IT'S one of the most fiercely contested tournaments of the sporting calendar.
And England is hoping to finally knock Australia off its perch in this year's Ashes series, as it gets underway today.
The prize at stake is the famous urn – but for England players at the top of their game, fame and fortune can often follow.
Just ask the likes of Freddie Flintoff and James Anderson, who have raked in the cash, both while playing and since retiring.
As England's cricketers battle to make their mark, we take a look at the former legends who are laughing all the way to the bank in our ultimate rich list.
Freddie Flintoff – £15m
When it comes to icons of English cricket, few compare to Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff.
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An all-rounder in the sport, he was consistently praised by the International Cricket Council for his remarkable talent.
After making his debut in 1998, Freddie, 45, rose through the ranks to serve as both the captain and vice-captain of England's team and is one of the most successful players in the game.
But his talent doesn't end on the pitch, however – since his retirement at the end of the 2009 Ashes series, he has established himself as a TV and radio presenter.
He has also partnered with big brands such as William Hill, Sure and Puma and has reportedly amassed a net worth of £15million.
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He is married to former model Rachel Wools, with whom he shares four children. The family lives in a Cheshire mansion they bought from his pal Phil Neville in 2021.
Although it was on the market for £5.2million, Freddie reportedly got it at a slightly cheaper price, thanks to their friendship.
The Top Gear host also likes to travel in luxury and owns a Mercedes GLS350d and a Lamborghini Murciélago, which set him back £180,000.
Jos Butler – £9.4million
Several sources peg Jos Butler's fortune at £9.4million, making him the second richest cricketer in England.
He is the captain of the English cricket team in limited overs and is known for his aggressive batting style.
Jos, 32, is also England's second most capped T20I player and has a great deal to show for his super impressive career.
He lives in a stunning luxurious bungalow in Somerset with his wife Louise, who he married in 2017, and their two kids, Georgia Rose, four, and one-year-old Margot.
A glance at his Instagram page suggests the family love going on sunny holidays and have spent time in destinations like Dubai.
James Anderson – £6.4m
As one of the greatest fast bowlers in the world, it comes as no surprise that James Anderson, 40, reportedly has a fortune of £6.4million.
His contributions to the national team especially during Test matches cannot be denied – he is England's leading wicket-taker in the longer format.
He made his debut in 2003 and is now ranked the number one Test bowler in the world in the ICC Men's Player Rankings and has played the most Test matches for England.
James' wealth comprises both his earnings as an active player and his lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as Wellman, Thomas Cook Sport and Vampire Cricket.
He is married to model Daniella Lloyd and lives with her and their two kids in a luxurious house in Burnley, according to reports.
Moeen Ali – £6.3m
Moeen Ali, 35, is the vice-captain for England in limited-overs cricket and was part of the team that won both the 2019 World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
As one of the most respected and valuable players in the England team, Moeen, 35, is also among the highest-contracted players by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The left-handed batsman has enjoyed a hefty salary representing his country and his domestic team throughout the span of his career.
He is married to Firoza Hossain and has a son named Abu Bakr and a daughter called Haadiya.
The star dramatically came out of retirement earlier this month and announced his intentions to play in this year's Ashes.
Although he keeps his personal life pretty private, it has been claimed that he owns a BMW 730 LD and lives in Birmingham with his family.
Kevin Pietersen – £5.9m
The Times once dubbed him "the most complete batsman in cricket" – so it should come as no surprise that South African-British Kevin has amassed a £5.9million fortune throughout his fantastic career.
His position as one of cricket's most recognisable faces has landed him sponsorship deals with the likes of Adidas and Brylcreem.
In 2007 Kevin, 42, married former Liberty X singer Jessica Taylor – the couple have two children together and live in a beautiful home in the posh Wentworth Estate.
He also likes to jet his family off to stunning destinations around the globe.
Alastair Cook – £5m
Alastair Cook is the former captain of the England team and is considered one of the greatest legends of the game.
He has an impressive resume as England's most-capped specialist batsman and the leading run-scorer in Test matches.
Although the 38-year-old's net worth is mostly from his earnings as one of the best players in the world, he is also had many endorsement deals with Buxton Water, BT Sports, Rankin and Gray-Nicolls.
According to reports he has an impressive car collection including a Mercedes Benz G-Class, an Audi R8 V10, and a Porsche Turbo that set him back £164,650.
He apparently owns two mansions and lives in a huge house in Gloucester with his wife Alice Hunt and their three children, and is reportedly worth £5million.
Ian Bell – £4m
As one of the very few batsmen to have scored a Test century against all active nations that play the tennis form, it is safe to say that Ian has earned his place on the list.
The 41-year-old has earned many accolades including the ICC's Emerging Player of the Year award and a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to England's successful Ashes campaign.
Ian married Chantal Louise Bastock and they have two children.
On his Instagram page he occasionally posts pictures of his family enjoying holidays at luxury destinations like Majorca and Dubai.
Graeme Swann – £3.9m
In March 2010 Greame, 44, showed why he's one of the best in the sport when he became the first English off-spinner to take 10 wickets in a match since Jim Laker.
He was also part of the teams that won the Under-19 World Cup in 1998 and the 2010 ICC World Twenty20.
In May 2010 he was named the ECB Cricketer of the Year but decided to walk away from international cricket following the 2013-2014 Ashes series loss.
Graeme was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 and was paired with Oti Mabuse – the pair were the ninth couple to be eliminated.
In 2010 he married his wife Sarah and they live in Nottingham with their three children.
Believed to be worth £3.9m, he's also the lead singer of the rock band Dr Comfort and the Lurid Revelations – they play cover songs in gigs around Nottinghamshire.
Eoin Morgan – £3.9m
Eoion, 36, was the captain of the England team in limited overs from 2015 until his retirement last year.
He led the team to victory in the 2019 ICC World Cup and is reportedly worth £3.9million.
Although he's not one to flaunt his wealth, he periodically posts snaps of him and his wife Tara Ridgeway, who he married in 2018, on holiday.
The pair met at a bar in Adelaide, Australia in 2010 when she was 17 and he was 24, according to Sportskeeda.
Their wedding is said to have been attended by heavyweights of the sport such as Alastair Cook, Jason Roy, and Brendon McCullum.
Stuart Broad – £2m
Being one of the most outspoken and controversial cricket players in the country hasn't stopped Stuart Broad from amassing a respectable fortune.
While some sources peg his net worth at £2million, others put it at far greater than that.
The 36-year-old is England's second-most capped test cricketer behind James Anderson and was part of the team that won the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010.
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He's invested in a pub and is engaged to former The Saturdays singer Mollie King.
Last year the couple welcomed their first baby together, daughter Annabella.
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