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Top 10 English Cricketers of all time
As the country that founded cricket, it should come as no surprise that England has produced some of the most exceptional cricketers of all time over the years. From legends of the game like Jack Hobbs and W.C. Grace to modern icons like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England has been able to produce a conveyor belt of exceptional cricketing talent. Attempting to pick the best of all time is a fool’s errand, but it is a challenge we are willing to step up to. Join us as we look at the best 10 English cricket players of all time. How we picked the top 10 cricket players Defining the best at any sport can be a difficult task. We have used a number of factors to determine the top 10 England cricket players of all time. Of course, cricket is a numbers game, and we have used ICC stats to help us create our list all of the stats you will find in this article have been taken from the ICC’s website. Ranking players from different generations also makes things tricky, so we have factored in the period in which they played their impact, and any cricket championships they won. Our favourite cricket betting sites Check out our top cricket betting sites Spreadex Parimatch Rhino Unibet bet365 Top 10 English cricket players Well, we can’t say we weren’t warned this would be difficult. After much deliberation, these are our picks for the top 10 English cricket players of all time. 1. W.G. Grace (1865-1908) Few men were as influential in establishing cricket in England as W.C Grace. Grace played 44 seasons during his lifetime, though the number of matches considered to be first-class is a slightly contentious issue. The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, a book widely considered the bible of cricket, wiped 10 of his matches from his record in 2022, claiming that they weren’t to be counted as first-class. It’s a testament to his ability, then, that this still takes very little from his legacy, with the all-rounder scoring 54,211 first-class runs, 2,809 wickets and 124 centuries. 2. Jack Hobbs (1908-1930) Hobbs is one of the greatest English batsmen of all time. The Surrey legend scored 61,760 first-class runs and 199 centuries in his career, emphatically earning his place in the conversation of the greatest English cricketers. He is also cricket’s oldest centurion, achieving the record at 46 years old. 3. Wally Hammond (1927-1947) Wally Hammond is one of many incredible cricket players whose careers were hampered by the Second World War. In spite of this, he is still considered one of the great English batsmen of all time, hitting an incredible 7,492 test runs for England. He averaged 58.45 for England and managed an incredible triple-century against New Zealand in 1933 at the height of his powers. 4. Sir Leonard ‘Len’ Hutton (1937-1955) Sir Leonard Hutton takes his place on the Mount Rushmore of English cricketers. The legendary batsman clocked up a total of 6971 in 79 test matches. Like many of his generation, Hutton’s career was interrupted by the Second World War, and we will never know what more he could have added to his record in those years. 5. Peter May (1951-1961) Peter May is one of the great post-war batsmen for England. A member of the ICC Hall of Fame, May scored an impressive 4,537 runs in 66 test matches for England, with an average of 46.77. May’s gentlemanly demeanour came to personify the image of English cricket in the 1950s and early 1960s, and his career is full of examples of his exemplary sportsmanship. 6. Sir Ian Botham (1977-1992) Ian Botham is the man who breathed new life into cricket in England. His iconic performance in the 1981 Ashes has earned the series the name ‘Botham’s Ashes’ and has forever etched Botham’s name in English sporting legend. It was not just one performance that made Botham such a legend, though. He played 102 Test Matches, and he scored 5200 runs, His ODI career is just as impressive, playing 116 games and taking 145 wickets. Botham is a true legend of the game and, for many, is still the face of cricket in England. 7. Kevin Pietersen (2005-2014) Like Ian Botham, Kevin Pieterson is a cricket star that managed to transcend the sport, becoming a household name in England. Pietersen was a part of the legendary 2005 Ashes team and, while only being active for a decade, provided English cricket with many great memories. Pietersen hit 8,181 runs in test cricket, with an average of 47.28 and a top score in that time of 207. 8. Sir Alastair Cook (2006-2018) Alastair Cook is one of England’s greatest-ever cricket players and holds the records to prove it. He holds an insane number of records for England, including the most tests at 161, the most centuries at 33, and the most runs at an incredible 12,472. He retired from the game in 2018 with his status as one of the greatest of all times sealed. 9. James Anderson (2003- Prese
As the country that founded cricket, it should come as no surprise that England has produced some of the most exceptional cricketers of all time over the years.
From legends of the game like Jack Hobbs and W.C. Grace to modern icons like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England has been able to produce a conveyor belt of exceptional cricketing talent. Attempting to pick the best of all time is a fool’s errand, but it is a challenge we are willing to step up to. Join us as we look at the best 10 English cricket players of all time.
