An All-Time Ashes XI

In the run up to the ashes the BBC have asked who would make the cut in your 'all-time Ashes XI'. Here's my choice, five Englishmen and six Australians, a handful of players from the inter-war era, a few post war players and a smattering from the modern age.....

Len Hutton: In 1963, Hutton was named by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in its hundredth edition as one of its "Six Giants of the Wisden Century".

Geoffrey Boycott: My pick but when asked if he would have picked himself he replied: "If I had to bat for my life, I'd pick myself, yes." 'Nuff said......

Donald Bradman: A phenomenon. "Unquestionably the greatest batsman in the game, arguably the greatest cricketer ever." - Cricinfo

Wally Hammond: Wisden's obituary described Hammond as one of the top four batsmen who had ever played, calling him "a most exciting cricketer. ... The instant he walked out of a pavilion, white-spotted blue handkerchief showing from his right pocket, bat tucked underarm, cap at a hint of an angle, he was identifiable as a thoroughbred."

Steve Waugh: My Captain, the man who coined the term 'mental disintegration' and of whom Johnathan Agnew said: "He looked at you with that steely stare, analysed you and then took you apart."

Ian Botham: A childhood hero who in my mind was the greatest cricketer ever, he could bat, he could bowl and he could field. He could do everything!

Adam Gilchrist: He beat fellow Australians Rod Marsh and Ian Healy into Richie Benaud's Greatest XI. In his maiden Ashes Test in 2001 Gilchrist hit an unbeaten 152 off 143 balls, while his last century against England - at Perth in 2006 - took just 57 balls.

Shane Warne: "If Bradman was the batting phenomenon, Warne is the bowling phenomenon of Australian cricket. He could land it on a tuppence and he gave it an almighty rip. He was the full package." - Jim Maxwell.

Glenn McGrath: A tough decision between Glenn McGrath and Jeff Thomson. I think familiarity wins McGrath the place though. He seemed to do the simple things consistently and relentlessly to great effect.

Dennis Lillee: "Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Thomson don't get ya, Lillee must." - The Sunday Telegraph.

Sydney Barnes: Generally regarded as one of the greatest ever bowlers and in 2008 he had the highest rating among bowlers in the ICC Best-Ever Test Championship Ratings

Some other "All-Time Ashes XI's" though not always using the BBC shortlist.....

BBC Sports All-Time Ashes XI: Hobbs, Boycott, Bradman, Border, Steve Waugh, Botham, Gilchrist, Warne , Lillee, Anderson, McGrath

Ex-England captain Michael Vaughan's XI: Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Ponting, Steve Waugh, Botham, Gilchrist, Warne, Lillee, McGrath, Johnson.

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell's XI: Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Border, Compton, Botham, Gilchrist, Warne, Lillee, Thomson, Anderson.

TMS statistician Andrew Samson's XI (based on best averages): Sutcliffe, Hutton, Bradman, Barrington, Hussey, Miller, Gilchrist, Laker, Spofforth, McGrath, Lillee.

Tailenders (Greg James, Felix White & James Anderson): Hobbs, Slater, Hammond, Bradman, Steve Waugh, Botham, Knott, Warne, Johnson, McGrath, Anderson.

Yahoo sports selected the following in their combined team: Morris, Hobbs, Bradman, Pietersen, Steve Waugh (c), Gilchrist, Botham, Warne, Larwood, Lillee, McGrath.

Ben Sewell writing for theroar.com offers his team: Hutton, Grace, Bradman, Border, Steve Waugh, Botham, Gilchrist, Warne, Laker, Lillee, Spofforth.

Sportkeeda.com's Soham Samaddar offers: Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Hammond, Steve Waugh, Botham, Gilchrist, Warne, Lillee, Willis, McGrath.