After a 5-0 drubbing just seven years after the last one, I am going to compare the two Australian teams and pick out my best 12 between the two teams.
I picked these players by their impact on their certain Ashes series, not by their general reputation and impact on other games outside of the Ashes series.
1. Justin Langer (2006/07)
Justin ‘Alfie’ Langer is the type of player who Chris Rogers is currently attempting to blueprint as a key opener.
Rogers does it alright, and his combination with Warner in 2013/14 is symbolic of Langer and Matt Hayden, but no one can live up to Langer and Hayden as they were right up there with Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge as the best ever opening partnerships.
Langer had a brilliant start to the 2006/07 Ashes series, scoring 82 and 100* to set the tone as he played unusually aggressive on the first morning of the series.
He tailed off later in the series as Matthew Hayden shone, but his impact on the series and as a genuine character on the team (he was the song master) is what gets him into the team ahead of Rogers and David Warner.
2. Matthew Hayden (2006/07)
Matthew Hayden was the perfect foil for Justin Langer, just like Warner is for Rogers, except Hayden and Langer were of a far higher quality then Rogers and Warner.
As Langer was normally a slow scoring traditional opening batsman who occasionally got a break and scored quickly, Hayden was the other opener who hit it hard from ball one.
He was a hit or miss, but he was more likely hit than miss.
If you over-pitched the ball in the early overs then Hayden would smack the shining ball right back past you, like he did in his Boxing Day hundred in 2006 as he and Andrew Symonds saved Australia from a collapse, a la Brad Haddin in 2013/14.
He started off poorly but in Perth and Melbourne he really struck the ball well and hit the winning runs which secured the 5-0 whitewash.
3. Ricky Ponting (2006/07), captain
From the very first day in the 2006/07 Ashes series, where Ponting scored a chanceless 196 to help the Aussies to build a huge total, to the Adelaide Oval where he saved Australia from a follow on with a saving face 142, Ponting was the run machine for Australia.
He made runs when it really mattered and was instrumental in getting Australia off to a good start.
In the end, he captained Australia to the second ever 5-0 Ashes whitewash and redeemed himself after a catastrophic 2005 series.
He is the captain of the team because of his brilliant leadership abilities during the 2006/07 Ashes series.
4. Michael Clarke (2006/07, 2013/14), vice-captain
Michael Clarke played an instrumental role in both Ashes series, where he scored in total four centuries in ten Test matches and scored an aggregate run total of 752 runs at an average of 53.7 runs an innings.
He was the captain of the 2013/14 team and made innovative and strategically smart changes, but was pipped by Punter as the captain.
He definitely should sit at number four because he is a true run accumulator and is the perfect start to a majestic middle order.
He is also a great slips catcher but can field absolutely anywhere.
One of the stronger players of the team.
5. Michael Hussey (2006/07)
Michael Hussey began his Test career a bit later than he should have, but it’s hard to feel like he should have been in the team earlier when the true legends of the game like the Waugh brothers, Darren Lehmann, Ponting and Damien Martyn were chosen over him to represent a titanium strong middle order.
But he came into 2006/07 without playing an Ashes Test and flourished, with highlights being his amazing quick fire innings to help chase down an improbable total on the final day of ‘Amazing Adelaide’, or his maiden Ashes century at Perth.
If only we included the 2010/11 series too, where Hussey carried Australia along with two centuries.
But his grand performances in 2006/07 earn him a spot in an amazing middle order which would make any opposition team shake at the knees.
6. Steve Smith (2013/14)
Steve Smith came back to Australia with a horrible performance in the 2010/11 Ashes but a scintillating series in England in 2013, which was capped off by a maiden Test century at The Oval.
Many doubters were questioning Smith’s worth, but by the end of the series he was hailed as the next Test captain after an amazing series which included centuries in Perth and his hometown Sydney.
The number six position was going to be out of either Andrew Symonds or Smith, but Smith scored one more century and saved his team twice.
Hopefully Smith can live up to his billings and be Clarke’s successor in what hopefully may be a golden era of Australia cricket (again!).
7. Brad Haddin (2013/14)
If Brad Haddin hadn’t nearly won the man of the series award in 2013/14 and if Adam Gilchrist had not performed so ordinarily except for one quick blitz in Perth, then the best wicketkeeper ever would have filled the bill of the number seven role.