How we picked the top 10 cricket players
Defining the best at any sport can be a difficult task. We have used a number of factors to determine the top 10 England cricket players of all time. Of course, cricket is a numbers game, and we have used ICC stats to help us create our list all of the stats you will find in this article have been taken from the ICC’s website.
Ranking players from different generations also makes things tricky, so we have factored in the period in which they played their impact, and any cricket championships they won.
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Top 10 English cricket players
Well, we can’t say we weren’t warned this would be difficult. After much deliberation, these are our picks for the top 10 English cricket players of all time.
1. W.G. Grace (1865-1908)
Few men were as influential in establishing cricket in England as W.C Grace. Grace played 44 seasons during his lifetime, though the number of matches considered to be first-class is a slightly contentious issue. The Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, a book widely considered the bible of cricket, wiped 10 of his matches from his record in 2022, claiming that they weren’t to be counted as first-class. It’s a testament to his ability, then, that this still takes very little from his legacy, with the all-rounder scoring 54,211 first-class runs, 2,809 wickets and 124 centuries.
2. Jack Hobbs (1908-1930)
Hobbs is one of the greatest English batsmen of all time. The Surrey legend scored 61,760 first-class runs and 199 centuries in his career, emphatically earning his place in the conversation of the greatest English cricketers. He is also cricket’s oldest centurion, achieving the record at 46 years old.
3. Wally Hammond (1927-1947)
Wally Hammond is one of many incredible cricket players whose careers were hampered by the Second World War. In spite of this, he is still considered one of the great English batsmen of all time, hitting an incredible 7,492 test runs for England. He averaged 58.45 for England and managed an incredible triple-century against New Zealand in 1933 at the height of his powers.
4. Sir Leonard ‘Len’ Hutton (1937-1955)
Sir Leonard Hutton takes his place on the Mount Rushmore of English cricketers. The legendary batsman clocked up a total of 6971 in 79 test matches. Like many of his generation, Hutton’s career was interrupted by the Second World War, and we will never know what more he could have added to his record in those years.
5. Peter May (1951-1961)
Peter May is one of the great post-war batsmen for England. A member of the ICC Hall of Fame, May scored an impressive 4,537 runs in 66 test matches for England, with an average of 46.77. May’s gentlemanly demeanour came to personify the image of English cricket in the 1950s and early 1960s, and his career is full of examples of his exemplary sportsmanship.
6. Sir Ian Botham (1977-1992)
Ian Botham is the man who breathed new life into cricket in England. His iconic performance in the 1981 Ashes has earned the series the name ‘Botham’s Ashes’ and has forever etched Botham’s name in English sporting legend.
It was not just one performance that made Botham such a legend, though. He played 102 Test Matches, and he scored 5200 runs, His ODI career is just as impressive, playing 116 games and taking 145 wickets. Botham is a true legend of the game and, for many, is still the face of cricket in England.
7. Kevin Pietersen (2005-2014)
Like Ian Botham, Kevin Pieterson is a cricket star that managed to transcend the sport, becoming a household name in England. Pietersen was a part of the legendary 2005 Ashes team and, while only being active for a decade, provided English cricket with many great memories. Pietersen hit 8,181 runs in test cricket, with an average of 47.28 and a top score in that time of 207.
8. Sir Alastair Cook (2006-2018)
Alastair Cook is one of England’s greatest-ever cricket players and holds the records to prove it. He holds an insane number of records for England, including the most tests at 161, the most centuries at 33, and the most runs at an incredible 12,472. He retired from the game in 2018 with his status as one of the greatest of all times sealed.
9. James Anderson (2003- Present)
One of two players on this list to still be a part of England’s national team. Anderson has been an integral part of English cricket for the last two decades and is still a force to be reckoned with. Anderson is the most successful fast bowler in history. He has bowled 6,066 overs and taken 460 wickets in 179 test matches.
10. Joe Root (2012 – Present)
Like James Anderson, Joe Root is still a part of the current England team. At 32 years old, Root still has plenty of time to further cement his status as one of the greatest batsmen in English history. The Yorkshire-born cricketer has excelled in all three formats and is second behind Alastair Cook in the all-time runs chart, racking up an incredible 10,948 runs.
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Honourable Mentions
The history of English cricket is full of great players, and not all of them could fit into our top 10. The following six cricketers could have all made our list on another day and are all deserving of an honourable mention.
Herbert Sutcliffe (1924-1935)
Herbert Sutcliffe’s career was bookmarked by the two World Wars. He made his England debut between the wars and formed a legendary partnership with Jack Hobbs. He played 54 tests for England, hitting an excellent 4,555 runs. His first-class career was equally as impressive, playing 754 games and maintaining a batting average of 52.02 to hit 50,670 first-class runs.
