All Time Ashes XI: The Openers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ricky Ponting is picking his best Ashes XI on Cricinfo, presumably from his playing time. He's started off with Matthew Hayden, who I'd say has a bit of a mixed record in the Ashes, no better than his partner Justin Langer anyway. I wondered if I could float this. An Ashes XI. I'll work my way through the team. I've chosen them by averages in the positions I'm polling. For batters, minimum 1000 runs. And from the beginning of the contests, though early players are less likely to make the minimum numbers.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine ... pe=batting

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sutcliffe is a no brainer. Went for Arthur Morris to join him. A week to vote for this one.

[Gingerfinch]

Hobbs and Sutcliffe.

Think I might know my number three.

[DiligentDefence]

Sutcliffe and Morris for me too.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Think I might know my number three.

Um...

[braveneutral]

Ballance?

[Making_Splinters]

Unfortunately the Mighty DA can't throw his hat into this ring. For the English it'd be Bert and Len, for the Aussies, Bobby and Arth.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Have a vote, Splinters.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I had a bit of an eye for Bill Woodfull, given his place in the second most dramatic Ashes series ever. And was quite stunned by Keith Stackpole's record, but in relatively few games.

If you set the minimum runs at 500, Michael Vaughan has the second best record for opening, after Sutcliffe. Against one of the all time great attacks. But only in one series.

[Gingerfinch]

Slater won't get many if any votes, but he was great to watch. His 152 at Lords and opening day ton in Aus, were terrific knocks.

[Making_Splinters]

Vaughan, before his knee went, was a quality batsman and a decent spinner too boot.

DA will always be my opener of choice, but the Aussies were a serious blot on his record.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If I was picking from my lifetime, I'd go Taylor and Boycott. A bit boring though. Slats and Hayden would be the the ones for action. Couldn't really stomach Matty though. Even less so now I've heard him commentate. Quite liked Langer.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Vaughan, before his knee went, was a quality batsman and a decent spinner too boot.

DA will always be my opener of choice, but the Aussies were a serious blot on his record.

Like Gooch. Though GG did better when the Aussies were stronger.

I had a look for Dennis, but didn't find him.

[Gingerfinch]

Gooch had nightmares against Alderman, though did flay a weak attack in 1985.

Chris Broad like Vaughan, had one brilliant series, in Aus.

[Making_Splinters]

Vaughan, before his knee went, was a quality batsman and a decent spinner too boot.

DA will always be my opener of choice, but the Aussies were a serious blot on his record.

Like Gooch. Though GG did better when the Aussies were stronger.

I had a look for Dennis, but didn't find him.

DA is probably better known for having a terrible time against that Australians than he is for being one of the greatest post war English openers. From memory his figures are somewhere below 20 against them, played a couple of decent knocks against Lillee and Thomo but was tosh aside from that.