2005 v 2011 - Ultimate Team

Last night I had a look at this current England side, and whether they're better than their 2005 counterparts. Seeing as quite a few people have been getting involved in creating a 2005-2011 composite side (including Tom Fordyce of the BBC), I thought I'd have a go myself.

1) Alastair Cook (2011) - Just count the runs. Not in sparkling form thus far in this India series, but his feats over the winter and into the Sri Lanka series speak for themselves.

2) Andrew Strauss (2005) - A really tough one this for the opposing opening berth - do you want the Strauss of 2011 with added captaincy? Or the hard-hitting Trescothick, who'd otherwise walk into any composite England team of recent history? Instead I've gone for 2005 edition Strauss, as he gutsed out two big hundreds despite wearing a few from Brett Lee. As classy and stylish a batsman as you could ever see, and 2005 was just about at his pomp.

3) Michael Vaughan [Captain] (2005) - As much for the excellent batting (on his day Vaughany was as good as any in the world) as the innovative and inspirational captaincy. Would certainly get the best out of his bowlers, as well as plenty of runs from number 3.

4) Kevin Pietersen (2011) - The Kevin Pietersen of 2005 was a breath of fresh air; the young skunk-haired Saffa who hit Warney for sixes and dropped catches for fun. The 2011 KP still drops the odd catch, but has become a bit more wise about his cricket. While in 2005 he'd hit a six, but then be caught on the boundary trying it again, in 2011 he's a touch more circumspect, as seen in a gritty 200 at Lord's last week. After a rough patch, 2011 KP has found a way back to the 2005 form that saw him burst onto the world scene, which is why the more mature vintage makes it into the team.

5) Ian Bell (2011) - No contest at all for which edition of Ian Bell to put into the team; in 2005 he was very much a boy amongst men, whereas in 2011 he towers over his contemporaries. Since being shellshocked in 2005, Bell has added guts to his obvious skill, and is arguably the best batsman in the world right now.

6) Andrew Flintoff (2005) - Do I even need to elaborate? Runs, wickets, bucket hands at first slip, inspirational match-winning performances, a few drinks.

7) Matt Prior (2011) - Matt Prior is quite simply the best wicket-keeper batsman in the world, and his all-round game has improved leaps and bounds since arriving on the international scene. Geraint Jones never flourished with either glove or bat, but is still revered as a hero for catching Kasprowicz down the leg side.

8) Graeme Swann (2011) - Graeme Swann is an attacking offie who turns the ball a fair way. Ashley Giles was a defensive slow left armer who's stock ball was the straight one. Thanks for the runs at Trent Bridge Gilo, but I'm sticking with Swanny.

9) Steve Harmison (2005) - Harmy was probably already on the slide by 2005, but was still a fearful sight for any batsman. That early spell on the first morning at Lord's where he skittled the Aussies (and cut Ricky Ponting) set the tone for the series (even if England were thumped) and Harmison led England's most successful attack of recent years with distinction.

10) Jimmy Anderson (2011) - The leader of England's attack six years later. Now with an ability to swing it wherever he wants, there is no better bowler in English conditions, and Jimmy takes wickets for fun.

11) Simon Jones (2005) - A tough one for my final seamer's spot. Chris Tremlett, he of the fearful bounce? Stuart Broad, the enforcer man risen from the dead who takes wickets and scores runs? Matthew Hoggard to share the new ball and make it talk? Instead, I've gone for the master of reverse swing, and the unsung hero of England's 2005 Ashes win. The Welsh Warrior, Simon Jones.


So then, that's my composite 2005 and 2011 England team. Just imagine if such a side (at their peak) had taken to the field - especially with the likes of Trescothick, Trott, Strauss, Pietersen, Tremlett, Broad and Hoggard in reserve - we'd have been world number one years ago!

2005 v 2011 - Who's Better?

