Ian Botham
Captured the imagination with amazing performances with bat and ball against Australia. He picked his game up for Australia, taking himself to a different level. In 1981 his 149 at Headingley, spell of five for one at Birmingham and century at Old Trafford were amazing performances that captured the imagination of the whole country. He was a brilliant slip fielder, too, Ian. One of the greatest cricketers ever. Graham Mckenzie Australia Tests: 25. Runs: 252. Wkts: 96 Garth was tall and big-shouldered with a magnificent physique. He would bowl three or four balls an over at a lively fast-medium pace, but his other two or three would be rapid.
Bob Willis England
Tests: 35. Runs: 383. Wkts: 128 Made himself into a fine fast bowler from being a young tearaway. Always up for the battle.
Adam Gilchrist Australia Tests: 20. Runs: 1,083
When he came on the scene his wicketkeeping was good, but all we noticed was his spectacular batting.
Graeme Swann England Tests: 18. Runs: 499. Wkts: 62 He could deliver under pressure, taking wickets to win matches on turning pitches. He loved the challenge. Ian Chappell Australia Tests: 30. Runs: 2,138. Wkts: 6
A good batsman who played on the edge and always had to be aggressive. I sensed he needed to pick a fight with someone to get his juices flowing.
Andrew Flintoff England Tests: 15. Runs: 906. Wkts: 50 In 2005 his bowling decimated Adam Gilchrist, the world’s greatest batsman-wicketkeeper. Bowled fast and made the ball rear disconcertingly at all the Australian batsmen.
Rod Marsh Australia Tests: 42. Runs: 1,633
He started against us in 1970-71 and kept dropping the ball. Some of our players christened him Iron Gloves. But he improved himself with hard work and dedication.
Stuart Broad England Tests: 22. Runs: 702. Wkts: 84 He has a gift for sudden matchwinning displays. His stunning spell of eight for 15 in 2015 at Trent Bridge is unforgettable.
Doug Walters
Tests: 36. Runs: 1,981. Wkts: 26
Came on to the scene like a
whirlwind with two hundreds against England in 1965, but it was a mistake to call him the new Bradman. Dougie smoked a lot and was an uncomplicated character.
Kevin Pietersen
Tests: 27. Runs: 2,158. Wkts: 1
A maverick in a similar mould to Denis Compton. Sometimes outrageously brilliant, at other times annoyingly stupid, but the guy had serious talent.
Allan Border
Tests: 47. Runs: 3,548. Wkts: 4 Beautiful left-hander. Started in a period when Australia were not very good but developed into a quality player. When he became captain he showed he had a good cricket brain.
Andrew Strauss
Tests: 20. Runs: 1,421
His captaincy was different Graham Gooch
Tests: 42. Runs: 2,632. Wkts: 8 He found his forte was opening the batting, going in against the new ball. He was a terrific player of quick bowling.
Ian Redpath
Tests: 23. Runs: 1,512
Played a lot of Test matches, going quietly about his business. He was very much an unsung player, but his record was very good.