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In the third of a four-part series (part one: the top 30 men's footballers in Britain, part two: The best 30 women footballers in Britain ) analysing the best players in British sport, Nick Hoult ranks the top 30 players in men's cricket. The criteria is simple: the players chosen simply have to play the vast majority of their cricket in the United Kingdom.
1. Ben Stokes
No player comes close to Stokes in terms of leadership, sheer will to win and force of personality. He is the finest allrounder in the world, a player other teams truly fear and holds England’s Ashes hopes in his hands. If he has a good start to the Ashes, then watch panic spread through the Australian team. If he struggles, it is all over for England.
2. Eoin Morgan
Holds absolute power over the white-ball team and remains a fantastic batsman in his own right despite his dodgy back. Seems determined to go on until the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and if his form holds, then why not longer? Morgan senses his destiny is to become the first captain to unite the two World Cups and he has the team to do it.
3. Jofra Archer
Totally in control in T20 cricket, his favourite format, but remains an enigma in the Test side. When playing Test cricket he wears the look of a man who thinks the whole world is against him and Joe Root has to become better at handling this once-in-a-generation fast bowler. Like Stokes, England do not win in Australia without Archer landing blows (literally).
4. Joe Root
Root endured a poor 2020 with the bat, his first calendar year without an international hundred, but the Test team are responding better to his leadership with series wins over South Africa, West Indies and Pakistan good progress. Has settled on a method for his team of building big scores, but legacy will depend on what happens in Australia.
5. Jos Buttler
Secured his place as a Test batsman last summer where he looked to have finally cracked how to pace an innings. Keeping remains his weakness in red ball cricket and sub-continent tours in the new year will be a real challenge. One of the world’s finest white-ball batsmen. England’s only dilemma is where to position him.
6. Stuart Broad
A stunning summer for Broad led to his nomination for Sports Personality of the Year and closed down the theory his future is tied to Anderson. He’s fit, smart with his training and no reason why he can’t emulate Anderson’s longevity and have a couple more summers.
7. Jonny Bairstow
A recall for the Sri Lanka Test tour was an end-of-year bonus for Bairstow who remains one of the world’s best white-ball batsmen. If he can prove he has solved his technical deficiency in Test cricket then England will be a stronger side going into an Ashes year.
8. James Anderson
The hype around the 600th Test wicket appeared to affect Anderson who had a poor summer by his standards. Still a master of swing, and his artistry will be missed when it has gone. Will 2021 herald the end? It feels that way.
9. Chris Woakes
England’s player of the summer. Woakes was terrific with the ball, outbowling Anderson, and played a crucial innings in the first-Test run chase against Pakistan. A fine allrounder and good team-man.
10. Adil Rashid
His red-ball career is over but in this era of split teams it does not matter. Remains the best white ball spinner in the world and could bowl England to T20 World Cup success in India.
11. Sam Curran
At 22 and with the world at his feet, Curran showed strong signs of breaking into England’s top tier of regular multi-format players in 2020. His cutters will be important at the T20 World Cup and he has a knack of making things happen when he gets a chance in Test cricket.
12. Zak Crawley
What a year for Crawley. The first young batsman since Root to really breakthrough and could even eclipse him eventually. Possesses all the shots and an insatiable work ethic. Keep an eye on him for white-ball cricket too.
13. Ollie Pope
Second shoulder operation in 18 months is a worry and he needs protecting in the field. Such an attractive player to watch in full flow and a Crawley-Pope future really is bright one for England.
14. Dawid Malan
He continues to defy expectation and is even surprised himself to be world no 1 in T20 batting. Became consumed by worry in Test cricket but seems to thrive on having to constantly prove himself to Morgan.
15. Mark Wood
His talk of becoming a white-ball specialist is a worry but you can’t blame his frustration after being man of the match in Johannesburg led to just one Test last summer. If fit, and able to handle the pressure, he could win an Ashes Test.
16. Rory Burns
A tough summer for Burns who found bubble life hard and averaged 28. Tough, doughty and reliable. He fits the mould of what England are looking for right now but has to constantly strive to be good enough at Test level.
17. Dom Sibley
Added to his off-side game last summer and is a pragmatic young player aware of his faults and willing to work on them. Will be tested by spin in the new year, and high pace in Australia. It is a big 2021 for the opener.
18. Jason Roy
Faded in 2020 after being an integral part of the World Cup win. Appeared to be lacking in motivation last summer and then had a poor T20 series in South Africa. He will be back - he’s too good to slip away.
19. Chris Jordan
Now England’s leading T20 wicket-taker and could be a World Cup death-over hero next year. Jordan knows death bowling is precarious business and shrugs off success and failure with equal magnanimity; a crucial skill. Superb fielder.
20. Moeen Ali
Moeen had a difficult year. A Test recall for Sri Lanka (and probably India) is a last chance in the long format but conditions at the Twenty20 World Cup will suit him and when in form can hit spinners from ball one.
21. Sir Alastair Cook
22. Tom Curran
23. Simon Harmer
24. Sam Billings
25. Craig Overton
26. Dom Bess
27. Jack Leach
28. Ben Foakes
29. Dan Lawrence
30. Darren Stevens
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Topic: Best 30 men's cricketers in Britain (Read 6724 times)