yes, talent yes, propensity to be an arse and get pissed no. Mind you Lamb, Gower, Gatting, Willis wouldn't ever get a game now either...Gooch, Knott would be guaranteed.
Whole culture of the game is different now, so it's a pointless comparison. What's to say they wouldn't have adapted in these different circumstances, including Beefy and still been worthy of international call ups. It's like saying the modern game of football would be too fast for Pele and Bobby Moore....
In fact without the slog of the county circuit on top of the improved fitness etc (some players routinely turning up for Counties the day after playing internationally) they may well have had much greater longevity and even better records.
Besides, no Botham internationally means Derek Pringle wouldn't have been the 'new Botham' and therefore all rounders after him would be 'New Pringle's'. No thanks....
Okay. You have one kick which you can place on the arse of a current(ish) England cricketer. Not to get them to play better, just because kicking them in the arse would be fun.
I’ll open, but allow myself a more considered choice later.
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The Ashes 2009
Jun 2022