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# Steve James: only two Australians make my Ashes XI after England's dominance
in first two Tests
## It was David Lloyd, then England's coach rather than the wittiest of
commentators, who urged his squad to beat their opposite number in the West
Indies in 1998.
![The Ashes 2010: player for player who is the best, England or Australia?][1]
Head to head: Jonathan Trott (right) has outshone Ricky Ponting Photo:
REUTERS/PA
[![Steve James][2]][3]
By [Steve James][4] 12:15PM GMT 07 Dec 2010
[Steve's Twitter][5]
[Comments][6]
His thinking was that if everyone succeeded then there was a good chance that
the team would prevail. He was thinking that he wanted a composite team made
up mainly of England players. It is no foolproof method, but how are the
England and Australia players shaping up after two Tests?
**Andrew Strauss v Simon Katich**
Strauss has only one problem: the third ball of the morning (start of Brisbane
Test and second day in Adelaide). Otherwise he set the tone superbly for the
Brisbane fightback, and has captained adroitly. The accusations of
conservatism are easily made from the sidelines. Katich battled bravely on one
leg in the second innings in Adelaide, but is now out of the series with an
Achilles problem. At 35 he may have played his last Test.
**Winner: Strauss **
**Alastair Cook v Shane Watson**
Before the series Watson would have been a shoo-in for this spot, not least
because Cook endured a torrid home summer against Pakistan's swingers. And
Watson's bowling would add an added dimension to any team. He has batted
nicely, but he keeps making only fifties; proper openers make centuries. Or
indeed double-centuries. Cook has made one of those and I was surprised he
didn't make another. He is totally at ease, mentally and physically.
**Winner: Cook **
## Related Articles
* [Ponting defiant in face of crisis][7]
07 Dec 2010
* [Derek Pringle: lack of alternatives may save Ricky Ponting][8]
07 Dec 2010
* [Strauss: we have exorcised demons][9]
07 Dec 2010
* [Australia lose Katich to injury][10]
07 Dec 2010
* [Report: England claim crushing victory][11]
07 Dec 2010
* [Australia have problems and no easy solutions][12]
07 Dec 2010
**Jonathan Trott v Ricky Ponting**
Ponting was once a great batsman, but he is not in great form. A freewheeling
half-century in Brisbane's second innings flattered like a royal sycophant. It
was a no pressure situation. Trott, albeit with some good fortune along the
way, has been outstanding. With all the attendant captaincy troubles
encircling Ponting, you'd simply back Trott to score more runs at present.
Ponting's response with the bat will determine his side's fortunes. And, of
course, he should never be underestimated.
**Winner: Trott. However controversial. **
**Kevin Pietersen v Michael Clarke**
Clarke returned to form in the second innings at Adelaide, reward for a more
positive outlook, but Pietersen made a career-best. To make such a score in a
live Ashes Test Down Under tells the whole story. It was stunning. It was also
well-constructed and clinical, and it was a crying shame that rain arrived at
tea on the third day. He might have made a triple by the close such was his
mastery. And he dismissed Clarke on the fourth evening. That broke Australia.
**Winner: Pietersen **
**Paul Collingwood v Mike Hussey**
Hussey is averaging 113, so pity poor Collingwood, but the left-hander played
a poor shot on the last morning in Adelaide, trying to pull a ball nowhere
near short enough. Collingwood actually played quite neatly in the shadow of
Kevin Pietersen, and bowled his cutters competently. Don't write him off.
**Winner: Hussey **
**Ian Bell v Marcus North **
North is a lucky man. Maybe Australia like his off-spin, but he is no Jim
Laker. Bell is playing exquisitely; those frustrated by England not declaring
on the fourth morning would have been instantly charmed by the crispness of
Bell's strokeplay. His quick movement down the pitch to the spinners is
superior to any England batsman of recent vintage.
**Winner: Bell **
**Matt Prior v Brad Haddin**
Prior made a bad, feet-in-a-bucket mistake first ball in Brisbane while Haddin
made an imposing century. But Prior delivered some perky strokes in hastening
England's declaration in Adelaide. Both have kept tidily. Haddin dropped Trott
badly and Prior shelled a difficult chance off Hussey on the last morning.
**Winner: Haddin. Just. **
**Stuart Broad v Ryan Harris**
Best not talk about their batting. With Mitchell Johnson also making a duck in
Brisbane, not one run has been scored by a No 8 so far in this series. Broad's
injury is a cruel blow, and two wickets in the series were scant reward for
his efforts. Harris can be slippery, but often just slips onto the bat nicely.
**Winner: Broad **
**Graeme Swann v Xavier Doherty**
Towel at the ready. Throw it in; this is a horrible mismatch. A giant against
a Lilliput in cricketing terms. Poor Doherty was selected supposedly for his
accuracy, but the highest level can be heartless in its exposure. Swann was
exemplary at Adelaide; tight and probing on day two, a crackerjack on days
four and five.
**Winner:** **Swann **
**James Anderson v Peter Siddle**
Siddle's hat-trick is already a distant memory. He is an honest toiler, who
can bowl an admirably full length, but he simply does not move the ball
enough. Anderson does. So much for the curse of the Kookaburra. Anderson was
magnificent on day one at Adelaide; his accuracy was astonishing. He actually
struggled a little in the second innings, overpitching in search of swing, but
produced a beauty to dismiss Haddin.
**Winner: Anderson**
**Steven Finn v Doug Bollinger **
Bollinger didn't look fit at Adelaide; his pace dipped alarmingly in the heat.
Sadly he is all mouth and no trousers. Finn, despite appearing to lose his run
up regularly, has bowled some wonderful spells. That he has also bowled some
indifferent spells too reflects only his youth.
**Winner: Finn **
**Verdict: **England have nine, and Australia just two. At the start of the
series I would have picked seven from England (Strauss, Pietersen, Bell,
Prior, Broad, Swann and Anderson) and four from Australia (Watson, Ponting,
Hussey and Johnson). One team is rising, whilst the other is falling. Of that
there can be no doubt.
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