As the rain pours down on the first day of the oldest format of the international game at its latest venue, my thoughts turned to players from the past who might have graced T20 cricket. I've placed extra weight on power-hitting, the ability to improvise shots, good athletes in the field, variety of bowling and bowling depth. I've chosen three out-and-out bowlers, but backed up by two high class all-rounders and a further two useful change bowlers to give the captain up to seven decent options for his twenty overs.
None of the players I've picked is a natural captain.
Here's my pick for a fantasy England XI:
1. Marcus Trescothick
Should still be more of a reality than a fantasy, but Tresco would be an incredible asset to the team, with his calm, powerful hitting and ability to regularly dominate all types of bowling. He plays proper cricket shots by and large, and relies on the clean strikes of a straight bat. Other than Chris Gayle and Sachin Tendulkar, no batsman has been more consistent at the top of the order in the T20 era. He would just edge out another modern batsman, Graham Gooch, for me.
None of the players I've picked is a natural captain.
Here's my pick for a fantasy England XI:
1. Marcus TrescothickShould still be more of a reality than a fantasy, but Tresco would be an incredible asset to the team, with his calm, powerful hitting and ability to regularly dominate all types of bowling. He plays proper cricket shots by and large, and relies on the clean strikes of a straight bat. Other than Chris Gayle and Sachin Tendulkar, no batsman has been more consistent at the top of the order in the T20 era. He would just edge out another modern batsman, Graham Gooch, for me.
2. Wally Hammond 
Particularly earlier on in his career, Hammond was one of the most relentless attacking batsmen we've seen, murdering bowling through the off-side as no-one else could. Although he later abandoned some shots in order to minimise risks, he also started as a dangerous on-side player, and his power and poise would have allowed him to capitalise during powerplays. Would be an extremely handy fifth or sixth bowler, capable of genuine pace and swing for short spells, and often used (not least by Jardine on the bodyline tour) as a containing bowler. Also one of the best athletes English cricket has seen. Because of his power and versatility, he edges out Jack Hobbs and Len Hutton, two truly great English openers whose careers overlapped with his before the second world war.
3. WG Grace
Arguably the greatest cricketer ever, although comparisons with the modern game aren't straightforward. Again a great athlete in his youth, Grace proved adaptably prolific in all forms of the game, not just first class cricket. The father of modern batting in many ways, he had a capacity to innovate his technique to dominate whatever bowling/conditions he faced; the key requirement to success in T2o batting. As with Hammond, and probably more so, he would add an effective change option to the bowling and another gun fielder. In the absence of any real contenders on merit, he captains the side because he's about 40 years older than the others.
4. Denis Compton
Compton was a superb innovator, capable of inventing shots as he played them, and his ability to cut, glance and sweep the ball at an almost infinite degree of angles would drive any fielding captain to distraction in the middle overs. He would be a terrific finisher in a T20 game, as well as someone to set the platform for big scores. He nicks Kevin Pietersen's place, who narrowly misses out.
Particularly earlier on in his career, Hammond was one of the most relentless attacking batsmen we've seen, murdering bowling through the off-side as no-one else could. Although he later abandoned some shots in order to minimise risks, he also started as a dangerous on-side player, and his power and poise would have allowed him to capitalise during powerplays. Would be an extremely handy fifth or sixth bowler, capable of genuine pace and swing for short spells, and often used (not least by Jardine on the bodyline tour) as a containing bowler. Also one of the best athletes English cricket has seen. Because of his power and versatility, he edges out Jack Hobbs and Len Hutton, two truly great English openers whose careers overlapped with his before the second world war.
3. WG GraceArguably the greatest cricketer ever, although comparisons with the modern game aren't straightforward. Again a great athlete in his youth, Grace proved adaptably prolific in all forms of the game, not just first class cricket. The father of modern batting in many ways, he had a capacity to innovate his technique to dominate whatever bowling/conditions he faced; the key requirement to success in T2o batting. As with Hammond, and probably more so, he would add an effective change option to the bowling and another gun fielder. In the absence of any real contenders on merit, he captains the side because he's about 40 years older than the others.
4. Denis Compton
Compton was a superb innovator, capable of inventing shots as he played them, and his ability to cut, glance and sweep the ball at an almost infinite degree of angles would drive any fielding captain to distraction in the middle overs. He would be a terrific finisher in a T20 game, as well as someone to set the platform for big scores. He nicks Kevin Pietersen's place, who narrowly misses out.