Fred Trueman (1952-1965)
Fred Trueman is widely considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time, with his explosive style earning him the nickname ‘Fiery Fred’. He took 307 wickets in 67 games for England. Trueman would stay around the sport after he retired, working as an author and a broadcaster.
Stuart Broad (2006 – Present)
Stuart Broad has been a staple of the England team for nearly two decades and was integral to England’s success in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. Broad has become known for his five-wicket hauls, taking 20 in all formats. He has taken an impressive 576 in 161 test matches for England.
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Joss Buttler (2011-Present)
Joss Buttler is another current player who is destined for the Hall of Fame. Buttler was England’s Vice Captain during the World Cup, and his match-winning run out was noted as one of the greatest sporting moments of 2019. Buttler is a ruthless batsman and has clocked up 2,907 runs in 57 test matches.
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Alex Hales (2011- Present)
Alex Hales is another top player from what is a golden generation of England cricketers. Hales has helped England to World Cup glory in both the ICC World Cup and the T20 World Cup. It is the latter format in which he has broken records, becoming the first England player to hit a century in the game.
Bet on Alex Hales with BetVictor.
Ben Stokes (2013- Present)
Ben Stokes’s incredible performance in the 2019 Cricket World Cup final earned him a place alongside English sporting legends like Geoff Hurst and Johnny Wilkinson. Stokes’s performance saw him earn the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2019 and saw him become a household name up and down the country. He is one of the best players in the current team, having hit 5712 runs and taken 194 wickets in test matches for England.
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Brief history of cricket in England
The exact year that cricket was founded is unknown, with some reports dating it back to the early 1300s. One thing that is clear is that cricket was founded in the South East, with Kent and Middlesex being seen as the founding counties.
By the 1600s, cricket had become a popular pastime for the middle classes in the country. When the 18th Century rolled around, cricket was well-established in counties across the UK, with cricket clubs being established. Public schools like Eton and Harrow quickly adopted the sport, boosting its social status.
The invention of the railway allowed players to travel the country, and this led to the creation of the County Championship in 1890. This division is still seen as the most prestigious in the country and the best test of a cricketer’s skills.
Cricket still remains popular in the UK, with England winning the ICC World Cup for the first time in 2019 and their second T20 World Cup in 2022.
Importance of cricket in English culture
Cricket has a special place in the hearts of British punters and sports fans. The sport occupies a unique place in British culture in that, while it has historically been an upper-middle-class pass-time, it has still been hugely commercially successful and is enjoyed by large parts of the population.
Cricket is still extremely popular in public schools, and state schools have adopted the sport more recently. The success of formats like T20 and The Hundred has made the sport more accessible than ever.
Who is considered the best English cricket player of all time?
This is an extremely difficult question to answer. You could use multiple factors to determine the best English cricket player of all time, and comparing generations is extremely difficult. Arguments can be made for all of the players we have listed, but Ian Botham is likely to be the popular choice. For a whole generation, he was considered the face of English cricket, and he helped redefine the sport in the eyes of the general population. ‘Botham’s Ashes’ is one of the most iconic test series in the sport’s history, and Botham still holds several major records today. As pure magnetism and cultural impact go, Botham takes the crown.
Who is England’s best cricket player?
James Anderson is the most accomplished England player in the current test team. Anderson has been playing for England since 2003 and is regarded as one of the greatest swing bowlers of all time. Arguments could also be made for the likes of Joe Root, Stuart Broad, and Ben Stokes. England currently boasts one of the best international squads in cricket.
Who is the best t20 batsman in England?
At the time of writing, Dawid Malan is considered the best T20 batsman in England. Malan represents England internationally and plays for Yorkshire domestically. He has played for various top T20 sides, including the Punjab Kings. Malan has competed in top divisions around the world and was part of the England T20 World Cup-winning team.
Who is England’s best bowler?
James Anderson is widely considered to be England’s best bowler. The Lancashire player made his test xi debut in 2003 and has taken a record 685 wickets for the national team. Anderson has appeared in over 175 test matches for England in a career that spans over two decades.
Where can you bet on top English cricket players?
Plenty of top UK bookmakers will offer odds on cricket matches, including prop markets on top English cricket players. These are our top three picks for cricket betting sites in the UK.
BetUK
BetUK is one of the leading cricket betting sites in the UK. The site plays host to a range of cricket markets. It offers the best odds on cricket tournaments and leagues from around the world, with extensive markets for the IPL, Cricket World Cup, and other major competitions.
