30 years of Ashes cricket: my teams

Great article. Glad to see you didn't just resort to picking supposed obvious/commonly chosen people like Hayden. My Australia XI: Slater HusseyM Ponting MWaugh SWaugh Border Gilchrist Warne Gillespie McGrath Alderman Harsh on Boon and Reid, and also Healy and Hayden a bit too. Your English line-up looks a little batting heavy, no? I would go: Vaughan Cook Gower Pieterson Smith Botham Prior Flintoff Swann SJones Anderson

AB from me too as captain and bit harsh not to include Hayden as opener, Hayden with slater is good

So after some changes a revised side for both Aust: Slater: "much better average than Hayden vs quality bowling, and an opener's job is to see off the new ball, get momentum, more important than playing spin which hayden was good at, but Slater played spin well, and fast bowling much better than Hayden. Boon Ponting Mark Waugh Alan Border (captain) Steve Waugh Gilchrist (wicket-keeper) Warne T.Alderman G Mcgrath Bruce Reid England Micheal Vaughan (Captain) Alastair Cook David Gower Robin Smith Thorpe Pieterson Alec Stewart (Wicket-Keeper) Ian Botham (wow Alec Stewart,Botham and Flintoff batting at no 7, no 8, and no 9 is serious batting depth) Andrew Flintoff Graham Swan Simon Jones

Very true Chris.

Atherton was seriously compromised by his back trouble. It wasn't one that came and went, he was restricted all the time by it. He was never as good a player as he might have been because of it, sadly.

It'd certainly be entertaining! The only trouble with having Botham in the side is that if Lillee and Thomson are excluded, then I'm worried we have fat, slow Botham post back trouble, not slim, pacey, lethal Botham!

Absolutely right Johnno, Warne would be the difference. Any spinner would struggle in comparison. Poor old Gatt, he was actually a really good player of spin, but he like most had never come across anyone like Warne. The look on his face when he got bowled was priceless wasn't it? WTF doesn't even cover it.

Either way whatever squads are picked it would be a Super Match, really high class stuff. 2005 was so good, coz both teams were so good. But in the best last 30 years sides who would win. Australia just, and you know what the difference is. S K Warne. A matchwinner, on any track just about. Graham Swan is very good World Class for me he is a Stuart Mcgill Standard bowler, but Swan is no Warnie. "No one is". So for me the difference is Warne. Australia win series 3-1. And no mention of Mike Gatting anyone lol, he could play but Warney would bowl him beauties.

Steven, you're right about Hick and Ramps, 2 great unfulfilled talents who were messed about my selectors ( take note Aussie selectors), however their main flaws were mental weren't they? Attherton is a funny one, he did a job for Englaand but I mainly remember him Knicking off to MCGrath, Ambrose, Walsh, Vaas, Donald, Pollock, Akram, etc. He certainly faced some very good opening bowlers in his time, compared to some these days.

Damn damn, forgot about Alec Stewart completely! I think opener looks pretty ok already so agree with Johnno, I'd have Stewart in ahead of Prior at 7 or even drop Botham into 7. Good shout.

Mark Waugh was so talented wasn't he, but he was a bit flakey IMO and perhaps didn't make the absolute most of his talent, where I would say that Hussey certainly did, but it's a fair shout, not sure the team misses much, and gains his bowling and slip fielding. So Mark Waugh in then. Alec Stewart was a great servant to English cricket so I'd be happy to have in my team any day, not much in it probably between him and Prior.

Yeah it's tough, there's been so many good players. I'd almost want Atherton in there purely for those deadpan expressions after he'd just missed one from whichever seam bowler it was and was taking pelters from them. He was the greatest ever at that for me, must have driven them all up the wall. I think for a series played in England, Trescothick worth a shout also as was mentioned above but not sure how he'd have gone against that attack, it's pretty damn potent. It's funny how you say how people have their favourites. Damien Martin was never that spectacular but I rated him massively. Mark Waugh was a far more elegant player than his brother but for some reason he just got my back up. I was huge Jason Gillespie fan in his day, I think the mullet did it for me, couldn't beat it! For England, I was a huge Hick and Ramprakash fan although neither could realistically make that list. It's always a very British trait I guess to admire sporting failure. I just loved watching both of them play when it was going well, it would have almost been lesser if they had been huge successes although I think Hick's record was actually better than most of us remember.

