England's best Ashes XI from the 21st century

Michael Vaughan (captain)

Michael Vaughan

It was Michael Vaughan who took the reins and led from the front in the 2005 Ashes which ultimately entered cricketing folklore. His strategic superiority over his counterpart Ricky Ponting proved to be a huge factor in one of the greatest Test series ever contested in the game's history, and helped bring the remnants of the urn back to English soil for the first time since 1986-87.

Vaughan's record with the willow in hand against the Aussies was quite brilliant too; he averaged just a shade under 48 with 959 runs from the 10 games he represented the Poms in.

Jonathan Trott

Jonathan Trott

Jonathan Trott was a classic No. 3 batsman with fluid wrists and a sound technique that oozed elegance.

Trott played a pivotal role in England's rise as a Test force in the early years of this decade. Blessed with immaculate hand-eye coordination and an even better technique, Trott was also exceptionally strong with his temperament and often proved to be a wall in the middle order.

He was part of two Ashes-winning English sides, and his figures against Australia demand applause: 917 runs in 12 games at 48.26 with three centuries to his name.

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen was the rockstar of the noughties for English cricket, the heartbeat of the English cricketing fraternity, the wizard who changed the nature of English batting from that of an old woman pushing along a shopping trolley to a racing car turning around bends dangerously.

Pietersen represented England in 27 Ashes Tests, compiling his runs at an average of 45. But it was his swashbuckling approach and ferocity that he brought to the turf that terrorized the Aussies for years.

Pietersen's highest Test score of 227 also came against Australia, in what was a stunning display of batsmanship at Adelaide, back in 2010.