My 40 greatest Ashes cricketers

I have been watching and playing Ashes cricket for 53 years and here I have selected the players I think have had the greatest impact. Some are there for consistent performances, but mainly they are cricketers whose feats captured the imagination and help

Glenn Mcgrath Tests: 30. Runs: 105. Wickets: 157

A true great. He had that metronomic way of bowling in the corridor of uncertainty. He did not swing the ball and did not need to. He was seam up around off stump with amazing control of line and length. A tall man with a high action, he got uncomfortable bounce that put batsmen under pressure because they could not get forward. Every over there would be a couple of balls a batsman felt might get him out.

Ricky Ponting Tests: 35. Runs: 2,476. Wickets: 1

All the great players have a good technique and Ricky was one of the best. What stands out with Ricky was that he performed when it mattered. He did not just make fifties and sixties. He made big hundreds. That is what determines the course of a Test match. Pretty forties and fifties help, but do not change the game. Mentally he was strong: he made no fuss, just scored big runs.

Dennis Lillee Ashes Tests: 29. Ashes runs: 469. Ashes wickets: 167

What a bowler. Not only a genuine fast bowler but became a superb craftsman. It is one thing to bowl quick, but this guy could go close to the stumps, wide of the crease, he could swing it out, nip it back and bowl a good bouncer. His control was superb and he was a master at working out a batsman. Had a big heart and would bowl as long as it took. One of the true greats.

Shane Warne Tests: 36. Runs: 946. Wickets: 195

It is not farfetched to say he is the greatest wrist-spinner ever. He spun the ball so much and his control was exceptional. Usually wrist-spinners get wickets with a bit of turn and bounce but often they give you easy balls to score off. Unless you could really play spin, you were snookered. And he was a master of the mind games. He used to brag he had more varieties than Heinz. I wish I had had the chance to bat against him just to have tested myself.

Steven Waugh Tests: 46. Runs: 3,200. Wickets: 22

I am a great admirer. He made himself into a better player by hard work and bloody-minded determination. When he started his Test career, he was pretty average and not so good against the short ball. You have to take your hat off to people who go away and work at it. He came back a tremendous batsman. His batting was not pretty but he would make the runs.

Ian Botham Tests: 36. Runs: 1,673. Wickets: 148

Captured the imagination with amazing performances with bat and ball against Australia. He picked his game up for Australia, taking himself to a different level. In 1981 his 149 at Headingley, spell of five for one at Birmingham and century at Old Trafford were amazing performances that captured the imagination of the whole country. He was a brilliant slip fielder, too, Ian. One of the greatest cricketers ever.

Derek Underwood Tests: 29. Runs: 371. Wickets: 105

He could spin it on dry pitches and on wet pitches he was unplayable, because he cut the ball faster than a normal spinner. He bowled quick enough and it was very difficult for right-handers to get down the pitch to him. He hated it when a batsman pinched a single because a fielder was nodding off. He would glare at you. Derek had such a strong mind, he could bowl to win matches or tie up an end.

Alan Knott Tests: 34. Runs: 1,628

The greatest wicketkeeper I have ever seen. It is not how many catches and stumpings you make, it is how many you miss, and he did not miss many. He made serious runs for England when we were under pressure. Scoring runs when you are doing well is nice, but does not count as much. Alan made them when it mattered.

James Anderson Tests: 24. Runs: 221. Wickets: 87

He is one of the greatest fast-medium seamswing bowlers England have ever had. No dispute. He has the ability to swing it conventionally and reverse. James has exceptional control and all he has to do is stay fit to take wickets. We have seen on the last two tours to India and South Africa how it takes him a long time to recover from injury now he is getting older.

Michael Vaughan Tests: 10. Runs: 959. Wickets: 0

Technically very good, but it was the elegance of his batting that you remember. His cover-drive ranks with the best and lives in the memory. His captaincy is up there with the greatest. He had flair, imagination and an ability to lift his players. But that is enough on him, otherwise it will go to his head!