The Guardian Ranks the 100 Greatest Men's Ashes Cricketers of All Time
The Guardian published an interactive ranking of the 100 greatest men's Ashes cricketers of all time, first released on 11 November 2025 and updated on 14 November 2025. The Ashes rivalry, which began in 1877, has seen 853 players feature in Australia vs England Tests. The ranking was compiled through votes from 51 judges, each selecting their top 50 Ashes players based solely on Ashes performances. Votes were weighted on a 50-to-1 points scale for ranks one through fifty, and the judges were required to pick at least 15 players from each country and a minimum of five from each of five defined eras: pre-World War I, interwar, 1946–1974, 1975–1999, and 2000 onwards.
Shane Warne topped the list with 2,503 voting points, narrowly ahead of Donald Bradman who scored 2,382 points, while Ian Botham and Glenn McGrath also surpassed 2,000 points. Among the judges, 33 placed Bradman as their number one pick, whereas 14 opted for Warne. Warne was distinctive as the only top-five pick to consistently appear in the top three of any voter's ranking. The overall split of players on the list was evenly divided between the two countries, but Australian players dominated the upper ranks with seven of the top ten and fourteen of the top twenty-five positions. Most of the top twenty-five selections hailed from the 1946–1975 era. Only four players in the top twenty-five represent the modern era since 2000, including Steve Smith, Stuart Broad, Adam Gilchrist, and Andrew Flintoff.
Fifteen all-rounders earned spots in the top 100, nine of whom were English. Notably, there are no wicket-keeper batsmen in the top twenty, with Adam Gilchrist ranked 21st and Alan Knott at 53rd. Of the top 100, 58 players are deceased. Six players featured as participants in the current Ashes series for the 2025–26 winter: Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins, Joe Root, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Starc. However, only Steve Smith makes the Combined XI as a current player. The Combined XI and separate Australia and England XIs were assembled to reflect team balance with notable inclusions such as Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Bradman, Smith, Waugh, Botham, Gilchrist (wk), Warne, Broad, Lillee, and McGrath.
In a companion feature dated 14 November 2025, Guardian readers and contributors identified Shane Warne as their top favorite Ashes cricketer, praised for his tally of 195 Ashes wickets, stylistic flair, humor, and charisma, and described as a joy to watch. Warne topped the judges' favorite list, followed by Don Bradman and Ian Botham. Additional favorites noted include Ian Botham for sixes and wickets, Ricky Ponting for centuries, and Andrew Flintoff for his sledging and sportsmanship. Readers were invited to participate in the community feature by voting for their personal favorite Ashes cricketer and sharing memories. This comprehensive coverage remains part of the Guardian's focus on the ongoing Ashes 2025–26 series.