5. Gilbert JessopJessop would be the powerhouse in my (for some reason rather Gloucester heavy) batting lineup, providing impetus and hard hitting - his records for fast-scoring at all levels of cricket beggar belief. As well as being able to hit boundaries, he was a rapid runner between the wickets (his 76 ball ton against the Aussies at the Oval in 1902 included an all-run five!). Until he had been overbowled a few years into his career, he was a rapid bowler, and a lightning quick fielder either in the covers or in the deep. If he'd been born a hundred years later, he would have been one of the most valuable cricketers on the planet. A country mile ahead of his nearest competitor for this slot, Allan Lamb.
6. Eoin Morgan
A pick more on promise than achievement, although he's had a fair amount of that, Morgan would bring an almost Comptonian ability to manufacture shots and, for a slight man, to hit shots with a suprising amount of power. His steely temparament is ideal for someone who might come to the crease in the final over needing to slog a few boundaries, or might need to resurrect and finish a run chase. The only current England T20 player in the side edges out stalwarts like Paul Collingwood and Neil Fairbrother.
7. Andrew FlintoffA difficult pick to put him ahead of Botham, but Freddie just takes it for me. Beefy's limited overs batting never really lived up to its promise, although he was arguably a slightly better limited overs bowler than Flintoff. Freddie's power with bat and ball swing it for me. The side is also possibly already over-filled with egos (Hammond, Grace and Barnes) and the addition of Botham would probably sink the team!
8. Alan Knott 
Knott edges out Les Ames, probably a better allround batsman, on the genius and neatness of his keeping (with such a premium on missed chances and unnecessary extras) and his ability to find awkward runs whenever they were needed in tough match situations.
9. Harold Larwood
A tough pick, with a couple of standout fast bowlers, Fred Trueman and Brian Statham, each missing out by a whisker. Larwood was famed for his relentless accuracy, and is possibly the quickest bowler we've produced (competing with the more fragile Frank Tyson). Bowlers like Dale Steyn and, to a lesser extent, Shaun Tait and Brett Lee, have shown the value of having a genuine express option in the opening and closing overs. There hasn't been a better bowler of this type than Larwood.
10. Derek Underwood
The choice of spinner isn't straightforward. As out and out bowlers, Hedley Verity and Jim Laker are right up there with him. Deadly Derek Underwood has the advantages of a terrific understanding with Knott, and his incredible economy rate in the ODIs he did play. Other than Compton, and occasionally Hammond, he's the only spinner I've picked. On the subcontinent, I'd be tempted to drop Morgan and replace him with a high class spinning allrounder, like Frank Woolley. As it is, the final bowler would be just as likely to exploit any turn in the pitch....
11. SF Barnes
From what you read, Barnes was a unique bowler, operating at medium-quick pace, he could cut, seam, swing and spin the ball at will, and combined incredibly prolific wicket taking with an iron will and quick bowler's selfishness which meant he just didn't bowl bad balls. I think in some ways as a professional he was ahead of his time (he could give the WIPA a few lessons about negotiating a contract) as he was acutely aware of his market worth and did not quietly tolerate exploitation. He would have been tailor made for the IPL.
Knott edges out Les Ames, probably a better allround batsman, on the genius and neatness of his keeping (with such a premium on missed chances and unnecessary extras) and his ability to find awkward runs whenever they were needed in tough match situations.
9. Harold LarwoodA tough pick, with a couple of standout fast bowlers, Fred Trueman and Brian Statham, each missing out by a whisker. Larwood was famed for his relentless accuracy, and is possibly the quickest bowler we've produced (competing with the more fragile Frank Tyson). Bowlers like Dale Steyn and, to a lesser extent, Shaun Tait and Brett Lee, have shown the value of having a genuine express option in the opening and closing overs. There hasn't been a better bowler of this type than Larwood.
10. Derek Underwood
The choice of spinner isn't straightforward. As out and out bowlers, Hedley Verity and Jim Laker are right up there with him. Deadly Derek Underwood has the advantages of a terrific understanding with Knott, and his incredible economy rate in the ODIs he did play. Other than Compton, and occasionally Hammond, he's the only spinner I've picked. On the subcontinent, I'd be tempted to drop Morgan and replace him with a high class spinning allrounder, like Frank Woolley. As it is, the final bowler would be just as likely to exploit any turn in the pitch....
11. SF BarnesFrom what you read, Barnes was a unique bowler, operating at medium-quick pace, he could cut, seam, swing and spin the ball at will, and combined incredibly prolific wicket taking with an iron will and quick bowler's selfishness which meant he just didn't bowl bad balls. I think in some ways as a professional he was ahead of his time (he could give the WIPA a few lessons about negotiating a contract) as he was acutely aware of his market worth and did not quietly tolerate exploitation. He would have been tailor made for the IPL.
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