Marcus Trescothick , Age: 39
Scored England’s first ever Twenty20 runs with a single off Brett Lee and is still scoring runs for Somerset in the format today, although not very many of them so far this season. Played only three T20s for England due to his early retirement from international cricket from a stress-related illness and the 41 he hit at the Rose Bowl proved his lowest score. England’s loss was Somerset’s gain and he now has a stand named in his honour at the County Ground in Taunton.
Geraint Jones, Age: 38
The highlight of Jones’s 2005 came nearly two months later, when he took the catch to dismiss Michael Kasprowicz and win the Edgbaston Test. His international career, with England at least, was to prove fairly brief and he lost his place in all formats in 2006, although he played ODIs for Papua New Guinea, the country of his birth, last year. Still keeping for Gloucestershire’s T20 side and captains in the County Championship.
Andrew Flintoff, Age: 37
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2005 was appointed an MBE in the 2006 New Year honours. Has been a busy man since retiring in 2010 with a knee injury, taking part in a professional boxing bout, appearing in several advertising campaigns and carving out a successful TV career. His latest series – Flintoff: Lord of the Fries – featured him “serving up fish and chips to the general public in an eco-friendly chip van”.
Kevin Pietersen, Age: 34
Still a mainstay of the England middle order and the man Alastair Cook will be looking at to take the fight to Australia in the Ashes this summer. What? Oh. In international exile for the last 18 months and a possible comeback this spring was axed due to “massive trust issues” between him and the ECB. Will next week jet off to St Lucia to play in the Caribbean Premier League.
Michael Vaughan, Age: 40
Captained the side in their first game but became the first England player to bag a golden duck in a T20 international. Retired from cricket just before the 2009 Ashes and – via a none-too-shabby stint on Strictly Come Dancing that ended when his samba was found lacking – these days can be heard on Test Match Special. Pulled out of the running to be England’s new director of cricket earlier this year.
Paul Collingwood, Age: 39
Remained a key part of the T20 side until 2011 and led England to their first ICC trophy when the team surprised everybody by lifting the World Twenty20 title in 2010. Still playing for Durham and has had coaching stints with England but his most recent role was with Scotland at the 2015 World Cup. May well return to the England setup soon.
Andrew Strauss, Age: 38
Very much a junior member of this team, having made his Test debut just over a year earlier, but went on to captain the side in all formats and is now arguably the most powerful man in the English game as the ECB’s director of cricket. Recently appointed Trevor Bayliss as the new England head coach and played a key role in the decision to keep Pietersen out of the setup.
Vikram Solanki, Age: 39
With the world still trying to working out what a T20 lineup should look like, the then Worcestershire player was a specialist batsman at No8 in this side. Went on to play only three T20 internationals but managed a half century of ODI caps between 2000 and 2006. A former chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, he is currently turning out for the Surrey second XI after switching counties in 2012.
Jon Lewis, Age: 39
The medium-pacer bowled brilliantly in the Australia innings – removing Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds for ducks – but it did not translate to a long and illustrious England career, in which he played only one Test and a handful of ODIs. Retired from playing at the end of the 2014 season and is now bowling coach at Sussex.
Darren Gough, Age: 44
Gough’s international career was winding down at this point, but he still returned very healthy bowling figures. Retired from international cricket a year later and has moved into the media, presenting a regular show on TalkSport. e has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, winning the show later in 2005 thanks to an impressive foxtrot and paso doble.
Steve Harmison, Age: 36
In perhaps the most unexpected move for a member of this XI – bearing in mind that a mobile chip shop and a surprisingly large amount of dancing have already featured – England’s premier pace bowler of 2005 is currently manager of Ashington football club in the Ebac Northern League Division One (tier nine in the football pyramid). Kept the side in the division last season following his appointment in February.
