all time england test 11

[Randall]

have england had another great all rounder?

trying to think of left arm spinners or quicks and all i have is phil edmonds!

[M H]

I thought of Edmonds but think Swann's more effective and contributes with the bat. We've got a great all rounder in the making mate, Broad.

[Randall]

gower and botham liked to go after it so maybe a more solid player at five.

[M H]

Thorpe out of the suggestions so far would be my pick at 5 mate but maybe Broad in for Willis?

[Randall]

broads an adventurous inclusion.

[M H]

One that could go tits up or pay dividends mate. He's got the experience and produced the goods

[Randall]

broad for willis then, the tail would was a bit longer for sure and we'd be spared waiting five minutes for willis every delivery as he ran in from the rope.

[M H]

Batting down to eight aint bad and I remember well Willis running in.

[Randall]

certainly an effort bowler!

[M H]

Wasn't he just mate, and got the crowd going

[Randall]

the roar as he ran in, forgotten that.

who is going to be captain?

[M H]

From that line up I'd have to pick between Gooch and Gower but would plumb for Gower

[Randall]

gowers record as captain 1985 aside was pretty horrific.

id go gooch as he had a decent record and his batting went into the stratosphere as captain.

[M H]

I loved his cavalier style mate, remember when him and Botham buzzed a ground in a Tiger Moth?

Edit: Have you noticed how Flintoff didn't get a mention?

[Randall]

that was in oz on the 91 tour?

bruce reid sank us that tour, mainly as he had smiths number.

[M H]

Still was funny mate, they got slaughtered for that

[Randall]

flintoff was a poor mans botham, you wouldnt need both of them.

david capel and chris tavare havent had a mention either!

[M H]

Capel was awful but Tavare did a job when they needed a number 3. Jeez he was painful to watch. I wouldn't class Flintoff anywhere near Botham which was why I was astounded at all the press he got.

[Randall]

2 centuries in 30 odd tests and an average of 30 summed tavare up.

as bad as capal was he was the all rounder on the very closely fought windies tour in 1990, remember wayne larkins opening with gooch, rob bailey at three and capel at 6?

[M H]

Had a look at Botham on crick info and I'd forgot he was part of the 1977 Ashes winning team. Weren't the Windies going through a transition period in 1990?

Fuck off Snakey!