Cook to Price: A Test XI of common nouns

1. Cook: Alastair Cook may have retired from international cricket, but it is a no-brainer that he will take first strike for this team. England's most-capped Test batsman, Cook has produced marathon knocks both at home and away. With 33 hundreds, including five double-centuries, Cook is an opener for all seasons. Even if he has a bad day with the bat, he can make up for it with his bucket hands at slip.

2. Boon: David Boon will partner Cook at the top, and one hopes that the Australian's right-handed spunk will complement the Englishman's left-handed solidity. A fine opening batsman in his own right, Boon averaged nearly 44 in a Test career spanning more than 100 Test matches. He was also an excellent close-in catcher like Cook, so they can exchange notes on that front as well.

3. Root: Joe Root is this team's No. 3 despite his reluctance to bat at the position for England. Among the most watchable batsmen in modern-day cricket, Root has both a solid defence and a great range of strokes, which make him an ideal first-drop in Test cricket. He may not convert fifties into hundreds as frequently as others do, but with 17 centuries, several half-centuries and an average of just over 48, he still brings a great deal to the table.

4. Border (capt): Allan Border will bat at No. 4 and will lead this side. He came reluctantly to the captaincy after Kim Hughes' tearful resignation at Brisbane in 1984-85, but he still managed to turn around the fortunes of the team, prefacing a decade-and-half of Australia's dominance in the world cricket. He was also the first batsman to score 11,000 Test runs, so his unglamorous yet effective batting can be relied on to steer this side. If the frontline bowlers need a break, he can also bowl tidy left-arm spin.

5. Bell: For a few years, one wondered if Ian Bell was all style and no substance. Fortunately for England and himself, he was able to marry grit with the grace of his strokeplay, as his Test average of 42.69 in 118 matches and his 22 centuries attest. Some of his telling contributions with the bat came in wins over Australia and India.

6. Lamb: Allan Lamb, who played 79 Tests for England, was an excellent player against pace. That he made six of his fourteen Test hundreds against the West Indies of the eighties is a testament to his ability against such bowling. His strut, too, may be helpful when the team needs a laugh or a boost in morale.

7. Flower (wk and vice-capt): Andy Flower takes the wicket-keeping gloves and is the vice-captain of this team. Reliable behind the stumps for Zimbabwe for many years, Flower was also a superb batsman against both spin and space, as illustrated by his monumental performances versus India and South Africa in the early 2000s. With a batting average of more than 51 - 53 as a keeper-batsman - in Test cricket and 12 centuries, he could be a floater in this team, though he is slotted to come in at No. 7.

8. Holder: Coming in at No. 8, West Indies' Jason Holder is technically the bowling allrounder in the line-up. He could bat higher, however, as he has a handsome record with the bat, which includes an unbeaten double-hundred, also made from the No. 8 position. With the ball, Holder can bowl the long, mean spells on hot days, but also has the ability to take a bagful of wickets, as his seven five-wicket hauls show.

9. Holding: Michael Holding, who took 249 Test wickets and spooked batsmen with his pace and bounce, is the leader of this attack. His six half-centuries in Test cricket show that he could also hold his own with the bat.

10. Bond: When New Zealand's Shane Bond ran into bowl, we could see both the ruthlessness of a master hunter and the honed rhythm of an expert artist. In his all-too-brief international career, he reserved his best against Australia, especially in ODI cricket. He played only eighteen Tests, but was good enough to take more than four wickets on 12 occasions. He will share the new ball with Holding.

11. Price: Zimbabwean left-arm fingerspinner Ray Price is the lone frontline spinner in the team. A quiet and consistent performer, Price can hold one end up and give the quicks a rest when needed.

Umpires: Dickie Bird and Daryl Harper (on field), Russell Tiffin (TV)
Match referee: Jeff Crow(e)