Not 100% if this has been done before but after being inspired a little by a post by Amazon Prime, I decided to make Test Teams XIs (plus 2 subs for Cricket Captain sim purposes in the future) based on decades. However, this isnt just who performed the best in each decade as that would lead to certain players being in multiple lists. Consequently, to be eligible for a particular decade, it had to be the Decade that player played the most test matches in. If a player had decades with an equal amount of tests played in, well they are lucky to be eligible for both/all decades. Players are chosen based on whole cricketing career not just performances in those tests in that decade. Posting them in here to see others opinions cause there is a guarantee that I've missed someone and players I have controversially left out.
1870s
Charles Bannerman (3 eligible tests out of 3 total played)- Scorer of the first test hundred and his percentage of innings total record still standing strong. Apart from that innings though, wasn't too much of a career to speak of test or first class wise but that hundred has to secure his spot against virtually no competition from other eligible players.
Harry Jupp (2/2)- Cheating a bit here with having Harry Jupp keeping as though he didnt do it at test level, he did do it occasionally at First-class level. Talking of First-class level, he opened for Surrey and his record of 15,319 runs with 12 centuries is pretty decent for people not called WG Grace in that era.
Harry Charlwood (2/2)- was a standout batter for England on that first ever test tour including performances in New Zealand and leading England to their first test 50 partnership. Charlwood was also a top player for Sussex domestically and 7,017 runs with 5 centuries at an average of 21 were solid returns and get him the number 3 slot here.
A.J. Webbe (1/1)- his test record of 4 runs in 2 innings won't get any awards but his First-class record of 14,465 runs at 24.81 including the 1887 season where he scored 1200 runs at 47 including a 243* means that with very little other batting talent screaming out he fully deserves this spot.
Andrew Greenwood (2/2)-Kinda scraping the bottom of the barrel here but some Yorkshire grit is a must in any good test side imo so Greenwood is here to provide it despite his 18avg in FC being on the lower end of the top levels of the time.
Dave Gregory (3/3)- Australia's first captain and part of the Gregory dynasty which was very important in early Australian cricket. He was nowhere near the most talented of his family and actually his FC average of 14 with the bat is really not great but he's gritty and not having a Gregory would be doing a disservice.
Tom Armitage (2/2)- More Yorkshire grit arrives in the all rounder for the time package of Tom Armitage. Can hang around with the bat and can offer some handy overs.
Allen Hill (2/2)- A third Yorkshireman into the team. His test average of 50 maybe should say he ought to be batting higher but his 8.49 FC batting average with his test 49 being his highest ever score says otherwise. Bowling with a roundarm action, he was considered quite fast for his time something this team could use well.
James Lillywhite Jnr (2/2)- England's first ever test captain will also captain the 1870s bunch. A prolific bowler with his left-handed "slow" bowling averaging in the 15s in his 2 tests and at FC level too. All round was just a famous name of cricket in that era.
James Southerton (2/2)-Despite being 49 on his test debut, Southerton still had it and his 2 tests picked up 7 wickets at 15.28 to go with his 1,682 wickets at 14 in FC shows he was a class act up until he became the first test cricketer to die only 3 years after his last test.
Frank Allan (1/1)- May have only got 4 wickets in his only test playing second fiddle to Spofforth in 1879 at Melbourne but his 123 wickets at 13 in FC cricket gets him in here ahead of the remaining competition
Charlie Absolom (1/1)- got a 50 in his only test and has 99 matches of FC experience to add some sort of batting and bowling depth
Tom Kendall (2/2)- he got 14 wickets in his only 2 tests at 15.35. He did only play a total of 8 FC games so is a bit of a stretch including him but those test returns have to be taken into good consideration
WG Grace (11/22)- This man needs no introduction. Cricket's first superstar, held still as one of the very best to every do it. And basically just a massive diva. He was one of the few people with tests evenly split between 2 decades (1880s and 1890s in this case) but his best batting came in this decade so felt better for him to slot in here.
Billy Murdoch (14/19)- Australia's star batter in the early years and first double centurion in tests. His omission from the first test caused Spofforth to basically go on strike as was his importance not just with the bat but he was a very good wicket keeper too. The 2 top batters of the early years of test cricket opening up to form a fearsome opening partnership.
