Ashes 2023: Best Combined XI of Series

The Ashes 2023 concluded in a stalemate with both Australia and England winning two games apiece. With this result, Australia succeeded in retaining the urn. After losing the first two games, England fought back and won two of the remaining three games and levelled the series. However, the home side could’ve won the fourth Test but the weather favoured the Aussie side, and the game ended in a draw.

Australia, who defended the urn successfully, had a chance to win the Test series on English soil after 22 years. However, their batters failed on the last day of the final Test and with this debacle, England pulled off the game and succeeded in avoiding the embarrassment. Throughout the series, some quality performances were witnessed from both teams by Test cricket lovers.

Discussing more, here are the best XI players of the Ashes 2023 competition

1. Zak Crawley

After England’s defeat in the first two matches, Zak Crawley played a crucial role in helping the hosts make a comeback in the tournament. In the third Test at Headingley, England were contesting in a do-or-die match. After three days of action, England were required to chase down 251.

Following the target, Crawley gave a fine start to his side with his 44-run knock. Capitalising on his decent innings, Harry Brook and Chris Woakes guided England to successfully chase down the target. In the fourth Test, Crawley played one of the best knocks of his Test career. The plucky opening batter scored a rapid 189 off 182 and became the Player of the Match.

In England’s 49-run win in the final match at the Oval, Crawley again played his part brilliantly with his 73-run knock in the second innings. He ended up as the second-most successful batter in the Ashes 2023, racking up 480 runs in nine innings of five Tests, with a ton and a couple of half-centuries.