Profiles by Peter English
Film star comparisons by Alan Tyers

Ricky Ponting

Australia captain and batsman, Age 34, Team Tasmania, Tests 131, 10,960 runs @ 56.20, v England 26 Tests, 1,978 runs @ 48.24

If he was a film star he’d be… Russell Crowe. Domineering leading male, prone to tantrums when hired help step out of line.
What he was doing in 2005 Had a busy summer, bleeding on the first morning at Lord’s, failing to understand reverse swing and eventually handing over a small urn.
Profile As Australia’s only true A-lister he has done well not to become a continual Captain Grumpy over the past year.
Ashes nemesis Ponting will find it hard to forget Andrew Flintoff’s unplayable over at Edgbaston in 2005.
Most likely to… Yell and swear at a winking Andy Flower after being beaten by a throw from England’s latest star substitute fielder.
Where you’ll find him The slips.
Number crunch 39.13. Test average in 2008-09.

Michael Clarke

Middle-order batsman, Age 28, Team New South Wales, Tests 47, 3,204 runs @ 47.82, v England 10 Tests, 724 runs @ 51.71

If he was a film star he’d be… Drew Barrymore. Early success before going off the rails, now assured performer and easy on the eye.
Profile He won’t say it, but David Beckham’s lifestyle is the dream for Clarke and his model fiancée Lara Bingle.
What he was doing in 2005 Wondering why Australian players love Ashes tours as his form disappeared.
Ashes nemesis Note to Andrew Strauss: put out the cardboard cut-out of Simon Jones at every warm-up.
Most likely to… Add another tattoo if they win. His body art collection includes the Roman numerals III VIII IX. In western Sydney that equals 389, his Test number.
Where you’ll find him Point.
Number crunch 37%. Despite his class against the spinners, a third of his dismissals are to them.

Brett Lee

Fast bowler, Age 32, Team New South Wales, Tests 76, 310 wkts @ 30.81, v England 18 Tests, 62 wkts @ 40.61

If he was a film star he’d be… Pamela Anderson. Former pumped-up, pneumatic blonde; now looking distinctly ropey.
Profile A star in Bollywood, he has to prove he’s not a fading one for Australia. May spend more time playing guitar than cricket.
What he was doing in 2005 Trying to avoid hugs and bouncers from Andrew Flintoff. Was brave with the bat and fast with the ball, but wasn’t dangerous enough.
Ashes nemesis Nobody has treated Lee like Kevin Pietersen did during his brutal century at The Oval.
Most likely to… Bowl bouncers at the No.11. If Lee can’t regain his speed, even that might not be enough to frighten the tail.
Where you’ll find him Fine leg/mid-on/mid-off.
Number crunch 0. In 18 Tests against England he has never picked up a five-wicket haul.

Phillip Hughes

Opening batsman, Age 20, Team New South Wales, Tests 3, 415 runs @ 69.16, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not conventionally attractive, but powerful talent; could become a great.
Profile A country kid who has suddenly turned into an international hazard for bowlers. His laidback attitude is much more uncomplicated than his rural but highly effective technique.
What he was doing in 2005 Aged 16, he was pestering his parents to stay up late to watch TV and take notes on his heroes. Picked bananas on the farm.
Ashes nemesis Steve Harmison could be nasty a) if he plays and b) if he can bring short balls back into Hughes’s body.
Most likely to… Swing extravagantly at anything that can be hit through gully and cover. May add another diamond ear-ring if he stumbles upon Hatton Garden.
Where you’ll find him Inner ring.
Number crunch Averages in the 60s in Test, first-class and Twenty20 formats. Is rubbish in domestic one-dayers, where that figure drops to 37.

Simon Katich

Opening batsman, Age 33, Team New South Wales, Tests 38, 2,649 runs @ 43.42, v England 6 Tests, 263 runs @ 26.30

If he was a film star he’d be… Susan Sarandon. In and out of limelight, bit of a late bloomer, reliable but unglamorous.
Profile Intensity has eased over the past four years but is still prone to the occasional outburst. May well own the game’s hairiest chest.
What he was doing in 2005 Was living the nightmare, unable to negotiate the moving ball and heading for the Test exit shortly after the series.
Ashes nemesis An England tour is his biggest weakness. On his previous two trips he hasn’t bettered 67 and was soon headed for the pasture on a two-year break.
Most likely to… Back in 2001 he was into poetry so, if Anderson and Pietersen bowl in tandem, he’ll be murmuring rhyming couplets.
Where you’ll find him Short leg.
Number crunch Since his comeback in the West Indies last year he has scored a hundred every 3 Tests.

