They were written of as no-hopers and derided by the partisan Aussie press but Mike Gatting's unlikely band of merry men defied all predictions to walk off with a 2-1 Ashes victory as well as cleaning up in the one-day stuff as well. That was back in 1986-87 but where are they now?

Mike Gatting (capt) (Test stats)
Retired at the end of 1998 after gorging himself on the world's stockpile of cheese and pickle sandwiches, as well as county and international bowling attacks. When he finally pached away his coffin Gatting had accumulated more than 36,000 first-class runs, including 94 centuries. Moved into coaching after retiring but his two year stint with Middlesex was terminated by mutual consent in 2000. Now a popular and thoughtful media pundit with BSkyB.

Chris Broad (Test stats)
Retired at the end of 1994, and moved into broadcasting, working for BBC Television and Radio, and Talksport, covering cricket and rugby union. Now runs a screen print business in Nottingham.

Bill Athey (Test stats)
Retired at the end of 1997 with more than 25,000 first-class runs under his belt after spells with Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Sussex. Coached Worcestershire from 1997-2000 and now a teacher at Dulwich College, London.

Allan Lamb (Test stats)
Retired in 1995 and after a brief stint as an occasional broadcaster with BskyB started his own marketing and communications company, Allan Lamb Asociates. The business handles corporate clients, and includes event management. He also works for the Grenada Government promoting sports tours to the island, and has organised tours for first-class counties and schools to the country's cricket academy.

David Gower (Test stats)
Retired from international cricket on the eve of the West Indies tour of 1993-94 to purue a career in the media, both in newspapers and television. Now fronts BskyB's international cricket coverage, and is a regular on the BBC's satirical sports quiz 'They think it's all over'.

Ian Botham (Test stats)
Moved across to the media after finishing his career with new first-class county Durham, and has been commentating on BSkyB's domestic and international cricket coverage since 1995. May have been responsible for a resurgence in popularity for charity walks as a result of his unstinting efforts to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund, with millions donated to date. Still a popular figure on the after-dinner circuit.

Jack Richards (Test stats)
Hung on his gloves in 1988, and hasn't been since near a cricket field since! Now lives in Belgium, and has worked in shipbroking since retiring from cricket. Runs a Dutch-based shipping company, and 'wouldn't mind watching some of the cricket on Channel 4, but can't get the signal here'.

John Emburey (Test stats)
Had a long career both at Test and domestic level, playing well into his 40s, and played for England in a Test match for the last time at age 43 in 1995! Concluded his playing career after many years at Middlesex with a player-coaching role at Northamptonshire, but returned to Middlesex as coach and led them to promotion to the championship first division in 2002.

Phil DeFreitas (Test stats)
The only pupil of Gatting's Class of 1986-87 still playing first-class cricket after a varied career which has seen him in residence at three English counties and spend two winters on duty for Boland in South Africa. Had one season at first-class level with Leicestershire under his belt when he was picked for the Ashes tour, but subsequently moved to Lancashire, Derbyshire and back to Leicestershire, for whom he still plays.

Phil Edmonds (Test stats)
Retired from first-class cricket in 1991 after 20 years service to Middlesex, although did return for a single championship game the following season because of an injury crisis at the county. Had already signalled the path his post-cricket career would take by taking a mobile phone (which were something of a novelty at the time) on to the field as his business interests in precious metals blossomed. Devoted increasing amounts of time to his business career after the 1986-87 Ashes tour, although remains involved in cricket through his post as chairman of Middlesex CCC.

Graham Dilley (Test stats)
Now England's bowling coach, and the only survivor from the 1986-87 tourists to be directly involved in this winter's tour. Took up the role just before last winter's tour of India having worked his way up the coaching ladder with the ECB's age-group and women's teams. Coached with Sureey between 1994-96 having ended his playing career with Worcestershire two years earlier.

James Whitaker (Tests stats)
Left post as general manager of Leicestershire CCC in autumn 2002; previously part of management team for two England u19 tours and 'A' team which participated in the Busta Cup in the West Indies in 2001. Has done some TV commentary work for Channel 4, and most interestingly, remains a director of the family chocolate firm. The after dinner mints are well worth a try.

Gladstone Small (Test stats)
Returned to college after retiring from international cricket in 1992 and studied for a degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Worked in the Marketing Department at Edgbaston towards the end of his first-class career with Warwickshire, and then joined the Professional Cricketers Association following retirement in 1999. Still with the PCA, and spends most of his time developing cricket in the community.

25 Oct, 2002