Sunday, November 21, 2010
Ashes Preview
Dating back to 1882, the Ashes is one of sport’s longest and most well-known contests. England meets Australia once again in the 2010/11 Ashes series with the tourists having high hopes of winning a series Down Under for the first time since 1987.A combination of the Aussies’ poor form and a talented group of English cricketers has given the visitors hope of retaining the trophy they regained in the summer of 2009.
England have been in good shape over recent months and acquitted themselves well in their Australian warm-up matches. Batsmen Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen scored much needed runs in these contests whilst Paul Collingwood and Captain Andrew Strauss also look to be in good form England also have a versatile and attractive bowling attack. Graeme Swann has been a revelation at Test level whilst the promising Steve Finn and James Anderson are sure to take wickets. England’s real potential match winner is Nottinghamshire’s Stuart Broad, who has demonstrated that he is capable of ripping through a batting order with a devastating spell of bowling.
If England were to win this Ashes series, Andrew Strauss would become just the second English captain (after the great Len Hutton) to win a full Ashes series both home and away.
Whilst Australia have produced many great Test sides over the years, the current XI is not one of them. Seven consecutive defeats in the run-up to this series is hardly ideal preparation and the selectors are still undecided as to who may play in the first Test in Brisbane.
The home side will rely on skipper Ricky Ponting, the dogged Simon Katich and captain-in-waiting Michael Clarke whilst Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson should take wickets on home turf. However, there are weaknesses in the side. Batsman Marcus North averages 20 in last four matches he has played whilst spinners Xavier Doherty and Steven Smith are steady rather than devastating.
Whilst England harbour genuine ambitions of becoming the first touring side in 24 years to win an Ashes series in Australia, it may not be quite so simple. Whilat Adam Gilchrist may believe England are favourites, the Australians have an impressive home Test record.
Since 1987, the Aussies record in their home Ashes series’ reads: 3-0, 3-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-0 and Ponting’s side have won eleven of their last twelve home Test series, losing just three matches during that period.
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR :
POMMIES
1.JAMES ANDERSON
2.KEVIN PIETERSEN
3.ALASTAIR COOK
BAGGY GREEN
1.RICKY PONTING
2. SHANE WATSON
1.RICKY PONTING
2. SHANE WATSON
3.MIKE HUSSEY