Arthur Shrewsbury Snr (18/23) -Shrewsbury was the man who was to take the mantle of best batter in the world off the 2 batters ahead of him in the order as WG Grace's age finally made him somewhat mortal.
Walter Read- His only test hundred may have come at number 10 but that's not where he belonged. A FC average of 32 with 38 centuries including a triple, Read was a decent batsman for Surrey and a record that deserves the number 4 slot here.
Allan Steel (13/13)- A very good all rounder who's skill with both bat and ball were held in the highest regard by his peers and would go on to captain England in 4 of his 13 tests. He could bowl Off spin and Leg spin interchangeably so makes a very handy inclusion into the XI.
George Ulyett (21/25)- The best player to come out of Yorkshire at this point in time and that is saying something. A talented all rounder, he batted up the order for England but in this XI number 6 seems the perfect spot for him and can bowl decent pace
George Giffen (17/31)- First Australian to 1,000 test runs and 100 test wickets. Was an instrumental cog in the Australian team with both bat and ball.
Jack Blackham (23/35)- The longest serving of the original set of Test cricketers, Blackham was widely regarded as not just one of if not the best gloveman of his generation but as a pioneer and one of the best to ever do it behind the stumps.
Fred Spofforth (16/18)- The Demon for a reason. A genuine all time great pace bowler who helped pioneer swing bowling, first player to get a test hattrick and is the reason we have The Ashes after his bowling took 14 wickets and destroyed England's batting and dignity.
George Lohmann (9/18)- another 50/50 split player along with WG Grace and another all time great with the best test average and strike rate for anyone with more than 100 wickets. Him and Spofforth form a deadly pace attack.
J.J Ferris (6/9)- 61 test wickets at 12.70, 812 wickets at 17.54. Those are great numbers and playing for multiple nations shows this left-armer's skill with a cricket ball in hand.
Percy McDonell (19/19)- an opening batter who liked to play on the offensive. 3 centuries in his 19 tests is a solid return and good enough to play the role of back up batter in this team
Joey Palmer (17/17)- An off-spinner with almost 600 FC wickets at 17. Is a handy tool to have if playing on more of a spinning track behind the seamers in the squad.
Joe Darling (18/34)- A farmer and dogged opening batter, his name might have been Darling but his batting was gritty and ugly. However, the runs from the left hander were fairly consistent making him a good choice to open up in this team
Andrew Stoddart (15/16) - A true an allrounder when it came to the number of sports he played representing England in 3 different sports and led England on tour. A decent opening bat as well.
Frank Iredale (14/14)- Batted throughout the order in his short career and ended up with handy average of 36 off his 14 test matches so is a useful addition to this lineup
Ranjitsinjhi (12/15)- An actual prince in his own right but his skill with bat in hand was princely too. Hampered byt he racist selection of certain boards restricted his test appearances to only 15 when he was a revolutionary batter who had very few equals in world cricket ending with a test average of 44 but an FC average of 56 easily deserves the number 4 slot here.
Honourable Stanley Jackson (10/20)- We won't hold against him that he was a Tory politician. His career is perfectly split between 1890s and 1900s, his best batting did come in the latter but as will come apparent this team needs him a bit more in the batting lineup. Ended his test career with an average of 48.79 with 5 centuries, a very competent batter to slot in here.
Harry Trott (21/24)- An Australian captain who wasntin his era was a decent player in his own right but his leadership was revered even by the teams he went up against so his all round abilities and leadership makes him the skipper of this team.
Bill Storer (6/6)- Stood up to the stumps against the actual quicks and was an actual decent bat made Storer standout ahead of other wicket keepers in his era but was limited to only 6 test due to Dick Lilley's existence.
Hugh Trumble (19/32)- a legend of Australia during the Golden Age of cricket. A capable lower order batter and a master of off spin bowling along with a decent slip fielder. Was always going to find his way into one of these early teams
Johnny Briggs (17/33)- A legendary SLO bowler for both Lancashire and England with averages of well below 20 for both of them, his inclusion was a no-brainer
Charlie Turner (11/17)- 993 wickets at 14 in FC, broke the England season wicket record, only player to take 50 wickets in their first six test matches etc etc. Charlie Turner was an elite world class spin bowler to join the other ones in this team
Tom Richardson (14/14)- Brings the heat and pace into this attack. An elite level quick bowler with over 2,000 wickets at 18 and 88 test wickets, an important cog in this attack.
