Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew names his favourite players past and present.

Peter Lever

Peter Lever was unquestionably my hero. He was the man who turned me on to cricket and the reason I took up the sport.

Right-arm fast-medium bowler England 17 Tests (1970-1975) 41 wickets @ 36.80

I was born in Cheshire and Lancashire was my county so I tried to model myself on him.

I had coaching at the club and saw him in action at Old Trafford and at Lord's, in either 1971 or 1972, when Lancashire won a hat-trick of Gillette Cups.

The great thing about Peter is that, unlike many sporting heroes, he has been far nicer than I could have imagined he would be when I've since got to know him.

In fact, he's more of a sporting hero having met him.

I coughed up early on that he was my absolute hero and he has been lovely to me about it ever since.

As well as being a top player he was also a good coach and should have coached more.

Steve Waugh & Michael Vaughan

I enjoy watching young fast bowlers bowling, but in terms of individuals I've always had a great admiration for Steve Waugh, both as a cricketer and a person.

Steve Waugh Right-handed batsman Australia 162 Tests (1985-2003) 10,521 runs @ 51.07 Michael Vaughan Right-handed batsman England 32 Tests (1999-2003) 2,611 runs @ 50.21

During the Ashes series he was under enormous pressure but was always very good to me and had time for an interview before every match.

That particular story of his future is one that I covered very closely and is probably why I got so involved with his century at Sydney - an amazing moment.

Michael Vaughan's another in that mould.

He is very mature but quite youthful with it. There's an enthusiasm in the way he talks and I'm always struck by that.

It's also lovely to watch him bat. There's no better driver in the game at the moment.