Who deserves a place in cricket’s all-time pantheon? Is Brian Lara greater than Sachin Tendulkar? Was Shane Warne better than Muttiah Muralitharan? How do the achievements of Ian Botham compare with those of Ben Stokes? And, ultimately, who is the greatest Test cricketer of them all?
These are just some of the fascinating questions that will be explored when Norfolk Cricket Society welcomes cricket writer Tim Wigmore to discuss his new book, The Pantheon: Test Cricket’s Best 50 Players of All Time, on Thursday 26th November.
Published by Quercus, the book tackles one of cricket’s most enduring subjects: how do we judge greatness across different generations, countries and eras? Drawing on historical research, statistical analysis and personal insight, Tim has assembled his selection of the 50 greatest Test players, celebrating the extraordinary individuals who have shaped the history of the game.
Naturally, any attempt to rank the greatest players is guaranteed to provoke debate. Can statistics really capture the magic of a great batsman or the impact of a match-winning bowler? How should we compare players who performed in very different conditions and circumstances? And who might have missed out on a place among cricket’s immortals?
Tim is ideally placed to lead this discussion. A sports writer for The Daily Telegraph, he has also written for The Economist, The New York Times and ESPNcricinfo. His previous books include Cricket 2.0: Inside the T20 Revolution, which won the Wisden Book of the Year award in 2020, and Test Cricket: A History, which was named The Sunday Times Sport Book of the Year for 2025.
This promises to be an entertaining and thought-provoking evening, with plenty of opportunities for cricket lovers to share their own opinions and challenge the choices.
The event starts at 7.30pm at Horsford Cricket Club, Manor Park. Entry for non-members is £7, cash payable on the door.
Signed copies of both The Pantheon: Test Cricket’s Best 50 Players of All Time and Test Cricket: A History will be on sale at the event.
