So it is nearly here the eagerly awaited return match between the England and the latest incarnation of the Aussie cricket team to return to these shores to contest for the sacred urn. The 16 man Squad, who will be led by captain Andrew Strauss for the first time in an Ashes series, he will be trying to ensure that they return empty handed. The betting odds are currently placing England as slight underdogs. Let’s take a look at the players who will be representing the nation in the battle ahead.
Andrew Strauss Captain- Middlesex
As a left handed opening batsman Strauss has enjoyed very much mixed fortunes playing for England. On his day he is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world but he often goes out early at completely the wrong time. Having played 53 tests and scored just under 4000 runs averaging 41. Innings that has included 12 centuries and 14 fifties. He has made two centuries against the Aussies in the never to be forgotten 2005 Ashes, at Old Trafford and the Brit Oval.
Kevin Pietersen
Since bursting on the international stage Pietersen has become one of the most high profile cricketers in the world and he is considered England’s best batsman. He will heavily relied upon help England win the Ashes. Having played in 52 test matches for England, scoring nearly 4,500 runs at and averaging over 50. He has played ten tests against Australia scoring nearly a thousand runs at an average of 53.50. He has also scored two Ashes centuries.
Paul Collingwood – Durham
Collingwood will be competing in his third Ashes series and has played in 39 Tests. He has one appearance in the excellent Ashes winning team of 2005, and was one of the few lights in the disastrous whitewash Ashes 2006/7 tour. He has scored 2,689 runs at good average of 42, which also includes six centuries, one of them a double hundred, made on the first test of the Ashes 2006/7 tour. He can also take a turn at bowling with useful figures 14 wickets for 49 runs each.
Matt Prior – Sussex
The first choice England wicket keeper has often come in for much justified criticism for his performances behind the stumps, but this is balanced by his excellence as a batsman having a test average of just under 50.Prior could turn out to be the key men for the squad.
Alastair Cook – Essex
England’s opening batsman and vice-captain with a current batting ranking of an impressive 8th in the world. First selected for England’s test team, in March 2006 against India and scoring an excellent 60 in the first innings and a 104 not out in the second innings. He has played 34 tests and has an average of just over 42 runs, including seven centuries with one of them against Australia in the third test of the 200/7 Ashes tour.
Ian Bell – Warwickshire
Bell is a considered to be very talented batsman batting at middle order but has also frequently opened. He has established himself in the England team for the past five years and has amassed just under 3000 runs averaging 42.36. A recent dip in form has led to his place being challenged by Ravi Bopara. He has often been criticised for making the fifties but not enough hundreds, especially when playing the Aussies.He has not yet scored a ton against them.
Andrew Flintoff – Lancashire
Freddie is probably the best known cricketer in England, if not the world, and he has certainly captured the imagination of cricket and non cricket fans alike. When fully fit he is generally regarded as the best all-rounder anywhere. His combination of big hitting and aggressive fast bowling, have made him the one the Australian cricket team fear most. His Test debut was in 1998 against South Africa and he has played a total of 70 Tests. This would undoubtedly have been more but for persistent foot injury that has dogged his career. He has scored 3,494 runs at an averaging 32, which including 5 centuries and 24 Fifties. He has also taken 206 wickets at an average of 32 a piece. A true star of the cricket world.
Ravi Bopara – Essex
This will be the young Bopara’s first Ashes series having now made the breakthrough into the Test match squad. He is a massively talented all rounder and big star in the making. Here’s hoping that he establishes himself in the team. He has played in six Test Matches to date scoring three centuries already – all against the West Indies. The 2009 Ashes could be the stage he has been waiting for.
Adil Rashid – Yorkshire
Here we have a leg spinner who playing for Yorkshire ,who has already taken 150 first class wickets at age 20. Yet to make test debut but toured the West Indies and was in the squad for the two home tests against them in May. Rashid is also a useful bat and has a good 32 average for his County side..
James Anderson – Lancashire
This strong right arm quick bowler has been a Test match regular since 2003.Having played a total of 29 Tests and taken 104 wickets at an average of 34.51. He has made huge strides forward over the last couple of years , especially with his run saving deliveries. He seems to have lost his tendency to bowl at least one loose ball per over. He has taken five wickets in an innings on five different occasions.
Stuart Broad – Nottinghamshire
Son of former Test opener, Chris Broad, a fast bowler who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in December 2007. In a relatively short time he has taken 24 wickets at an average of over 40. Additionally he is a very useful lower order batsman and has already scored 272 runs at an average of over 37. Broad has a best score of 76. England expects great things are of him in his first Ashes series.
Graeme Swann – Nottinghamshire
Now England’s first choice spinner, he made his test debut in 2008 and to date although Swann has played just seven tests and has taken 34 wickets- just over 26 wicket simply incredible figures. He has also mad a good contribution with the bat making 105 runs at an average of 35. A popular player with both the team and the fans and he could be game maker in the 2009 Ashes..
Ryan Sidebottom – Nottinghamshire w
Fast bowler Sidebottom first made his debut in 2001 against Pakistan but he failed to impress and his form dipped to the extent that he was left out for the next six years. A bowling crisis within the English team led to his reinstatement and he has never looked back.. He has played 18 Tests and taken 76 wickets with an impressive average of just over 25. His best bowling performance of 7/47 was achieved against New Zealand in 2007.
Monty Panesar – Northamptonshire
Monty received his first England cap in 2006 and has been England’s main spin bowler ever since. He has proved popular with the English supporters and has not disappointed .He has taken 114 wickets in 33 Tests at an average of just over 31. He has also taken ten wickets in one match and five wickets on no less than eight occasions. This wills Monty’s second Ashes series having also been part of the disastrous 2006/7 Ashes tour.
