England Ashes Squad Analysis

England Ashes Squad (1^st Test)

Alistair Cook (c), Matt Prior (vc), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Graham Onions, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott

Alistair Cook (c)

28 years old

Career: 92 matches    7524 runs @ 49.17    HS 294

Ashes: 15 matches    1264 runs @ 50.56    HS 235*

In England: 49 matches    3625 runs @ 45.31   HS 294

Cook has transformed over the past two years into one of the world’s best batsman. He has the ability to post some huge scores which would go a long way to England winning the Ashes.

Matt Prior (vc)

31 years old

Career: 67 matches    3680 runs @ 44.33    HS 131*

Ashes: 10 matches    513 runs @ 39.46    HS 118

In England: 35 matches    1860 runs @ 42.27    HS 126*

Prior has improved his consistency and has developed into one of the best keeper-batsmen in world cricket. He should be primed for a big series.

James Anderson

30 years old

Career: 82 matches    307 wickets @ 30.14    BBI 7/43

Ashes: 13 matches    41 wickets @ 38.53    BBI 5/80

In England: 46 matches    191 wickets @ 7/43    BBI 7/43

Anderson is the key to England in winning this series. When he is in form he leads the whole attack with force. His great skills in swinging the ball will prove crucial to dismantling the Australian top order.

Jonny Bairstow

23 years old

Career: 8 matches    341 runs @ 31.00    HS 95

Ashes: Yet to play

In England: 6 matches    323 runs @ 40.37    HS 95

Bairstow is a newcomer to test cricket and this series has the potential to set a platform for his career. Massive opportunity to prove that he has what it takes to be a long-term member of this England side.

Ian Bell

31 years old

Career: 88 matches    5925 runs @ 45.57    HS 235

Ashes: 18 matches    971 runs @ 32.36    HS 115

In England: 46 matches    3196 runs @ 52.39    HS 235

Bell has moved on from his mocking by Shane Warne in the 2005 Ashes series, and is now a very solid batsman in the middle order for England. Bell will be hoping for a productive series after some indifferent Ashes form of late.

Tim Bresnan

28 years old

Career: 18 matches    57 wickets @ 32.54    BBI 5/48

Ashes: 2 matches    11 wickets @ 19.54    BBI 4/50

In England: 11 matches    37 wickets @ 32.45    BBI 5/48

Bresnan is unlikely to make the playing XI for the first test, but his handy batting and decent bowling ability may come in handy later in the series.

Stuart Broad

27 years old

Career: 57 matches    195 wickets @ 30.93    BBI 7/44

Ashes: 7 matches    20 wickets @ 35.25    BBI 6/91

In England: 31 matches    125 wickets @ 27.51    BBI 7/44

Broad has the potential to be really damaging in this series. If he brings his best his bowing could prove quite troublesome for the Aussies, and his batting might cause some frustrations as well.

Steven Finn

24 years old

Career: 22 matches    88 wickets @ 28.73    BBI 6/125

Ashes: 3 matches    14 wickets @ 33.14    BBI 6/125

In England: 12 matches    53 wickets @ 24.47    BBI 5/42

Finn has the height and bounce to rough up the Australian top order. He will need to remain consistent though in the series and not leak too many runs, as otherwise he may lose his place to either Bresnan or Onions.

Graham Onions

30 years old

Career: 9 matches    32 wickets @ 29.90    BBI 5/38

Ashes: 3 matches    10 wickets @ 30.30    BBI 4/58

In England: 6 matches    24 wickets @ 24.62    BBI 5/38

Onions, along with Bresnan will not make the team for the first test, but will still need to be ready in case of a spot opening up later in the series.

Kevin Pietersen

33 years old

Career: 94 matches    7499 runs @ 49.01    HS 227

Ashes: 17 matches    1476 runs @ 52.71    HS 227

In England: 48 matches    4149 runs @ 54.59    HS 226

Pietersen is the man for the big occasion. His Ashes average of 52 (three more than his career average) illustrates that he will be a key in the series. He loves playing the Australians and the nature of battle and will hope to be the match-winner for England.

Joe Root

22 years old

Career: 6 matches    424 runs @ 42.40    HS 104

Ashes: Yet to play

In England: 2 matches    243 runs @ 60.75    HS 104

Root has been given a promotion to the top of the order to replace Nick Compton so will want to start well. He is a prodigious young talent and will be one to watch.

Graeme Swann

34 years old

Career: 52 matches    222 wickets @ 28.50    BBI 6/65

Ashes: 10 matches    29 wickets @ 40.13    BBI 5/91

In England: 27 matches    94 wickets @ 28.91    BBI 6/65

Swann is another key for England and could exploit Australia’s weakness with spin bowling. He will relish the challenge of bowling to the Australians but will be looking to improve upon his moderate Ashes record.

Jonathan Trott

32 years old

Career: 43 matches    3451 runs @ 50.01    HS 226

Ashes: 6 matches    605 runs @ 86.42    HS 168*

In England: 20 matches    1750 runs @ 56.45    HS 226

Trott will be looking to consolidate upon his great start to his Ashes career after destroying Australia in 2010/11. He could demoralise Australia’s attack if allowed to bat for long periods of time.

Average Age: 28.69

Average number of test matches played: 49.08