Not Steve Smith! James Anderson Picks Compatriot As No. 4 In All-Time Ashes XI | Cricket News

Steve Smith didn’t find a place in James Anderson’s all-time Ashes XI (Picture credit: AFP)

Former England pacer James Anderson has picked compatriot Joe Root as his No. 4 in an all-time Ashes XI, with the latter’s contemporary Steve Smith finding no place in the playing XI. Notably, Smith is the third-highest run-scorer in Ashes history, behind Donald Bradman and the late Jack Hobbs.

Anderson picked Bradman and Alastair Cook as his two openers. The former is the all-time leading run-scorer in Ashes history, with 5028 runs in 37 matches at a stunning average of 89.78.

Cook, on the other hand, scored 2493 runs in 35 Ashes Tests, at an average of 40.2 with five hundreds to his name. He helped England win their lone Ashes series Down Under this century with 766 runs.

Anderson went with former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting at No. 3. The latter has scored 2476 runs in the same number of Tests as Cook, albeit at a better average of 44.21 and eight hundreds to his name.

Root found a place at No. 4 instead of Smith. The former has scored 2436 runs in the same number of Tests as Ponting, at an average of 39.29 and four hundreds to his name. He is just one run away from going past Graham Gooch in the Ashes’ highest run-scorers list.

Another former England teammate, Kevin Pietersen, featured at No. 5, having played a pivotal role in the team’s iconic 2005 Ashes win at home. He scored 2158 runs in 27 matches at an average close to 45 with four hundreds to his name.

Anderson placed two England all-rounders, Ian Botham and Ben Stokes, in the No. 6 and 7 spots. Botham picked 128 wickets in 32 Ashes Tests, at an average of 28. 

Anderson named former Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne as the sole specialist spinner in his all-time Ashes XI. The latter is the leading wicket-taker in Ashes history, with 195 wickets in 36 matches, at an impressive economy of 2.52. 

Anderson selected former England pacer Bob Willis as one of the three fast bowlers in his XI. The latter picked 123 wickets in 31 matches at an economy of 2.78. 

Star Australian pacer Glenn McGrath was the next, having picked 157 wickets in 30 matches at an economy of 2.7. Former England pacer Stuart Broad completed the XI, having picked 153 wickets in 40 matches at an average of 28.96.

James Anderson Reveals His All-Time Combined Ashes XI

Donald Bradman, Alastair Cook, Ricky Ponting (wk), Joe Root, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Botham, Ben Stokes (c), Shane Warne, Bob Willis, Glenn McGrath, Stuart Broad

Notably, Ponting never kept wickets in his professional career.

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