Cheung's choice is the logical one. However while Gilks was world class in all three disciplines in the seventies can we really compare that with the modern game: Gilks All ENgland finals were against English, Danish, Scottish, Japan players, not China, Korea etc Gilks could play all three disciplines and win noone can do this nowadays. So the best English player ever is impossible to say, the best english player of the modern game (last 20 years) must be Nathan Robertson, with a md world bronze, a olympic mixed silver, gold/silver at 2004 euro, plus 2 silver 2 bronze previousley. In singles Hall and Baddeley were both world class and won euros, Hall would get the edge for longevity. The best english player of the previous era I would agree is Gilks.