William Gunn (7/11)- A Notts stalwart in both Cricket and Football. His 6ft 3 frame played a great role in the mystique and admiration around him. Now fondly remembered as the pub across the road from Trent Bridge.
Bobby Peel (11/20)- very unfortunate to be on the bench here. Very similar to Briggs but from across the Pennines in God's own country of Yorkshire, but these spin triplets are very formidable to try and break into.
Victor Trumper (33/48)- What else is there to say about Victor Trumper that hasn’t already been said. He was a man well ahead of his time, one of the world’s best to ever do it at the top of the order and especially on the worst of pitches. Easy choice as opener.
C.B Fry (13/26)- This man did everything. Played in an FA Cup semi final, jointly held the Long Jump world record, was a teacher, Helped train people for the Royal Navy and was in the Naval Reserve, was a Liberal politician and even turned down the Albanian Throne while in Geneva for the League of Nations. Oh and he tried to convince Adolf Hitler and Von Ribbentrop that Nazi Germany should play test cricket. However, for this team he was a highly talented cricketer and opening batsman.
Clem Hill (28/49)- one of the best batters of his generation. Hill was probably the first truly great left handed batter with stylish cuts and drives we know today. Overshadowed a bit by Trumper, Hill’s speed of run scoring was still well ahead of its time as well.
Johnny Tyldesley (27/31)- a stalwart of Lancashire and England right up till WW1 in which he served and survived the War as an NCO. He was quick on his feet at the crease and in the outfield and easily gets into this batting lineup.
Warwick Armstrong (30/50)- The Big Ship was a legendary Australian captain who whitewashed England and made Australia in the win at all costs team we know today. But also he was a good cricketer more than good with the bat and can bowl some handy overs as well.
Monty Noble- One of the greatest All rounders Australia have ever produced. Bowling quality medium pace or off spin as well scoring important runs with the bat.
George Hirst (19/24)- A Yorkshire all time great with over 36,000 FC runs and 2700 Wickets at impressive averages. Hirst continues the run of great allrounders in this team.
Wilfred Rhodes (23/58)- from one Yorkshire great allrounder to another. Number 8 is very harsh on Rhodes but in his very long test career he played here there and everywhere from open to number 11. Holding the record for most FC appearances and most FC wickets, Rhodes is an immensely experienced and talented cricketer over a long and illustrious career.
Dick Lilley (28/35)- Highly respected within the game at the time and for a long period of time. A reliable pair of hands behind the stumps who could knock a few runs for you when needed.
Colin Blythe (17/19)- a classically talented left arm finger spinner who was very good at taking wickets. Unfortunately, he like thousands of others was a casualty of the Third Battle of Ypres also know as Passchendaele.
Tibby Cotter (12/21)- Was the quickest bowler of his generation. A skiddy bowler, he didn’t quite have the control of others but he was a perfect strike bowler and a tendency to shatter stumps. All this up until he rebelled around the 1912 Tri-tournament and the being sniped in Palestine in 1917 during WW1 ended his test career and sadly his life.
Archie MacLaren (19/35)- was an elite batter at the turn of the century unfortunately the competitiveness at the top of the order denies him a spot here whereas in the 1890s would have definitely made one of the opener slots for sure.
Bert Vogler (8/15)- One of the 4 South African googly bowlers and a mainstay throughout South Africa’s early tests, he is the first player to have not played for Australia or England in these teams.
1. Billy Zulch (13/16)- a career like many in this team and the ones surrounding that was interrupted by WW1, still his test and FC records aren’t horrible and should do a solid job opening up here
2. Charles Kellaway (15/26)- Another dependable and useful opener alongside Zulch and can offer some helpful pace overs.
3. Phil Mead (9/17)- A Hampshire legend, this man was a run machine for them and is actually the highest scorer in all of county championship history, scoring 1,000 runs in all but one of his seasons in the comp.
4. Dave Nourse (21/45)- a test career that lasted 20+ years, a first class average of 42. Dave Nourse was an important batter for South Africa at the turn of the century. Could also bowl some useful medium pace.
