If Mr Hoblyn really wants to try and compare Graeme Hick with Denis Compton, he is not really doing Hick any favours. Hick himself would probably be embarrassed. Compton had a Test average of 50 even though six of his very best years were removed by World War Two while Hick averaged 31. But Mr Hoblyn suggests Hick has been included in his team partially because of his bowling. Even though he did spend some time on Arsenal's left wing, Compton still managed to take 622 first class wickets with his left arm Chinamen, including five wickets in an innings 19 times. He even achieved that feat once in a Test. Hick has taken 232 first class wickets, achieving a five wicket haul in an innings five times. But with Denis it was never about stats. He was far more interested in who won the 2.45 at Sandown than his own average. Hick is a lovely batsman to watch but Compton belonged to another world.

Richard Evans, Richmond, Va, USA

On the basis that Richard from Virginia must have seen Compton and others of that generation I assume that he is in agreement with those that I never saw, Messrs Fry, Hobbs, Hammond, Woolley, Rhodes & Tate. You must be very very old Richard. Hick is preferred for his bowling and superb slip catching and the many centuries he has produced in the modern era. Perhaps if Compton hadn't been playing soccer for Arsenal so much his bowling may have been better. Fortunately the team is skippered by the greatest sportsman of all time, a man who apparently didn't need to practice at anything.

Richard Hoblyn, Limoges, FRANCE

Hick before Denis Compton? Mr Hoblyn, PLEASE! You obviously never saw him bat. Hick is a very fine player but, given his suspect temperament, should never be mentioned in the same breath as Compton, Hutton, Cowdrey, May, Dexter, Gower, Gooch or numerous others who withstood the fierce examination of Test cricket.

Richard, Richmond, Va, USA

Despite his lack of success at international level you really must include Graeme Hick - a class act.

John, Glasgow,

More interesting might be to ask for an XI of county cricketers who never played at test level, but probably should have done.

Don Shepherd, Peter Lee and Peter Sainsbury spring to mind instantly - and what about John Langridge and Wilf Wooller?

Guy Fraser-Sampson, London,

Assuming longetivity and track record (so that excludes all overseas players) are the initial credentials and that Test records are excluded (granted important) here is my All Time County XI.

1. G Boycott
2. CB Fry (Captain*)
3. W Hammond
4. J Hobbs
5. G Hick
6. W Rhodes
7. FW Woolley
8. APE Knott
9. MW Tate
10. JA Snow
11. DL Underwood

This team could put on 400+ in any conditions and bowl any opposition out in those conditions for under 280.

Richard Hoblyn, Limoges, FRANCE

While modern cricketers may grace the top eleven I hope the great Wally Hammond (Gloucestershire) will be considered. Not just one of the finest batsman ever but a great gentleman of the game.
My grandfather umpired for his local village side and he always remembers with pride when Gloucester came to play one day. Wally´s treatment of everyone was only how great sportsman should be remembered.
Some day´s later, Wally wrote to the village cricket club to show his appreciation of a fine day. He praised the club as a whole and thanked them for a great day. He went on to say what a fine wicket they had as well as nice things about the umpire who called him out.
My grandfather tended to that ground as well as umpired. That letter made him look after the ground with pride until the day he physically just couldn´t anymore.
Great players don´t just win games and trophies they must win the respect of those people who understand and love the game.

Shaun, Brasilia, Brazil

Tremendous names and a very difficult assignment to pick the very best ever over a century or more , but, considering every name, I select the following :-
1 M Elliott (Glamorgan)
2 D Boon (Durham)
3 S Law (Essex)
4 M Waugh (Essex)
5 D Lehmann (Yorkshire) (capt)
6 M Love (Durham)
7 T Moody (Worcestershire) (& the gloves)
8 S Warne (Hampshire) (vc for life)
9 D Gillespie (Yorkshire) (could bat higher with double test ton)
10 G McKenzie (Leicestershire)
11 T Alderman (Kent)
12th - B Dooland (Nottinghamshire)
13th & sub fielder to catch R Ponting during a stint - P DeFreitas* (honourable mention given his seasons with Port Adelaide DCC & Albert Park South Australia indoor cricket side)
Others can only ever be rated against Chappelli's 1975 side so reluctantly, Gooch, Denness, Amiss, Fletcher, Cowdrey (although incredibly gutsy) must be dismissed (again!) while we must never ever speak of Botham!

Geoff, Adelaide, SA

How About a game Versus New South Wales.
NSW XI
A. Morris
V. Trumper
D. Bradman
Mark Waugh
K. Miller
S. McCabe
R. Benaud
A. Davidson
W. O'Reilly
R. Lindwall
Bert Oldfield
12th S. Waugh
I reckon NSW would win on most surfaces.

Ken Pierpz, Kariong, N.S.W.