With the current England side looking like it's going to be the best in the world in a couple of weeks, it's natural to wonder if it's the best England side in living memory. Of course, the biggest opposition to that claim is the victors of the greatest series - the class of 2005. Captained by Vaughan, inspired by Freddie at his best and packed with big names, the 2005 vintage battled and beat the best side in the world.

The 2011 lot are also playing the team who are at the summit of test cricket. However, unlike 2005, instead of scraping tight fought victories, they're destroying all before them and sauntering to big wins. This doesn't automatically make the 2011 team better than their 2005 contemporaries, as it's plainly obvious that the opposition in '05 of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Ponting et al are on a slightly higher plain than the current touring Indian side.

However, for me, if the two best England sides of the 21st century were to meet, there'd only be one winner. As good as the 2005 team were, they managed to win the Ashes while carrying a few players. Ashley Giles, a man who's runs at Trent Bridge and the Oval make him a hero amongst men, was hardly the most threatening spinner of the ball. You don't get called the Wheely Bin for nothing. And the 2005 edition of Ian Bell is a far cry from the hardened run-machine currently seen, with a freckly rabbit-in-the-headlights a more apt description. In 2011, there simply isn't that. Everybody pulls their weight.

However, we won't know the true ability of the 2011 side for quite a while. Back in 2005, having won the Ashes, England had the world at their feet. However, a combination of taking their eyes off the ball, untimely injuries and the gradual aging of players meant the side drifted apart and world domination was not reached. As such, the 2005 side is seen as just a one-off - a side that was put together with winning the Ashes in mind, and ultimately they achieved their goal. The key for Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss is to create a legacy - a side that dominates world cricket for years to come.

Geraint Jones - International Recall?

While at Lord's the other day for the Middlesex v Kent CB40 game (less said about the result the better) I overheard a couple of Kent fans arguing about Geraint Jones, and clamouring for his international recall. Jones has long since been cast onto the international scrap-heap, with plenty of alternatives sought and chosen ahead of him. Seemingly there would have to be some sort of explosion at the English Wicket-Keeper’s Summer Disco for Jones to even be thought of when discussing potential England wicket-keepers.

But should we still be so hasty? Jones was probably correctly dropped (no pun intended) from the international fold due to poor glovework rather than due to any obvious flaws in his batting. But just like his successor Matt Prior, who was also cast aside due to a lack of prowess behind the stumps, Jones has worked hard at his game and is (according to the Kent aficionados) a much better keeper as a result.

Jones has also benefitted from a promotion up the order, and has grown in maturity as a batsman as well. While I’m of course not at all advocating a massively shock return to test cricket (where he averages a measly 23 compared to Prior’s lofty 42), Jones does have almost exactly the same figures in ODI cricket as the man who was chosen to stand behind the sticks for England at the World Cup. I don’t really want or think Jones will ever play for England again, but at a time where the wicket-keeper’s position will have to be considered in limited overs cricket, maybe it wouldn’t be as surprising as you think if Jones got the nod.

So what is my random thought of the day? Well, if England did recall Geraint (don’t worry, this isn’t actually going to happen), we could see the reformation of the 2005 Ashes dream team. Hoggard, Harmison and Simon Jones are (occasionally) turning their arms over for their respective counties, and Trescothick is still at his brutal best for Somerset. Lest we forget that Strauss, Pietersen and Bell are actually still playing for England. I’m sure Ashley Giles and Michael Vaughan wouldn’t mind donning the three lions for one last hurrah, and that Freddie Flintoff’s knee surgeon would be perfectly all right with him turning out again. India wouldn’t mind if their coach decided to return back to the England side for an exhibition series. It would be a great money spinner for the ECB, and the TV companies would love it.


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This is basically what I think of those Kent fans talking about Geraint Jones playing for England again. It was the most stupid thing ever said about cricket, so I tried to out do it. Sorry Kent fans, it ain't gonna happen.

Why KP (could) walk away from ODIs

So if the reports are to believed, Kevin Pietersen will hang up his proverbial fifty over boots after this World Cup, to lead a life of luxury (well, tests and T20s).