Michael Hussey

Middle-order batsman, Age 35, Team Western Australia, Tests 34, 3,041 runs @ 55.29, v England 5 Tests, 458 runs @ 91.60

If he was a film star he’d be… Robert Powell. Cast as Messiah at first, career now in Casualty ward.
Profile Has become a bit of a mental mess over the past year as he struggled for form, focus and family time.
What he was doing in 2005 Starring in Durham and being ignored by Australia’s Test selectors. Silly mistake.
Ashes nemesis Alan Mullally could frighten Hussey in his current state with a whispered boo. The queue to bowl at Hussey will be longer than the lines outside the grounds.
Most likely to… Look as intense as a man who keeps losing on the stock market. Could implode if form doesn’t pick up.
Where you’ll find him Gully.
Number crunch Began 2008 with a Test average of 80.58 and will start the Ashes with a mark of 55.29.

Marcus North

Middle-order batsman, Age 29, Team Western Australia, Tests 2, 160 runs @ 40.00, 2 wkts @ 49.00, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Scarlett Johansson. Twin assets make for irresistible prospect; may be overstretched if asked to carry show.
Profile Steady, dependable and well-travelled, his journey into the Test side took almost as long as Michael Hussey’s.
What he was doing in 2005 Hanging around at Lancashire as a replacement for Australian squad member Brad Hodge. In three first-class games his top score was 60.
Ashes nemesis James Anderson will provide trouble if he can move the ball around while tempting North into loose drives.
Most likely to… Step in as bus driver. Knows UK roads better than anyone after six seasons in county cricket.
Where you’ll find him Slips.
Number crunch Has played for five English counties and sprinkled 3,015 runs across the country in 41 first-class games.

Shane Watson

Allrounder, Age 27, Team New South Wales, Tests 8, 257 runs @ 19.76, 14 wkts @ 35.57, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Judy Garland. Multi-talented but terribly prone to breakdowns.
Profile Muscular and lens-friendly, Watson is an itinerant domestic player who has just traded in Brisbane for Sydney to be with his woman.
What he was doing in 2005 Was part of the one-day squad before finishing a successful summer in Hampshire.
Ashes nemesis The ghosts of Ashes tours past. He freaked out during a sleepover at the ‘haunted’ Lumley Castle in Durham in 2005.
Most likely to… Be spotted reading GQ while icing his calf on Lord’s balcony.
Where you’ll find him Anywhere.
Number crunch 32. Once suffered record number of injuries in a season and wore out four masseurs. It’s the truth.

Brad Haddin

Wicketkeeper, Age 31, Team Western Australia, Tests 15, 901 runs @ 37.54, 55 ct, 1 st, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Keanu Reeves. Always tries hard but prone to wooden moments that infuriate audiences.
Profile Smaller but more abrasive than Adam Gilchrist, Haddin is comfortable in an argument or claiming a bowled when his gloves have broken the stumps.
What he was doing in 2005 What Graham Manou will do on this trip: watching, clapping, running out drinks.
Ashes nemesis The conditions. Will struggle with the moving ball early in his innings and as wicketkeeper.
Most likely to… Charge the spinners and loft them straight more effortlessly than anyone else.
Where you’ll find him Behind the stumps.
Number crunch Broke through at Adelaide in November with 169 and in his past seven Tests has averaged 51.09.

Mitchell Johnson

Fast bowler, Age 27, Team Western Australia, Tests 21, 694 runs @ 34.70, 94 wkts @ 28.01, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Lindsay Lohan. Exciting, always up for it, now swings both ways.
Profile A quiet boy who has finally grown a mean streak. Having a girlfriend who is a karate expert has toughened him up.
What he was doing in 2005 Praying that his back wouldn’t fracture again. Join his religion: there have been no major injuries since he entered the Test team.
Ashes nemesis Life might be difficult if the tabloids discover Mark Waugh called him the new Botham after his amazing series in South Africa.
Most likely to… Send a top-order batsman across the road to The Wellington Hospital after using the Lord’s slope to add further unpredictability to his bouncer.
Where you’ll find him Boundary.
Number crunch 16 wickets at 25.00 in three Tests in South Africa and averaged 85.00 after hitting 96 not out and 123 not out.

Stuart Clark

Fast bowler, Age 33, Team New South Wales, Tests 22, 90 wkts @ 22.96, v England 5 Tests, 26 wkts @ 17.03

If he was a film star he’d be… George Lazenby. Pale imitation of predecessor, limited chances, career never really got going.
Profile A clever man who carries his university books on tour, Clark is probably the nicest player in the side. Rarely gets flustered.
What he was doing in 2005 Playing for Middlesex and hoping the Australian selectors noticed him. They did towards the end of the tour, calling him on board for some sightseeing.
Ashes nemesis None of the bowlers really wants to run into Kevin Pietersen, despite what they all say in public.
Most likely to… Make the above George Lazenby comment seem very foolish indeed.
Where you’ll find him Outfield.
Number crunch 69 of his 90 wickets captured from right-handed batsmen, who struggle with his seam.

