Overview
Ashes is a Gripping Rivalry which keeps the Cricketing Fraternity & the entire Globe thrilled. England & Australia are the only 2 Nations for whom Test Cricket is Pinnacle, as this Rivalry is Ancient which got started way back in 1882-83. Australia has had the wood over England where Aussies have retained the “Urn” 38 times whereas England 33 times. Ashes is mouth watering as England’s ‘Barmy Army’ pressurizes the Mighty Aussies via witty statements & sometimes smirky remarks, in 2019 Ashes Barmy Army brutally trolled Smith, Warner & entire Cricket Australia (CA) for their ball tampering saga.
| SNAPSHOT: Pat Cummins & Joe Root booming with a Smile as the Greatest Rivalry Resumes |
Australia
Australia have taken a bold decision to give leaderhip duties to Steven Smith (*as a deputy) & made the No.1 fast bowler Pat Cummins as the Skipper. Cummins is the first fast bowler to captain Australian Test team in the last 65 years. Deceased Ray Lindwall was handed a one match captaincy in India in 1956 which makes him the only specialist fast bowler of Australia to captain in TESTS.
Cummins inclusion as a skipper means that Australia can’t rest him. Cummins hasn’t missed a single test Match since 2018 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. CA have gone backwards as they have recalled Usman Khawaja back into the frame. Khawaja is the only batter present apart from Smith who was a part of an excruciating Ashes 2010-11 Campaign where England had outclassed Australia by 3-1. 2010-11 Ashes was a Historical Feat as Britishers won Test Series in Australia after 24 years. Khawaja & Smith have seen the agony of a shambolic performance which makes their presence invaluable (*Khawaja is not named in playing 11 for 1st Test Match).
Australia should take a leaf out of 2013-14 & 2017-18 Ashes performance as their prowess is to bowl out England. The pitches of Australia aren’t that spicy as compared to England, bowlers need to toil a lot to squeeze a wicket. The role of Nathan Lyon becomes critical as more often than not he is under the pump as other bowlers most likely won’t get productive results. Australia know that one brutal spell of Starc can create havoc for England as ECB’s (England Cricket Board) Intolerant approach towards racism is under scanner.
Playing 11: David Waner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (Wk), Pat Cummins (c) , Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
England
ECB have shown faith in skipper Joe Root as earlier he failed to retain the Urn, in 2017-18 Ashes & 2019 (in England where the series was levelled by 2-2). Joe Root so far has a prolific year with the bat where he has amassed 1,455 runs where he has scored 6 centuries. Root has been the one man army so far for England where he has scored the bulk of runs. Root would be blostered by the presence of Stokes who not only bowls but provides a complete package of a Cricketer.
England once again are with a new bunch of openers in the form of Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed & Rory Burns which has now become a funny template. Jonny Bairstow would be gutted to show that he still has the passion for Test Cricket because the selectors have ignored him blatantly in the past 1 year (*Ollie Pope has pipped him for 1st Test Match). The duo of Stuart Broad & James Anderson would be banking on their 2010-11 feat; as they are the only Cricketers who were a part of that Momentous Achievement (* Anderson according to management is rested for 1st Test Match to focus on work-load)
| SNAPSHOT: James Anderson & Stuart Broad would hope that they rip off Australia’s line up. |
England would be eager to stamp their authority as their last 2 tours at Australia were a nightmare; in 2013 they were got whitewashed & in 2017-18 they avoided an embarrassment in the form of 0-4. England are high on batting line up but that doesn’t mean that they should throw away their starts. England have a golden chance to deepen CA nemesis as once again their culture is under spotlight.
Playing 11: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c) , Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler (Wk), Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Jack Leach
The 1st Test Match is scheduled at The Gabba, Brisbane. India in 2021 had breached Gabba Fortress after 32 years that too by a second string team. England would be Roaring & would hope that they would shell-shock Australia again as the 1st Test Match will determine their fate.
Last 4 Ashes Series Down Under (*Australia as Hosts) :
| 2006-07 | Australia won | 5-0 |
| 2010-11 | England won | 3-1 |
| 2013-14 | Australia won | 5-0 |
| 2017-18 | Australia won | 4-0 |
2013-14 Ashes was considered to be a riveting contest as England had the former Skipper Sir Alastair Cook, Swashbuckling Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell & a lot of puissant members, yet Australia buried them.
The same applied for 2010-11 Ashes as the Legendary Former Captain Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Simon Katich & Co were bruised as the Dynamic England handed Kangaroos 3 inning defeats.
#Past 4 series gives us a clear cut indication that making a comeback & winning Ashes in Australia is literally impossible no matter who is in your team.
- Keys for Winning/Retaining Ashes
The Task is cut out for England, they have to dominate Australia from the word go. Ben Stokes holds the key as his bowling can be a decisisve factor. If Stokes can squeeze out 2-3 wickets in a Test Match then England would be in the Driver’s seat. 300 odd runs would mean that they are giving Australia a straight-forwward chance.
Australia once again are back to the drawing board. They need to show the fire as England’s pacers are also too hot. Aussies have a bad habit of falling like a pack of cards which should be avoided, as scoring 3 runs per over is decent. The rookie Cameron Green’s role is crucial as he is the only recognized bowling option after the quartet.
- Predicted Winner
Australia looks ominous to retain the Ashes & win the Series. Bad times for Aussies don’t last long as the recent testimony is of Ashes 2019, after 18 years Australia had retained Ashes in England. This doesn’t mean that it was a cake walk as there were horrendous times for Oz’s, yet that didn’t hampered them.
Preview of Ashes 2021-22 by Varad Vaichal:
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