The Guardian's 100 Greatest Men's Ashes Cricketers: Warne Tops the List
In November 2025, The Guardian published a comprehensive ranking of the 100 greatest men's Ashes cricketers of all time as part of its coverage of the Ashes 2025-26 series between England and Australia. This interactive ranking, first released on 11 November and updated on 14 November, involved 51 Guardian judges who each named their top 50 Ashes players based solely on Ashes performances. The players' rankings were scored from 50 points for number one to 1 for number 50, resulting in a top 100 list compiled with a strict methodology.
The judging criteria required selections of at least 15 players from each country and at least five players from each of five eras: World War I, the interwar period, 1946–1974/75, 1975–1999, and 2000 onwards. Among 853 players who have featured in Australia v England Test matches since 1877, 58 of the top 100 are deceased, indicating a broad historical sweep.
Leading the list is Shane Warne, who amassed 2,503 voting points and was named the top Ashes cricketer by 14 judges. Warne's Ashes tally of 195 wickets compares notably to Don Bradman's record-breaking 5,028 Ashes runs. Bradman was chosen as number one by 33 judges but was not universally placed at the top. Ian Botham and Glenn McGrath also surpassed 2,000 points and are prominent in the top ranks. Although the overall split between Australian and English players is balanced at 50:50, Australia dominates with seven players in the top 10 and 14 in the top 25. The 1946–75 era is the most represented period among top-25 picks, with only four 21st-century Ashes debutants—Steve Smith, Stuart Broad, Adam Gilchrist, and Andrew Flintoff—in this group.
The list embraces diverse player types, including 15 all-rounders—nine English—and a smaller number of keeper-batsmen, with Australia's Adam Gilchrist at number 21 and England's Alan Knott at 53. Judges took different approaches in interpreting Ashes performance; one even included Gary Pratt in their selections.
Warne is valued not only for his cricketing achievements but also for his style, humour, and charisma. Alongside Warne, Bradman and Botham were named as the top three Ashes cricketers by the judges. Other frequently mentioned favourites include Ricky Ponting for his centuries and Andrew Flintoff for his sledging and sportsmanship.
The Guardian's feature includes detailed coverage such as a "Check how all the judges voted" section, a video review of the top 10, and an explanation of the methodology behind the selection process. Readers are invited to participate by voting for their favourite Ashes cricketer and sharing memories via an online form that allows anonymity; the collected data is encrypted, accessible only by The Guardian, and deleted when no longer needed.
This project marks an extensive reflection on one of cricket’s most storied rivalries, blending statistical excellence with the personal and cultural impact of players across more than a century.
