The Cricket World Cup begins on Thursday with England kicking off the tournament in a rematch of the famous 2019 final against New Zealand.
England’s victory at the last 50-over World Cup capped off a period of dominance from 2015 which has largely continued in the four years since, despite T20 being the primary focus.
With that in mind, Telegraph Sport’s cricket experts have picked their all-time England ODI team with many of the current squad making the cut.
Nick Hoult
You have to judge players in their own era, not in the style of the present day so Graham Gooch and Ian Botham have to play. Gooch was an innovator, a run machine who carried England to two World Cup finals and led the best team of the tournament in 1992. He swept India away in a semi-final in Mumbai in 1987 and could play all conditions and styles.
I’m assuming Stokes can bowl in this line-up. Anyone who does not want to see Botham-Stokes in the same team lacks a soul.
This team is about entertainment, not data-led analytics, so in comes Gough with his great variations, yorkers and spiky personality with Wood adds sheer pace and sense of fun. KP is picked over Morgan because he was a far finer player. Swann and Rashid give the ball a big tweak. Stokes picked as an all-rounder giving plenty of bowling options with Botham, Wood (and even Gooch). Stokes as captain because he can handle the big personalities in this dressing room.
Michael Vaughan
Gooch was a phenomenal run scorer, a no-brainer to pick him even in the modern era. Jonny Bairstow gives power, Root plays the middle overs brilliantly and Pietersen was an innovator. Jos is the finest ODI player of his generation and along with Stokes provides that mental steel, a will to win in any situation. I want Ian Botham’s skills with the ball, and sheer presence, and Chris Woakes has been an absolute star in the one-day game, performing in big matches. Rashid beats both edges of the bat while Moeen adds runs and a sharp cricket brain. Darren Gough comes in for his white ball skills and competitiveness.
Tim Wigmore
Perhaps surprisingly, four players from the pre-2015 era. But Andrew Flintoff has a strong claim to being England’s best ever ODI bowling – with pace and bounce in the middle overs and yorkers at the death, he took 168 wickets at 23.61 – and is a must-pick even before his explosive batting is taken into account. With Flintoff following Ben Stokes, Kevin Pietersen – in the position where he will have most freedom, without any responsibilities to anchor – Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, England have a devastating middle order. The two all-rounders mean that England have an abundance of bowling options. Chris Woakes and Darren Gough are automatic picks to take the new ball – Jofra Archer, sadly, has still only played 21 ODIs.
Alongside the four-man pace attack England can select their two best spinners in ODI history: leg spinner Adil Rashid and off spinner Graeme Swann, who would enjoy the 50-over game much more in this company. Although Marcus Trescothick is worthy of consideration, Pietersen is the only pre-2015 batsman to break into the top five. He squeezes out Morgan, who can coach instead while his former vice-captain Buttler leads.
Scyld Berry
Afraid Jason Roy does not make it, and if Joe Root moves up to open he will enjoy pace on the ball. Kevin Pietersen may not have a great record at three but he will surely rise to the occasion, wishing to prove that he is better than those who follow. Eoin Morgan is a must as the Father of England white-ball cricket, and calm-headed captain, and matchless man-manager who will take no truck with the larger egos. England, also, need two lefthanded batsmen in their top six.
Two specialist spinners are worth having because if the pitch is green England will still have four fine seamers, starting with Darren Gough and Chris Woakes who will have to accept the end which Gough does not want. If the match is abroad there is a good chance that Gough or Andrew Flintoff or Ben Stokes will be able to reverse-swing the two white balls before the end of the innings.
And the fielding substitute? He has to be Chris Jordan.
Will Macpherson
My memory isn’t as long as some of my colleagues’, and with eras are so difficult to compare in white-ball cricket, I have decided to stick with what I know: the 21st century. Apologies go to the Class of 92.
I like to think I’ve got all bases covered, with bat and ball. Trescothick – who sees off competition from Gooch, Roy and even Nick Knight – and Bairstow would be an explosive opening pair, with Root the anchor. The middle order is packed with brutal hitters, and all-rounders.
Botham is unfortunate to miss out to Flintoff, whose outstanding record with the ball and three centuries to none wins the day. Woakes and Gough make a fine pair at the top and tail of the innings, with Rashid and Swann – a partnership that perhaps should have played together a bit more – wheeling away in the middle.
Morgan missing out robs me of an obvious captain, but Stokes or Buttler can do the job with aplomb.
What do you think about our experts selection? Join the debate below. . .
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