5. Aubrey Faulkner (16/25) - The star and leader of this team, an hall of famer All-rounder. Averaging 40 with the bat in tests and bowled quality fast and bouncing leg spin/googly bowling. At times he was the bast batter in the world and top 5 bowlers in the world to just hammered home his all round talent.
6. Vernon Ransford (10/20)- a stylish left handed middle order batter who is so reliable no matter the circumstances perfect addition at number 6.
7. Young Jack Hearne (13/24)- a talented leg spinning all rounder that I’m experienced with from picking him in the tariff draft. Didn’t quite bring his best to test cricket but his FC numbers are top tier.
8. Frank Foster (11/11)- a talented left arm seamer who was more than capable with the bat in hand. A career not fully fulfilled after it was cut short due injury sustained in a motorcycle accident
9. Sammy Carter (10/28)- was eligible for both this and the 1900s. Was a first rate keeper and had a scoop very much ahead of his time but other than that his batting was a massive thing to write home about but more than adequate for a number 9.
10. Bill Whitty (13/14)- a canny 6ft left armer seamer and who could bowl spin with the old ball. A consistent performer who you could rely on.
11. Sydney Barnes (15/27)- Just a hall of fame bowler to finish of the XI. 189 wickets at 16 in test match cricket. And can swing it both ways and bowl leg spin. Good luck batters.
12. Charlie Llewellyn (10/15)- A solid middle order all rounder for South Africa as well as for Hampshire but by 1912 he had to be dragged out of retirement to play in the Tri-tournament.
13. Ranji Hordern (7/7)- a leg spin/googly bowler who didn’t play to much only 35 FC matches but still took 228 wickets at 16 in them so deserves his selection here
Jack Hobbs (28/61) - A top 5 test batter of all time. The best opener to ever do it. Player with the most first-class runs scoring a mind-boggling 61,760 runs including 199 centuries. Who else?
Herbert Sutcliffe (32/54)- Hobbs' partner in crime at the top of the order. He was an epitome of a classic English and Yorkshire opening batter who liked it tough and always looking to grind it out and his test record of averaging 60 reflects his immense skill.
Charles Macartney (14/35)- An elegant, free flowing player and stood at 5ft 3in who is said to have been Don Bradman's batting inspiration. His skill can be seen by the fact he averaged just short of 70 in this decade even in his late 30s.
Patsy Hendren (32/51)- A run machine at both Test and FC level. In the latter scoring 57,000 runs at an average of 50. Instant lock for the middle order of this side.
Ernest Tyldesley (14/14)- Lancashire's highest ever run scorer in its country joins this team at 5. His average of 55 in Test cricket just shows his class along with his 102 FC centuries.
Frank Woolley (33/64)- The left-handed Kent All-rounder legend did pretty much everything bar wicketkeeping on a cricket pitch and his great catching would probably make him good at that too. All of this day in day out over a 30+ year professional career
Jack Gregory (24/24)- This All-rounder from the famous Gregory cricketing dynasty's impact on test cricket was as fast as his bowling. Influential with bat and ball for the entire decade until a career-ending knee injury at Brisbane in 1928.
Maurice Tate (26/39)- A great seam bowler who took a wicket with his very first ball in test cricket. He started off as a batter who bowled spin but grew into a fast-medium seam bowling all rounder and a very succesful one at that.
Harold Larwood (12/21)- One of the fastest bowlers of a cricket ball. Hactions during the Bodyline series is stuff of legend and infamy. They also completely ended the career and changed the life of an elite bowler who was robbed of some of prime years in the sport because of it to all our loss, except the batters of that era ofc.
Bert Strudwick (17/28)- A definition of a specialist keeper, barely averages 10 in FC with the bat but amazing behind the stumps to both spin and pace with a reputation as a great stumper and someone who took his health seriously being teetotal.
Tich Freeman (12/12)- A leg spinner with over 3,700 FC wickets at an average of below 20 and was only 5ft 2in. Freeman is the only bowler to take 300 in an English season ever but unfortunately his test chances were limited due to some perceived weaknesses, he's more than good enough for this XI.
Warren Bardsley (21/41)- A good left handed batter who was robbed of many of his prime years due to WW1 and wasn't quite the elite-level batter he was before it. But still became the oldest Australian to score a century to date
Arthur Mailey (21/21)- A leg spin bowler who still holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Australian in an innings. Wasn't the most accurate of bowlers but was deeply determined to just keep bowling and bowling.
