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#2 Andrew Strauss
The former England captain who took the national team to the top of the world rankings during his reign was also one of their best opening batsmen and there is no doubt that Andrew Strauss will always be considered among the best opening batsmen to have ever played for the team.
Strauss played exactly 100 Test matches for England and he played as an opening batsman in 97 of those.
Strauss had an efficient technique that allowed him to tough it out against the best bowlers in the world and his primary attacking shot was the cut. He also dealt in steers to the leg side and nudges all over the place.
He was particularly adept against pace but eventually, he got a lot better against spin. In those 97 Test matches, Strauss scored 6741 runs at an average of 40.85 and scored 20 centuries in addition to 53 centuries.
