Freddy Flintoff Post 2005 Combined XI

At the end of an interview to promote his new autobiography, he was put on the spot to name a combined XI from England & Australia since the famous 2005 Ashes victory. He went for ......

1. Hayden
2. Trescothick
3. Ponting
4. Vaughan(c)
5. Root
6. Symonds
7 Gilchrist
8. Stokes
9. Warne
10 . McGrath
11. Harmison

Of the two national skippers, Vaughan just gets the nod.

" I love Ricky, but he had good players. Vaughany got the best out of me because he just let me be." He's right of course - a team including  the likes of MtB, Hussey, Gilly tgm & TGM to name just five, almost anyone could captain the Australians with a fair chance of success.

Anyway - Freds team. Nos 1-4 are certainly there on merit, although some people may swap say Hayden for Langer, or Tres for Strauss. Root has shown in his short carreer that he looks to have what it takes. Is Symonds really one of the top 6 bats either country has produced in the last 10 years? Hussey for me in his place. Gilly ....... no other keeper/bat can really be mentioned in the same breath IMNSHO. I don't personally think Stokes has yet done enough to be included at this stage. Maybe in another couple of years if he cuts the mustard in the next Ashes - but i'd have Collingwood in his place just now ( batting at 7, Gilly down to 8 ). Warne & McGrath first names down, but GBH ? Yes, outstanding on his day, but AWOL too often. Has to be Anderson in that spot.

Well ?

If you substitute Huss & Colly for Symonds & Stokes, you have 3 bowlers and bits in the team (so Root & Vaughan would have to bowl, unless 11, 10, 9 and a bit of Colly knocked every team over in 40 overs.)

I don't know. Who's this team playing, where?

Rogers
Tres
Ponning
Root
Smith (or Kev, if he can be gagged)
Colly *
Gilly
Fred ( or if Fred's banned from his own team, Harris at 9, Warne to 8 )
Warne
Jandy
tgm

12th man: Warner (not to bat)
Drinks waiter: Swann
Drinks downer: Symonds

Clarke has to get a look in, probably ahead of Symonds. Pietersen for Vaughan.

Stokes is getting beyond overrated. Also, if Harmison's picked, he was only good in the 05 Ashes by the criteria, then Mitchell Johnson would be ahead imo given his 13-14 series.