The top 30 men’s cricketers in Britain today

As 2024 draws towards a close, Telegraph Sport has been assessing the top 30 players in Britain across the biggest sports. The series ends today with our list of the best men’s cricketers in Britain.

30. Jack Leach

Outbowled Shoaib Bashir in Pakistan but is no longer England’s first-choice spinner. His poor 2021/22 Ashes tour will make it harder for Leach to regain this status now.

29. Will Jacks

Remains highly-regarded on the franchise scene, but his international returns have yet to do justice to Jacks’ talents. He now averages 31.2 in ODIs and just 18.2 in 23 T20Is and ended the year dropped from both squads.

28. John Turner

After more than a year of being picked in England squads, Turner finally won his maiden international cap. He made a solid impression on the white-ball tour of the Caribbean with pace around 85mph and a smooth repeatable action.

27. Sam Curran

Aged 26, should now be a senior player in the white-ball sides. Instead, Curran ended the year dropped from both white-ball squads; to England, his batting improvement is yet to compensate for his bowling struggles. Curran admitted that, with his lack of pace, he fears that he doesn’t “fit the mould” of England under Brendon McCullum.

26. Ollie Robinson

In a year when England decisively turned away from James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Robinson should have been established as unequivocal leader of the attack. Instead, a wicketless Test in Ranchi – a game that showed his fitness struggles once again – might well prove Robinson’s last contribution in an England shirt. Should that be the case, 76 wickets at 23 will hint at Robinson’s talent and the sense of waste.

25. Jamie Overton

Injury ruled him out of the T20 World Cup but when Overton returned to full fitness, he hinted at the usual range of skills – pace and bounce with the ball, and brutal hitting with the bat – that could bring a new dimension to England’s white-ball sides.

24. Shoaib Bashir

A curious year. Initially justified England’s belief in attributes over averages in India, showing his bounce and a cool temperament. But struggled as the year progressed, ending with 49 wickets at an average of 40: a high figure for a man who contributes little with the bat or in the field.

23. Olly Stone

Made a heartening Test return after three years ruined by injury, and showed pace and threat with the new and old ball alike. But did not win a cap in the winter.

22. Saqib Mahmood

A stellar Hundred led to Mahmood winning an England white-ball recall. By the T20 series in the Caribbean, swinging the new ball at pace, Mahmood looked an essential part of England’s attack.

21. Jonny Bairstow

After a poor Test series as a specialist batsman in India, averaging 24, Bairstow was dropped. He later faced the same treatment in white-ball cricket too. Even with a central contract he faces a major fight if he is to play international cricket again.

20. Liam Dawson

The lone player on this list not to be capped by England in 2024 and is highly unlikely to play international cricket again. But he was named the Professional Cricketers’ Association player of the year and enjoyed a stellar County Championship campaign, averaging 60 with the bat and 25 with his left-arm spin. He would open up new possibilities in England’s side.

19. Rehan Ahmed

Struggled at times as he navigated the curious existence of an English leg spinner, but taking four for 66 in Rawalpindi was a reminder of Ahmed’s qualities. Aged 20, he retains all the attributes to enjoy a superb career.

18. Zak Crawley

After what seemed a breakthrough 2023, Crawley stagnated, averaging just 28 in 14 Tests either side of a broken finger. For all his capacity for stunning shot-making, no England opener has ever played so much and averaged so little.

17. Liam Livingstone

Rejuvenated in the final months of the year, performing brilliantly against Australia – after initially being dropped from the ODI squad – and then captaining during the ODI series in West Indies. Marginalised under Matthew Mott, Livingstone is a far better cricketer when given more responsibility.

16. Matthew Potts

After just one Test in 2023, Potts showed outstanding stamina, combined with an awkward angle and capacity to move the old ball. But Potts knows that this regime craves extra pace.

15. Jofra Archer

Very welcome signs of Archer returning to close to his best in white-ball cricket. England will now hope that his workload continues to increase and that he is fully fit to play a part in the Ashes.

14. Ollie Pope

Began the year with one of England’s most extraordinary Test innings, 196 in the Hyderabad heist. Yet ended the year with an average of just 33 and the growing sense that he is better suited to No 6 than No 3. His stint as stand-in captain was also not always convincing.

13. Chris Woakes

An outstanding home summer finally leading the attack without James Anderson or Stuart Broad. Unexpectedly given three away Tests, Woakes fully justified his selection there too. Might yet be an Ashes tourist next winter.

12. Adil Rashid

Still England’s most valuable white-ball player, with little indication of his standards slipping as he nears 37. Is also playing a crucial role mentoring Rehan Ahmed, his eventual successor.

11. Phil Salt

A rare species in England’s current set-up: a white-ball specialist. Assuming the gloves has heightened Salt’s importance. For all his buccaneering strokeplay, in the Caribbean Salt showed growing adaptability too.

10. Jacob Bethell

Only made his international debut in September. Yet Bethell has already thrived in all three formats, with his assured batting at No 3 in the Tests in New Zealand adding to the impression of a rare talent.

9. Jamie Smith

Looked utterly at home in Test cricket, averaging 42 after replacing Surrey team-mate Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper and impressing with his technique and temperament alike. Now seems certain to become a three-format player for England; the only question is whether he will remain keeper or be used as a specialist batsman instead.

8. Brydon Carse

One of the finds of the year. Came back from a ban for prior gambling events to take 27 wickets in his first five Test matches, showing an ability to prize out wickets with the old ball on flat wickets that England have often lacked.

7. Ben Duckett

A solid rather than spectacular Test year, averaging 37. But excelled when given a chance to open in the ODIs against Australia, and is inked into both the Test and 50-over sides.

6. Jos Buttler

During England’s underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign the white-ball captain looked “miserable”, according to Brendon McCullum. But Buttler looked reinvigorated during the tour of the Caribbean and remains one of the world’s most devastating white-ball batsmen.

5. Gus Atkinson

Brilliant maiden year in Test cricket, including a Test ten-for, hat-trick and a century. Atkinson’s accuracy and pace add up to a formidable package, even ignoring his dangerous lower-order batting.  The only concern is whether he is being overbowled, with indications of his speed being down in New Zealand.

4. Mark Wood

Played only six Tests and averaged an unremarkable 37 – figures that bely his mesmerising speed. If England could be assured of one bowler’s fitness for the Ashes, they would surely choose Wood.

3. Ben Stokes

Far from a vintage year, with no Test centuries. Yet Stokes’s capacity to balance the Test side when fully fit, alongside his inspirational captaincy, remains indispensable. Will he be able to perform the role of genuine all-rounder in 2025?

2. Joe Root

Continues to score relentlessly in Test cricket, setting records that no Englishman will ever surpass and he could yet overhaul Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of most Test-match runs.

1. Harry Brook

Now a Test triple centurion and ranked the best Test batsman in the world. He is the lone England batsman to be an automatic pick across the three formats. Also looked a natural captain when leading during the ODIs against Australia.