9 Famous English Cricket Players in 2022
The game of cricket enjoys global popularity, making it one of today’s leading sports in fans’ preferences. And Great Britain boasts some of the most distinguished cricket players the game has ever seen.
The most famous English cricketers are renowned for their agility, gameplay technique, skills, and sportsmanship. In the guide below, we provide a list of the top-ranked cricket players in the UK.
Overview of famous English cricketers
Even if you are an avid cricket fan, we wholeheartedly hope you will find our well-researched article useful.
Cricket Player | Years of Activity | Height | Role | Matches |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ben Stokes | 2009-Present | 1.85 cm | All-rounder | 79 |
Joe Root | 2009-Present | 1.83 cm | Top-order batsman | 117 |
Monty Panesar | 2006-2013 | 1.85 cm | Bowler | 50 |
Stuart Broad | 2005-Present | 1.96 cm | Bowler | 152 |
James Anderson | 2000-Present | 1.88 cm | Bowler | 169 |
Jonny Bairstow | 2009-Present | 1.78 | Wicket-keeper-batsman | 83 |
Alastair Cook | 2002-Present | 1.88 cm | Opening batsman | 161 |
Jos Buttler | 2009-Present | 1.83 cm | Wicket-keeper-batsman | 57 |
Jofra Archer | 2016-Present | 1.82 | Bowler | 13 |
Note to our readers
- In order to create this table, our team of experts has undergone thorough research to make sure we can successfully deliver accurate data to our readers.
- We periodically update all of our content to make sure it keeps being relevant. Hence, if the information provided in this table will suffer alterations, we will modify it accordingly at a later point in time.
Credit: Sky Sports
England’s most famous cricket players at the moment have attained an outstanding level of skill in the game—and they have an endless string of cups, trophies, and records to prove it.
Let’s take a closer look at their achievements in our England cricket players’ name list.
Ben Stokes

Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 2871 | 86 | 3078 | 85 |
Test | 5055 | 144 | 5541 | 125 |
T20I | 442 | 28 | 717 | 490 |
FC | 8848 | 8848 | 10345 | 238 |
List A | 4772 | 4772 | 4565 | 131 |
T20 | 2865 | 2865 | 2669 | 109 |
Credit: The Guardian UK
Benjamin “Ben” Andrew Stokes is a true all-rounder—and a livewire on the pitch to boot.
He’s vice-captain of the England Test team and had multiple appearances in England One Day Internationals. Moreover, he has played for the Twenty20 International team.
Stokes is renowned for his left-handed batting style and, when bowling, his efficient right-handed fast-medium technique.
Ben Stokes holds the following records:
- Number 1 for most runs in an innings (258)
- Number 2 for most sixes in an innings (11)
- Rated for 190 test matches
Joe Root
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 6109 | 142 | 1491 | 68 |
Test | 9884 | 214 | 2045 | 111 |
T20I | 893 | 30 | 139 | 9 |
FC | 14263 | 318 | 3136 | 176 |
List A | 7393 | 180 | 1990 | 93 |
T20 | 1994 | 76 | 655 | 42 |

Joe Root is known for his backward trigger moves that can transform the mood of a game on matchday.
He’s led the England One Day International before, captained the national team, and appeared in the Twenty20 International team.
Root is highly rated among Indian bowlers for playing the ball late and dragging the backfoot with ease. He’s also won numerous Player of the Series awards.
Joe Root holds the next records:
- Number 1 for most hundreds in a series (5)
- Number 1 for most runs in a series by a captain (1170)
- Number 1 for fifties in consecutive matches (12)
- Number 7 for most matches as a captain (63)
Monty Panesar
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 26 | 8 | 980 | 26 |
Test | 220 | 68 | 5797 | 85 |
T20I | 1 | 1 | 40 | 1 |
FC | 1536 | 270 | 22135 | 0 |
List A | 141 | 29 | 2892 | 0 |
T20 | 7 | 7 | 816 | 32 |

When it comes to famous English cricketers, Mudhsuden “Monty” Singh Panesar rules the game with his unique skill set.
Did you know?
He’s played for the England Cricket National Team since 2006 when he was propelled into the national limelight and has since earned a stream of trophies and awards.
Panesar’s languid play on the pitch provides lots of excitement for national team supporters.
When England played in Mumbai in November 2012, he returned 19 wickets with Graeme Swann to refresh a record not broken in 54 years.
Records held by Monty Panesar:
- Number 1 (with Graeme Swann) for most wicket partnership in a match (19)
- Number 24 for most ducks in a career (20)
In the attention of our readers
In 2016, Panesar has retired from playing professional Cricket.
Stuart Broad
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 529 | 68 | 5364 | 121 |
Test | 3412 | 224 | 14932 | 280 |
T20I | 118 | 26 | 1491 | 55 |
FC | 5469 | 343 | 22888 | 0 |
List A | 620 | 80 | 6591 | 0 |
T20 | 152 | 32 | 2144 | 83 |
Credit: Irvine times
A list of the best England cricketers wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Stuart Broad, who’s made 150 appearances with the national team.
In fact, he’s one of just three England cricketers to hold the record for the most appearances!
Broad has captained the One Day team and the Twenty20 international team.
This stellar sportsman is a favourite among bookmakers, who closely follow his career as one of the greatest English cricketers of his generation.
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Records Stuart Broad holds:
- Number 2 for most ducks in a career (39)
- Number 2 for most runs in an innings by batting position (169)
- Number 10 for most test matches in a career (152)
James Anderson
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 273 | 79 | 7861 | 191 |
Test | 1262 | 239 | 17014 | 314 |
T20I | 1 | 4 | 552 | 19 |
FC | 1916 | 348 | 25334 | 0 |
List A | 376 | 105 | 10230 | 0 |
T20 | 23 | 10 | 1318 | 44 |