While he's since come out and refuted the claims on Twitter, Kev may well leave 50 over cricket after the World Cup anyway. But the question is - why has it taken him so long?

Since the advent of twenty20, 50 over cricket has proved to be a bit of an inconvenience on the international calendar. Very few (if any) countries play 50 over one day cricket domestically (favouring 40, 45 or even split innings games) showing that as a format, it's pretty outdated. And while the ICC have come out and said that for the foreseeable future One Day Internationals will be 50 over affairs, players (if the Daily Mail article is to be believed) evidently aren't that bothered about playing it.

For people like Kevin Pietersen, however, it isn't so much the overs in a day that's the problem - it's the fact that he has to be there. Kev has a young family; wife Jessica (off of Liberty X), and his 10 month old son, Little Man*. (*Probably not his real name). As a player of all formats, he left for Australia in October, and after the tests, T20s and 50 over games, he arrived home on Wednesday. To play in the 50 over World Cup, he has to leave for India tomorrow. So that's four days at home over the last four months. While admittedly he is staying out in India (of his own choice) to play IPL, he's said that the life of a sportsman is short, and he's entitled to earn the money while he can. And with his achilles injury that could potentially cut his career even shorter, the money could dry up very quickly.

So why bother playing in a fifty over World Cup? The lure of a World Cup can be granted to him in the T20 format, so why should be bother spending an extra few months away from his family to play in an outdated competition that doesn't interest him?

I'm not advocating scrapping ODIs (for the record, I support ODI cricket but as 40 over contests), but I can totally see why increasingly players like KP will choose to pick and choose what formats they play. Some see tests as the ultimate so drop T20s (like Michael Clarke) or ODIs (like KP could). And some know their bodies can't handle five days of running in, so drop tests (like Flintoff or Shane Bond) so they can continue to play in shorter formats. And some are just old and want to earn a quick easy buck so they just play IPL and freelance themselves playing T20 around the world.

Cricket is changing, and there are different skills and qualities required to play in the different formats. With the rise of specialist T20 players (like a David Warner) who don't even play in 50 over games, we could easily see three separate teams for the three separate formats. But that issue is secondary to the packed international calendar which will see international cricket lose it's premier players. If Pietersen does decide to walk away from 50 over cricket, it won't be surprising - and don't be too surprised if he's the first of many more to follow.

Podcast - Ashes: Brisbane Day One

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England didn't do so well, but Australia did. Especially P Siddley. But it's not all doom and gloom for England, as Will explains. Plus more Fantasy Ashes chat, and Freddie Flintoff's take on the day's play. (Thanks to Sky Sports for the commentary!)

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THHOF - Michael Vaughan

Name: Michael Vaughan
Nicknames: Vaughany, Virgil, MPV, Pie, Michael-Vaughan-my-lord-Michael-Vaughan
Born: October 29, 1974, Manchester, England
Teams: Yorkshire, England


Michael Vaughan is my first inductee into the Tyron Henderson Hall of Fame, because when I started following cricket, Michael Vaughan was the main man. Taking the one-day captaincy from Nasser Hussain after the 2003 World Cup, and later that year the test captaincy as well, Vaughan was my "first" England captain.

While many will remember Vaughan for his exploits as England skipper, it shouldn't be forgotten that he made history well before England recognition was even on the horizon. Born in Manchester (Lancashire), Vaughan's family moved to Sheffield (Yorkshire) when he was nine. Vaughan's father, a club cricketer, turned young Mike on to the sport, and his love of the game grew from there. However, Yorkshire's strict rule restricting anyone born outside of the county boundaries meant Vaughan would have been unable to represent the white rose, but when the ruling was removed, Vaughan was able to make his county debut (and was the first non-Yorkshireman to play for the county).