But Haddin was irresistible. He saved Australia in every Test match, which kicked off with Australia being 6/132 on the first day of the series to Australia stumbling to around 5/100 on the first day in Sydney.
His wicketkeeping skills were also immaculate in the series, picking up where he left off from the 2013 series by completing some spectacular diving catches to remove some of England’s best batsmen.
His wicketkeeping highlight was when he took a superb catch off Nathan Lyon on the last day of the third Test to remove Ben Stokes, who looked like he might save the game as he was currently on 120. But Haddin took it and the rest was history.
With his batting he looked like he was keen to expel his demons from 2013, where he nearly saw Australia to victory at Trent Bridge, only to agonisingly fall 14 runs short.
His batting highlight was his 118 on the first couple of days at Adelaide, which showed just how Haddin always stepped up to the plate to help Australia win the Ashes.
For one series, Haddin outshone Gilchrist.
8. Shane Warne (2006/07)
The best ever leg spinner picked up where he left off in the 2005 series, where he took 40 wickets and almost singlehandedly helped Australia to retain the urn.
But in 2006/07 he was a man on a mission, which was highlighted on the last day of Amazing Adelaide, where he rolled through an English batting line-up that had just scored over 550 in the first innings.
His 4/49 helped to steam roll England and to capture the most unlikeliest of wins.
He always stepped up in the big moments, and that is why he is the main spinner in this team.
9. Mitchell Johnson (2013/14)
Mitch and his mo were the key reasons why the Aussies regained the urn and won so convincingly.
He was man of the series after capturing 37 wickets, with a best of 7/40 in Adelaide, where he was on a hat trick twice and scared England to death.
He also made sure the much hated Stuart Broad left with a sore toe after a huge dipping yorker crushed his toe in Perth.
His mo from Movember shone as he charged in and took his first wicket of Jonathan Trott on the last ball before lunch in the first Test, to when he trapped Gary Ballance in front on the last day of the fifth Test.
He was the instigator of many English broken hearts and he is in this side as the opening bowler who is the perfect foil for Glenn McGrath.
10. Stuart Clark (2006/07)
Relatively unknown going into the 2006/07 series, Stuart Clark had just come back from a superb tour of South Africa to rattle England.
He was consistent and had shades of McGrath in him. He only bowled mid-130 k’s, but he just bowled away at the perfect area – or the ‘avenue of apprehension’, as Damien Fleming calls it during his Big Bash League commentary.
The area he bowled the ball constantly caused plays and misses and eventually gifted him wickets, as even the most patient English batsmen fell to the smart and hardworking Clark.
He is the ideal first change to back up McGrath and Johnson.
11. Glenn McGrath (2006/07)
The great Glenn McGrath was the perfect opening bowler. He toiled away from one end and just kept everything tight before he struck.
A great exponent of seam bowling, McGrath backed up Warne in Adelaide as they scored wicket after wicket to set up an unlikely victory.
He started off the series brilliantly, securing a five-wicket hall in the first innings in Brisbane to silence the doubters who thought that he was too old.
But an old McGrath is better than most other bowlers, and in his swansong series he finally got to celebrate his long predicted 5-0 win in front of everyone in Australia.
He and Johnson would be the perfect opening bowling partnership, making sure that a fifth bowling option would not be needed, even though Smith could bowl if the Aussies were somehow in dire straits.
12th man: Ryan Harris (2013/14)
‘The Rhino’ would be an opening bowler in any other team except for one that included McGrath, Johnson and Clark.
His recovery from injury was excellent as he constantly troubled Cook during the 2013 and 2013/14 series. He was unstoppable and constantly plugged away at an area.
He didn’t receive his rewards earlier in the series but he finished off superbly, taking the final wicket that secured his five wicket hall.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
All good Sean, I look forward to another article.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
I don't think Smith is a,key to the future but I guarantee that the bowling served up in this most recent series took plenty more wickets then the other series mentioned.
