Angus Bell's Ashes Top Ten

After a brief hiatus, this week's guest writer, complimenting our countdown of Ashes Heroes, is Angus Bell, author of the splendid Batting on the Bosphorus, in which he plays cricket across Eastern Europe. Angus writes:

Here is my post-1992 Ashes top 10. Graham Gooch being given out handled the ball, as I lay in bed, coughing up blood from bronchitis, is my first Ashes memory. Happy days.

1 Michael Atherton I once had a nightmare that Michael Atherton was eaten by a shark at the start of the 1994-95 Ashes, damaging England's prospects of winning. I was upset till lunchtime, when I realised it was a dream, and that England would get smashed regardless. (I'm not sure he'd be in Graeme Hick's top 10.)

2 Graham Gooch Every schoolboy in the country copied his backlift for a while.

3 Michael Slater He could bat England out of a game before lunch.

4 David Boon 52 cans of beer consumed on a Sydney to London flight - like The Don's average, some records were never meant to be broken.

5 Greg Blewett He looked like the new Bradman, at least for his first two Ashes Tests.

6 Craig McDermott England rejoiced when the poor man twisted his bowel and was sent home. But then came Merv Hughes.

7 Merv Hughes He may have looked like one of the Village People, and played around with a puppy at Trent Bridge, but Big Merv still terrified England.

8 Dean Headley One of the few players who bowled better against Australia.

9 Billy Bowden's finger and Michael Kasprowicz's wrist I'm all for third umpire referrals, but thank Malcolm Speed they weren't there at Edgbaston in 2005.

10 Dave Roberts On a tour where 14 of the England squad suffered freakish ailments, from shingles to slipped discs and a broken foot, physio Dave Roberts was forced to participate in England fielding drills. He broke a finger. At age 14, with any more injuries, I thought I was in with a chance.