The only criteria for selection is you have had to have seen the player live in any format or level of cricket!
Mike Atherton (c) – Dogged, determined, but often saw the funny side when on the field. A decent captain too.
Alastair Cook – His runs speak for themselves. And he never sweats. Impressive.
Mark Butcher – Ok, not the best number 3 we’ve ever had, but a solid gutsy one all the same. He’s also a laugh and a decent guitarist.
Graham Thorpe – One of my favourite ever players. He had his fair share of troubles, but when he was good he was very good, often playing just the type of obdurate innings England were in need of. It is no coincidence that he was at the crease when we won in the dark in Karachi in 2000 and again a few months’ later when we clinched a hard-fought series victory in the searing heat of Sri Lanka, 2001.
Ben Stokes – The best all round player I’ve seen play for England. Batting, bowling, fielding, whatever the game situation Stokes is your man.
Ian Botham – A legend. Would open the bowling with Willis in this team.
Alec Stewart (w) – Jack Russell is unlucky not to make it into this team, but Stewart made himself into a damn fine keeper and his batting is way ahead of Russell’s so he gets the nod.
Paul Collingwood – An example of where sheer hard work and dedication can get you. Made himself into a Test match player who could hold his own against the best in the world with bat, ball and in the field.
Matthew Hoggard – A good bloke who pretended he didn’t take cricket too seriously when really he did. Saw him get two seven-fors, one in an afternoon to beat South Africa and win a series in Johannesburg and him getting Matthew Hayden out cheaply and regularly in 2005 gave England a regular early boost, while the Australians’ heads’ dropped until the Ashes had been wrestled out of their convict hands.
Bob Willis – Another legend. Loved the way he ran in like a man possessed.
Phil Tufnell – When many people think of Tufnell they think of the drinking, the domestic troubles and the fact he regularly fell asleep in the dressing room, but Tufnell was a fantastic bowler whose action was mesmeric and who I never tired of watching.