Not the greatest but it certainly contains a couple of the greatest players around at the moment, is there currently a better opener than Cook? (and before anyone says Amla, he's been in at 3 a bit recently) Is there a better keeper/batsman than Prior? and to a lesser extent as it probably wouldn't work in many other continents but is there a better pair of spinners?
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Is this one of the greatest England cricket teams of all time?
- Thread starter Chesney Christ
- Start date
Buffalo Seagull
Active member
Um..yes they did, in 2004
Chesney Christ
New member
- Thread starter
- #23
Did they absolutely pulverise them in the way we have in the last 2 tests?
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Buffalo Seagull
Active member
They won the series 2-1, which is what England will do. Australia's victories were by 217 and 342 runs, before India produced perhaps the most spin-friendly wicket in the history of test cricket and won the final test by 13 runs. India picked one seamer and three spinners for the match and it was over inside three days. In the second innings, Nathan Hauritz took the new ball for Australia ahead of Glen McGrath, and Michael Clarke took 6/9!!!
Don't forget also that the Indian team back then would smash their current team, with Sehwag, Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, Ganguly, Kumble and Harbajan Singh all in their prime.
I'm not a big cricket fan, but nothing in that sport will ever, and I mean EVER, surpass THAT match when Botham and Willis trashed the Aussies. I'm sure a proper cricket buff will correct me but I think it was the Ashes in 1982. I was proper drunk that night!!! 
larus
Well-known member
Couldn't agree more. No team is ever filled with genuine world-class players. There may be 1, 2 or even 3, plus a number of really good players. Nostalgia is never a good friend of the truth. This is an excellent team. I would put the saffers series down to discontent within the team. With any team, there are always some players nearing the end of their career, some at the start or some maybe out of form. I honestly believe this will go down as a golden era of English cricket.
Cook (assuming he stays fit), will end up with an amazing record. He's now averaging 70 since the tour of Australia.
larus
Well-known member
Headingly 1981. Botham scored 149 n.o., then Wilis took 8 wickets.I'm not a big cricket fan, but nothing in that sport will ever, and I mean EVER, surpass THAT match when Botham and Willis trashed the Aussies. I'm sure a proper cricket buff will correct me but I think it was the Ashes in 1982. I was proper drunk that night!!!
brightonmark1234
Well-known member
lets hope they finish the job and win the final test to make it 3-1
Twas a spectacular night! In the days before 24 hour and multi-channel TV the last day of the cricket was broadcast live because it was such a close/tense match. I made a pyramid of my empty beer cans and apparently this really upset my mother! All part of life's rich tapestry!