While I do agree tghat our top 6 at the moment is one of the best we've had for a good while, I do think that their averages are inflated by a combination of flat pitches, improved bat technology, shorter boundaries and a derth of good bowling.
As for England's best ever top 6, look no further than the first test of the 1928/29 Ashes.

http://www.howstat.com.au/cricket/Statistics/Matches/MatchScorecard.asp?MatchCode=0176

Some great players there Hoggy.
I suupose the only way to really rate them is when they are finished. Trott's average will surely come down and Cook is in the form of his life.
Also, have we seen the best of Strauss or is it a dip in form?

Our batsman are extremely talented - however there is an overall lack of quality bowlers and flat pitches help too.

Having said that i'm sure in previous eras there have been weak bowling attacks and flat tracks and nobody was complaining about poor bowling attacks and flat tracks when strauss, bell, cook were going through recent difficult times.

I think some of the averages stand up to scrutiny. Trott has played against all the top teams except India with success. His poor time in SA, his first tour with England, was not good but playing in the country of his birth and at number three for the first time could account for that.
His average and that of Bell are not inflated by the series against the WI, whereas Cook, Strauss, Collingwood and Bopara piled up the runs.
Bell's average has improved dramatically but moving to number 6 has given him an increase in not out scores.
Comparing averages across the generations is an impossible task.
Is it really true that today the bowlers are less good than in the past? or, is it that today the quality of batting has dramatically improved.

Bells performed well against bangladesh which has inflated his average however he is a vastly improved player of late which has improved his record. Just shows statistics never show the full picture

bell's technique is seconfd to none. he has been brillinat in the first two sl tests.

Yes, Bell is arguably our best middle order player, although there is stiff competition.
On a side note.
Does anybody think Prior could bat at six?

I'd rather see him at 7, dont really no why though, i guess i think there are holes in his technique around his off stump and he's a bit of a flat track player, wouldnt back him to dig in for an ugly 60 or 70 to rescue us if early wickets feel on a hard wicket

Having said that who hasnt got technical issues and Priors a good player with a good record who bats selflessly and without the chance to bat higher up the order we'll never know. I still see him as a 7 though and dont see him ever batting higher.

I would agree with seven, especially if he was coming in at 50-4.
He does though look like a top player when in full flow.

I still have question marks about Morgan at 6. Bell shows the ability to shore up a poor start from those above him or to press on when they do well.
Morgan may well be only capable of attack. Even his century against Pakistan was assisted by at least two dropped catches and soon ended when the second new ball appeared.
Runs against this SL attack seem easily come by.

Morgan's place is by no means safe.
Taylor seems to be the player who most are mentioning as a new number six if and when he fails.
I've never seen him bat but he gets good hype.

Taylor does get hyped up quite a lot. seems Bopara, at least in the media world, has gone down the order of pecking

Morgen for me, is a class act. His batting technique needs further refining, but he has the right temprament to be a high quality international player. and don't we all know its not just about technique alone?

I would say that another issue when making comparisons, certainly as a lineup anyway, is that in the late 70s and onwards - the selection policy added more pressure to batsmen - fear of the drop etc - I feel we are a lot more consistant these days

Good point Lydne.
Maybe Hick and Ramprakash would have succeeded in this batting friendly, better selection policy era.

Definately mate - if Ramps had the opportunities that Bell has been given - in the climate that the chances have been given in - he would of been a far more successful player ....... maybe!

its interesting comparing this line up to the 90s line ups. that one had the talent to be as good as this one, but clearly wasnt. i blame ray illingworth personally.

i have never had as much confidence in an england top 7 as i have in this one, in my nearly 25 years as a cricket fan.