The Ashes win in 2005 trumps the Wimbledon final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to be named the best sporting contest of the decade in the Independent.

The Ashes of 2005 was the apogee of sporting theatre, possessing the rare combination of being perpetually watchable to the point of addiction and being unwatchable to the point of fearing for your health. The years since have dulled neither its appeal nor its thrilling nature and that explains why it won the Greatest Contest in The Independent Poll of the Decade.

In the same newspaper, Ian Botham speaks to Brian Viner about his new book, My Sporting Heroes.

Dileep Premachandran looks back at the highlights of 2009 in the Guardian.

Mike Atherton reviews the decade in the Times, picking out some of its most significant moments. He begins with the infamous Centurion Test of 2000 and its impact on the match-fixing scandal, and takes readers through the IPL, the first World Twenty20, the 2005 Ashes and much more.

9 The 2005 Ashes series.

This was the Test series of the decade, illustrating perfectly that nothing can better a five-match series of two-innings games between two high-quality teams. Drama, tension, general excellence, sportsmanship and individual brilliance, this was the Test series that had it all. It reignited interest in the Ashes series after the previous one-sided decade.

Patrick Kidd, in his blog Line and Length in the same newspaper, reviews the year for England and the world.

Lawrence Booth, in his blog Top Spin in the Daily Mail, picks out his best and the worst from 2009. Some notable mentions are Pakistan's victory in the World Twenty20, England's defeat in the opening game of the tournament and Jonathan Trott's debut in the Oval Test in the Ashes.

Hollowest Myth

England couldn't win without Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. Oh yes they could! Pietersen hobbled out of the Ashes after two Tests in which he ended up more hindrance than help, while Flintoff's - after his bullocking but over-rated five-for at Lord's - was a virtual spectator at The Brit Oval.

Don't get sucked in by the Ricky Ponting run-out: no team has ever come close to chasing 550 to win a Test and neither would Australia have done. Learning to win without their two big beasts was England's most valuable lesson of the year.

As always, the Test XI of 2009 will be a major talking point as the merits of those who made the side and those left out are debated. Peter Roebuck makes his selection in the Syndey Morning Herald.

6 MS Dhoni (captain)

Competition for the gloves has been hot. Several superb keeper/batsmen have emerged, not least in Australia and Pakistan. Dhoni carries himself with an authority that brooks no argument. He plays by his own lights, and with victory in mind. He belongs in the thick of the action and will captain the team.