it's quite tricky to compare the England team of 2005 with the present side.
Firstly 2005, England had a 5 man attack as opposed to 4 this time around.
2005 - Openers Strauss & Trescothick - 2010 Strauss & Cook
For me, it has to be the present opening pairing, as good as Banger was, Cook has surpassed all this series.
No.3 2005 - Vaughan - 2010 - Trott. Tricky one, Trott has a good series, but I would give the nod to Vaughan.
Middle Order - 2005, Pietersen, Bell, Flintoff. 2010 - Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood. I think 2005 Pietersen was in better form despite his double hundred in Adelaide. 2010 bell is much better player than 2005. And Freddie would have offered more than Collingwood.
Keeper - 2005 G.Jones - 2010 Prior. Prior, no contest
Spinner - 2005 Giles - 2010 Swann- Again no contest, Swanny.
Pace bowlers - 2005 S.Jones, Harmison & Hoggard. 2010 - Anderson, Tremlett & Bresnan/Finn
Tough call. Jones was superb in 2005, a real shame that he never went onto achieve more. Harmy wasn't at his best in 2005, but was still a threat. Hoggard was the unsung hero in many regards. 2010, Anderson has been superb, leading wicket taker and been a constant threat. Tremlett has surprised me as has Bresnan. Finn needs to work on his line, but remember he is only 21 and still took 13 wickets in the 3 games he played.
For me I have 6 to 5 in favour of 2010. from 2010 Cook,Strauss,Bell,Prior,Swann & Anderson. From 2005 Vaughan,Pietersen,Flintoff,S.Jones,Harmison.
For the Aussies, it's a different matter. 8 of the 2005 side has since retired, leaving only Ponting, Clarke & Hussey, and of those only Hussey has performed this series. And thereby lies Australias problem, how do you replace 8 world class cricketers in one go? You can't. Guys like Warne are once in a lifetime. You could wait another 30 years before a seamer as good as McGrath comes along. The Aussies have too many sqaure pegs in round holes at the moment. Watson is not an opener, likewise Hughes (not at test level) until he learns to move his feet. Smith is not ready for test cricket yet. I have been quite impressed with Beer, and i hope they stick with him for a while. Johnson is too erratic and Hilfenhaus is steady but not much else. On the plus side, Siddle and Haddin have done well and I think Khawaja has huge potential. They need to sort out what to do with Ponting, because i think if he stays as captain then the present team is not going to get any better. But then who replaces him? Clarke isn't the answer.