After working his way through England's youth sides (captaining England's Under-19s in 1993/4), Vaughan made his full England debut in the first test of the 1999 South Africa tour. Batting at number six, Vaughan was into the action almost immediately, as England were reduced to two for four wickets. Vaughan may have "only" scored 33, but his calm temprament and classy shotmaking earmarked him for further success.

In and out of the side due to injury, Vaughan made his position at the top of England's order his own, scoring 900 runs against Sri Lanka and India in 2002, before his seminal tour of Australia later that year. Scoring three hundreds in five tests (which England lost 4-1), Vaughan was the first Englishman in 32 years to score over 600 runs in a five match Ashes series in Australia. Vaughan scored 1,481 Test runs in 2002, the sixth highest for a calendar year in Test history, and took his place as the number one ranked batsman in the ICC rankings.

After England bowed out from the 2003 World Cup, Nasser Hussain stepped down, and was replaced by Vaughan, despite Vaughan's one day stats failing to match his test performances. After leading England to a triangular series victory, Vaughan scored 156 against South Africa at Edgbaston, and was appointed captain after Hussain stood down after that match. Vaughan led England to a draw in that series, as winning against Bangladesh (though losing to Sri Lanka).

2004 was a spectacular year for English cricket, much of it due to the captaincy of Vaughan. A 3-0 away win over the West Indies, followed by back-to-back whitewashes over New Zealand and West Indies at home was credited to Vaughan, who alongside Duncan Fletcher, had revolutionised English cricket, with a strict fitness and training regime, as well as the continuation of the central contract system. Beating South Africa away was also a milestone, as Vaughan had continued the growth and development of his team; ready to challenge for the Ashes.

The Ashes. England won. For the first time in 18 years. In the greatest series of them all. Vaughan played a vital role, both as a batsman and as a captain; in getting the best out of Freddie Flintoff. 2005 was the crowning achievement of Vaughan's career, and he will rightly be remembered for orchestrating so much of it.

However, sadly, it went a bit downhill from there. Given an OBE for his part in the Ashes victory, Vaughan's troublesome knee meant he wasn't able to play in India or Pakistan, and a knee operation the following summer led to him missing the 2006/7 Ashes debacle. Returning for the 2007 World Cup, Vaughan's poor one day form (he never scored an ODI century) led to his one day abdication, but after his great friend and coach Duncan Fletcher left, it was never the same. Under Peter Moores, Vaughan struggled, both as a player and as a captain, and losing series to India, Sri Lanka, and finally South Africa in 2008, Vaughan emotionally stood down as England captain - statistically the greatest ever man to lead England.

Vaughan bravely battled to recover his form, playing for Yorkshire in the summer of 2009, but after realising he wouldn't play a part in the Ashes, he retired from all forms of the game. Always articulate, Vaughan has begun to forge a career on TMS, and is surely not far from elevation into the Sky Sports Commentary Box For Ex-England Captains.

Vaughan was a fantastic man-manager and motivator as captain, and must have been fantastic to play under. His batting was superb, and his cover drive is one of the best I have ever seen. I have been lucky enough to meet Michael once, and he was both charming and kind to me; the perfect gentleman. For my formative years as a cricket fan, Michael Vaughan was England's captain, and I am honoured for him to be the first inductee into the Tyron Henderson Hall of Fame.


And for something that sums Vaughany up much more than my words, here's a video in tribute to the great man.

Ryan Sidebottom - A Tribute

The other day I wrote an emotional tribute to Andrew Flintoff. Fred was a massive player for England, and it has to be said, one of my favourites. Normally I can knock out a half-arsed blog in 15/20 minutes, but the Freddie tribute took a long time. I had so much to say about him, and it all flowed out in one massive fandom eulogy.

It's been a very different story with Ryan Sidebottom. I'm not quite sure what it is about him, but he doesn't push my buttons. He's taken loads of wickets for England at a great average, but there's just something about him.

Maybe it's his supposed lack of effort in the field or his anger towards fielders who misfield off him. But these could be explained as a simple aging fast bowlers lack of athleticism, and passion for the side.

