MICHAEL VAUGHAN (captain)
Right-hand batsman, occasional off spin. Born: October 29 1974. 57 Tests, 4,187 runs, average 45.02, 14 100s, high score 197.
A textbook batsman, a relaxed captain and highly popular among his players. Led England to an unprecedented eight Test wins in a row in 2004. Made his breakthrough in 2002 with two big hundreds against India followed by three Ashes centuries in Australia but has struggled to attain those heights since. Missed the 2001 Ashes with knee problems. Considering his talents, a surprisingly poor fielder. Occasional off spin.
IAN BELL
Right-hand batsman. Born: April 11 1982. 3 Tests, 297 runs, av 297, 1 100, best 162 not out.
Short and compact. A fine technician on the edge of selection aged 19 before he lost form. Got his debut against West Indies in 2004, scoring 70 in his only innings, but missed out on the tour to South Africa. Recalled for two-Test series against Bangladesh earlier this year, he scored 65 not out and 162 not out off 168 balls. His style has been compared to Geoff Boycott's and Michael Atherton's. Can bowl medium pace.
ANDREW FLINTOFF
All rounder - right-hand bat, right-arm fast-medium. Born: December 6 1977. 47 Tests, 2,239 runs, av 32.44, 4 100s, best 167; 119 wkts, av 33.32, best 5-58.
One of a rare breed -- a genuine all rounder who could be selected for either his batting or bowling, let alone his slip catching -- and the key to the balance of the side.
Regarded as lacking discipline early in his career -- both in his eating and batting habits -- but now a model professional. Since the start of 2004 has averaged 46.81 with the bat and 23.83 with the ball. Just back after ankle surgery.
ASHLEY GILES
Left-arm spinner, useful lower-order bat. Born: March 19 1973. 45 Tests, 127 wkts, av 37.15, best 5-57. Averages a useful 20.79 with the bat from number eight.
Rarely appreciated, he considered giving up the game in 2004 before the best period of his career, taking 24 wickets in three Tests. Not a big spinner of the ball, he has been criticised for bowling a defensive leg-stump line from over the wicket. Missed the two Tests against Bangladesh with a hip injury.
STEVE HARMISON
Right-arm fast bowler. Born: October 23 1978. 30 Tests, 121 wkts, av 27.95, best 7-12.
Improved dramatically to be ranked as the world's best Test bowler in 2004, in the mould of West Indies great Curtly Ambrose. Despite suffering from homesickness, he broke through by taking 7-12 against West Indies at Sabina Park. Tall and long limbed, he extracts bounce from just short of a length at genuine pace. The key factor in England's cricketing revival, he lost his form completely in the Test and one-day series in South Africa at the turn of the year but now looking back at his best. Very close to Andrew Flintoff. Fanatical about soccer and Newcastle United.
MATTHEW HOGGARD
Right-arm fast-medium bowler. Born: December 31 1976. 40 Tests, 157 wkts, av 29.63, best 7-61.
Hard-working, low-profile bowler, often cast as the reliable support act to Harmison and Flintoff. Accurate and swings the ball away from the right-hander but can be vulnerable when the ball does not move. Has had his moments of glory, though, including a hat-trick in Barbados last year and in South Africa earlier this year when he took 7-61 in the second innings of the fourth Test at Johannesburg to settle the series. A former `rabbit', he is now a batting barnacle and often acts as a nightwatchman, even though he is still short of attacking shots.
GERAINT JONES
Wicket-keeper, right-hand batsman. Born: July 14 1976. 15 Tests, 56 catches, 2 stumpings; 574 runs, av 31.88, best 100.
Born in Papua New Guinea of Welsh parents, learned his cricket in Australia until the age of 22. Displaced Chris Read in both forms of cricket last year on the strength of his batting. Scored a century against New Zealand in his third Test. His keeping looked suspect in South Africa at the turn of the year but he has improved after working with former England keeper Jack Russell.
SIMON JONES
Right-arm fast. Born: December 25 1978. 14 Tests, 41 wkts av 31.41. Best 5-57.
A proud Welshman whose father Jeff bowled left-arm for England in 1960s. Generates real pace from an ambling run-up. Ruled out of 2002-3 Ashes on the very first morning after injuring a cruciate ligament while fielding in the Brisbane Test. He did not play again for England for 14 months. Has just broken through to the one-day team as well because of his ability to swing and reverse-swing the white ball.
KEVIN PIETERSEN
Right-hand bat. Born: June 27 1980. Uncapped, but averages 87.33 in 21 ODIs, 3 100s.
Born in Pietermaritzburg. Huge hitter and happy to tell people about it. Left South Africa after complaining about quotas and qualified for England via residency and thanks to his English mother. Impressed against Zimbabwe at the end of 2004 before an extraordinary series in South Africa. Heckled by the crowds, he scored three centuries in seven games, averaging 151.33, even though England lost 4-1. Sealed his Test place ahead of Graham Thorpe with scores of 91 not out and 74 against Australia.
ANDREW STRAUSS
Left-hand bat. Born: March 2 1977. 14 Tests, 1,323 runs, av 55.12, 5 100s, best 147.
Born in Johannesburg but brought up in England. Made his ODI debut first but has excelled in Tests, scoring a century on his debut at Lord's against New Zealand last year and prompting Nasser Hussain's retirement. Also scored centuries in his first innings against West Indies and South Africa. Very strong square of the wicket but Australia believe he is vulnerable when not offered width.
CHRIS TREMLETT
Right-arm seamer. Born: September 2 1981. Uncapped, but has played three one-dayers.
A powerful figure at 2.01 metres tall. Son of former Hampshire seamer Tim Tremlett and grandson of Maurice Tremlett, who played for Somerset and England in the 1940s and '50s. Took a wicket with his first ball on his first-class debut against New Zealand in 2000. Should have had a hat-trick on his one-day international debut against Bangladesh in June but the bails stayed on after Mohammad Ashraful played the ball down on to his stumps. Highly rated by county team mate Shane Warne.
MARCUS TRESCOTHICK
Left-hand opening bat. Born: December 25 1975. 61 Tests, 4,775 runs, av 45.47, 12 100s, best 219.
Stocky player with plenty of power and minimal foot movement. Bowls occasional medium pace. Touted as a future England captain before Vaughan took over. A schoolboy prodigy who struggled to find his feet in county cricket but was an instant hit for England. Has scored four centuries in his last six Tests, two against South Africa followed by scores of 194 and 151 against Bangladesh. Has struggled against Australia.
