Ashes 2015 Combined XI: The men who got it right

3. Steve Smith:

Smith came into the series as the world’s number one batsman but with Stuart Broad publicly questioning his ability to deal with the English conditions he had a challenge ahead of him at number three. And guess what he finished as the top run-scorer in the series, with 508 runs at an average of 56.44. Smith hit a double ton at Lord’s and another hundred in the fifth Test but also made four consecutive single-figure scores at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. He had no real competition for the coveted spot at first drop, with England axing Gary Ballance after two Tests and his replacement, Ian Bell finishing the series with an average of 26.87.