The Middlesex skipper was a surprise selection in the Ashes squad, which was named on Wednesday morning, but he has a proven track record in English conditions, scoring 9,375 first-class runs at an average of 54.19 for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Middlesex.Since the break-up of that team, Australia have slipped from number one in the world to fourth in the International Cricket Council's Test rankings behind South Africa, England and India, and suffered a 4-0 series whitewash in India last month. There has been some things said and some mickey-taking - I suggest most people haven't played against Australia and don't know what it's like to face them.The majority of players from Australia's all-conquering side of the early 2000s have retired from international cricket during the last six or seven years, including their two greatest wicket-takers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, fast bowler Brett Lee and middle-order fixtures Ponting, Hussey and Damien Martyn.But former England seamer Angus Fraser, who is Rogers's managing director of cricket at Middlesex, has warned that it would be dangerous to write off Australia's chances of regaining the Ashes.Aussie captain Michael Clarke is the only remaining regular from that era, and only five of the current squad have played Test cricket in England.
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