The Ashes 2010s

[barah_admi]

This has been a topsy turvy decade for test cricket's greatest continued series. The 2011 tour of Australia, which produced English cricket's greatest test moment (imho anyway) of the century, was the last time the series was played anywhere near a high enough level in this format. However, the low quality has produced some highly entertaining passages of play and every now and then, you find a little gem, such as Smith's doggedness or Archer's fire.

So, how about XIs for England and Australia, consisting of their best Ashes performers in this decade?

England -

1. A. Cook
2. A. Strauss c
3. J. Root
4. K. Pietersen
5. I. Bell
6. M. Prior wk
7. B. Stokes
8. S. Broad
9. G. Swann
10. S. Finn
11. J. Anderson

Strauss makes it in for his captaincy alone, Root, KP and Bell all promised so much but never quite delivered this decade in Ashes series, although KPs double in one of the best innings you'll see against Aus. Then of course there is the bowling line up. Broady and Jimmy pick themselves but it is sad that Finn, who looked so good was treated so bad. His performances were still above average and his pace very good.

Stokes and Prior are necessities while Swann had his ups and downs but there has been no better spinner for England.

Australia -

1. D. Warner
2. C. Rogers
3. M. Clarke c
4. S. Smith
5. S. Marsh
6. B Haddin wk
7. M. Johnson
8. M. Starc
9. N. Lyon
10. J. Hazlewood
11. P. Cummins

Clarke finds his place due to his astute captaincy but just look at that batting line up...apart from Smith that is a rag tag group of batters. Yes Rogers was good over a short period and Warner has had his moments but compare it to just 3 years earlier...such a difference.

The bowling however has serious bite and has really dug into England, with Johnson's menace, Starcs reverse and the consistency of Cummins and Hazlewood. Lyon is there as a solid spinner who can shore up one ends if not taking wickets.

I would edge the England XI 9/10.

 

[Mamoon]

England have had the better decade in my view. Although Australia were imperious at home in 2013-14 and 2017-18, the thrashing on home soil in 2010-2011 was a humiliation for the ages.

Three innings defeats in 5 Tests, that too at home. It doesn’t get worse than that.

England have had shaky moments at home but they have done enough to not lose a series.

 

[Hasan123]

Honestly the ashes is what made me fall in love with test cricket, it also consistently produces the most entertaining test match cricket.

 

[Ab Fan]

A combined decade XI would be:-

Cook
Rogers
Smith
KP
Clarke(c)
Stokes
Haddin(wkt)
Cummins
Johnson
Lyon
Broad

Anderson misses out as Cummins, Broad and Johnson were three top picks. Root also missed out, Stokes gets in.

Smith, Cook, KP and Clarke are the obvious picks. I see 7 names from Australia.

 

[Gilly]

A combined decade XI would be:-

Cook
Rogers
Smith
KP
Clarke(c)
Stokes
Haddin(wkt)
Cummins
Johnson
Lyon
Broad

Anderson misses out as Cummins, Broad and Johnson were three top picks. Root also missed out, Stokes gets in.

Smith, Cook, KP and Clarke are the obvious picks. I see 7 names from Australia.

did you forget about Ryan Harris.

 

[barah_admi]

A combined decade XI would be:-

Cook
Rogers
Smith
KP
Clarke(c)
Stokes
Haddin(wkt)
Cummins
Johnson
Lyon
Broad

Anderson misses out as Cummins, Broad and Johnson were three top picks. Root also missed out, Stokes gets in.

Smith, Cook, KP and Clarke are the obvious picks. I see 7 names from Australia.

That is a good stab but why would Clarke be an obvious pick? Or do you mean simply down to his captaincy? Which is why I had him in the Aussie XI too.

Can't really argue with the rest of that mix up.

 

[Ab Fan]

That is a good stab but why would Clarke be an obvious pick? Or do you mean simply down to his captaincy? Which is why I had him in the Aussie XI too.

Can't really argue with the rest of that mix up.

Captaincy as well as batting. Australian team, led by Clarke, demolished England 5-0 at home. Very few can do this. He also has some failures but has got several hundreds and fared well in the Ashes. All factors into consideration, he is more likely to make it than a Bell or Root.

 

[Ab Fan]

did you forget about Ryan Harris.

He was very good too but I will go with Broad, Johnson (due to that peak) and Cummins.

 

[KingKhan12]

England have had the better decade in my view. Although Australia were imperious at home in 2013-14 and 2017-18, the thrashing on home soil in 2010-2011 was a humiliation for the ages.

Three innings defeats in 5 Tests, that too at home. It doesn’t get worse than that.

England have had shaky moments at home but they have done enough to not lose a series.

