We have a tendency when compiling ‘best ever’ teams to default to overall records. You’re three schooners in, and off the top of your head, you come to the names Cook, Anderson, Pietersen and Ponting.
But, what on the surface appear automatic selections, are less so when you drill down into their records.
In the post-Shane Warne era, there have been five Ashes series and 25 Tests. England has hosted three and won four series, with Australia’s only victorious series coming in 2013-14.
Currently, Australia and England sit 5th and 3rd in the ICC World Test rankings respectively. It’s the lowest Australia has been on the rankings list since early 2013 after an Ashes whitewash. This being said, both teams boast an incredible array of talent and have fielded very strong teams since Shane Warne’s retirement.
Going on numbers alone, this is what the team would look like, with a few up for debate.
David Warner – 13 matches, 2 hundreds, 8 fifties at an average of 44.95
Andrew Strauss- 10 matches, 2 hundreds, 6 fifties at an average of 48.81
Joe Root – 14 matches, 3 hundreds, 4 fifties at an average of 41.29
Steve Smith – 18 matches, 5 hundreds, 4 fifties at an average of 43.19
Ian Bell – 23 matches, 4 hundreds, 12 fifties, at an average of 41.1
Mike Hussey – 10 matches, 3 hundreds, 5 fifties at an average of 49.76
Brad Haddin – 20 matches, 3 hundreds, 11 fifties at an average of 41.39. 79 catches and 1 stumping.
Mitchell Johnson – 19 matches, 87 wickets at an average of 25.81. 5w/innings on 5 occasions. BB 7/40
Stuart Broad – 22 matches, 84 wickets, at an average of 27.69. 5w/innings on 5 occasions. BB 8/15
Ryan Harris – 12 matches, 57 wickets at an average of 20.63. 5w/innings on 4 occasions. BB 7/117
Nathan Lyon – 13 matches, 44 wickets at an average of 29.84. 5w/innings on one occasion. BB 5/50
(AFP, Ian Kington)
Omissionsmmisions
Alastair Cook – 25 matches, 3 hundreds, 11 fifties at an average of 41.84
Chris Rogers – 15 matches, 4 hundreds, 8 fifties at an average of 48.51
Michael Clarke – 25 matches, 5 hundreds, 4 fifties at an average of 37.00
Kevin Pietersen – 17 matches, 3 hundreds, 7 fifties at an average of 39.83
Ricky Ponting – 9 matches, 1 hundred, 3 fifties at an average of 33.20
Jonathan Trott – 12 matches, 3 hundreds, 3 fifties at an average of 48.26
Jimmy Anderson – 23 matches, 82 wickets at an average of 33.02. 5w/innings on 4 occasions. BB 6/47
Shane Watson – 19 matches, 2 hundreds, 10 fifties at an average of 42.48. 9 wickets at an average of 68.88. BB 1/0.
Graeme Swann – 18 matches, 62 wickets at an average of 39.98. 5w/innings on 3 occasions. BB 5/44
You could potentially argue for Trott, Clarke, Watson or Pietersen in place of Bell, though none are screaming to be picked. Trott’s numbers are impressive, but Bell’s consistency tips the scales in his favour.
The opening position is strong, with Cook and Rogers perhaps the unluckiest overall omissions on numbers alone.
Given England have won four of the five series post-Warne, the 7/4 split to the Australians might surprise. But win, lose or draw, the better players still show their class.
Tom Peters once said, “lists simplify, clarify, edify”. I suspect this doesn’t apply to Ashes overtures.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
The Aussie needed every centimetre of his height and reach to reel that one in!
Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 21 off the final over...but after three sixes, a caught and bowled and a run out, Mitchell Starc's Kolkata had…
Test great Steve Smith is to play for Washington Freedom in the second season of Major League Cricket as the Australian influence in the…
Nathan Lyon has revealed his disappointment that Australia's cricket chiefs have prevented him from playing his first full season of county cricket in England…
