LL's team summation. I hope she does not mind.
Michael Atherton
Atherton had a test average of 37.70 but that does not tell the true picture of this very correct and defensive batsmen. He had the misfortune to play an Australian team during his career that had arguably the best bowling attack international cricket has seen. A player who did not give his wicket away cheaply. His 185 against South Africa in 1995, when he batted for over 10 hours to save a test match, is a defining match in his career.
Graeme Gooch
A huge scorer of runs in a long career that spaned 118 test at an average of 42.58. Gooch made a 333 for England at Lords in 1990.
Mark Taylor
One of the greatest captains that Australia has produced. A great tactician and popular with his players this superb left hander scored at an average of 43.50. On his first ashes tour he had the remarkable average of 89.3 when he scored 839 runs on the tour. Another highlight was a superb 334 not out against Pakistan. Taylor was also without a doubt one of the best slips fielders the game has produced and he hold the world record of 157 catches for a non wicket keeper.
Viv Richards
One of the greats of cricket. Richards was one of the most destructive and hardest hitting batsmen the game has seen. In 121 tests he averaged 50.23 with a highest score of 291. In 1976 he scored 1,710 in just 8 months. Has the record forth fastest 100 in test cricket set in 186 when he smashed his century from only 56 balls. One of Wisdens 5 cricketers of the Century.
Douglas Jardine.
One of the best captains to ever lead an England side. Jardine captained England on the 1932/33 tour of Australia. England won the series 4 – 1.
It is best to read Cricinfo as to the controversy that surrounded this tour. Needless to say Jardine justifiably deserves his place as one of the great captains of the game as not too many teams had the ability to beat an Australian side that included the great Donald Bradman let alone win a series. Overlooked in all the controversy is the fact that he was also a very good number 5 batsman who averaged the more than respectable average of 48 in 22 test matches.
Alec Stewart
Stewart was a very good all-round cricketer who not only opened the bating for England and batted in that position at 44 he was also a good wicket keeper. When batting in the lower order when on duty as a keeper he was a powerful player who had the ability to protect the lower order. He played 133 tests for England.
Mark Boucher
Boucher is a superb South African keeper who has taken 346 catches and made 14 stumpings in a test career that is now 97 matches old and at the tender age of 30 still has a long career ahead. He holds many records,to quote Crinfo “Fastest man to a 100 dismissals here, highest score by a nightwatchman there, most innings without a bye over the road - they've tumbled out so quickly that it has been difficult to keep up. Probably his most significant achievement, however, came in only his second Test match, his first on home soil, against Pakistan at the Wanderers in February 1998 when he and Pat Symcox put on 195 to set a new Test ninth-wicket partnership record. The real relevance of this feat lay not so much in its numbers, but in the fact that it was built with South Africa in desperate trouble at 166 for 8”
He rarely makes an error with the gloves on and along with these feats must make him one of the finest glove men to play. He has 4 test centuries at a very handy average of just under 30. A superb cricketer and must be looked on as an all time great.
Richard Hadlee
What to say about the great Richard Hadlee Single handily kept New Zealand cricket competitive for many a long year. A right arm fast bowler who took 431 wickets at an average of 22.30 over a career of 86 tests. He was the first player to reach 400 wickets and made that mark in 79 tests! Not only was he a very quick bowler when he needed to be he was very accurate and could move the ball in the air and off the seam. His best performance was against Australia at the Gabba in 1985 when he took 9/52 and 6/71. This all time great was a more than useful batsman who scored 3124 runs including 2 centuries at an average of 27.17.
James Laker
An excellent right arm off spinner who took 193 wickets in 46 test matches at the superb average of 21.25. What Laker is remembered for is also the amazing match figures of 19/90 achieved against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. These match figures have stood to this day.
Lancelot Gibbs
One of the greatest right arm off spinners who took 309 wickets at 29 over a career spanning 29 tests. He was the 2nd bowler and the first spinner to take 300 test wickets. An astonishingly accurate bowler who has an economy rate of 1.99! This is a remarkable rate by any standards when we consider that Shane Warne who is a very frugal bowler has an economy rate of 2.65.
In a match against India he returned the figures of 53.3-37-38-8!
Courtney Walsh
An amazing fast bowler who played 132 test between 84 and 01 who took 519 wickets at 24.44. The longevity of his career and the fact that he was still bowling very fast even towards the end of his career is to be marvelled at. Along with Curtley Ambrose he formed one of the most formidable fast bowling attacks in history.
