I recall my being fascinated, when as a boy, having taken an interest in the game of cricket, reading pundits of the game giving their selections for their all-time “best” Test Cricket X1.

Since then, seeing similar such exercises have been a recurring theme, and even recently I have seen people’s, often widely different, best ever selections – and, of course, this applies to other sports too, notably football. Thus inspired, I thought I would have a go, if were a selector and able to go back in time, to give what is imho my best cricket team. Given one is spoiled for choice, I have gone for four teams, each with different sets of players, based on my fascination, admiration and research, including asking Meta AI its view along with checking out the stats. It is a nigh impossible task to do this accurately due to many confounding factors, such as the different eras when players played, team dynamics, character of individuals, nature of opposition faced, types of pitches, getting the right balance etc., but it is my selection, after all, and while having given the matter a good deal of consideration I do so for fun.  

My all-time best England Test Cricket X1:

1. Jack Hobbs

2. Herbert Suttcliffe

3. Len Hutton (c)

4. Wally Hammond

5. Ken Barrington

6. Ian Botham

7. Alan Knott (wk)

8. Derek Underwood

9. Fred Trueman

10. Sydney Barnes

11. James Anderson

My all-time best Rest of the World Test Cricket X1

1. Richards (SA)

2. Gavaskar (IND)

3. Bradman (AUS)

4. Tendulkar (IND)

5. Kallis (SA)

6. Sobers (WI) (c)

7. Sangakarra (SRI) (wk)

8. Akram (PAK)

9. Hadlee (NZ)

10. Warne (AUS)

11. Muralidaran (SRI)

My alternative all-time best England Test Cricket X1

1. Boycott

2. Cook

3. Bell

4. Root

5. Pieterson

6. Stokes (c)

7. Stewart (wk)

8. Laker

9. Snow

10. Larwood

11. Willis

My alternative all-time best Rest of the World Test Cricket X1

1. Hayden (AUS)

2. Taylor (AUS)

3. Dravid (IND)

4. Richards (WI)

5. Lara (WI)

6. Procter (SA)

7. de Villiers (SA) (wk)

8. Imran Khan (PAK) (c)

9. Lillee (AUS)

10. Holding (WI)

11. Kumble (IND)