood

Statham

Tyson

Willis

Graveney  12th man

Answer 6

Right here's the alternative eleven:

M.Trescothic

M.Loye

O.Shah

R.Key

P.Collingwood

R.Bopara

D.Mascherenas

M.Prior

A. Rasheed

R.Sidebottom

M.Hoggard

I truly believe there you have a much better batting line up than the current side, with 6 bowlers aswell.

But if were naming the eleven of all time

M.Atherton

D.Gower

W.G. Grace

G.Gooch

G.Boycott

J.Hobbs

A.Lamb (Wk)

G.Boycott

D.Underwood

B.Willis

D.Compton

If you could get through that batting line up, let's just say you've done very well!

although it can be argued how good the likes of W.G Grace and Hobbs would be in the modern era but in terms of averages they were the best players at the time.

Answer 7

i dont know much about england domestic.. so sorry