Michael Atherton
Atherton had a test average of 37.70 but that does not tell the true picture of this very correct and defensive batsmen. He had the misfortune to play an Australian team during his career that had arguably the best bowling attack international cricket has seen. A player who did not give his wicket away cheaply. His 185 against South Africa in 1995, when he batted for over 10 hours to save a test match, is a defining match in his career.
Graeme Gooch
A huge scorer of runs in a long career that spaned 118 test at an average of 42.58. Gooch made a 333 for England at Lords in 1990.
Mark Taylor
One of the greatest captains that Australia has produced. A great tactician and popular with his players this superb left hander scored at an average of 43.50. On his first ashes tour he had the remarkable average of 89.3 when he scored 839 runs on the tour. Another highlight was a superb 334 not out against Pakistan. Taylor was also without a doubt one of the best slips fielders the game has produced and he hold the world record of 157 catches for a non wicket keeper.
Viv Richards
One of the greats of cricket. Richards was one of the most destructive and hardest hitting batsmen the game has seen. In 121 tests he averaged 50.23 with a highest score of 291. In 1976 he scored 1,710 in just 8 months. Has the record forth fastest 100 in test cricket set in 186 when he smashed his century from only 56 balls. One of Wisdens 5 cricketers of the Century.
Douglas Jardine.
One of the best captains to ever lead an England side. Jardine captained England on the 1932/33 tour of Australia. England won the series 4 – 1.
It is best to read Cricinfo as to the controversy that surrounded this tour. Needless to say Jardine justifiably deserves his place as one of the great captains of the game as not too many teams had the ability to beat an Australian side that included the great Donald Bradman let alone win a series. Overlooked in all the controversy is the fact that he was also a very good number 5 batsman who averaged the more than respectable average of 48 in 22 test matches.
Alec Stewart
Stewart was a very good all-round cricketer who not only opened the bating for England and batted in that position at 44 he was also a good wicket keeper. When batting in the lower order when on duty as a keeper he was a powerful player who had the ability to protect the lower order. He played 133 tests for England.
Mark Boucher
Boucher is a superb South African keeper who has taken 346 catches and made 14 stumpings in a test career that is now 97 matches old and at the tender age of 30 still has a long career ahead. He holds many records,to quote Crinfo “Fastest man to a 100 dismissals here, highest score by a nightwatchman there, most innings without a bye over the road - they've tumbled out so quickly that it has been difficult to keep up. Probably his most significant achievement, however, came in only his second Test match, his first on home soil, against Pakistan at the Wanderers in February 1998 when he and Pat Symcox put on 195 to set a new Test ninth-wicket partnership record. The real relevance of this feat lay not so much in its numbers, but in the fact that it was built with South Africa in desperate trouble at 166 for 8”
He rarely makes an error with the gloves on and along with these feats must make him one of the finest glove men to play. He has 4 test centuries at a very handy average of just under 30. A superb cricketer and must be looked on as an all time great.
Richard Hadlee
What to say about the great Richard Hadlee Single handily kept New Zealand cricket competitive for many a long year. A right arm fast bowler who took 431 wickets at an average of 22.30 over a career of 86 tests. He was the first player to reach 400 wickets and made that mark in 79 tests! Not only was he a very quick bowler when he needed to be he was very accurate and could move the ball in the air and off the seam. His best performance was against Australia at the Gabba in 1985 when he took 9/52 and 6/71. This all time great was a more than useful batsman who scored 3124 runs including 2 centuries at an average of 27.17.
James Laker
An excellent right arm off spinner who took 193 wickets in 46 test matches at the superb average of 21.25. What Laker is remembered for is also the amazing match figures of 19/90 achieved against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. These match figures have stood to this day.
Lancelot Gibbs
One of the greatest right arm off spinners who took 309 wickets at 29 over a career spanning 29 tests. He was the 2nd bowler and the first spinner to take 300 test wickets. An astonishingly accurate bowler who has an economy rate of 1.99! This is a remarkable rate by any standards when we consider that Shane Warne who is a very frugal bowler has an economy rate of 2.65.
In a match against India he returned the figures of 53.3-37-38-8!
Courtney Walsh
An amazing fast bowler who played 132 test between 84 and 01 who took 519 wickets at 24.44. The longevity of his career and the fact that he was still bowling very fast even towards the end of his career is to be marvelled at. Along with Curtley Ambrose he formed one of the most formidable fast bowling attacks in history.
