Hey Sifter , are you jealoused ?
No!
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I was massively tempted to pick another older legend here, but I've got a distinct lack of modern players in the XI thus far (Ken Barrington being the most modern!), so I've decided to honour some modern players this time.
Dean Jones
Ashes stats:
Tests: 17
Runs: 1320
Average: 50.76
High Score: 184
Best Series: Probably 1989 - he scored more runs (566 runs @ 70.75 with 2 100s), but in 86/87 he was the leading run scorer with 511 runs @ 56.77 so it's close.
Only 8 batsmen have scored 500 runs in an Ashes series twice, and 7 of them have already been picked. The 8th man is Dean Jones, and to be honest I wouldn't have guessed that before I found the list. I'm glad it's him though, I thought he was a great player to watch
Dean Jones was an energetic right handed middle order batsman for Australia in the late 80s and early 90s. Better known for his excellent ODI performances, which is a shame because he was quite a good Test player as well.
His best Ashes innings was probably his 184* at Sydney in 86/87. Australia only scored 343, Deano still not out at the end after coming in at 1/8 and seeing everyone else fail. Border's 34 was the next best score. The two hundreds he made in 1989 were more attacking innings, his 100 at The Oval for instance coming in just 119 balls.
Those innings showed that Jones was a versatile player too who could attack or defend, and could bat almost anywhere in the order - in 86/87 he mostly at #3, in 1989 he was at #5. He'll at at 5 or 6 for me I'd say.
Good athlete in the field and had a powerful throw. His running between the wickets was also fantastic, really ran hard and knew exactly how long it took him to go 20 yards so he could push fieldsmen.
Bruce Reid
Ashes stats:
Tests: 9
Wickets: 47
Average: 20.4
Best Bowling: 7/51 at Melbourne, 1990/91
Best Series: 1990/91 - Reid was the leading wicket taker for the series, taking 27 wickets @ 16.00 as Australia retained the Ashes.
Tall (6'8") and skinny, Bruce Reid had an abbreviated career because of back issues. I guess it was just never strong enough to keep him fit. Reid's last Test was at a mere 29 years of age. He never made an England tour for example, the only England tour during his shortened Test career was 1989 and he was unavailable because of his back.
His back troubles were very saddening to Aussie fans because Reid was a talented guy: his height meant he got good bounce; he had the ability to swing the ball back into the right handers; and he was accurate, always at the batsman - unlike Australia's modern left armers...**cough Johnson and Starc *cough*cough* Reid wasn't a FAST bowler, but his pace was good enough to keep batsmen pinned to their crease. That and the threat of extra bounce.
Australian coach Bob Simpson said this of Bruce Reid:
"My biggest 'if only' is Bruce Reid. If he had stayed fit, there is no doubt at all that Australia would have been recognised as world champions two or three years before we were able to claim that position, simply because he was a great bowler, one of the finest bowlers I have ever seen."
Reid's best Ashes moment was definitely at the MCG in 1990/91 where he took 6/97 in the first, and 7/51 in the second to give him 13/148 for the match. Most of the wickets were caught by keeper or slips, just because the threat of his inswing made the English batsmen unsure of the line to play. The angle would then find the edge.
An awful batsman!
1
Archie Jackson 
(350 runs @ 58.33)
2
Wilfred Rhodes (1706 runs @ 31.01 & 109 wkts @ 24.00)
3
Sir Donald Bradman (5028 runs @ 89.78)
4
Ken Barrington (2111 runs @ 63.96)
5
Dean Jones (1320 runs @ 50.76)
6
7
Monty Noble (1905 runs @ 30.72 & 115 wkts @ 24.86)
8
9
Jim Laker (79 wkts @ 18.27)
10
Sir Alec Bedser (104 wkts @ 27.49)
11
Bruce Reid (47 wkts @ 20.40)
Still not entirely sure where Noble and Rhodes will bat
but I've got my 5 bowlers now - 2 pace, 2 spin and Noble's fast medium swervers. Just need a keeper and another batsman probably.
Looking at that team, I quite like the mix of players you've got, despite having no 'superstar'. Good balance of bowlers, plenty of attacking batsmen.
Hogg, Alderman and McGrath are a trio that complement each other's skills nicely, and the batsmen are all good players. Hammond can bowl useful overs as your 5th bowler. Peter May is a great pick. He might be my captain - he's one of England's most underappreciated players I feel. Stylish batsman and successful captain.
Almost picked Trumper instead of Bruce Reid. He has a massive reputation, deserved to be taken earlier... And in Warwick Armstrong you've not only bagged an underrated all-rounder, but perhaps the most successful Ashes captain - never lost a Test in charge and won 8 of his 10 Tests in charge.