Winston
Guest
This is a darn strong looking team. Steve Smith being the weakest link, but the replacement Symonds wouldn't be much better. Both can be explosive batsmen, Smith probably has the better temperament. Symonds adds bowling, but then probably adds "putting the team into disrepute" into his repertoire (along the lines of KP). Also, likely that if you choose Symonds, the health of Clarke might be in jeopardy. So I think all in all Smith is the better option.
formeropenside
Guest
Smith had two good innings. Every other innings he made was less than 50. And he failed a bit, often when - as you put it - the chips were down. Smith has played 17 Tests, and made his debut back in 2010. He's been around long enough that excuses should not be made for him. England's bowling stronger in 2013-14? Really, only Broad looked any good, while Swann and Anderson failed to perform to standard, and apart from that England picked numpties - and indeed, they just threw pies to Smith in Perthin particular. In 06-07, there was a younger Anderson, plus the genuinely dangerous Flintoff and Harmison and Hoggard as a pretty good stock bowler. All four of those bowlers took over 200 Test wickets. I agree its good Australia won the Ashes 5-0, but unfortunately players like Smith and Coulter-Nile are not the future, and should be discarded as soon as possible.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
I don't necessarily disagree and you're also in terms of average, but the point(s) I am trying to make is they both didn't play the same amount of innings or tests in their respective series. This s distorts comparison for they aren't on a level playing field, in this case Symonds. Not to mention Symonds had only one good innings whereas Smith had a few, especially when the chips were down. Symonds was also used as an all rounder, Smith was not. Smith also has only now started to cement his own batting position. He's played all over the shop. The bowling performance of England this series was also better than the performance of last series. It was England's batting that let them down. Therefore I would say with the position Smith was playing, he had it much harder than Symonds. We can interpret and look at the facts all day, but at least the positive in this debate is Australia still won 5 nil both times :D
formeropenside
Guest
average for a series is what we are talking about, right? But sure, if you want to look at overall average, its Smith 36 and Symonds over 40. And Symonds has a bowling average of 37 to back him up (compared to 50 for Smith). So, whichever way you want to look at it, Symonds is the better choice.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Ok well if you want to play that card then what is Andrew Symonds actual average, for that would indicate the more matches he plays then a truer reflection of his average would become apparent. Would you agree or disagree?
Sean Mortell
Roar Guru
Looking back Clarke as skipper would have been a better choice, but I chose Langer over Warner just because Hayden and Warner together would have been all smash, whereas Langer always balanced out the opening partnership, just like Rogers does with Warner. But I definitely would keep Clark in as his series was amazing. Haddin also performed better during the series than Gilly did in 2006/07. I am a huge fan of Gilly but I had to choose who did better in each series, and Haddin was almost man of the series in 2013/14. Thanks for all of your opinions!
The Barry
Roar Guru
Warner for Langer. Clarke skipper. Symonds for Smith. Harris for Clark.
formeropenside
Guest
I never will.
formeropenside
Guest
you do understand how "average" works, right?
Wasim Ranamadroota
Roar Pro
Nice article - thanks. Think Sideline has summed up Punter and Pup well there. Agree I would put a "c" next to Pup. Think I'd go for Rhino over Sarfraz for variety. Clark was great because he was similar to Pigeon - do you need 2 of that when you have the real thing, and Rhino to add variety?
jameswm
Guest
Never resist an opportunity to have a potshot at Smith, fos.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Symonds played 4 innings compared to Steve Smith's 9 innings. So it's no wonder why his average is so much better.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
I agree with sideline on making Clarke captain as well. I am not fond of either particularly but Clarke was instrumental this series with field placings and bowling rotations.
formeropenside
Guest
Ryan ahead of Clarke. Gilchrist playing as a batsman if necessary ahead of Smith - "talked of as Australia's next captain" - only in NSW! His average is under 40, and he's played about 20 Tests. Or Warner down the order ahead of Smith. Or, if you must have an allrounder, Symonds record in 06-07 is much better than Smith - averaging 58 with the bat as opposed to 40. So in the end, I'd actually have Hayden Warner Ponting Clarke Hussey Symonds Haddin Warne Johnson Harris McGrath
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Yep, agreed with you on Warner, and the article. Good stuff Sean. The only other thing I'd change is Clarke as captain, as he has the better technical nous. I never saw Punter as a great captain, just the best player in a team of champions.
jammel
Guest
Gilchrist and HARRIS in for Haddin (just) and S Clark (definitely!!)
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Yes but when being selective and picking a certain series then maybe not so much. Would you agree?
Renegade
Roar Guru
Leaving Adam Gilchrist out of any cricket team is blasphemy!