ANDREW FLINTOFF

England's principal weapon with bat and ball has again been magnificent. His performances of recent years against South Africa and West Indies elevated him to world class and now he has shown the world's best team just how good he is. A constant threat with his pace and swing, Flintoff has given great players like Adam Gilchrist little. His innings have been both vital and mature - as well as entertaining. Well on his way to becoming a true great of the English game.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN

Vaughan's captaincy has taken a huge leap forward in this series. He has regularly out-manoeuvred opposite number Ricky Ponting tactically, his man-management his been excellent and he has coped admirably with the pressure. He is a mature and confident leader who has grown in stature considerably over the last two years. It could still be argued the captaincy has taken the edge off his batting but his century at Old Trafford was outstanding.

SIMON JONES

Came into his own in the third and fourth Tests and was sorely missed at The Oval. Given his performances it is amazing to think he was uncertain of a place in South Africa last winter. His mastery of reverse swing gave England an edge over the Australian batsmen and, like Flintoff, he bowled with great discipline. A return of 18 wickets at 21 in four Tests is a first-class contribution.

ANDREW STRAUSS

Strauss had never played against Australia before but Shane Warne was quick to claim he had the measure of him. The leg-spinner appeared to be right too when he bamboozled him at Edgbaston, bowling him twice in the match, memorably so in the second innings as he attempted to pad away. But Strauss responded by working hard in the nets. The reward was centuries at Old Trafford and The Oval. Warne had the last laugh on him in the second innings of the last Test but Strauss, of perfect temperament, still looks every inch a future England captain.

MARCUS TRESCOTHICK

The left-hander has provided the necessary aggression at the top of the order and made 388 in the series, proving he could score runs against the best team in the world. He has managed to average over 40 without scoring a hundred, although his 90 - one of three half-centuries - was a major factor in England posting a large first innings total in the second Test victory at Edgbaston. As a left-hander he has been able to counter the leg spin of Shane Warne better than most - although he was undone by a huge turner in the second innings at The Oval - and he has weighed in with some important slip catches.

KEVIN PIETERSEN

After some extraordinary one-day performances the selectors almost felt obliged to pick Pietersen for the Ashes, a decision which hastened Graham Thorpe's retirement. Pietersen initially lived up to - and played up to - all the hype with some typically brash innings at Lord's and Edgbaston. He was one of the few bright spots of the first Test defeat but as the runs dried up later in the series his shot selection began to look rash, and with catches being dropped all the bravado was beginning to look rather less clever. But it all came good in the final Test at The oval where his 158 steered England home to a series win in a drawn match.

STEVE HARMISON

Has not been the destructive force he was against West Indies last year but the troubles of South Africa now seem a long time ago. Harmison has bowled with his usual pace and vigour and the Australians have had their problems against him. Has played a vital role as part of a strong disciplined pace quartet, all of which have contributed.

MATTHEW HOGGARD

A great feature of this England side is that there is no reliance on a handful of players. All of the team are capable of weighing in at different times. Hoggard was not at his best early in the series but never let his work-rate slip and his probing line and length earned some reward at Trent Bridge and The Oval.