Sidey was a player who at times in 2008 was one of the best in the world. Catapulted from obscurity thanks to a Hoggard injury in 2007, he returned to the international arena after one solitary test, before cementing his place in Peter Moores' side. With his late left-arm swing, he tormented New Zealand home and away, with Jacob Oram calling him the hardest bowler he'd ever faced.

Ryan was never going to be any great shakes in the field, or with the bat, but nobody can deny that he always gave 100% in every game for England. As well as taking wickets at under 25 in tests, he was England's most underrated one day death bowler, and an integral part of the World T20 winning side.

While I was never his biggest fan, and never really campaigned for his place in the side, today England lost a true fighter, and a man who never let England down. While he was never my favourite player (or Grant Elliot's), Ryan Sidebottom was a great asset to English cricket. Probably knowing he wasn't to make the Ashes squad, Ryan bowed out today with the dignity he deserved, and will be remembered with fondness and respect.

And what about the hair!

What Flintoff Gave Cricket

Andrew Flintoff has retired from cricket. Nobody could say it was a surprise, as the injuries kept stacking up, and returns were looking more and more unlikely. Fred has been a fantastic performer for England over the past decade, and while some are quick to mock his subsequent career as a celebrity, it's important that nobody underestimates Flintoff's importance to English cricket, and what he's given to cricket in general.


Brilliant bowling

Flintoff's over to Langer and Ponting at Edgbaston in 2005 was surely his highlight - and indeed was one of the best overs ever bowled. With every ball on the spot, he asked questions of two of the world's top batsmen each delivery, before removing both of them. While history remembers Hoggard's hat-trick at Barbados, it was Flintoff who took a five-for in the first innings. As both a renowned death bowler in limited overs, and as a strike bowler in tests, Flintoff was England's talisman with the ball, and by the end of his career was a better bowler than batsman (not bad for a supposed batsman who could bowl a bit). Often tipping above 90mph, as well as generating some swing, Flintoff was a deadly bowler to face. Highlights have to be the continued high performance in the 2005 Ashes, bowling to Jacques Kallis in 2008 at Edgbaston, as well as the scintillating spell on the final morning at Lord's in 2009 to finish off the Aussies and pick up an all-too-rare 5 wicket haul.


Destructive batting

While many will remember his hundred at Trent Bridge in 2005, his best innings was probably against the West Indies at Edgbaston, where he brutally marmalised the Windie attack to pick up 167. And (attention Flintoff cliche fans) he even picked out his dad in the crowd with one massive six! (Who dropped it.) Flintoff owned all the shots, and while his brute strength meant that they often cleared the rope, people shouldn't forget the natural batsman Flintoff's excellent timing. He didn't just belt teams around; a patient 95 against South Africa at the Oval was Flintoff at his best, mixing some big hitting with some delicate strokes.


Solid fielding

Flintoff was long known as one of the best slippers in the business, and his bucket-hands meant very few chances were spilled. Never the most mobile or agile, Flintoff's seminal moment in the field was running out Ricky Ponting at the Oval in 2009. (You knew it was coming!)


Captaincy

Yes, Fred may have been captain for the lowest point of English cricket, but he was also skipper for a test victory in India, as well as overseeing a ODI series victory out in Australia. But to be fair, he wasn't a great captain. Sorry Fred.


The Aura

Whenever Flintoff either came on to bowl or came out to bat, the crowd became frenzied, and expectations were raised. Every interview with players who played with Fred will speak of how much belief he gave them when they were playing alongside him, and his simply being there inspired so many great victories. When Flintoff played well, oftentimes England won, and that was due to everyone raising their game to match the feats of Fred. Conversely, opposition batsmen who had been scoring freely went into their shells once the announcer called out "Andrew Flintoff", simply because the man had such an aura surrounding him.


Sportmanship

Brett Lee at Edgbaston. Nuff said.


