The Ashes

[Fido]

I know it's only opinions... but surprised to see Sir Geoffrey as low as 41.
And only 3 English in the top ten.

Did Boycott have a great ashes record, good undoubtedly. Plus he did have a test hiatus which spared him the series when Thomson and Lille took us apart.

More surprised by the gap between Flintoff and Botham. Might be thinking of their overall test career not their Ashes career. Take the view that Flintoff was a better cricketer than Botham.

Surprised to read this. Botham was a beast with the bat, much more inclined to bully the bowlers than Flintoff ever was. He also worked very hard on his bowling, to add new variations to what was already rapid pace and a tricky outswing. By contrast Flintoff never seemed to work hard at his game, didn't have Both's "win at all costs" mentality or the same level of "cricket brain". My impression of Flintoff is summed up as "Could have been (probably should have been) the next Ian Botham, but wasn't".

Tend to agree. Might be my impression but I came to see Flintoff as a bowler who could bat a bit later in his career whereas Botham always seemed a genuine all-rounder. 

On a separate note I can't begin to tell you how excited we were as kids when Botham went to Worcestershire and was spotted house-hunting in the village where we grew up, Belbroughton. Never came to pass but my pal and I were dreaming of knocking on his door and asking him to pop down the nets with us!