2010/11 Ashes XI

[Prince EWS]

Cook
Strauss (c)
Trott
KP
Hussey
Bell
Haddin
Swann
Anderson
Tremlett
Siddle (3rd seamer could go to a few guys tbf)

Yeah team has to be that IMO. I think Watson as a player has been a bit better than Strauss but the captaincy makes up for it.

 

[stephen]

Strauss (c)
Cook
Trott
Pieterson
Hussey
Bell
Haddin+
Johnson
Swann
Anderson
Tremlett

Very hard to leave someone out who has basically won a test match on their own.

 

[Jono]

I thought long and hard about Mitch, based on Perth alone. Agree with you that there is definitely an argument for him ahead of Siddle.

 

[stephen]

I thought long and hard about Mitch, based on Perth alone. Agree with you that there is definitely an argument for him ahead of Siddle.

When you have consistency in Anderson and Tremlett there is no good reason to exclude the explosiveness of Johnson. Siddle has been impressive in more tests than Johnson, but nowhere near as game-changing.

 

[kp4captain]

Hussey over Collingwood, Siddle over Bresnan and then just the rest being the England line-up

 

[four_or_six]

You're actually going to include someone in the overall XI who was dropped part way through the series?

 

[stephen]

You're actually going to include someone in the overall XI who was dropped part way through the series?

When that player has scored two half centuries and taken a nine wicket haul mostly of top order batsmen then yes, I would.

 

[Jono]

I'm also including Tremlett, who was deemed "not good enough" in the first two tests.

No real difference.

 

[four_or_six]

I'm also including Tremlett, who was deemed "not good enough" in the first two tests.

No real difference.

The difference is Johnson bowled utter crap, whereas Tremlett didn't bowl at all.

 

[Furball]

When you have consistency in Anderson and Tremlett there is no good reason to exclude the explosiveness of Johnson. Siddle has been impressive in more tests than Johnson, but nowhere near as game-changing.

Hardly Siddle's fault. Johnson had support from the rest of the quicks at Perth. Siddle was a one man band at Melbourne and Brisbane.

 

[M0rphin3]

Cook
Strauss (c)
Trott
KP
Husseh
Bell
Haddin+
Swanneh
Siddle
Anderson
Tremmers

 

[GIMH]

Prior over Haddin anyone?

Hussey the only Aussie in my side now and he's lucky I don't pick Colly for his bowling

 

[King Pietersen]

Definitely Prior > Haddin for me now.

 

[Mister Wright]

Yeah, must agree also. Although that could change if Haddin has a big 2nd innings.

 

[morgieb]

He's batted well this innings...but the pressure's been way off. Haddin's big innings was when the pressure was on.

 

[Spark]

You'd have to say though that the difference in keeping is more than enough to tip the scales.

You can only bat when enough wickets fall, it's hardly a detriment to Prior that the men above him have feasted.

 

[zaremba]

Haven't noticed either keeper much, they both looked to be keeping pretty well to my non-expert eye.

Prior has come into his own now, but his runs have tended to be in the context of ramming home an advantage rather than, as in Haddin's case, digging his team out of the mire. Both are important roles but I'd say that Haddin's runs have been that little bit more vital to his team.

My composite XI:

Cook (c)
Watto
Trott
Penisen
Cricket
Bell
Haddin (w)
Bresnan
Swann
Tremlett
Anderson

 

[Furball]

Watson out, unless you want half the batting order run out.

 

[Spark]

Haha this. Get Strauss in.

 

[morgieb]

You'd have to say though that the difference in keeping is more than enough to tip the scales.

You can only bat when enough wickets fall, it's hardly a detriment to Prior that the men above him have feasted.

Except when they didn't he didn't. Haddin still scored runs when other batsmen didn't feast.

Prior's kept pretty well, but the gap between his and Haddin's isn't as stark as you might claim.