Congratulations to Andrew Strauss and England. Dare I say he is actually a likeable England captain
He seems like a ripping bloke, a batsman who knows his game inside out, and to pick that squad up after the Headingley massacre was no small feat - a deserved man of the series.
Strauss 9/10
Cook 3/10 - can't see why he is the anointed one. Looks to have a huge weakness outside off stump and no real attacking power.
Bopara - 2/10 - clearly not a test number three.
Pietersen - 4/10 - luckily for us he got injured. England's best and most frustrating batsman.
Collingwood - 5/10 - Cardiff innings probably won England the Ashes, but there must be a few question marks going forward.
Trott - 10/10 - could you ask a debutant to do any more in a match as important than that? Looks composed and classy, and should take over at 4.
Bell - 5/10 still an enigma - something is missing - self belief? Should have scored a ton at the Oval Should hold down 5, but certainly not a number 3.
Prior - 7/10 looks a quality keeper and really good bat to me, potential to be a real star.
Flintoff - 5/10 - let's face it - he didn't have a very good series due to injury, but that spell at Lord's wound back the clock.
Broad - 7/10 - Take out the Oval, and he'd get a 2/10. Should probably have been dropped mid series, but winning the Ashes with that spell at the Oval turns him into an immortal.
Harmison - 5/10 - last hurrah for the white West Indian?
Onions - 6/10 - looks a very good bowler when conditions suit.
Anderson - 6/10 - when it doesn't swing, his head drops and his bowling gets murdered. But when it's moving around - lethal.
Swann - 5/10 - not convinced about him. Give Rashid a go.
Panesar - 1/10 - should give him 10/10 seeing his innings won you the Ashes! Bowling has no impact - looks like the end of the road for one of my favourite players.
Hughes - 3/10 - unlucky to be dropped, but he'll be back.
Katich - 6/10 - not a great series by his standards -would not look out of place leading the side.
Watson 7/10 - a superb job given the circumstances - number 6 is his going forward, but not an opener long term.
Ponting - 6/10 - only one hundred for the series is a poor return for a player of his class and he will be hurting because he knows it too. Match awareness isn't improving, but set to continue as captain.
Clarke - 8/10 - answered lingering questions about his ability to score runs when it really matters. Maybe if they're serious about him leading he should take over while in the form of his life?
North - 9/10 - the production line cranks out another star.
Hussey - 4/10 - may be the sacrificial lamb despite his heroic last test hundred.
Haddin - 5/10 - Some very sloppy keeping, and some very classy batting.
Manou - 4/10 - another trivia question has been born.
Hauritz - 5/10 - impressed me with his guts and tidy bowling, but not able to bowl teams out, and not the answer going forward.
Clark - 6/10 - spell at Headingley destroyed England - thought he'd won us the Ashes. Selectors have made it all too clear they're going to call time on his career after this.
Siddle - 7/10 - Pace, accuracy, heart - still raw, but a huge future.
Johnson - 3/10 - What went wrong? - the disappointment of the series
Hilfenhaus - 8/10 - too many no-balls, but the Aussie bowler of the series.
