Dream Team: England’s Ashes XI of 21st century

The Australia-England dates back to 1982-83. In what is considered to be the fiercest rivalry in cricket, Australia have won it 32 times, while England 31

The Australia-England dates back to 1982-83.  In what is considered to be the fiercest rivalry in cricket, Australia have won it 32 times, while England 31. Post 2000, there have been eight Ashes series, out of which England have won four.  Suvajit Mustafi picks up an England’s XI on basis of their Ashes performance in the 21st century.

 

 

1.  Andrew Strauss (captain)

Strauss leads the side and opens the batting in this team. The southpaw has led England to two Ashes series triumphs — in 2009, and later Down Under in 2010-11. Strauss has four Ashes hundreds — three in England and one in Australia. In the 10 Tests he has led, he averages an impressive 48.81 with the bat. Overall, Strauss has played 20 Ashes Tests and scored 1421 runs at 39.47.

 

 

2.  Alastair Cook

England’s highest Test run-getter Cook has featured in five Ashes series. Though his record is mediocre, he was phenomenal Down Under in 2010-11 in which he scored 766 runs at an average of 127.67 to help England win the series. The current England Test captain averages 39.71 in his Ashes career, and pips Mark Butcher for this spot.

 

 

3.  Jonathan Trott

Though underrated, Trott has been one of the reasons for England’s rise in Test cricket. Solid as rock, Trott has sealed the No 3 spot, ahead of popular names like Ian Bell and Nasser Hussain. Trott has been part of two Ashes victories, in both of which he played key roles. He has scored 917 runs in his Ashes career at a healthy average of 48.26. He also has three Ashes hundred to his credit.

 

 

4.  Kevin Pietersen

Arguably the best English batsman in this century, Pietersen the rockstar is an automatic choice at No 4. He has been a part of six Ashes series, including four winning campaigns. He averages 44.95 in his Ashes career and has four hundreds to his name.

 

 

5.  Michael Vaughan (vice-captain)

It was Vaughan who led England to an Ashes win in 2005 after a long gap; England had last won the series in 1986-87. Vaughan himself has been quite successful with the bat against the Australians. In 10 Tests, he has 959 runs at 47.95 with four hundreds.

 

 

6.  Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper)

Matt Prior, the other strong contender for the batsman-keeper spot, has featured in three Ashes win, but Alec Stewart wins it simply because of having a better batting record. Stewart also adds solidity to the batting and is also an astute brain behind the stumps. Stewart’s overall Ashes batting average is 30.67, but if we are talking of this century, his average climbs to 39.35. In 2002-03, England didn’t have a good outing Down Under, but Stewart’s batting was one of the positives against the hostile Australian attack.

 

 

7.  Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff is an automatic choice. And when we talk about Ashes in this century, there are not many who have made as strong an impact as Flintoff. He didn’t have a good outing as the captain in Ashes Down Under in 2006-07, but his role in series wins in 2005 and 2009 makes him an Ashes legend. In Ashes, Flintoff, averages 33.55 with the bat at a healthy strike-rate close to 68. With the ball, he has 50 wickets at 33.20. More than the numbers, what stand out is the situations where he stood against the odds and delivered.

 

 

8.  Stuart Broad

Broad has been one of the most consistent performers with the ball in the recent times. In his Ashes career so far, he has 63 wickets from 17 Tests at 29.95. Though he is in the side mainly as a bowler, he brings in added value with the willow; against Australia, he averages 23.66 with the bat.
 

 

9.  Graeme Swann

Off-late, the English spin attack hasn’t troubled the Australian batsmen too much, and Swann, Monty Panesar and Ashley Giles, have all been inconsistent. However, Swann has been the most successful amongst the trio. He has produced some stellar show and his fifer in the second innings at Adelaide in 2010, helped England win by an innings. In 2013 series, he got two fifers as England retained the Ashes. Swann has found success against Australia in English conditions, but has struggled Down Under. The off-spinner’s Ashes bowling average is 39.98 but he is a handy batsman at No 9 and with the bat in Ashes, he has scored 499 runs at 23.76.

 

 

10.  James Anderson

With 77 wickets, Anderson is England’s highest wicket taker against Australia in this century. His bowling average of 36.96 may not bear a very impressive look but he was one of England’s heroes in the wins in 2010-11 and 2013.

11.  Simon Jones

Jones’ selection will certainly raise many eyebrows as he has just played one Ashes Test series. But taking other bowlers’ Ashes records into consideration and the fact that Jones was splendid in the only Ashes series he played, he makes it to the side. Big names such as Steve Harmison, Andy Caddick, Darren Gough and Matthew Hoggard — all average close to 40 or more than that in Ashes games played post 2000. Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett are other bowlers who come close to contention, however Jones with his skiddy bowling caused enough trouble to the famed Aussie batting line-up in 2005 and with 19 wickets at 21.57, he played a major role in England reclaiming the Urn after 18 long years.

 

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sportsmarketer , strategist, entrepreneur,  philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)

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