Jamee999
Hall of Fame Member
Well it's time for the 2014/2015 Ashes, with England ranked 9th in the world in Tests, and Australia having also slipped down to 7th, this series isn't a battle between the best teams in the world, but - as always with Ashes encounters - will be fiercly fought.
England won the Ashes 2-1 the last time the series was in Australia, but lost 1-0 at home in 2013, so need to win the series to regain the Ashes.
England Squad
Openers
Andrew STRAUSS [vice-captain] - 12006 runs @ 49.82 - Aged 37
Stalwart of the side, Strauss can always be relied on for runs, and will looking to push his average above 50 before his possibly looming retirement
William JEFFERSON - 3866 runs @ 42.48 - Aged 35
Promoted to the Test side late, Jefferson has cemented his place in the top three
Alastair COOK - 284 runs @ 28.40 - Aged 29
Recalled to the Test side this summer, Cook is attempting to grind his way into the team as the opener of the future
Middle Order Batsmen
Ian BELL [captain] - 9166 runs @ 48.50 - Aged 32
Captain of England, Bell has made the Number Four spot his own, and fresh off two centuries in the summer, will be looking to regain the Ashes for England
Anthony STACK - 698 runs @ 36.74 - Aged 23
The young talented Welshman is one of the new batsmen attempting to secure his place in the Test side
Fred RITCHIE - 568 runs @ 29.89 - Aged 24
A very talented young batsman, but Ritchie's poor form in the English summer may lead to his being dropped for the Ashes series
Kevin PIETERSEN - 3007 runs @ 38.06 - Aged 34
Pietersen has never lived up to his natural talents, Pietersen has been in and out of the Test side many times, and hasn't played a Test for England since last winter
Jack HILLS - 4284 FC runs @ 42.42 - Aged 24
The young Northants batsman has been taken to Australia as a reserve, and is clearly on the selectors' viewscopes
Wicket-Keepers
Matthew PRIOR - 4920 runs @ 35.91 - Aged 32
England's best wicket-keeper-batsman, Prior has secured his place by averaging over 40 through the past two years
Norman HARKER - 1511 FC runs @ 44.44 - Aged 24
Harker tours as the reserve keeper, and is being looked out for a replacement for Prior when the Sussex man retires
All-Rounder
Stuart BRENNAN - 1065 runs @ 44.37, 59 wickets @ 33.53 - Aged 28
The slow left arm bowler from Leicestershire has impressed with his batting as much as with his bowling in the Test side, averaging over 60 in the English summer, including a beautiful unbeaten 150 against the West Indies
Fast Bowlers
Danny MATTHIE - 24 wickets @ 39.04 - Aged 23
Matthie's swing bowling has been a powerful force at county level, but has yet to properly produce at the top tier
Christian MALLICK - 27 wickets @ 46.81 - Aged 25
The express pace bowler has proved wayward at the top level, but has shown wicket-taking talent
Mark DAVIES - 44 wickets @ 39.84 - Aged 34
Davies has been very effective in his two tests following his recall to the side, and will be used as the leader of the English attack
Chris TOWNSEND - 42 wickets @ 41.40 - Aged 27
Liked Davies, Townsend performed very well in the English summer, averaging under 20 in First Class cricket, and will be pushing to get into the Ashes team
Dean BURNS - 39 wickets @ 34.18 - Aged 26
Another player who has forced his way back in on domestic form - averaging under 13 in List A cricket this season!
Kurt MORLEY - 354 FC wickets @ 23.91 - Aged 26
The third Durham seamer in the squad - along with Burns and Davies, Morley was the leading wicket-taker in the 2014 County Championship
Spin Bowlers
Monty PANESAR - 131 wickets @ 39.38 - Aged 32
The second spinner in the squad, Panesar has fallen from grace, especially with the added value Brennan brings with his batting, and is unlikely to get any playing time
England won the Ashes 2-1 the last time the series was in Australia, but lost 1-0 at home in 2013, so need to win the series to regain the Ashes.
England Squad
Openers
Andrew STRAUSS [vice-captain] - 12006 runs @ 49.82 - Aged 37
Stalwart of the side, Strauss can always be relied on for runs, and will looking to push his average above 50 before his possibly looming retirement
William JEFFERSON - 3866 runs @ 42.48 - Aged 35
Promoted to the Test side late, Jefferson has cemented his place in the top three
Alastair COOK - 284 runs @ 28.40 - Aged 29
Recalled to the Test side this summer, Cook is attempting to grind his way into the team as the opener of the future
Middle Order Batsmen
Ian BELL [captain] - 9166 runs @ 48.50 - Aged 32
Captain of England, Bell has made the Number Four spot his own, and fresh off two centuries in the summer, will be looking to regain the Ashes for England
Anthony STACK - 698 runs @ 36.74 - Aged 23
The young talented Welshman is one of the new batsmen attempting to secure his place in the Test side
Fred RITCHIE - 568 runs @ 29.89 - Aged 24
A very talented young batsman, but Ritchie's poor form in the English summer may lead to his being dropped for the Ashes series
Kevin PIETERSEN - 3007 runs @ 38.06 - Aged 34
Pietersen has never lived up to his natural talents, Pietersen has been in and out of the Test side many times, and hasn't played a Test for England since last winter
Jack HILLS - 4284 FC runs @ 42.42 - Aged 24
The young Northants batsman has been taken to Australia as a reserve, and is clearly on the selectors' viewscopes
Wicket-Keepers
Matthew PRIOR - 4920 runs @ 35.91 - Aged 32
England's best wicket-keeper-batsman, Prior has secured his place by averaging over 40 through the past two years
Norman HARKER - 1511 FC runs @ 44.44 - Aged 24
Harker tours as the reserve keeper, and is being looked out for a replacement for Prior when the Sussex man retires
All-Rounder
Stuart BRENNAN - 1065 runs @ 44.37, 59 wickets @ 33.53 - Aged 28
The slow left arm bowler from Leicestershire has impressed with his batting as much as with his bowling in the Test side, averaging over 60 in the English summer, including a beautiful unbeaten 150 against the West Indies
Fast Bowlers
Danny MATTHIE - 24 wickets @ 39.04 - Aged 23
Matthie's swing bowling has been a powerful force at county level, but has yet to properly produce at the top tier
Christian MALLICK - 27 wickets @ 46.81 - Aged 25
The express pace bowler has proved wayward at the top level, but has shown wicket-taking talent
Mark DAVIES - 44 wickets @ 39.84 - Aged 34
Davies has been very effective in his two tests following his recall to the side, and will be used as the leader of the English attack
Chris TOWNSEND - 42 wickets @ 41.40 - Aged 27
Liked Davies, Townsend performed very well in the English summer, averaging under 20 in First Class cricket, and will be pushing to get into the Ashes team
Dean BURNS - 39 wickets @ 34.18 - Aged 26
Another player who has forced his way back in on domestic form - averaging under 13 in List A cricket this season!
Kurt MORLEY - 354 FC wickets @ 23.91 - Aged 26
The third Durham seamer in the squad - along with Burns and Davies, Morley was the leading wicket-taker in the 2014 County Championship
Spin Bowlers
Monty PANESAR - 131 wickets @ 39.38 - Aged 32
The second spinner in the squad, Panesar has fallen from grace, especially with the added value Brennan brings with his batting, and is unlikely to get any playing time
