Who Are The Greatest England Cricketers Of All-Time?

England have been playing Test cricket since the 19th century. Winners of two T20 World Cups and a 50-over World Cup, there’s a huge amount to consider when pitting W.G. Grace and Fred Trueman against the all-format stars of the 21st century.

How can the scooping of Jos Buttler be compared to Len Hutton’s greatness? Where do the red and white-ball heroics of Jonny Bairstow stack up against Deadly Derek Underwood?

These were questions we had to try and answer when whittling down the hundreds of players who have played cricket for England.

Joe Root

Already England’s leading Test run scorer and on course to overtake Sachin Tendulkar for the all-time record, Joe Root is the greatest batter England have ever produced.

Root has paired a phenomenal Test career with white-ball success, including a pivotal role in the 2019 World Cup triumph. He battled through his own challenging captaincy stint to find the best form of his career under Ben Stokes.

It’s easy to get carried away with how great a player is, but it is no exaggeration to say Root is one of the greats of the sport – not just for England but across the world.

Wally Hammond

Of players to play more than 80 Tests, Ken Barrington is the only player with a better Test average than Wally Hammond. Hammond’s 58.45 ranks 10th all-time, although five of the players ahead of him have played 25 or fewer Tests.

A score of 336 not out in March 1933 was the highest in Test history at the time and was the second-highest score for another 25 years.

The sport during Hammond’s career (1927-47) was a long way from the white-ball-dominated cricket we see today, but Hammond’s numbers stack up against any player in the history of the game.

Ben Stokes

The hero of one of the greatest cricket betting turnarounds, the key batter in two World Cup wins, and a game-changing captain. Ben Stokes’ CV is unique in its accolades, even if his raw statistics are underwhelming.

Stokes stuck the team on his back on numerous occasions belong the headliners. There were gruelling bowling spells in South Africa, rapid knocks in non-Headingley Ashes Tests, and stunning pieces of fielding.

The Bazball era of Stokes’ captaincy has completed a truly all-round career. Stokes is a natural leader. He’s been a strike bowler and an enforcer. He’s batted cautiously, he’s played traditional Test innings, and he’s had some spectacular barrages against great bowling attacks.

James Anderson

James Anderson was a left-field pick in the early 2000s. A slightly unorthodox action and dyed hair made Anderson eye-catching before he became the King of Swing.

Fast-forward 20 or so years, and Anderson leads all fast bowlers in Test wickets. He got better with age, gradually chipping away at his average. Cheteshwar Pujara, Michael Clarke, Kane Williamson, and Sachin Tendulkar were among his bunnies, each being dismissed nine or more times by Anderson.

From a tearaway quick, Anderson became an artist. The ball could hoop in either direction with no noticeable change to his action or wrist position. In the latter years, the wobble seam became a practically unplayable delivery, and his commitment to developing his skills made him an asset even on the flattest subcontinental pitches.

Ian Botham

Ian Botham’s presence was always a factor to consider when making betting decisions. Capable of bludgeoning any bowling attack around the park or skittling a batting lineup with his swing and sheer aura, Botham was a talismanic figure.

Holder of the record for Test wickets by an Englishman until Anderson and Stuart Broad came along, Botham shot to national hero status with his superman performance in the 1981 Ashes.

Certain generations might still pick Botham as England’s greatest ever cricketer. There’s a compelling case to be made, though we feel comfortable having him fifth here.