Looking back at England’s 2005 Ashes heroes

Marcus Trescothick’s decision to retire at the end of the season leaves Ian Bell as the last active player who took part in the unforgettable 2005 Ashes – England’s first win in the contest for 18 years and held by many to be the best Test series ever.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at the 12 men who represented England that day and what happened next.

Marcus Trescothick

Played on for a remarkable 13 seasons after his final Test appearance, scoring heavily for Somerset for most of that time. Will be hoping to bow out with his first county championship winners’ medal later this year.

Andrew Strauss:

Captained England to their next two Ashes victories after 2005, including a famous win Down Under in 2010/11. Retired immediately after his 100th Test in the wake of a high-profile bust-up with Kevin Pietersen but later re-emerged as director of English cricket. Left that post in 2018 to be with his terminally ill wife.

Michael Vaughan:

The captain who will forever be linked to ‘the greatest series’ and went on to finish with a national record of 26 Test wins in charge. Injuries and intermittent form followed him for much of the three years between his crowning moment at The Oval and retirement, he bowed out in tears after defeat to South Africa. Now a ubiquitous broadcaster.

Ian Bell:

The baby of England’s winning team, now last man standing at the age of 37. Bell has yet to play for Warwickshire’s first team this season after suffering a toe injury in the Pakistan Super League over the winter but looks set to continue when fit. Was in good enough form last year for talk of an unlikely international recall.

Kevin Pietersen:

A bright, brash breath of fresh air all those years ago, ‘KP’ would become many things over the course of his career – innovator, agitator, record breaker and briefly, and tempestuously, captain. His outstanding England career ended messily after the 2013/14 Ashes. He was a regular on the T20 circuit for the next four years.

Andrew Flintoff:

England’s totem in 2005 found himself thrust into service as leader for the return series in Australia and oversaw a whitewash. He cajoled his faltering body into one last battle against the old enemy in 2009 and played his part in bringing back the urn. Now a fully fledged media star with reality TV, celebrity boxing, stage roles and a Top Gear presenting slot on his CV.

Geraint Jones:

Though the wicketkeeper’s Test career was over less than 18 months after its apex, he managed another decade on the domestic circuit and bowed out by helping Gloucestershire to victory in the Royal London One-Day Cup. Unexpectedly rebooted his international career with Papua New Guinea.

Ashley Giles:

Retired in 2006 but has since enjoyed a distinguished second life in the game. A successful coach of Warwickshire, then an England selector and, for a while, the national side’s first specialist limited-overs coach. Headed for administration thereafter and took over from Strauss as managing director of the England men’s team last year.

Matthew Hoggard:

His England days ended in 2008 and a year later he was released by his native Yorkshire. From there he took over as Leicestershire captain and led the Foxes to the T20 Cup. Now coaching women’s side the Loughborough Lightning.

Steve Harmison:

Helped Durham flourish after his international days were done, as leading wicket taker in back-to-back county championship triumphs in 2008 and 2009. Once retired he took a leftfield turn as manager of Ashington in the ninth tier of English football and now works as a pundit.

Simon Jones:

Sadly never wore the England shirt again after the 4th Test in 2005, laid low by a long sequence of injury problems. Played for Worcestershire and Hampshire before finishing up with a 40-over final back at his native Glamorgan. Now runs the Simon Jones Cricket Academy.

Paul Collingwood:

Like Trescothick, the lure of the game lingered with Collingwood, who only appeared in the last match of the ’05 series. He retired last year at 42, by which time he had already established himself as a coach. Currently one of Trevor Bayliss’ England assistants.