Harold Larwood

(15 Tests; 64 wickets @ 29.87; best figures 6-32)

Possibly the most fearsome fast bowler England has ever produced, Nottinghamshire's Larwood was the spearhead for Douglas Jardine's infamous Bodyline tactics of 1932-33.

Larwood was not only ferociously fast - he reputedly propelled the ball at 100mph - but also deadly accurate, perfect for Jardine's controversial plan to combat the great Don Bradman with intimidatory short-pitched bowling.

It proved successful, but the English authorities took a dim view and called for them to apologise.

Larwood, 28 at the time, refused and never played Test cricket again - having won just 21 caps and taken 78 wickets. He emigrated to Australia after the war and died there at the age of 90 in 1995. He had belatedly received an MBE two years earlier.

Jim Laker

(15 Tests; 79 wkts @ 18.27; best figures 10-53)

Laker destroyed the Australians in 1956 and famously took 19 of the 20 wickets at a cost of just 90 in the Old Trafford Test. The tourists were unaccustomed to
off-spin and could not handle Laker as he ripped through them on a wet pitch with 9-37 in the first innings.

It was an incredible display, but the best was still to come as he became the first man to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings when the Aussies batted for a second time.

In all he took 46 wickets in that series at an average of 9.6. The Australians must have been sick of the sight of him - he also took all 10 in an innings when the tourists played Surrey.

Dennis Lillee

(29 Tests; 167 wkts @ 21; best figures 7-89)

Although the West Indies produced a number of great fast bowlers in the years following Lillee's retirement, the abrasive Australian is still generally regarded as the greatest quickie of them all.

It was not only Lillee's pace and accuracy but also his mastery of seam that made him such a lethal proposition.

He battled back from a serious back injury to become the thorn in England's side for most of his career. Armed with a frightening bouncer, a deadly yorker and a sharp tongue, Lillee was more than a handful for batsmen.

He enjoyed touring England - taking 31 wickets in 1972, 21 in 1975 (he did not tour in 1977) and 39 in 1981. He ended his career with 355 Test wickets.

Ian Botham

(36 Tests; 148 wkts @ 27.65; best figures 6-78)

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Great all-rounder Botham carved his name into Ashes folklore with his deeds in the 1981 series, which was won against huge odds by England. Botham, then captain, began the series miserably and resigned the leadership after bagging a pair in the second Test at Lord's.

But England were right not to drop him, and he suddenly woke up to his electrifying best at Headingley. He took six wickets and then smashed an unbeaten 149 as England remarkably managed to win after following on.

A dazzling 28-ball burst of five wickets for one run then set up victory at Edgbaston, and his century at Old Trafford won the series.

As a bowler he went on to overtake Lillee's then world record wickets tally before retiring with 383 Test victims.

Shane Warne

(31 Tests, 172 wkts @ 22.3, best figures 8-71)

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Warne, the world's leading wicket-taker, has been the scourge of England ever since bowling his 'wonder ball' to Mike Gatting at Old Trafford in 1993.

He has featured in six Ashes-winning series and even in the only one he has lost, last year, he was still Australia's man of the series after taking 40 wickets.

He has never been far from controversy, but cricketing-wise he is one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. His unerring ability to land viciously spinning leg-breaks exactly where he wants them is unparalleled in the history of the game.

He has bamboozled batsmen for years with his many variations - including his 'zooter' - and this, allied to his showmanship, makes him compelling viewing.