Vijay Merchant (6/10)- 859 at 47.72 is still solid returns in 10 tests including decent tours of England but his FC average of 71.64 is second only to Bradman so gets him the opening berth in this team.
Bill Ponsford (20/29)- The only batter in that Australian team people thought could come to close Bradman at the time. Ponsford is a scorer of big big innings having multiple 400+ scores and 5 triples
George Headley (19/22)- Averages 60 in tests and 69 in FC. He is an elite all time great batsman and nicknamed "The Black Bradman" for a reason
Don Bradman(33/52) - It's the Don do I really need to say more than that about the greatest ever cricketer?
Dudley Nourse (14/34)- Son of the 1910s inclusion Dave Nourse, Dudley eclipsed his father's legacy and ability with the bat, averaging 50 with bat vs Aus and Eng as well as in all FC matches.
Wally Hammond (60/85)- Yeah this one is slightly fudged but it is Wally Hammond and he is going to have some bowling workload as the team's All-rounder. Just a legendary batter with an average of 58 in test cricket who in his playing days set so many records that took quite a while to beat.
Les Ames (46/47)- The first wicketkeeper you could probably say was in the modern mould of a wicketkeeper batter. Averaging over 40 in tests and FC he can stake a claim to being one the best ever WK batters in the history of test cricket.
Hedley Verity (40/40)- A world class and all time great Left-arm finger spinner. His FC wickets came at 14.90. Tragically taken too soon dying as a Captain on campaign in Italy during WW2 aged 38. His legacy lives on as an amazing cricketer and a Disco Spoons in Leeds City Centre right near the end of the Otley Run.
Clarrie Grimmett (28/37)- Regarded as the best bowler in the world during his era. He took the longway round from New Zealand to play tests for Australia, only making his debut after he had turned 30. STill managed to cram 216 wickets into that career tho.
Bill Voce (24/27)- Larwood's left armed foil at Notts and for England especially during Bodyline. The two are forever linked together with the Larwood and Voce stand at Trent Bridge. Howver, Voce was a top quality seamer in his own right, taking 1,558 FC wickets at 23.08.
Bill Bowes (14/15)- The second spearhead with verity of the all conquering Yorkshire attack. His fast-medium pace were lethal to any batter who went up against it. However, he was badly affected by the War, greatly impacted by his years in POW camps after the Fall of Tobruk.
Bill Woodfull (25/35)- Extremely unfortunate to miss out of this XI as Ponsford's regular opening partner and an elite batter in his own right
Bill O'Reilly (26/27)- Another Aussie who is very unlucky to miss out. This leggie was a great partner alongside Grimmett for Australia but misses out to make sure Hammond isn't the second seamer
Vijay Merchant (6/10)- 859 at 47.72 is still solid returns in 10 tests including decent tours of England but his FC average of 71.64 is second only to Bradman so gets him the opening berth in this team.
Bill Ponsford (20/29)- The only batter in that Australian team people thought could come to close Bradman at the time. Ponsford is a scorer of big big innings having multiple 400+ scores and 5 triples
George Headley (19/22)- Averages 60 in tests and 69 in FC. He is an elite all time great batsman and nicknamed "The Black Bradman" for a reason
Don Bradman(33/52) - It's the Don do I really need to say more than that about the greatest ever cricketer?
Dudley Nourse (14/34)- Son of the 1910s inclusion Dave Nourse, Dudley eclipsed his father's legacy and ability with the bat, averaging 50 with bat vs Aus and Eng as well as in all FC matches.
Wally Hammond (60/85)- Yeah this one is slightly fudged but it is Wally Hammond and he is going to have some bowling workload as the team's All-rounder. Just a legendary batter with an average of 58 in test cricket who in his playing days set so many records that took quite a while to beat.
Les Ames (46/47)- The first wicketkeeper you could probably say was in the modern mould of a wicketkeeper batter. Averaging over 40 in tests and FC he can stake a claim to being one the best ever WK batters in the history of test cricket.
Hedley Verity (40/40)- A world class and all time great Left-arm finger spinner. His FC wickets came at 14.90. Tragically taken too soon dying as a Captain on campaign in Italy during WW2 aged 38. His legacy lives on as an amazing cricketer and a Disco Spoons in Leeds City Centre right near the end of the Otley Run.
