Stuart Broad, Ricky Ponting pick combined Ashes XI of 21st century; ignore James Anderson

England legend Stuart Broad and Australia legend Ricky Ponting picked a combined Ashes XI of the 21st century. England are set to tour Australia for the 2025/26 Ashes, with the first Test beginning on Friday, November 21, at Perth.

Broad and Ponting began with former batters Matthew Hayden and Alastair Cook as the openers. Hayden scored 8625 Test runs with 30 hundreds, while Cook piled on 12472 runs with 33 hundreds.

At number three, Ponting nominated himself, with Broad agreeing to the same. Ponting scored 13378 runs in the format with 41 hundreds. At number four, they picked Joe Root. Root is the second-highest run-getter of all time in Test cricket with 13543 runs, including 39 tons. Steve Smith followed at five. Smith has scored 10477 runs with 36 centuries.

For an all-rounder at number six, they had a debate between Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes. Eventually, they picked Stokes over Flintoff. For the wicketkeeper, they picked Adam Gilchrist at number seven. The left-hander scored 5570 Test runs in his career with 17 hundreds.

Heading into the bowlers, they picked the late and legendary wrist spinner Shane Warne. Warne is the second-highest wicket-taker in the format to date with 708 scalps.

For the three pacers, they picked current Australian skipper Pat Cummins, followed by Stuart Broad himself and Glenn McGrath at eleven. Notably, they left out the likes of Brett Lee and James Anderson. The duo named Cummins as the captain.

Broad and Ponting's Combined Ashes XI of 21st Century (via Sky Sports Cricket) -

Matthew Hayden, Alastair Cook, Ricky Ponting, Joe Root, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Adam Gilchrist (WK), Shane Warne, Pat Cummins (C), Stuart Broad, Glenn McGrath.

Can Australia retain the Ashes at home?

The previous Ashes series took place in 2023 when Australia toured England. It was a five-match series that ended in a 2-2 draw. However, Australia won the series before that in 2021/22, which was played Down Under.

Australia stunned England 4-0 in the five-match series. Therefore, with the 2023 series drawn, Cummins and his men retained the urn. As England returns Down Under in 2025/26, Australia will be eager to retain the Ashes at home.

England will have the 4-0 defeat from last time in mind. They will be keen to avenge the loss and regain the urn. The series will end with the final Test to be played in Sydney, beginning January 4.

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Edited by Rishab Vm