My all-Time Test XIs: England (Part 2)

7) Ian BOTHAM
Ah, good old Beefy! No questioning his position as all-rounder in his team, just as long as he dons the old mullet and bushy mustache once more. Got wickets and runs with sheer brash and a perpetual sense of over confidence, although averages of 33.54 (batting) and 28.40 (bowling) display a genuine world class talent. Brilliant and outspoken, not to mention the countless charity walks and donations to organizations he has made over the years. According to the Aussies, 'he was good enough to be Australian'.

8) Jim LAKER
The third Yorkshireman in the team. Laker, a right-arm off-spinner, was most famous for his remarkable and currently unmatched figures of 19/90 in an Ashes match in 1956, but he was much more than a one-hit wonder. His 193 Test wickets came at just 21.24 apiece, which is astounding considering he was just an orthodox right arm off-break bowler. Yet he was more. In a relatively short Test career of only 46 matches he showed a glimpse of the guile and skill which earned him almost 2000, yes 2000, first class wickets at around 18 apiece.

9) Fred TRUEMAN
And Laker is joined by the 4th and last Yorkshireman, Fred Trueman. Genuinely fast and able to swing the ball, new and old, in both directions, Trueman was renowned for a grizzled snarl and a sharp wit. Reduced India to 0-4 in his first Test and didn't stop there. After taking a world record 300 wickets at the formidable average of 21.57, he remarked that whoever beat him 'would be blo#dy tired'. A couple of personal favourite examples of his Yorkshire humour are:

a) When an edge bounced in front of first slip and went through his legs to the boundary for four. The fielder said 'Sorry Fred, I should've kept my legs together.' only for Trueman to snap back 'So should've your mother'.

b) Being of agricultural background Trueman was chatting to an Aussie farmer when touring down under one year. He asked the Aussie 'So how big is your farm then?' The Aussie looked smug, chuckled and said 'Well, let's just say it takes 3 hours to drive all the way 'round it.' to which Trueman remarked 'Aye. I used to 'ave a car like that.'

10) Bob WILLIS
Tall and imposing, Willis was a solid bowler for England during the 1970/80s. In the famous Headingly Test of 1981 he took 8-43, helping England to a historic England series win. Now a despairingly pessimistic commentator, he lacks the vigor and aggression that got him 325 wickets at 25.20.

11) Sydney BARNES
A real mystery to the cricketing world. Those who saw him, none of whom live today, said he was as fast as anyone, and that he was as good as his stats suggest, and they suggest a whole lot. 189 Test wickets at 16.43 is out of this world and his average of 17.09 with 719 wickets in first-class cricket show that his Test career was no fluke.

Team in full:
1) HOBBS
2) SUTCLIFFE
3) HUTTON
4) BARRINGTON
5) HAMMOND
6) STEWART
7) BOTHAM
8) LAKER
9) TRUEMAN
10) WILLIS
11) BARNES

Comments and proposed alterations are, of course, welcome.

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