Penpix of the likely England squad to play Australia in the 2013 Ashes series in
England (player, date of birth, batting style, bowling style).
Batting - matches, innings, not outs, runs, high score average, 100s, 50s.
Bowling - matches, innings, runs, wickets, best innings bowling, best match bowling, five wickets in an innings, 10 wickets in a match.
ALASTAIR COOK 25.12.84 (capt, left-hand bat, right-arm slow)
Batting: 92 163 10 7524 294 49.17 25 29
Bowling: 92 1 1 0 N/A N/A N/A 0 0
Not yet 30, he has already scored more Test hundreds than any England batsman in history, having reached three figures on debut against India. The opener had a sensational series during the last Ashes scoring 766 runs at an average of 127.66 with three hundreds. Criticised for being too cautious and predictable a captain but as England hold the Ashes, the onus is on Australia to take risks.
JOE ROOT 30.12.90 (right-hand bat, right-arm off-spin)
Batting: 6 11 1 424 104 42.40 1 2
Bowling: 6 6 37 0 N/A N/A 0 0
New 'golden boy' of English cricket who still emerged from a bar-room encounter with Australia's David Warner largely unscathed in all senses. Correct and stylish batsman, he faces a major challenge after being promoted to open the innings for the first time in Tests this Ashes.
JONATHAN TROTT 22.04.81 (right-hand bat, right-arm medium)
Batting: 43 75 6 3451 226 50.01 9 16
Bowling: 43 29 660 4 1/5 1/5 92.50 0 0
Dependable number three who demonstrated calmness under pressure when making a hundred on debut against Australia at The Oval in 2009. Can infuriate opponents and crowds alike with the time he takes in getting ready to face up to the bowling but England have no reason for wanting Trott to change his ways.
KEVIN PIETERSEN 27.06.80 (right-hand bat, right-arm off-spin)
Batting: 94 161 8 7499 227 49.01 22 30
Bowling: 94 57 869 10 3/52 4/78 0 0
Former captain Pietersen was briefly dropped after a stunning century against his and Trott's native South Africa last year for sending texts reportedly critical of then England captain Andrew Strauss to Proteas players. But Cook decided he could handle all the hassle that comes with Pietersen if he can still produce the kind of masterful hundred he fashioned against India in Mumbai in November. Now fit after knee trouble.
IAN BELL 11.04.82 (right-hand bat, right-arm medium)
Batting: 88 150 20 5925 235 45.57 17 35
Bowling: 88 6 76 1 1/33 1/33 76.00 0 0
Has never quite hit the heights many thought he would as one of the most talented schoolboy cricketers of his generation but still capable of supremely stylish innings.
JONNY BAIRSTOW 26.09.89 (right-hand bat)
Batting: 8 13 2 341 95 31.00 0 3
Still looking to secure his place in the side, despite some encouraging innings including 95 against a strong South Africa attack at Lord's last year.
MATT PRIOR 26.02.82 (right-hand bat, wicketkeeper):
Batting: 67 101 18 3680 131* 44.33 7 26
Wicketkeeper: 189 catches, 13 stumpings
Has the invaluable ability to score briskly even when England have suffered something a collapse. After a shaky start with the gloves, has become an increasingly reliable figure behind the stumps.
GRAEME SWANN 24.03.79 (right-hand bat, right-arm off-spin)
Batting: 52 63 11 1208 85 23.23 0 5
Bowling: 52 93 6327 222 6/65 10/132 28.50 15 3
England's premier spinner is set to come across at least a couple of pitches that will aid turn this Ashes and the hosts will expect him to both give the seamers a break and take wickets of his own, provided his suspect bowling arm holds up.
STUART BROAD 24.06.86 (Left-hand bat, right-arm fast-medium)
Batting: 57 78 10 1676 169 24.64 1 9
Bowling: 57 102 6033 195 7/44 11/165 30.93 8 1
Like the child in the nursery rhyme, when the paceman's good he's very good and hen he's bad he can be horrid. The same goes for the batting of the son of ex-England opener Chris. But his ability to bowl match-winning spells makes him a dangerous player.
STEVEN FINN 04.04.89 (right-hand bat, right-arm fast-medium)
Batting: 22 27 13 167 56 11.92 0 1
Bowling: 22 41 2529 88 6/125 9/187 28.73 4 0
The tall Middlesex quick has still to become an England first-choice player despite being possessed of pace and bounce. This could be, however, the series where he comes of age as a Test bowler.
JAMES ANDERSON 30.07.82 (left-hand bat, right-arm fast-medium)
Batting: 82 110 40 751 34 10.72 0 0
Bowling: 82 151 9256 307 7/43 11/71 30.14 13 1
The leader of England's attack and now one of the world's top swing bowlers, Anderson has become renowned for his accuracy after some tough, stop-start years early in his international career. Recently became only the fourth England bowler to take 300 Test wickets and the hosts will be desperate for him to remain fit during the Ashes.
TIM BRESNAN 28.02.85 (right-hand bat, right-arm medium-fast)
Batting: 18 17 3 438 91 31.28 0 3
Bowling: 18 31 1855 57 5/48 8/141 32.54 1 0
It is a sign of England's strength in depth that Bresnan, recently back from a second elbow operation, is not yet a Test regular despite rarely letting the side down and being an Ashes winner.
NICK COMPTON 26.06.83 (right-hand bat)
Batting: 9 17 2 479 117 31.93 2 1
The grandson of England great has found himself, much to his annoyance, on the outside looking in after the Somerset opener was told Root was to be Cook's first-wicket partner in the Ashes. Scored back-to-back hundreds in New Zealand earlier this year but paid the price for only managing 39 runs in four innings in the return series against the Kiwis.
MONTY PANESAR 25.04.82 (left-hand bat, slow left-arm)
Batting: 48 64 23 216 26 5.26 0 0
Bowling: 48 81 5540 164 6/37 11/210 33.78 12 2
If England decide conditions merit a second spinner, Panesar may be called up for his first home Test since he and Anderson scrapped out a draw with the bat in Cardiff at the start of the 2009 Ashes.
Cricket: England squad penpix - Yahoo! Cricket India