Sense of Fun

Everyone who played with Fred said what great fun he was in the dressing room, whether that was singing to Rocket Man or Ring of Fire, or hitting the bar (heavily) after the game. Unsurprisingly, the general public's main knowledge of Fred is of his red bleary eyes on top of the bus after winning the Ashes, confessing that he hadn't been to bed that night. Also included is the famous "mind the pavilion windows, Tino" sledge which bought the wicket of Tino Best in 2004. Sure, he could take it to far at times (Fredalo, anyone?) but what a bloke he must have been to play alongside.


New fans

After the 2005 Ashes, cricket became back page news, and was picked up by so many new fans nationwide. Much of that was due to Flintoffmania, a by-product of Ashes Fever, and his high level of performance, combined with his character meant that cricket was brought into the mainstream. While celebrity (whether unwanted or not) followed for Flintoff, he played a huge part in bringing cricket to a new generation of fans (myself included).


Andrew Flintoff may now have left cricket, but he leaves a massive hole in the game. He brought so much to the game, and served it so well, and it's only right that he is remembered as a true legend of the sport.

Oh how we love!
Your pedalo
Your gorgeous wife
Your ample girth
Your chain smoking
Your beer drinking
Your slip catching
Your seam bowling
Your six hitting
Our all round man
ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Freddie Flintoff
Freddie Freddie Flintoff
Freddie Flintoff
Freddie Freddie Flintoff

Well played, Super Fred.

This is not a Flintoff post.

This is not a Flintoff post. Yes, there will be one, as I want to honour a fantastic performer for England, and a man who played a huge part in me getting into cricket.

But today is about the County Championship. Congratulations Nottinghamshire!

England Team of the Year 2009/10

As a cricketing nation, England haven't had a bad last 12 months. After losing three consecutive series (and three consecutive captains) in the previous summer - summer window, not much was predicted for a team low on confidence, ability or form. 12 months later, all has changed, with an Ashes urn and World T20 trophy safely in the Lord's Trophy Room. And as it's awards season (with Graeme Swann picking up player of the year last night), I've decided to look at who would make England's across-all-formats best eleven of the last year.

1) Andrew Strauss (captain)
Man of the series in the Ashes win, Strauss led England to victory against Australia, and an unlikely draw in South Africa. Also returned as a one-day force, being the only English batsman to come out of the Australia ODI series in any credit, as well as a strong Champions Trophy. But for missing out on runs in South Africa (and literally missing out in Bangladesh) would have run Swann close for Player of the Year.

2) Alastair Cook
While 2009/10 was not his best year in an England shirt, Cook answered his critics with a gutsy knock in Durban after calls for him to be dropped after an indifferent Ashes. However, doubters should not forget his classy 95 in a winning cause at Lord's. Also made two hundreds in the away Bangladesh series.

3) Ian Bell
While I will never be Bell's biggest fan, and have called for him to be dropped as much as any, it's impossible to not pick Bell in the team of the year. Bell has the annoying knack of always doing enough to justify being in the team, and three hundreds on the tour of South Africa and Bangladesh do enough to get him into the middle order. Bell's class does shine through his lack of mental fortitude, and his gritty 80-odd at the Oval is often overlooked, but was vital in England bringing the Ashes home. Begrudging applause from the Short Third Man.

4) Paul Collingwood
Gritty. Nuggety. Determined. Defiant. Stubborn. Generic northern cliche. But for Paul Collingwood, England would have lost three tests which they drew (Cardiff, Centurion and Cape Town), meaning England would not have won the Ashes, and would have lost 3-1 in South Africa. This, if nothing else, shows Collingwood's importance to the team. Collingwood is the bedrock of the England team, with dramatic diving catches, dibbly-dobbly seamers and defiant defence firmly planting him into the team of the year. Firmly part of all three codes, Collingwood is England's highest ever ODI appearance maker (and he took a century on the day he broke the record). And he's the only man to captain England to an ICC event win. Which can't be bad.

