YouGov reveal the most popular cricket players and clubs in England

Using millions of responses YouGov provide a popularity score for a variety of things including products and people, and they have shown who is the most popular player, and which is the most popular club

The UK-based international market research and data analytics firm YouGov have revealed which cricket clubs and cricket players the British public hold most dear to their heart.

Apparently using millions of responses YouGov provide a popularity score for a variety of things including products and people.

Alastair Cook, a man recently rumoured to be in line for a knighthood, is by far in a way the most popular current cricketer with a score of 36 per cent. The next most popular is Ben Stokes with 24 per cent.

Somewhat surprisingly, Phil Tufnell is most popular of both past and present players at 55 per cent, while Andrew Flintoff is second with 53 per cent and Sir Ian Botham third with 48 per cent.

^{Alastair Cook gets a score of 36 per cent}

The England Men's Cricket Team are the most popular cricket team with 42 per cent, while Yorkshire are the most popular county side with 23 per cent.

We can, however, dive a little deeper into these ratings, while also adding some much-needed context.

At 36 per cent, Cook ranks 135th in the standings of most popular all-time sports personalities. No.1 is Muhammad Ali with 78 per cent. According to their analytics, Cook is described by fans as 'dignified', 'calm' and 'consistent', and most popular with 'Baby Boomers' (those born between 1946 and 1964), but is also most popular amongst all other generation groups. He is also more popular with men but is still the most popular cricketer amongst women as well.

A selection of other things liked by Cook fans included Eddie Howe, thetrainline, Natasha Kaplinsky and, of course, the music producer Quincy Jones.

^{The overlap between Alastair Cook and Quincy Jones is frightening}

Worryingly for cricket, and potentially showing the importance of free-to-air television to the popularity of a sport, the England cricket team sit in 11th in the overall team rankings. Team GB are the most popular team with a score of 74 per cent, with Paralympic GB in second with 69%. Other teams above the England cricket team include the GB Swimming Team, the British Cycling Team, and British Gymnastics. 

The England Men's cricket team are most popular amongst 'Generation X' (those born between 1965 and 1981), but are not the most popular team amongst 'Baby Boomers' - that's the England Women's Team. The men's team is more popular with men than women, and a selection of other things liked fans of England included the Kia Forte - showing just how closely tied to cricket Kia have become.