Cricket Commentators
1. Sunil Gavaskar
10,122 Test runs at 51.12
Now such a familiar and beloved voice in our ears when watching cricket, it's easy to forget just how good Gavaskar was as a player. The diminutive opener was an absolute stalwart of the Indian side in the 1970s and 1980s. As you would expect from someone who became the first ever player to reach 10,000 Test runs, he was technically correct, determined and a nightmare to bowl to.
Overall Gavaskar scored 34 Test centuries, with his high-score of 236* against West Indies in 1983 a perfect example of his skill, powers of concentration and stroke-play. The perfect man to lead the commentators' XI out to bat.
2. Geoffrey Boycott
8114 Test runs at 47.72
Boycott is the definitive voice in English cricket – and part of the reason why is the career that came before. The proud Yorkshireman was a limpet at the top of the order – once he stuck himself to the crease you'd need some serious power to remove him.
Renowned for his determined nature, dead-batting and stick-ability, Boycott was quite happy to tire the opposition bowling attack out with his unique style. His 8114 Test runs were hard-earned and he is proud of each and every one of them. Opposition opening bowlers wouldn't fancy bowling at the combination of him and Gavaskar, that's for sure.
3. Graeme Smith (c)
9265 Test runs at 48.25
Imagine the feeling: you manage to remove one of those openers and in walks Smith. South Africa's youngest ever captain was never the prettiest batsman in the world, but he was sure effective, as his 27 centuries and very healthy average of 48.25 indicate.
Smith was known as much for his grinding out of runs as his captaincy – and his gritty personality, shouldering of responsibility and ability to lead sees him take the title in this side too.
4. David Gower
8321 Test runs at 44.25
After the grinders come the stroke-makers – and they don't come much finer to watch than Gower.
The English left-hander was a delight to lay eyes upon, full of flowing drives and effortless pull shots. His grace and timing saw him score 18 Test centuries and his talent was such that, despite his record there was always a case for wanting more. With the protection given by the cast-iron three ahead of him, he should be given plenty of protection in this line-up.
5. Michael Vaughan
5719 Test runs at 41.44
Another player with all the shots in the locker, Vaughan was always easy on the eye. The Englishman's stature at the crease, high top elbow and dead straight bat made for a good combination.
The right-hander is primarily remembered for his captaincy in the famous 2005 Ashes series, but he also made 18 hundreds over 82 Test matches and was a stylish and attractive player throughout his career.
6. Sir Ian Botham
5200 Test runs at 33.54
383 Test wickets at 28.40
The third successive Englishman in the side is one of the game's greatest ever all-rounders. Botham was a colossus in the 1980s, dominating the opposition through his supreme confidence and ability with both bat and ball.
Capable of swinging the ball both ways, Botham was England's leading Test wicket-taker until Jimmy Anderson overtook him in 2015, while his bravado and big-hitting saw him turn game after game on its head. The perfect man for the middle order.
7. Ian Healy (wkt)
4356 Test runs at 27.39
366 catches and 29 stumpings
Healy was an archetypal wicket-keeper and archetypal Australian. His chirping behind the stumps made him the life and soul of the Australian side in the late 1980s and 1990s.
While his record with the bat wasn't exceptional, Healy was a key part of a successful Australian side and the fact he reached 119 Tests – the seventh-most of any Australian – shows his legacy.
8. Shane Warne
708 Test wickets at 25.41
3154 Test runs at 17.32
The greatest leg-spinner of all time walks into this side. Warne's aggression, control and big spin made him the ultimate weapon for Australia for a whopping 145 Tests. His 708 Test wickets are surpassed only by Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan.
Warne's highlights reel are a thing to behold – full of batsman bamboozled by his variations or undone simply by the amount of turn he generated. His 'Ball of the Century' to dismiss Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes remains a marvel.
9. Richie Benaud
248 Test wickets at 27.03
2201 Test runs at 24.45
Benaud is arguably the most recognisable and iconic commentators of all time. His keen eye, geniality and turn of phrase made him a fixture in so many living rooms for so long, but before picking up the mic the Australian was a brilliant spinner too.
The intelligence that was evident to TV viewers was also there in his leg-spin bowling, with his guile, variations and field settings accounting for many of his 248 Test wickets. A gentleman and a wonderful addition to this side.
10. Isa Guha
29 Test wickets at 18.93
A canny right-arm seamer, Guha made her England debut aged just 16 and her Test debut aged 17 and continued to be an important part of the side right up until her retirement. She was top of the ICC Women's Bowling Rankings at several points in her career.
Guha only had the opportunity to play in eight Test matches for England. But with opportunities restricted in the Test arena, she shined in the two shorter formats, helping England win the 2009 T20 World Cup.
11. Michael Holding
249 Test wickets at 23.68
"Whispering death": now there's an intimidating nickname for a fast bowler to have. Holding was one of many tall, athletic fast bowlers that the West Indies produced – and the word 'fast' is used in its most extreme sense. Holding was a proper fast bowler.
His graceful, fluid, repeatable action allowed him to glide to the crease and propel the ball down at the (presumably terrified) batsman at serious speeds. Holding took 13 five-wicket and two 10-wicket hauls in his 60 Test matches before picking up the microphone and blessing viewers with a velvet voice that belies his style on the pitch.