The Ashes is about to start in a couple of days in soaring heat at Gabba in Brisbane and there is no doubt that the 1st test is going to be extremely important for both the sides as neither England nor Australia is looking a well settled side. Both captains will walk out for the toss at 10 am on Thursday and they won't think twice about batting first if it is an usual Gabba wicket. Nasser Hussain in 2002 gave a good lesson to everyone when he won the toss and decided to bowl first. Hayden smashed a hundred, Ponting got a hundred, England were on the golf course by the fourth afternoon!
While England will be relying heavily on Cook and Root in the batting department and Broad- Anderson in the bowling department, Australia is very much dependent on Smith and the three quicks- Starc- Hazlewood- Cummins. England don't have a lot of experience except those four players but they have great pedigree in players like Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan. Bairstow and Moeen form a formidable lower middle order along with Chris Woakes who has gone a long way in filling a big void left by Ben Stokes. On the other hand Australia have a much more fragile top 6. Young Matthew Renshaw was axed to everyone's surprise and replaced by Cameron Bancroft who has been a prolific run getter in the Sheffield Shield. Khawaja is likely to bat at no. 3, Smith at no.4 and Peter Handscomb at no.5. Shaun Marsh has always been an honest hard-working guy who finally gets his biggest opportunity that is to bat and control the innings at no.6. Tim Paine was the biggest surprise though, who sneaked in ahead of Matthew Wade and Peter Neville. Australian selectors said that they decided to choose the Best Gloveman in the Country without considering his batting skills. Tim Paine hasn't even kept for Tasmania in Sheffield Shield games this season but he has the best hands in Australia they say!
Neither of the teams is overwhelming favourites but I think Australia has the edge. If the first test goes their way and if they can hold on to the next one in Adelaide, where England will have their best chance under lights, then I do think that Australia will run away with the Ashes just like they did in 2013-14 season.
While England will be relying heavily on Cook and Root in the batting department and Broad- Anderson in the bowling department, Australia is very much dependent on Smith and the three quicks- Starc- Hazlewood- Cummins. England don't have a lot of experience except those four players but they have great pedigree in players like Mark Stoneman and Dawid Malan. Bairstow and Moeen form a formidable lower middle order along with Chris Woakes who has gone a long way in filling a big void left by Ben Stokes. On the other hand Australia have a much more fragile top 6. Young Matthew Renshaw was axed to everyone's surprise and replaced by Cameron Bancroft who has been a prolific run getter in the Sheffield Shield. Khawaja is likely to bat at no. 3, Smith at no.4 and Peter Handscomb at no.5. Shaun Marsh has always been an honest hard-working guy who finally gets his biggest opportunity that is to bat and control the innings at no.6. Tim Paine was the biggest surprise though, who sneaked in ahead of Matthew Wade and Peter Neville. Australian selectors said that they decided to choose the Best Gloveman in the Country without considering his batting skills. Tim Paine hasn't even kept for Tasmania in Sheffield Shield games this season but he has the best hands in Australia they say!
Neither of the teams is overwhelming favourites but I think Australia has the edge. If the first test goes their way and if they can hold on to the next one in Adelaide, where England will have their best chance under lights, then I do think that Australia will run away with the Ashes just like they did in 2013-14 season.
No comments:
Post a Comment