Your biased for England never stops. England have done enough not to lose a series at home but they are first English side since 2005 not to win Ashes on home soil.
And since 2010 till now in Ashes you look at Australia have given England hammering in few series and overall head to head Australia are ahead comfortably so how does England have the better decade. Now come up with your stupid theories.

 

[HitWicket]

Your biased for England never stops. England have done enough not to lose a series at home but they are first English side since 2005 not to win Ashes on home soil.
And since 2010 till now in Ashes you look at Australia have given England hammering in few series and overall head to head Australia are ahead comfortably so how does England have the better decade. Now come up with your stupid theories.

Away ashes series wins this decade: England 1, Australia 0.

 

[KingKhan12]

And Australia retained the Ashes in England and England since 2005 first time didn't win Ashes at home.
For Tim Paine and Australia this series was a like a win.

 

[HitWicket]

And Australia retained the Ashes in England and England since 2005 first time didn't win Ashes at home.
For Tim Paine and Australia this series was a like a win.

They can consider it what they want, it's still a drawn series.

 

[KingKhan12]

They can consider it what they want, it's still a drawn series.

Not for England or Australia though. Its about winning and retaining the Ashes for them.

 

[Gilly]

He was very good too but I will go with Broad, Johnson (due to that peak) and Cummins.

So how does Broad make the cut.

Averages for the bowlers.
Cummins 21.8
Johnson 23.8
Broad 29.2
Harris 20.6
Hazelwood 24.4

 

[barah_admi]

Captaincy as well as batting. Australian team, led by Clarke, demolished England 5-0 at home. Very few can do this. He also has some failures but has got several hundreds and fared well in the Ashes. All factors into consideration, he is more likely to make it than a Bell or Root.

His batting hasn't been that good actually, but u wont argue on it much as I had him in the side for captaincy alone haha

So how does Broad make the cut.

Averages for the bowlers.
Cummins 21.8
Johnson 23.8
Broad 29.2
Harris 20.6
Hazelwood 24.4

Broad has played more matches so not quite fair in that regard.

But it is about more than numbers.

 

[Gilly]

Broad has played more matches so not quite fair in that regard.

But it is about more than numbers.

So Harris is eliminated because he has only played in 17 ashes test matches in the decade nearly double that of Cummins..

 

[Ab Fan]

So Harris is eliminated because he has only played in 17 ashes test matches in the decade nearly double that of Cummins..

How is that 17?

Harris- 12
Cummins- 10
Johnson- 15
Broad- 26

 

[Gilly]

How is that 17?

Harris- 12
Cummins- 10
Johnson- 15
Broad- 26

The best bowling line up from 2010 in the ashes

Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

You have just made up some phony rules so you can include Broad.

 

[sweep_shot]

My combined Decade XI:

Warner
Cook
Smith
KP
Clarke (c)
Stokes
Prior (wk)
Johnson
Cummins
Swann
Anderson.

 

[Gilly]

My combined Decade XI:

Warner
Cook
Smith
KP
Clarke (c)
Stokes
Prior (wk)
Johnson
Cummins
Swann
Anderson.

You will need an extra player to cover for Swann when he quits half way through the series.

 

[Ab Fan]

The best bowling line up from 2010 in the ashes

Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

You have just made up some phony rules so you can include Broad.

Sometimes we need to look beyond stats and numbers which you are failing to do.

 

[Gilly]

Sometimes we need to look beyond stats and numbers which you are failing to do.

Do tell what special talent does Broad have that is not in the numbers?.

 

[Ab Fan]

Do tell what special talent does Broad have that is not in the numbers?.

Broad has led the English attack in several of those tours and ensured that England comes up as better team.

He was excellent in 2013 Ashes home and away, 2015 home and 2019 home. So, total 4 series where he was the best bowler for England.

In 2015 Ashes and this one, he didn't had any support from Jimmy and in 2013 Ashes away, he was one of the very few England players who fared very well from England end.

There is a reason why the decade has ended up with an overall result of England 11- Australia 12 test wins between the two sides, which mean the numbers are quite balanced.

In terms of series result, it's 3-2 to England.

 

[Gilly]

Broad has led the English attack in several of those tours and ensured that England comes up as better team.

He was excellent in 2013 Ashes home and away, 2015 home and 2019 home. So, total 4 series where he was the best bowler for England.

In 2015 Ashes and this one, he didn't had any support from Jimmy and in 2013 Ashes away, he was one of the very few England players who fared very well from England end.

There is a reason why the decade has ended up with an overall result of England 11- Australia 12 test wins between the two sides, which mean the numbers are quite balanced.

In terms of series result, it's 3-2 to England.

So that makes Broad better than his team mates not the other team. You pick the bowlers that have bowled the best.

 

[KingKhan12]

Broad has led the English attack in several of those tours and ensured that England comes up as better team.