5) Eoin Morgan
Morgan completes England's ginger middle order twosome, and is the only player in the team of the year to not have played test cricket. However, by being far and away England's one day player of the year, he will undoubtably have played a bit of test cricket by this time on Thursday. Morgan has been used in a variety of roles in the limited over middle-order, as a master-blasting "finisher", a middle-over "anchor", and a run-rate "accelerator". Morgan has fulfilled all of these roles with aplomb over the past 12 months (don't forget; this time last year he'd only ever played internationally for Ireland), with an unbeated T20 85 against South Africa, and his first international century against Bangladesh being further highlights. Morgan was also one of many English heroes who won the World T20, and fully deserves his place in the team of the year.

6) Matt Prior (wicket-keeper)
England have used four wicket-keepers this past year, but only one has been able to firmly grab hold and keep his place in the team. Matt Prior. Prior's much-maligned keeping has improved no end, being able to take some real blinders in the Ashes win. While he did not flourish with the bat, he was often on hand for some useful quick runs (Lord's being a prime example) throughout the 12 months. While he may be sweating over the emergence of Craig Kieswetter, Prior knows that for the moment, the gloves are in his court.

7) Andrew Flintoff
Can you really make England's team of the year on the back of one completed series? And on the back of (ultimately) one good bowling performance? While Flintoff's stats and averages will not support it, as someone who was at Lord's on that Monday morning where he blew Australia away, something special was happening. The God and after-God that is Andrew Flintoff was superb, and his prescence, even if it wasn't him scoring the runs or taking the wickets like it was in 2005, the fact that he was there whipped the crowd and team into such a fervour that England had to win. It's no coincidence that the one game he missed, England were crucified. It's also no coincidence that as the crowd were beginning to lower their volume, he produced an outstanding pick-up and throw to run out Ricky Ponting in the fifth test. Flintoff's personal performances were not as outstanding, but simply having him in the team would give it an unprecedented aura. While we may not see Flintoff in an England shirt again, he makes it into the English team of the year.

8) Tim Bresnan
Tim Bresnan started last year as a bit-part one day player who hadn't made the previous few squads. He starts this as a one-day new-ball bowler, and an important part of the team for all three codes. Forcing his way back into the test team after being ousted for the Ashes, Bresnan has proven with his high level of one day performance that he is a capable international player. Bresnan has also showed a comittment to his fitness by trimming down, and while he is not the most athletic, he can swing the ball and score useful lower order runs, which should see him on the plane to Australia this winter. And it also sees it into my team of the year.

9) Graeme Swann Player of the Year
Quite simply England's best player over the past 12 months. Swann took crucial wickets, scored crucial runs and told not-as-crucial jokes in interviews. After getting the West Indies out for fun, Swann turned his attention to the Australians, and was as important player as any in the Ashes win. His "ball-of-the-century 2" to Ponting at Edgbaston was "one for the grandkids", as, no doubt, was taking the final Ashes winning wicket. South Africa was next, and his 85 runs and 5 first innings wickets kept England in the game in Centurion. He then took an unprecedented 9 wickets in Durban as England closed the decade with arguably their best away performance of the noughties. While the series in South Africa ended on a sour note, Swann took a maiden ten-wicket haul in the first Bangladeshi test as England took an easy series win. Away from tests, Swann was England's tightest ODI bowler, and took a maiden fivefer in the most important ODI against Australia (the '1' in the 6-1). His guile was crucial in the Caribbean, alongside Michael Yardy, as he bowled England to a World T20 victory. Overall, Swann was clearly England's best player of the past 12 months, and clearly deserves his place in the team of the year.

10) Stuart Broad
Broad's spell in the final Ashes test won the urn, but he has contributed more than that. He's the only fast bowler to have consistently appeared in all formats of the game, and has been England's best ODI bowler. Offering swing, seam and bounce, as well as sometimes crucial late-order runs, Broad has again improved through the last 12 months, and hopes to move on further over the next year.

