Warne picks his greatest England Test XI

Having collated his greatest ODI and Test XIs for Australia since 1990, Shane Warne has turned his thoughts to Ashes rivals England.

Michael Vaughan has been named skipper of Warne’s best England Test team of the last 25 years, while legend Sir Ian Botham is the most notable omission from the side.

“I unfortunately didn't play test cricket against Ian Botham, otherwise of course he would have made it, as to me he was the best all-round cricketer to ever play the game,” Warne wrote on his Facebook page.

Botham played the last of his 102 Tests in June 1992, while Warne took on England for the first time in 1993. 

Quick Single: Warne picks his Greatest ODI XI

Warne said it was a tough call to leave out former captain and current England Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss at the top of the order, instead opting for Graham Gooch and Marcus Trescothick.

He said choosing a number five was also difficult, with Ian Bell, Mike Gatting, Graham Thorpe and Nasser Hussain the leading candidates.

“Gatting just pipped them all,” Warne said.

“I think the rest pick themselves, although was hard to leave out Steve Harmison.

“Devon Malcolm also pushed hard for a spot as did Phil Tufnell for the spinners spot.” 

Quick single: Warne picks his Greatest Australia Test XI

Vaughan comes in at first drop in Warne’s batting line-up, followed by controversial ex-England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is England’s greatest run-scorer across all formats.

Gatting follows at No.5, Alec Stewart takes the wicketkeeping gloves, while Andrew Flintoff fills the allrounders’ position.

Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Darren Gough and James Anderson, England’s greatest Test wicket-taker, round out the team.

Anderson and Broad are the only current players named in the XI, while skipper Alastair Cook did not make Warne’s team, despite becoming England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer earlier this year.

WARNE'S GREATEST ENGLAND TEST XI (since 1990)

Graham Gooch, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan (c), Kevin Pietersen, Mike Gatting, Alec Stewart (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Darren Gough, James Anderson