Tim Bresnan – Yorkshire
Tim has retained his place in the squad after putting in a good display with the ball in the second test against the West Indies where he took three wickets. An reasonable all rounder, who will be put in the role of understudy to Andrew Flintoff, He also boasts a healthy first class average with the bat of just under 30 and has taken over 200 first class wickets.
Graham Onions – Durham
Graham Onions was the country’s leading wicket taker this year, He made a sensational test debut against the West Indies taking five wickets in the first innings and a further two in the second. Another one to watch who could make a real difference to the England team in the Ashes series 2009.
So it is nearly here the eagerly awaited return match between the England and the latest incarnation of the Aussie cricket team to return to these shores to contest for the sacred urn. The 13man Squad, who will be led by captain Andrew Strauss for the first time in an Ashes series, will be trying to ensure that they return empty handed. The betting odds are currently placing England as slight underdogs. Let’s take a look at the players who will be representing the nation in the battle ahead.
Andrew Strauss Captain- Middlesex
As a left handed opening batsman Strauss has enjoyed very much mixed fortunes playing for England. On his day he is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the world but he often goes out early at completely the wrong time. Having played 53 tests and scored just under 4000 runs averaging 41. Innings that has included 12 centuries and 14 fifties. He has made two centuries against the Aussies in the never to be forgotten 2005 Ashes, at Old Trafford and the Brit Oval.
Kevin Pietersen
Since bursting on the international stage Pietersen has become one of the most high profile cricketers in the world and he is considered England’s best batsman. He will heavily relied upon help England win the Ashes. Having played in 52 test matches for England, scoring nearly 4,500 runs at and averaging over 50. He has played ten tests against Australia scoring nearly a thousand runs at an average of 53.50. He has also scored two Ashes centuries.
Paul Collingwood – Durham
Collingwood will be competing in his third Ashes series and has played in 39 Tests. He has one appearance in the excellent Ashes winning team of 2005, and was one of the few lights in the disastrous whitewash Ashes 2006/7 tour. He has scored 2,689 runs at good average of 42, which also includes six centuries, one of them a double hundred, made on the first test of the Ashes 2006/7 tour. He can also take a turn at bowling with useful figures 14 wickets for 49 runs each.
Matt Prior – Sussex
The first choice England wicket keeper has often come in for much justified criticism for his performances behind the stumps, but this is balanced by his excellence as a batsman having a test average of just under 50. Prior could turn out to be the key men for the squad.
Alastair Cook – Essex
England’s opening batsman and vice-captain with a current batting ranking of an impressive 8th in the world. First selected for England’s test team, in March 2006 against India and scoring an excellent 60 in the first innings and a 104 not out in the second innings. He has played 34 tests and has an average of just over 42 runs, including seven centuries with one of them against Australia in the third test of the 200/7 Ashes tour.
Ian Bell – Warwickshire
Bell is a considered to be very talented batsman batting at middle order but has also frequently opened. He has established himself in the England team for the past five years and has amassed just under 3000 runs averaging 42.36. A recent dip in form has led to his place being challenged by Ravi Bopara. He has often been criticised for making the fifties but not enough hundreds, especially when playing the Aussies.He has not yet scored a ton against them.
Andrew Flintoff – Lancashire
Freddie is probably the best known cricketer in England, if not the world, and he has certainly captured the imagination of cricket and non cricket fans alike. When fully fit he is generally regarded as the best all-rounder anywhere. His combination of big hitting and aggressive fast bowling, have made him the one the Australian cricket team fear most. His Test debut was in 1998 against South Africa and he has played a total of 70 Tests. This would undoubtedly have been more but for persistent foot injury that has dogged his career. He has scored 3,494 runs at an averaging 32, which including 5 centuries and 24 Fifties. He has also taken 206 wickets at an average of 32 a piece. A true star of the cricket world.
Ravi Bopara – Essex
This will be the young Bopara’s first Ashes series having now made the breakthrough into the Test match squad. He is a massively talented all rounder and big star in the making. Here’s hoping that he establishes himself in the team. He has played in six Test Matches to date scoring three centuries already – all against the West Indies. The 2009 Ashes could be the stage he has been waiting for.
James Anderson – Lancashire
This strong right arm quick bowler has been a Test match regular since 2003.Having played a total of 29 Tests and taken 104 wickets at an average of 34.51. He has made huge strides forward over the last couple of years, especially with his run saving deliveries. He seems to have lost his tendency to bowl at least one loose ball per over. He has taken five wickets in an innings on five different occasions.
Stuart Broad – Nottinghamshire
Son of former Test opener, Chris Broad, a fast bowler who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in December 2007. In a relatively short time he has taken 24 wickets at an average of over 40. Additionally he is a very useful lower order batsman and has already scored 272 runs at an average of over 37. Broad has a best score of 76. England expects great things are of him in his first Ashes series.
Graeme Swann – Nottinghamshire
Now England’s first choice spinner, he made his test debut in 2008 and to date although Swann has played just seven tests and has taken 34 wickets- just over 26 wicket simply incredible figures. He has also mad a good contribution with the bat making 105 runs at an average of 35. A popular player with both the team and the fans and he could be game maker in the 2009 Ashes..
Monty Panesar – Northamptonshire
Monty received his first England cap in 2006 and has been England’s main spin bowler ever since. He has proved popular with the English supporters and has not disappointed .He has taken 114 wickets in 33 Tests at an average of just over 31. He has also taken ten wickets in one match and five wickets on no less than eight occasions. This wills Monty’s second Ashes series having also been part of the disastrous 2006/7 Ashes tour.
Graham Onions – Durham
Graham Onions was the country’s leading wicket taker this year, He made a sensational test debut against the West Indies taking five wickets in the first innings and a further two in the second. Another one to watch who could make a real difference to the England team in the Ashes series 2009.
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