He was excellent in 2013 Ashes home and away, 2015 home and 2019 home. So, total 4 series where he was the best bowler for England.

In 2015 Ashes and this one, he didn't had any support from Jimmy and in 2013 Ashes away, he was one of the very few England players who fared very well from England end.

There is a reason why the decade has ended up with an overall result of England 11- Australia 12 test wins between the two sides, which mean the numbers are quite balanced.

In terms of series result, it's 3-2 to England.

Overall test wins its Australia 14 and England 11 stop trying to make it sound closer.

 

[barah_admi]

So Harris is eliminated because he has only played in 17 ashes test matches in the decade nearly double that of Cummins..

I am not saying Harris should not be included, I am just saying that an average will likely increase for bowlers over a longer period of time. Not in all cases but in some.

 

[Robert]

I am surprised by Johnson’s Ashes numbers. I though he was a scattergun apart from 2013/4. But even in full-on Sloop John B mode he was still striking every fifty balls, just going for a lot of fours too.

 

[Mamoon]

Overall test wins its Australia 14 and England 11 stop trying to make it sound closer.

But England did not suffer three innings defeats in one home series. That honor is Australia’s alone.

The 2010-2011 humiliation more than makes up for Australia’s slighter superior overall H2H record.

 

[Gilly]

But England did not suffer three innings defeats in one home series. That honor is Australia’s alone.

The 2010-2011 humiliation more than makes up for Australia’s slighter superior overall H2H record.

How many times did Australia get whitewashed?.

 

[Gilly]

I am not saying Harris should not be included, I am just saying that an average will likely increase for bowlers over a longer period of time. Not in all cases but in some.

Broads average dropped in that time same as Harris (Broads average never got anywhere near Harris), bowlers averages usually drop over longer periods.

Harris had a superior average, economy and strike rate.

Home averages
Harris 21.3
Broad 26.2

Away averages
Harris 19.5
Broad 37.1

Its not even close.

 

[Mamoon]

How many times did Australia get whitewashed?.

What’s worse: getting whitewashed away from home or losing at home after 3 innings defeats?

I would say the latter.

 

[Gilly]

What’s worse: getting whitewashed away from home or losing at home after 3 innings defeats?

I would say the latter.

You got me there, England have never whitewashed Australia so I dont know what thats like.

But then again you dont know what its like to whitewash Australia.

 

[James]

Both teams have generally been good at home, and have verged on unstoppable at times.

But only England can say that they beat (well, thrashed) Australia in a series on their home turf in the 2010s.

Australia can’t say the same about a series in England.

In fact it’s been almost two decades since Australia won an Ashes series in England.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Any team without Vaughan, KP, Flintoff, Smith, and Harris should not be taken seriously.

 

[Ab Fan]

The best bowling line up from 2010 in the ashes

Johnson
Harris
Hazelwood
Lyon

You have just made up some phony rules so you can include Broad.

ROFL at picking Hazelwood over Cummins. Go and learn some more cricket

 

[Ab Fan]

Any team without Vaughan, KP, Flintoff, Smith, and Harris should not be taken seriously.

Vaughan and Flintoff would had to play some cricket in this decade to get a place in this team.

 

[sweep_shot]

This decade belonged to England regardless of recent outcomes.

Aussies were too reliant on Smith and pacers.

 

[Ab Fan]

My combined Decade XI:

Warner
Cook
Smith
KP
Clarke (c)
Stokes
Prior (wk)
Johnson
Cummins
Swann
Anderson.

How does Prior make it over Haddin?

Prior- AVG 24, 1 hundred
Haddin- AVG 45, 4 hundreds

And Jimmy, lol.

 

[Robert]

How does Prior make it over Haddin?

Prior- AVG 24, 1 hundred
Haddin- AVG 45, 4 hundreds

And Jimmy, lol.

Prior was past his peak after 2011 or so. His knees were getting worse forcing retirement.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Even in this decade where England have supposedly had the upper hand, the record is still in favour of Australia

Australia won 14 Ashes tests and England, 11.

 

[Gilly]

Even in this decade where England have supposedly had the upper hand, the record is still in favour of Australia

Australia won 14 Ashes tests and England, 11.

I think England believe they have a moral victory, but its all good they can claim to have won the decade with 11 wins to 14.

 

[HitWicket]

I think England believe they have a moral victory, but its all good they can claim to have won the decade with 11 wins to 14.

Would you really not switch some of those dead rubber wins at home for an Ashes series win in England?

 

[Robert]

I think England believe they have a moral victory, but its all good they can claim to have won the decade with 11 wins to 14.

“England” do nothing of the kind. I don’t see the ECB represented in this thread and winning the decade is meaningless.