5 dream cross-generation openers who would have blunted out any attack in Test cricket

#3 Geoffrey Boycott and Alastair Cook

Boycott and Cook: A pair that would ooze class

This perhaps is the most interesting pair on this list. Though they have a similar approach to the game, they have had significant differences in opinion over the years. In fact, it would be fair to say that Boycott has been one of Cook's harshest critics. These differences aside, this pair at the top would be a mouth-watering prospect for The Three Lions.

Widely regarded as one of the most complete defensive batsmen in the history of the game, Boycott was a thorn in the flesh for the bowling attacks he faced. His 8091 runs as an opener (a record at the time) bear testament to the quality of his batting. An even intriguing statistic is that England lost only 20 of the 108 tests he featured in.

Playing in an age where most batsmen are known for their flair, Cook is a batsman known for his tenacity. His watertight defence has demoralised many a bowler and has laid the foundation for some of England's most famous victories (read the Ashes Down Under and the Pataudi trophy in India). Not surprisingly, he is the only opener to have scored more than 10,000 runs in tests.

The stubborn opening pair of Boycott and Cook would have taken the edge off any attack in the world.