Jimmy & Stuart

If these 2 are such gems, why are they not playing big tournaments like World Cups and Champions Trophies?

Every other country pick their best bowlers, don't they?

Glenn McGrath played the World Cup when he was 37 after a 5 match Ashes series. Won the World Cup as leading wicket taker I think.

Stuart Broad is 31, James Anderson is 35. Are our bowlers mollycoddled?

in wickets as a paring they top they top the lot don't they?

I don't think Anderson is a better bowler than Ambrose was.. or McGrath.. however collectively Anderson and Broad are up there, no doubt

As a pairing I don't know the number they may be the highest, but how many wickets per innings do they have as a pair? Is it the top? I seriously doubt it.

maybe JustTrue, however with the amount of wickets taken I'm sure they should be mentioned in the same sentences as some of the top bowlers.

we'll miss them when they retire.. not sure if can replace such a pairing

They will definitely be missed no doubt, I just feel if we have such a good pairing now, their skills should be used in big ICC tournaments as well as Tests.

agree...

who else is their that could possibly fill the void when Jimmy and Stuart retire?

I don't think there's anyone who can come in to fill the void left by Jimmy and Broady. Essentially when Jimmy retires we'll need Broad to step up and be the leader of the attack, Woakes will probably step up as his new ball partner. Roland-Jones has shown promise to be the 3rd seamer in this side and it's a role he's performed admirably in his first 3 matches. Has he done enough to get ahead of Wood and Ball in the pecking order?

In regards to the OP, Jimmy and Broady are one of the best new ball attacks of the modern era as your post suggests. Jimmy's control with a swinging ball is insane and once Broad gets in the mood, he can be unplayable. Where they rank is hard to say, but if you were to pick a prime new ball attack for a one off game, they'd be behind rank behind the 5 you mentioned. It doesn't make them not a great partnership, just not quite at the level of those above them.

yeah Roland-JOnes is promising, not sure he's the 'opening bowler' though bowls at 82mph, looks as though he is very accurate... and will possibly be good bowler for England.. but not sure he's got the X factor like Jimmy / Broady

I think England are looking to the likes of the Currans, Overtons, Porter, Helm and Garton to step up once an opportunity presents itself (in the post Jimmy era). Coad has obviously broken through this season as well but there's not express pace there bar J Overton, although he already has a worrying tendency to break down.

Although pace isn't everything and if you're as annoyingly accurate as TRJ then you can succeed in test cricket. Look how good Philander was and he wasn't even fully fit.

Just True I agree with you except your views about Pollock as he was a class act.