Mark Waugh I think is better than Hussey close call though, but a bit better. Mark Waugh made some big runs in his career, in big matches vs good attacks. Robin Smith I'd keep he was an awesome batter, Alan Lamb is unlucky to miss out he sure could play. But Robin Smith had a better average and was a better player. I would bring in Alec Stewart ahead of Matt Prior, in a tough one. Alec Stewart coming in at no 7, would be a massive boost to an already strong batting depth. No question in my mind Alec Stewart is a better batter than Matt Prior. Stewart would have had a higher career batting average of 39.5 if he didn't have to wicket-keep, and often Stewart had to bat all over the place and keep. Often opening, no 3, no 5 or 6, or 7, he batted everywhere and was mucked around a lot like Brendon Mcullum at NZ has been. But Alec Stewart coming in at no 7, really boosts an already strong batting line-up.

Thanks Steven, just a bit of fun really. I just couldn't bring myself to pick Hayden, despite his obvious merits, for no other reason than I can't stand him. I'd rather have Mark Taylor if Hussey has to go. Similarly I have to have Judge, simply because he's my favourite player, although no doubt Warnie would bring himself on as soon as he came to the crease. Goochie was a great, but as you point out he had his issues against Alderman. I think Freddie in '05 was probably as dangerous as Harmie, but obviously has the batting and slipping in his favour too. It's not easy to get down to a final XI is it?

Great article Jimmy B. You could spend hours picking through this. I'll leave the Aussie team alone for the moment and concentrate on the England picks. I'd have Graeme Gooch (Alderman already licking his lips) in at opener without question however and move Vaughan to Robin Smith's spot but apart from that I think you've nailed it pretty much in my opinion. The batting depth for England is immense (it would need to be against that Aussie team) but I'm not sure if we really need Flintoff at 9? A firing Stephen Harmison (the 2005 and earlier vintage, not the Harmy from the Gabba in 2006!) or James Anderson (as you mentioned) coming in after Swann might serve England better. I love that you picked Simon Jones. He was immense in 2005 and one just has to wonder 'what could have been' with him, he was superb before the injuries took their toll. Only comment on the Aussies is I'd probably stick Hayden in at opener and have Boon replace Hussey. I also reckon Warne was the best captain Australia never had. Listening to him in the commentary booth, he seems several steps ahead of everyone else the whole time. Great piece Jimmy B.

I'm a big fan of Banger, think it was a real shame how his career ended. If my memory serves, I don't think he ever got a ton against the Aussies although as you say, he certainly got us off to some very good starts. Cook is a funny one isn't he, I think he is the perfect player for the old adage, it's not how but how many. I also think he may be required to see of the new ball against McGrath and Alderman, which if he managed would be a job well done. Not the quickest opening attack by any means, but devastating nonetheless. You can probably see why I didn't have a test at Lords with those two in the Aussie team.

I wouldn't mind Trescothick as an opener replacing Alastair Cook. Cook is good but against top notch bowling, he can be a bit hit and miss at times. And Trescothck has made runs vs good attacks and really can take the game away from you, and good momentum and get the team off to a flyer.

I know Johnno, but I fancy if he had done he might have done quite well. He was one of the sentimental picks along with Simon Jones, whose careers were ruined by injury, but who on there day were devastating IMO.

I'd happily go with AB Sheek, he was my first choice, although Mark Taylor was very close to making the team, but I I wanted Boonie in there and I couldn't very well leave out Ponting really.

JimmyB, Old-timers tell us Keith Miller was the best leader to never captain Australia. Besides, you've got Steve waugh & Allan Border in your Aussie team - both incredibly proven, highly respected former captains.