11) Jimmy Anderson
At times the only bowler who scared Australia, Anderson has developed an ability to threaten even when the ball is not swinging. Unlucky to have missed out as England won the World T20, Anderson is still England's flagship test fast bowler, and will continue to fulfil that role over the next 12 months.



So - that's my team of the last year, what do you all make of it? No Pietersen, Trott or Onions...

Last Week's Poll - How can England get to the West Indies?

A poll to forget this week, there was very little that was good about it. To be honest, it was a half-arsed effort, with half-arsed answers, and it got a half-arsed response. I took all of about 20 seconds to think about the topic for this week's poll, and as I only had the interest to think of four answers, it was clearly a poll with very little effort. And probably due to this, you lot voted with your feet; by which I mean you did not vote at all. It was a three-way tie at the top, so my casting vote goes to Flintoff's pedalo as a means of transport for the English team out to West Indies. Even though Flintoff isn't in the squad. And that they actually flew by 747, as the volcano stopped erupting enough for them to fly. I told you there wasn't much thought put into it.

Next week's poll is an election special (topical or what?), so exercise your democratic right and vote!

The Wisden Five

Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year have been published. An annual honour of the highest degree; being named as one of the Wisden Five is the pinnacle of a cricketer's career, and is awarded to those who have made the biggest impact on the previous English cricketing summer. This year, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Matt Prior, Graham Onions and Michael Clarke have been chosen. Clarke and Swann aside, it's difficult to argue for their inclusion.

Over the English summer, England played the West Indies, the World T20, and the Ashes against Australia (as well as ODIs against both of the touring nations). Graham Onions made his international debut against the West Indies. Yes, he took five wickets on debut (a fine achievement), but this was against a very disinterested West Indian side, who were upset that they were not still playing in the IPL. Onions did not feature in the ODI series, or the World T20, or indeed the opening Ashes test. When he did come in, for tests 2, 3 and 4, Onions bowled well (when the ball was swinging), but you couldn't argue that his bowling won any games for England. His Australian counterparts Hilfenhaus, Siddle and Johnson all outbowled him, and would have been better candidates for inclusion in the list.

Stuart Broad did take an Ashes winning 5 for at the Oval, and should be applauded. But we shouldn't forget the first four tests, where he looked as threatening to batsmen as a bumble-bee; it could sting you but it probably won't, and is easily swatted away. His inability to bowl remotely dangerous balls made him very much the scapegoat of the England attack, and there were large calls for him to be dropped ahead of the 5th test. Arguably, his batting outperformed his bowling, but a Wisden Cricketer of the Year should not be made due to batting exploits at number 8. Again, the fifth test aside, Broad was outbowled by Hilfenhaus and Siddle. But Broad did make the impact of winning England the Ashes, so my argument against him is basically me being very awkward.

The inclusion of Matt Prior is an interesting one. It can't be denied that Prior's keeping has improved, but the words "polishing" and "turd" do come to mind. If we are to judge Prior as a specialist number 6, he was outscored by Marcus North, and if we are to judge him as a wicket keeper - batsman, he was outplayed by Brad Haddin. Prior didn't even make the World T20 squad; and was rubbish in the one dayers, so he clearly didn't make that much of an impact on the English summer.

The announcement of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year are always going to create debate, seen most clearly when Claire Taylor was on the list last year. It's hard to argue with Swann (who was England's best player over 2009), and Clarke, who Strauss aside was the player of the Ashes. However, while England did defy the odds to win, Prior and Onions were only supplementary players to the victory, and statistically, there should have been more Australians on the list than Englishmen. However, Wisden's rules state that a player cannot win the award twice, meaning it would have been impossible for Strauss, Anderson, Flintoff, Harmison and Collingwood to be on the list. And Onions, Broad and Prior were the only players left. Well, they weren't going to pick Ravi Bopara.