Our experts pick England's all-time best ODI XI

Kevin Pietersen is one of the fastest batsmen to score 1000 ODI runs. Photo: Getty Images/Gareth Copley

Cricket World Cup begins England will kick off the tournament on Thursday in a rematch of the famous 2019 final against New Zealand.

England's victory in the last 50-over World Cup ended a period of dominance since 2015 that had largely lasted four years, despite T20 being the focus.

With that in mind, experts cricket Telegraph Sport have selected their best England ODI squad, which includes many from the current squad.

You have to judge players of their era, not the style of today, which is why Graham Gooch and Ian Botham have to play. Gooch was an innovator, a running machine who led England to two World Cup finals and led the tournament's top team in 1992. He beat India in the semi-final in Mumbai in 1987 and could play in all conditions and styles.

I imagine Ben Stokes can play in this line-up. Anyone who doesn't want Botham-Stokes on the same team has no soul.

This team is all about entertainment, not data-driven analytics, so Darren Gough comes in with his great variations, Yorkies and vibrant personality, while Mark Wood adds pure pace and a sense of fun. Kevin Pietersen was chosen over Eoin Morgan because he was a much better player. Graeme Swann and Adil Rashid give the ball a lot of touch. Stokes is being picked as an all-rounder, giving plenty of bowling options with Botham, Wood (and even Gooch). Stokes is the captain because he can handle the big personalities in this dressing room.

Michael Vaughan Michael Vaughan is England's leading player in the ODI XI

Gooch was a phenomenal scorer and an easy pick even in the modern era. Jonny Bairstow provides the strength, Joe Root is brilliant in the middle and Pietersen has been an innovator. Jos Buttler is the best ODI player of his generation and along with Stokes, he has the mental steel and will to win in any situation. I need Botham's skills with the ball and his obvious presence, and Chris Woakes has been an absolute star in the one-day game, performing in big matches. Rashid hits both ends of the bat while Moeen Ali adds runs and a sharp cricketing mind. Gough is known for his white-ball skills and competitiveness.

Tim Wigmore Tim Wigmore all-time England ODI XI

Perhaps surprisingly, four players are from the pre-2015 era. But Andrew Flintoff has a strong case for being England's best ODI bowler — with pace and bounce in the middle overs and yorkers at the death, he took 168 wickets at 23.61 — and should definitely be picked even before his explosive batting taken into account. check. With Flintoff following Stokes, Pietersen (in a position where he will have greater freedom, with no commitment to anchoring) and Buttler, England have a devastating middle order. Two all-rounders means England have plenty of bowling options. Woakes and Gough are automatic picks to receive the new ball — Jofra Archer has unfortunately only played 21 ODIs so far.

Jos Buttler's record as captain is impeccable, having led England to T20 World Cup glory last year. Photo: Getty Images/Martin Keep

Apart from a four-man pace attack, England can select two of their best spinners in ODI history: leg-spinner Rashid and off-spinner Swann, who would enjoy a much better 50-over game in this company. While Marcus Trescothick is worthy of consideration, Pietersen is the only pre-2015 batsman to feature in the top five. He displaces Morgan, who can instead coach while his former vice-captain Buttler leads.

Skyld Berry Scyld Berry is England's top player in the ODI XI

I'm afraid Jason Roy won't be able to do that and if Root gets up and opens the ball, he will enjoy the speed of the ball. Pietersen may not have a great track record at three, but he will certainly rise to the occasion, eager to prove he is better than those who follow him. Morgan is indispensable as the father of England in white-ball cricket, a cool-headed captain and a peerless man-manager who won't be swayed by larger egos. England also need two left-handed batsmen in their top six.

It's worth having two specialist spinners because if the pitch is green, England will still be left with four excellent seamers, starting with Gough and Woakes, who will have to accept an end that Gough doesn't want. If the match is played overseas, there is a good chance that Gough, Flintoff or Stokes will be able to turn the two white balls before the end of the innings.

And the substitute? It must be Chris Jordan.

Will McPherson Will McPherson is England's top player in the ODI XI

My memory is not as long as some of my colleagues, and since it is so difficult to compare eras in white-ball cricket, I decided to stick to what I know: the 21st century. My apologies to the Class of '92.

I like to think I covered all the bases with bat and ball. Trescothick, who faces competition from Gooch, Roy and even Nick Knight, and Bairstow could be an explosive opening pairing with Root leading the way. The middle tier is filled with fierce strikers and all-rounders.

Botham unfortunately missed out on Flintoff, whose outstanding possession record ball and three centuries to draw, wins. Woakes and Gough make a fine pairing early and late in the innings, with Rashid and Swann (a partnership that perhaps should have played together a little more) going into the middle.

Morgan misses an opportunity to plunder. I'm the obvious captain, but Stokes or Buttler will handle this task with aplomb.

What do you think of our selection of specialists? Join the discussion below. . .