Peter Siddle

Fast bowler, Age 24, Team Victoria, Tests 7, 29 wkts @ 27.65, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Stephen Baldwin. One of an apparently endless supply line of moderate but determined journeymen.
Profile A country boy with a strong will, big appeal and broad smile, he has grown into an international adult over the past year.
What he was doing in 2005 Probably some winter woodchopping at home in Victoria, or a shoulder reconstruction. He’s an expert at both.
Ashes nemesis The fast bowlers will try to hurt Siddle as soon as they realise he is going to bounce them. A lot.
Most likely to… Attempt to grow handlebar moustache, increase fruity vocabulary and pint intake to match former Victorian hero Merv Hughes.
Where you’ll find him Outfield.
Number crunch Only 5 of his 29 wickets have come from left-handers, which is good news for the England openers.

Nathan Hauritz

Offspinner, Age 27, Team New South Wales, Tests 4, 14 wkts @ 32.28, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Daniel Craig. Endless speculation as to who should fill iconic role, sandbagged by comparisons.
Profile Polite, pleasant and deserves some time to settle, even though the Hauritz family is surprised he is now Australia’s No.1 spinner.
What he was doing in 2005 Was still trying to figure out how he went from Test debutant to club bowler in less than a season.
Ashes nemesis He doesn’t turn it much, so would do well not to watch highlights of Kevin Pietersen attacking Muttiah Muralitharan.
Most likely to… Spin the ball a few times at Cardiff after emailing curator with praise for his excellent early-season surface preparation.
Where you’ll find him Inner circle.
Number crunch Spent 4 years, 25 days waiting for his second Test.

Ben Hilfenhaus

Fast bowler, Age 26, Team Tasmania, Tests 3, 7 wkts @ 52.28, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… George Clooney. Emerged from long-running medical drama to stardom.
Profile A strong Tasmanian who follows Greg Campbell, a tourist in 1989, as the only Test fast bowler from the Apple Isle.
What he was doing in 2005 Building houses as a bricklayer and dreaming of a first-class debut when his trowel was down.
Ashes nemesis Batsmen who are prepared for late swing might be a concern for a man used to surprising flat-track bullies with his movement.
Most likely to… Step up as the 2000s version of Terry Alderman. The left-handed openers could become his favourite sight as he chases lbws with his outswingers.
Where you’ll find him Boundary.
Number crunch 52.28. His average after three Tests but he can be satisfied that Smith, de Villiers, Duminy, Prince and Kallis are among his seven wickets.

Graham Manou

Wicketkeeper, Age 30, Team South Australia, Tests 0

If he was a film star he’d be… Luiza Xhuvani. What do you mean “Luiza Who?” She’s one of Albania’s most promising actresses, you know.
Profile Steady state wicketkeeper on the trip of a lifetime who may be shocked to learn Adelaide is not the centre of the universe.
What he was doing in 2005 Standing in a queue behind Gilchrist, Wade Seccombe and Brad Haddin.

Andrew McDonald

Allrounder Age 28, Team Victoria, Tests 4, 107 runs @ 21.07, 9 wkts @ 33.33, v England –

If he was a film star he’d be… Ron Jeremy. Cannot believe his luck at way career has worked out.
Profile Thanks to his red hair he is nicknamed Ronnie McDonald instead of Big Mac. A likeable trier who is living the dream.
What he was doing in 2005 Recovering from finger surgery and wondering whether he’d ever make it back into Victoria’s XI.

Tim Nielsen

Australia coach, Age 41, Tests 0

Profile The good news for home fans is that, if Australia win, England will have some claim to the trophy. Tim Nielsen was born in Forest Gate before heading Down Under, growing into an accomplished first-class wicketkeeper.
What he was doing in 2005 Showing impressive timing, Nielsen stepped away from his role as John Buchanan’s assistant and took a job before the Ashes as head coach of Australia’s national academy.
Most likely to… Sprint on to the field and steal the gloves if Brad Haddin gets injured. Nielsen was Graham Manou’s predecessor at South Australia and never received a national call despite 101 first-class matches over eight years.
Number crunch Since replacing John Buchanan in 2007 Australia have won 53% of their games (11 of 22 Tests, 27 of 48 ODIs and 11 of 23 Twenty20s).