Top 6 Ashes Batsmen of the 21st Century

[Prince EWS]

I think it's worth mentioning that while Australia, even when they've lost, have pretty much always had a penetrative attack in England in this time, England have at times turned up and got flogged. I think I put more weight into the away runs and averages achieved by English batsmen as a result, because I think the Australians would've copped a nerf if they were on the other team.

So I'm going to go:

1. Smith
2. Pietersen
3. Ponting
4. Cook

For sure.

5 and 6 are harder. I reckon Rogers is under-rated as **** in this category -- the fact that he played over a very short timeframe obscures that it consisted of three full Ashes series. I also like Root and Bell, especially since Bell has a career (even including span, matches etc) that looks rather like the other top bats if you exclude his total meme 2005 series where he was effectively on debut and out of his depth. I wish one or two of Langer, Vaughan and Trott just played an extra series in this time period to be more influential.

I'm going to go:
5. Rogers
6. Trott

But I think any of the other blokes I mentioned above could easily slot into #5 or #6. No real time for Hayden or Hussey despite getting mentions above, and I'm partly mentioning Rogers just to rock the boat a bit.

 

[Bijed]

I reckon Rogers is under-rated as **** in this category -- the fact that he played over a very short timeframe obscures that it consisted of two full Ashes series. I also like Root and Bell, especially since Bell has a career (even including span, matches etc) that looks rather like the other top bats if you exclude his total meme 2005 series where he was effectively on debut and out of his deth . I wish one or two of Langer, Vaughan and Trott (or yeah Rogers mentioned above) just played an extra series in this time period to be more influential.

I'm going to go:
5. Rogers
6. Trott

3, wasn't it?

I agree though that he generally doesn't get the respect he deserves. Comfortably the best Aus bat in the 2015 series imo, and arguably the best from either side

 

[Prince EWS]

Actually yeah he did play three. What an Ashes-filled period that was.

 

[trundler]

I know Davey Warner is an objectively greater player but in my heart of hearts I'll always prefer Rogers

 

[ankitj]

So close

Haha, 21st century obviously ?‍

 

[Tom Flint]

I'm going to put Strauss up there, opening the batting, captain, wasn't the most talented but made the most of what he he had

 

[Gob]

I think it's worth mentioning that while Australia, even when they've lost, have pretty much always had a penetrative attack in England in this time, England have at times turned up and got flogged. I think I put more weight into the away runs and averages achieved by English batsmen as a result, because I think the Australians would've copped a nerf if they were on the other team.

So I'm going to go:

1. Smith
2. Pietersen
3. Ponting
4. Cook

For sure.

5 and 6 are harder. I reckon Rogers is under-rated as **** in this category -- the fact that he played over a very short timeframe obscures that it consisted of three full Ashes series. I also like Root and Bell, especially since Bell has a career (even including span, matches etc) that looks rather like the other top bats if you exclude his total meme 2005 series where he was effectively on debut and out of his depth. I wish one or two of Langer, Vaughan and Trott just played an extra series in this time period to be more influential.

I'm going to go:
5. Rogers
6. Trott

But I think any of the other blokes I mentioned above could easily slot into #5 or #6. No real time for Hayden or Hussey despite getting mentions above, and I'm partly mentioning Rogers just to rock the boat a bit.

Hussey's runs in the first 3 tests back in 10/11 were top quality. Shane Watson aside, no batsman in the Australian top six looked capable of making any runs and this coincided with the fact that it was easily the best display of bowling from England in Aust I've seen in my life time made Hussey's runs extremely vital and kept that series alive.

The real misconception for me is cook when people rate him as an ashes great. It was basically a one monstrous series out of seven. Yes there was the MCG double but I think that pitch got rated poor for being too flat. While I hate degrading players good performances, his best series also happened when Australia collectively put together the worst bowling display in Australia in my life time.