As I write Strauss and Cook are batting well and an unlikely victory or escape maybe begins to loom onto the horizon. As such it is time to get a bit jingoistic and provide a list of ten English heroes to inspire Strauss and the boys.
- Henry V - outnumbered at Agincourt he inspired his men with the greatest speech of all-time; well that's what Shakespeare wrote anyway.
- Douglas Jardine - ok as a Scot he is an honourary choice, but the master strategist devised bodyline and didn't give a hoot when the Aussies started whinging. "Well bowled Harold" indeed.
- Francis Drake - not only committed acts of piracy on the Spaniards but blitzed the Armada after finishing the game of bowls of course.
- Horatio Nelson - Lost an arm but still socked it to the French.
- Hedley Verity - Not only a brilliant bowler (England's best ever spinner?), but died a hero in Italy in WWII.
- Winston Churchill No explanation required for his war leadership but also the ultimate racounteur and provider of the best quotes of all-time.
- Henry VIII - the Pope wouldn't let him divorce Catherine of Aragon. No problem he just made himself head of the Church and gave himself permission.
- Harold Larwood - not only for executing Jardine's plan to the letter but also for refusing to apologise even if it did end his test career.
- Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington - for finishing Napoleon off once and for all at Waterloo.
- Edward I - Sorry to all the Scots out there.
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