Surprises in the best hybrid Ashes team in the post-Warne era

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.