Clarrie Grimmett (28/37)- Regarded as the best bowler in the world during his era. He took the longway round from New Zealand to play tests for Australia, only making his debut after he had turned 30. STill managed to cram 216 wickets into that career tho.
Bill Voce (24/27)- Larwood's left armed foil at Notts and for England especially during Bodyline. The two are forever linked together with the Larwood and Voce stand at Trent Bridge. Howver, Voce was a top quality seamer in his own right, taking 1,558 FC wickets at 23.08.
Bill Bowes (14/15)- The second spearhead with verity of the all conquering Yorkshire attack. His fast-medium pace were lethal to any batter who went up against it. However, he was badly affected by the War, greatly impacted by his years in POW camps after the Fall of Tobruk.
Bill Woodfull (25/35)- Extremely unfortunate to miss out of this XI as Ponsford's regular opening partner and an elite batter in his own right
Bill O'Reilly (26/27)- Another Aussie who is very unlucky to miss out. This leggie was a great partner alongside Grimmett for Australia but misses out to make sure Hammond isn't the second seamer
Sid Barnes (12/13)- A member of the 1948 invincible tour. WW2 denying us what could have potentially been a great career if his batting average of 61.05 is to suggest with him retiring early at only 32 after the invincible tour. And his attempt to make a comeback was dashed by his own eccentricity.
Cyril Washbrook (25/47)- The Lancastrian opening batter really flourished in the post war period of he 1940s, forming a great partnership with Len Hutton at the top of the order.
Bill Edrich (20/39)- A member of the great Edrich cricketing family. He was a batting all-rounder that broke through pre-WW2 with a double in that drawn Cape Town Timeless test and never looked to back down from a fight. Was as successful during the war, a squadron leader winning the DFC in a Bristol Blenheim.
Alan Melville (6/11) - A fluid, elegant stroke player. He is used to the middle order and captaining in domestic cricket but was used as an opener and captain for South Africa. His success in test cricket came when he was a bit past his best in his late 30s but averaged over 50 doing so.
Rusi Modi (8/10)- A tall batter with great wrists who loved to score runs. First player to score 1,000 runs in a Ranji throphy season, his test career never reached the great heights his domestic career did but still averaged 46 while doing so.
Lala Amarnath (13/24)- First person to score a test match century for India and their first captain after Independence. He is seen as a great father figure in Indian cricketing history and such a person is a good captain in this team as well being a useful 5th bowling option.
Colin McCool (11/14)- a leg spinning all rounder who provides great balance to this team. His test career was blighted by injuries unfortuanetly but his last name alone gets him a spot in this team.
Don Tallon (15/21)- A proper wicketkeeper whose skill is held in the highest regard especially up to the stumps to spin bowling. Can offer something with the bat but his glovework gets him into the side.
Jack Cowie (6/9)- This seam bowler started off as a batter but develop into a genuine great bowler. Only playing the 9 tests and taking 45 wickets at 21 and his FC average is 22 after taking 114 in only one tour of England in 1937.
Eric Hollies (8/13)- If someone has heard of Eric Hollies it is either for the party stand that bares his name or being the bowler to dimiss Bradman for a duck in his last innings to cement his 99.94 average. Lesser talked about is his 2,323 FC wickets at 20.94 making a premier leg spin bowler on the domestic circuit at the time.
Ernie Toshack (12/12)- A late bloomer in cricket. The left arm seamer didn't play first class cricket until he was in his 30s due to the Great Depression, WW2 and wanting to play Rugby League early on. When he did play cricket he was good at it, his bowling averages in the low 20s across the board shows what could have been.
Nawab of Pataudi Snr (3/6)- By 1940s he was a bit past his best and playing for the country of his birth. In he 30s, he played for England but his career was jarred by his refusal to participate in Bodyline. His domestic career was stop and start but he could bat extremely well with an average of 48 over his 127 games.
Doug Wright (17/34). At Kent his early career was playing second fiddle to Tich Freeman but he grew into the lead spinner quicly enough. Was held in high regard by teammates and opponents alike. He was described as extremely unlucky with decisions and dropped chances off his bowling but when Bradman describes you as the best touring leggie since Sydney Barnes you must be good.
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