🔗 Share this article

The legendary rivalry of English and Australia teams has been illuminated by iconic players. Within, enthusiasts recount their favourite cricketers across the men's Ashes timeline.

Jonny Bairstow

When asked about a preferred cricketer, the choice falls on the combative Jonny Bairstow. His journey during the Ashes perfectly captures the highs and lows of an England career. It started with the 2013 series, when he sacrificed his natural game to dig in alongside Ian Bell. Later that year, he stepped up as a replacement for gloveman the injured Matt Prior, confronting the formidable Mitchell Johnson having no first-class cricket for three months.

He enjoyed an Ashes-winning comeback during 2015 , plus remains the only England player to have scored two away Ashes centuries since 2011, an achievement accomplished in spite of ferocious local press attention. A poor series followed during the 2019 Ashes, although it featured a vital contribution at Headingley that aided the legendary run chase by Stokes and Leach. After returning in the 2023 series, a stunning 99 not out at Manchester was cruelly denied a match-winning result due to persistent weather.

The Inimitable Syd Barnes

No bowler inspire such reverence like the phenomenal Syd Barnes. His performance of 13 wickets across 80 overs during the second Test stands as testament to his skill. It's fascinating to ponder how much more he could have accomplished had he been an easier man to manage. Boasting a staggering 6,229 wickets at a cost of just 8.33 runs, he is regarded by many as the finest bowler. Studying his records in childhood proved utterly enthralling. He was a glorious bastard, truly without equal. As MCC secretary Billy Griffith: “The extraordinary thing regarding him was that all his contemporaries thought him the best there was. Never was there any doubt about it.”

Richie Benaud

To countless fans, the ultimate player remains the iconic Richie Benaud. A move to high school in 1961 aligned with that year's Ashes, where the magic was provided by the glamorous Australian captain. Benaud stood out from the rest; with flair and daring, offering contrast from the more sedate English game. He was eloquent, charismatic captain who came known for playing attacking, thrilling cricket.

Vivid recollections of that summer, where a lifelong love affair with cricket began, centre on the last day of Old Trafford. Glued to the broadcast, a young fan watched the home side chase 256 runs. A promising beginning had the dashing Ted Dexter play what many consider one of the great knocks. However his dismissal for 76, taken by Wally Grout bowled of Benaud. Hope remained as captain Peter May arriving to bat. Benaud bowled and May deflect the ball to the on side. Next up, Benaud bowled again outside the pads, the ball spun viciously out of the footmarks and hit the stumps. The captain was dismissed for a duck, the silence palpable. Benaud won the match with figures 6 for 70 and Australia kept the urn. A moment of mixed emotion—wanting an English victory but marvelling at a true hero.

Ian Botham

He is the greatest all-rounder. Indefatigable, heroic, brilliant. For his heroics at Headingley in '81, the exploits at Old Trafford that same year, the victorious tour of Australia, and his famous comment directed at the bowler Merv Hughes. A hero both for his philanthropy but also his tremendous fortitude.

Harry Boyle

History often overlooks players such as Harry Boyle, yet he deserves to rightfully be among the top 100 key cricketers of the rivalry. Boyle was the legendary Spofforth's new-ball partner in the famous Oval Test of 1882, and his contribution was as vital as Spofforth's to secure victory. Indeed, it was Boyle who dismissed Edmund Peate to win the match. Although Spofforth is rightly hailed as the father of pace bowling, Boyle proved humble , retiring, always prioritising the collective. This humility resulted in his legacy being somewhat forgotten, despite he was highly regarded as a pivotal figure in the sport's development.

Don Bradman

The answer must be Sir Don Bradman. While leg-spinner Shane Warne is a legend, the monumental volume of scoring he amassed against the old foe, combined with his tactical acumen, establishes his status as more than a great player but as the only possible answer. A batting average just shy of ninety, two triple centuries, including a brilliant double-hundred after a bold move to flip the lineup and shield his main batters from a damp pitch in Melbourne during 1937.

Though not alive in his time, any cricket fan learns with his exploits from the early 1930s , particularly, the Invincibles tour. Whilst many recall the final duck that denied him a 100+ average, some treasure images of him practising for hours against a water tank, and seeing him endure the vicious Bodyline series and still emerge 56 runs per innings during a notoriously difficult Ashes for batters. He remains the greatest batsman in many eyes.

Mike Brearley

He elevated the craft of leadership, with its critical role, to unprecedented heights. He epitomised his era by demonstrating that winning in the Ashes, especially in Australia, needed more than effort or brute force. He motivated with considered, astute guidance, fostering a culture in which his team's abilities could flourish. His reading of situations, conditions, and player psyches was masterful precisely when a change of momentum was needed.

This was a beautifully subtle, nuanced approach {that challenged|contradict