Australia's 2009 Ashes squad

Ricky Ponting Age 34. 131 Tests. 10960 runs at 56.20 and five wickets at 48.40. Ponting has always been a great batsman, but the suspicion was that he was a mediocre captain. His bizarre decision-making in India last winter and subsequent admission that he was more worried about over rates than winning exacerbated that. Since then though he has begun to rebuild the team in his own image, leading a callow side to success in South Africa. The flip side is his batting has suffered, his average dropping to a more pedestrian 43 over the last two years. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Michael Clarke Age 28. Tests 47 (10 in Ashes). 3204 runs at 47.82 and 18 wickets at 37.77. Right-hand middle-order batsman and occasional slow left-arm spinner from New South Wales. An attractive strokemaker who was hailed as a star and Australia’s future captain even before he had played a Test. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Stuart Clark Age 33. Tests 22. 210 runs at 13.12 and 90 wickets at 22.96. Like Mike Hussey, Clark came into the team late in his career and enjoyed a successful start. Stepping into Glenn McGrath’s shoes, Clark is a parsimonious medium-fast bowler who relies on accuracy and ball movement rather than speed. In 2008 an elbow injury derailed his career, and he’s only just recovered from subsequent surgery. Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images

Brad Haddin Age 31. Tests 15. 901 runs at 37.54. Wicketkeeper-batsman from New South Wales. Toured with the 2005 Ashes squad but made only one appearance as a one-day supersub. A heavy scorer in the Pura Cup for some seasons he was identified as Adam Gilchrist’s replacement many years ago and his keeping has improved in recent seasons. Photograph: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

Nathan Hauritz Age 27. Tests 4. 14 wickets at 32.28. Off-spinner from Queensland and the only specialist spinner in Australia’s 25 centrally contracted players. Made his Test debut in 2004 when he surprised many by being chosen for the tour of India ahead of Stuart MacGill. Fell out of favour but toured South Africa in the winter, though he failed to play a Test. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Ben Hilfenhaus Age 26. Tests 3. 7 wickets at 52.28. Right-arm fast-medium bowler from Tasmania, only the second pace bowler from that state to play for Australia after Greg Campbell. A strong swing bowler who overcame back problems to make his debut in South Africa in the winter. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Phillip Hughes Age 20. Tests 3. 415 runs at 58.53. Left-handed opening batsman from New South Wales. Made a four-ball duck on his Test debut in South Africa in the winter but 75 in the second innings and a century in both innings in his second Test. Unorthodox attacking batsman who has scored four centuries for Middlesex this season. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Mike Hussey Age 33. Tests 37. 3041 runs at 48.22 and one wicket at 100. After making his debut at the age of 30 the left-handed batsman enjoyed an astonishing start to his Test career, averaging a phenomenal 80 runs per innings in his first 20 games. While the Australian team broke up around him, Hussey was a rock. Over the last 12 months though he has stalled, scoring only one fifty in his last two series. Unless he finds form he could potentially be a weak link in the line-up. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Mitchell Johnson Age 27. Tests 21. 94 wickets at 28.01 and 694 runs at 34.70. Left-arm fast bowler and left-hand batsman from Queensland. One of the most exciting talents in the world game, a bruiser of a fast bowler who can now swing the ball in and a late order hitter who can strike the ball almost as hard as Adam Gilchrist. Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images

Simon Katich Age 33. Tests 38 (6 in Ashes). 2,649 runs at 43.42. Left-hand opening batsman who has appeared for Derbyshire, Durham, Yorkshire and Hampshire. Solid performer in the mood to improve on his modest record against England (average 26.30) and arguably the best of the side’s part-time spinners. Photograph: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Brett Lee Age 32. 76 Tests. 1451 runs at 20.15 and 310 wickets at 30.81. After the retirements of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Lee enjoyed a 12-month purple patch. Having been the junior member of the attack for so long he revelled in the responsibility of leadership. After that burst though his form began to wane. Lingering foot and ankle injuries took their toll, and he lost his speed. He’s since had an operation though, and may well be rejuvenated by his return to fitness. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Graham Manou Age 30. Tests 0. 3,620 first-class runs at 24.51. Wicketkeeper from South Australia who understudies for Brad Haddin. Something of a prodigy as a junior player his recognition has come after a decade of solid work as a state player. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Andrew McDonald Age 27. Tests 4. 107 runs at 21.40 and 9 wickets at 33.33. Right-hand batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler from Victoria who made his Test debut against South Africa in Sydney at the end of last year and held his place for the reverse series in South Africa. Photograph: Gallo Images/Getty Images

Marcus North Age 29. Tests 2. 160 runs at 40.00. Left-hand batsman and occasional off-break bowler who has played for five counties: Derbyshire, Durham, Gloucestershire, Lancashire and Hampshire. A high achiever as a youth player he then served a solid apprenticeship in state cricket before making a century on his Test dubut in Johannesburg in the winter. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Peter Siddle Age 24. Tests 7. 29 wickets at 27.65. Right-arm opening bowler from Victoria. Made his Test debut in India last autumn and confirmed his place with strong-looking performances in two series against South Africa. Can bowl with real pace. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Getty Images

Shane Watson Age 27. Tests 8. 257 runs at 19.76 and 14 wickets at 35.57. Right-hand batsman and right-arm fast-medium all-rounder from Queensland. A classy batsman, despite those figures, and a useful bowler who would have played a lot more but for injuries. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images