James Michael Anderson is one of the most famous English cricketers to ever step foot on the pitch.
He’s had a long collaboration with the Lancashire County Cricket Club and has also played for the national cricket team.
Anderson has a reputation in cricket as one of the fastest and most prolific bowlers the game has ever seen. He’s had numerous One Day and Test match appearances for England and holds a record 500-plus Test wickets.
James Anderson holds the following records:
- Number 2 for most matches in a career (169)
- Number 3 for most runs in an innings by batting position (81)
- Number 5 for most innings before first duck (54)
Jonny Bairstow
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 3498 | 81 | 0 | 0 |
Test | 4779 | 146 | 0 | 0 |
T20I | 1190 | 57 | 0 | 0 |
FC | 12427 | 325 | 1 | 1 |
List A | 5420 | 143 | 0 | 0 |
T20 | 3904 | 153 | 0 | 0 |

Jonathan “Jonny” Marc Bairstow is one of the best England cricketers on the field today, boasting multiple appearances in the Twenty20 and Indian Premier leagues.
Bairstow has shown he’s an efficient wicketkeeper and batsman and is well on his way to hitting 100 Tests for his country.
Few can rank higher on the England cricket players’ name list than this outstanding sportsman.
Records by Jonny Bairstow:
- Number 5 for most catches in an innings (6)
- Number 5 for most dismissals in an innings (6)
Alastair Cook
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 3204 | 92 | 0 | 0 |
Test | 12472 | 291 | 7 | 2 |
T20I | 61 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
FC | 24841 | 568 | 216 | 0 |
List A | 6510 | 176 | 10 | 0 |
T20 | 892 | 30 | 0 | 0 |

Alastair Cook played for the England cricket national team for many years, earning his place on the famous cricketers UK lists and making him a household name in the game.
As a batsman, he uses his left hand while bowling off the break—a signature bowling style.
Cook also plays for the Essex County Cricket Club, where he’s known for taking to the pitch like a standard-bearer. His international career for the England cricket team spanned 12 years, boasting numerous trophies and medals, which are further proof of his superior gameplay technique.
Records owned by Alastair Cook:
- Number 1 for most consecutive test matches for a team (159)
- Number 4 for most consecutive matches as a team captain (57)
- Number 5 for most runs in a career (12472)
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Jos Buttler
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 3872 | 123 | 0 | 0 |
Test | 2907 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
T20I | 2140 | 80 | 0 | 0 |
FC | 5888 | 199 | 11 | 1 |
List A | 6038 | 183 | 0 | 0 |
T20 | 7335 | 276 | 0 | 0 |

Jos Buttler is a global superstar cricketer, holding some of the highest Twenty20 rating records of all time. He’s also acted as vice-captain of the England Twenty20 and One Day teams.
This famed batsman is noted for his vast fan following on and off the pitch.
In 2021, Buttler smashed 85 in the India vs England game, making headlines for his polished skills and intuitive gameplay. He’s recorded 148 ODI, 57 Tests, and 88 T20I as of Q1 2022. With such an imposing resume, he’s one of the most famous English cricketers on the field today.
Jos Buttler’s Records:
- Number 2 for most catches in a series (49)
- Number 2 for most dismissals in a series (30)
Jofra Archer
Criteria | Batting & Fielding Runs | Batting & Fielding Inns | Bowling Runs | Bowling Inns |
---|---|---|---|---|
ODI | 27 | 9 | 720 | 17 |
Test | 155 | 20 | 1304 | 24 |
T20I | 19 | 2 | 371 | 12 |
FC | 1201 | 63 | 4510 | 82 |
List A | 219 | 20 | 1365 | 30 |
T20 | 551 | 61 | 3446 | 118 |

Jofra Archer was born in Barbados but has represented England and Sussex throughout his cricket career. He’s fast on the ball and, to date, boasts a record-winning throw of 154.65 km/h.
He started his England International career in April 2019 and quickly became one of Britain’s most famous cricket players.
Archer is held in high regard by players and fans alike for his bowling prowess. Moreover, he regularly makes the headlines and has appeared in numerous articles.
Impressive records held by Jofra Archer:
- Rated for balls in career (2609)
- Rated for runs in career (bowling) (1304)
- Rated for wickets in career (42)
Famous cricketers in the UK: And we’re out!
The game of cricket is enduringly popular in England, with a lengthy history and a considerable following across the country.
The most famous English cricketers have made a name for themselves both at home and abroad, and they continue to attract the attention of global fans of this true gentleman’s sport.
While even greater stars of the game are likely to emerge in the years ahead, we’ll never forget the contributions of these legendary players.
Share your thoughts with us!
What do you think of our list? Did we miss a player you think deserves a spot? Debate our picks and share your own in the comment section.