The Ashes- England vs Australia Preview: 1st Test

*THE ASHES PREVIEW- 1st TEST*

*THE BUILD UP:*

*CHAMPIONS AUSTRALIA CANT SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK:*

Right after winning the much anticipated WTC final against India, landing a heavy body blow to the Indians in a KO game again, Australia now find themselves on the cusp of creating history as they are all set to lock horns with a rejuvenated and re-energised side in England. Winning an away Ashes series has always been the pinnacle of this rivalry and for Australia, it’s been nearly 22 years before they won a test series on English soil, making these next few weeks a good time to be alive as a cricket fan. 

The 15 men from Down Under enjoyed a good stead and were overjoyed after lifting the mace. Two big years of determination and hard work was what it took to become the ultimate champions of the Test format but now, they face a stern test up against a hyped up Bazball, lead by Stokes and Mcculum- two of the most renowned personalities in England right now. Despite originating from NZ, this Kiwi duo has certainly set the stage on fire with their aggressive brash and proactive approach. It has helped them overcome the likes of Newzealand, South Africa and India at home and topple Pakistan in their own home ground with brutality. They have found a new renovated way of playing this format and it just doesn’t restrict itself to swinging it hard with the bat. There has been a significant improvement in how they plan and strategise and everything comes down to this duo being brave and bold and the rest of the team abiding wholeheartedly to this style of play. 

With the entire world pinning their hopes on a competitive Ashes, it’s afterall the 22 men on field which will decide the fate of it. Questions revolving around if the English batters will be able to counter the Starc and Cummins threat will be much watched as this 141 year old rivalry is about to take centre stage once again. 

*AUSTRALIA PROBABLE XI:*

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(wk), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland 

Alot of doubts revolving around Boland’s presence in the team despite that marvellous spell at display at the Oval. With Hazlewood set to be fit before the first Ashes test, this puts the Aussie selectors in a bit of a muddle. I feel they are likely to play the same XI with Hoff expected to miss out again, this time due to the selection, because the experience of Cummins-Starc and the assault which Boland did to India makes this trio almost undroppable. 

Usman Khawaja, the only Aussie which was unable to add to the score of the team, would be looking to reverse his fortunes come the first test of the Ashes. He hasn’t had a good record in England previously and was a failure against the Indian bowling lineup but his years of playing Test cricket and his stunning form in the recently concluded WTC should work well for the veteran. 

The partnership between Marnus and Smith, two very similar traditionalist of this format could well decide the fate of this game. They boast of a stunning record here in England and they were instrumental to Australia retaining the Ashes the last time around. They will be eager to frustrate England under Stokes this time, once again coupled with Travis Head, who will offer something different to this Australian side as they look to retain the prestigious urn for the fourth time in a row. Head marked his aggressive style of play in the first innings of the WTC final as he went onto bully India by playing at run a ball and if England decide to produce flat and fast tracks, they could be on the receiving end of a Head master class. 

*ENGLAND PROBABLE XI:*

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Johnny Bairstow(wk), Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Moeen Ali, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson 

This may seem a little harsh but England could look to drop Broad for the first test to be played at Birmingham. With Stokes’ quest for fast and flat wickets, Wood is expected to get the nod ahead of his counterpart and one of the most experienced pros in this English squad, Broad. England could go in with three-man pace attack with Ben Stokes giving it all to try and bowl for his side in the opening encounter. Moeen Ali was recalled out of retirement and should feature without any hesitation in this XI, batting at No8 and offering some off spin against an Aussie lineup that consists of Warner, Khawaja, Head and Carey as the left handed batters in the Top 7, making him a dangerous bet. Though his batting will be kept a close eye on, as to how he adapts to this new style of play and make sure that he isn’t a walking wicket which he was in the last few Ashes series that he featured in. 

Harry Brook, without enjoying a good time to bat vs Ireland and going through an extremely rough patch with Hyderabad in the IPL, would want a blockbuster return to cricket with Ashes being his first priority now. Pre IPL, he was bashing all bowlers left right and centre, making him an invincible force. To be able to tackle NZ and PAK away from home and dominate them in a brutal fashion was a trademark of Brook’s approach and how he is expected to take on the Aussie bowlers this time around as well. But their form and their ruthlessness will make this a contest to watch out for. 

Ollie Robinson, the medium pacer who was promising in the last Ashes but missed out on completing his duties due to his injuries, is coming on the back of a masterful county season and with the home conditions likely to add to his arsenal of weaponry, I back him to be the leading wicket taker of this Ashes series and trouble Australia’s best bets including Labuschagne, Australia’s no3. 

Him mixed with the ageless wonder that Jimmy is and the fast paced Mark Wood who will hit the deck extremely hard can be a fierce trio to counter. If Stokes is fit and firing and with Ali’s inclusion, these 5 could be more than handy to flush down the hopes of the Kangaroos to win an Ashes series in England since 2001. Expect a fight from both sides as we gear up for the greatest rivalry of the Cricket. 

It’s England vs Australia, two very prosperous boards with incredibly powerful sides and coaches with stature, set to ge t along in a tussle for the great urn glory. 

*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*

*FOR AUS:*
Highest run getter:Travis Head/Steven Smith 

Highest wicket taker: Pat Cummins/Nathan Lyon 

*FOR ENG:*
Highest run getter- Ollie Pope/Joe Root 

Highest wicket taker- Ollie Robinson/James Anderson 

*FOR THIS GAME:*
Australia to win