Best Ashes Teams of the Last 20 Years

[NZTailender]

As the title says, which would be the 2005 series onwards really.

England XI:
1. A Cook - 2493 @ 40.20
2. A Strauss* - 1421 @ 39.47
3. I Trott - 917 @ 48.26
4. J Root - 2248 @ 39.43 / 20 @ 39.10
5. K Pietersen - 2158 @ 44.95
6. B Stokes - 1466 @ 36.65 / 41 @ 38.95
7. A Flintoff - 856 @ 34.24 / 43 @ 36.11
8. M Prior+ - 753 @ 28.96
9. S Broad - 997 @ 19.17 / 147 @ 28.60
10. M Wood - 229 @ 17.61 / 34 @ 27.76
11. J Anderson - 264 @ 7.76 / 115 @ 34.85

12th: G Swann - 499 @ 23.76 / 62 @ 39.98

vs

Australia XI
1. C Rogers - 1310 @ 48.51
2. S Watson - 1487 @ 42.48 / 9 @ 68.88
3. R Ponting - 1433 @ 46.22
4. S Smith - 3234 @ 56.73 / 7 @ 53.85
5. M Clarke - 2241 @ 40.74 / 1 @ 153
6. M Hussey - 1304 @ 59.27
7. B Haddin+ - 1366 @ 41.39
8. S Warne - 445 @ 34.23 / 63 @ 23.73
9. P Cummins* - 421 @ 21.25 / 88 @ 21.81
10. M Johnson - 533 @ 19.74 / 87 @ 25.81
11. G McGrath - 46 @ 11.50 / 40 @ 23.55

12th: R Harris - 230 @ 16.42 / 57 @ 20.63

Initially had Harris over Johnson but reckon a L/R bowling combo would be good for Aus.

 

[Burgey]

Honestly, Warne’s 2005 series though. Was incredible

 

[ataraxia]

Australia followed by England I think

 

[kevinw]

Broad's record vs Australia is impressive, given it matches his career average more or less and has included some shellackings away from home.

 

[Adders]

Broad's record vs Australia is impressive, given it matches his career average more or less and has included some shellackings away from home.

And he missed all but 1 test in 2010/11 which could have very likely improved those stat's as well.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

England need Swann in for someone in side at top. Probably Wood as if you had fully fit Flintoff and Stokes they cover the pace angle.

Surprised Watson has such a good record as he never really hurt us, kept getting in and not going on I guess.

 

[Burgey]

It probably just shows how the post-Langer/ Hayden era openers haven't really been all that in the Ashes overall.

 

[Shady Slim]

and yet still averages more in ashes cricket than all but two of england's batsmen

 

[Molehill]

If you were playing it in Australia, there's an argument to select Bell over Root. And if you were playing it in England then Mitchell Johnson would be nowhere near that team.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

and yet still averages more in ashes cricket than all but two of england's batsmen

Yeah, he was ridiculed by both sets of fans but has a good record. Guess being lbw 30/40 in half his innings was the reason.

 

[GIMH]

and yet still averages more in ashes cricket than all but two of england's batsmen

Check out the bowling figures for Shane ‘not that far behind Flintoff’ Watson.

 

[GIMH]

I cbf but would be good to see the respective XIs for in England and Oz (using stats)

 

[Ali TT]

Australia 06/07, England 10/11

 

[sledger]

Every Aus team ever should have Katich in it because he was awesome.

 

[sledger]

Records notwithstanding, I don't think any sane person would ever pick Haddin over Gilchrist.

 

[Jarquis]

Clarke’s one victim would be a hell of a trivia question

 

[Spark]

Steve Smith's bowling average against England being better than Watson's is strangely amusing to me

EDIT: No but seriously how was Watson's record with the ball against England so ****ing bad. 9 wickets in 19 games, taking a wicket once every 25 overs. Wtf. Particularly as his whole thing was that he was an accurate medium-pace swing bowler on his return to the side.

 

[sledger]

The best summation of Watto was provided by smitteh, when he said "I doubt he'd even be able to even turn on a PlayStation".

 

[Ali TT]

Who would win if 10/11 England played 05 England?
Or 13/14 Australia v 06/07 Australia?

 

[Silver Silva]

I would go :

England:
1.Alastair Cook
2.Marcus Trescothick
3.Jonathan Trott
4.Joe Root
5.Kevin Pietersen
6.Ben Stokes (C)
7.Andrew Flintoff
8.Matt Prior (WK)
9.Stuart Broad
10.Mark Wood
11.Simon Jones

Australia:

1.Chris Rogers
2.Usman Khawaja
3.Ricky Ponting (C)
4.Steven Smith
5.Mike Hussey
6.Mitchell Marsh
7.Brad Haddin (WK)
8.Shane Warne
9.Mitchell Johnson
10.Pat Cummins
11.Glenn McGrath