The 1990s were not regarded as the finest time for The England Test Cricket side, with five Ashes’ defeats the low points of a particularly forgettable decade. In among the debris of some poor results, however, there were several players who shone for the Three Lions. Here are five of the best, with their stats relating to performances in the 90s.
England Test Cricket Stars of the 90s: Graham Thorpe
Surrey left-hander Thorpe got his shot at international glory in 1993 after England had been hammered by an innings by Australia in the second Test at Lord’s, and he took it with both hands. Despite a first-innings flop in his first Test match innings at Trent Bridge, Thorpe responded with a fabulous 114 not out in the second innings to ensure the match ended in a draw.
He was the first England player for 20 years to make a century on his Test debut and no England player would score more Ashes runs during the ’90s than Thorpe. The world of cricket united in its grief when Thorpe died earlier this year at the tragically young age of 55.
England Test Cricket Stars of the 90s: Darren Gough
Leading the England seam attack in a ‘Team of the ’90s’ would have to be Darren Gough, a wholehearted and skilful paceman. He looked destined for big things from his Test debut against New Zealand, taking a wicket in his first over and scoring a half-century batting at No.9.
The Yorkshireman was unfortunate to play in a Test side which was at its lowest ebb, but in the one-day arena he was the first bowler to take 200 wickets in the 50-over game. The Yorkshireman had one of the most celebrated yorkers of the game, and infamously claimed an Ashes hat-trick during the 98/99 tour down under.
England Test Cricket Stars of the 90s: Michael Atherton
Lancashire opener Atherton captained England for much of the decade and certainly led from the front. Better defending than attacking, he was in his element against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1995, when his incredible 492-ball 185 not out helped England save a Test match that had looked totally beyond them. He scored 13 centuries over the course of the decade and no England batter faced more balls during that period.
England Test Cricket Stars of the 90s: Alec Stewart
No batter in world cricket scored more Test runs during the 1990s than Alec Stewart, a man who could open, light up the middle order and/or keep wicket, the ultimate jack of all trades. Only two other Englishmen – Joe Root and Graham Gooch – have scored more Test match runs than Stewart, who almost certainly would have scored more had he been able to concentrate on his batting alone rather than also sharing wicket-keeping duties with Jack Russell.
England Test Cricket Stars of the 90s: Angus Fraser
Middlesex seamer Angus Fraser kicked off the decade with a five-wicket haul against West Indies as England won against the calypso kings for the first time in 16 years. After a hip injury in 1993 he came back with eight wickets at The Oval as England ended an 18-match winless streak against the Aussies.
Fraser was consistent, dependable and intelligent and was one of the few England seamers to emerge from the 1990s with his head held high.
By James Mason
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