CricInfo Readers’ all-time Ashes XI
December 17, 2010
8 Aussies and only one current player in the team that triumphed in the readers’ poll.
Cricinfo Readers’ Ashes XI:
1 Jack Hobbs
2 Matthew Hayden
3 Don Bradman
4 Ricky Ponting
5 Steve Waugh
6 Ian Botham
7 Adam Gilchrist (wk)
8 Shane Warne
9 Glenn McGrath
10 Dennis Lillee
11 Fred Trueman
My XI:
1 Jack Hobbs
2 Len Hutton
3 Don Bradman
4 Wally Hammond
5 Steve Waugh
6 Keith Miller
7 Adam Gilchrist (wk)
8 Shane Warne
9 Glenn McGrath
10 Sydney Barnes
11 Fred Trueman
My changes and thoughts:
- Hayden a superb player, not his fault that (South Africa at times apart) he didn’t have the chance to prove himself against top bowlers in the way that Hutton did
- Hammond and Ponting probably even on batting and fielding (both are all-time greats in the latter category), Hammond could be a formidable bowler too.
- Miller a much better player than Botham
- Shane Warne vs Bill O’Reilly is a toughie. Grimmett also in with a shot.
- Lillee vs Trueman a toss-up. Lindwall also close.
- You can’t leave out the greatest bowler of all time from *any* team
