Ashes Mens Test Cricket Series 2017/2018

The Ashes is the most prestigious series in test cricket.  Cricket’s oldest rivalry between Australia & England has produced its own share of folklore, heroes, fierce contests, terrific tales and of course bragging rights.  It also brings a sense of occasion, tradition & sustenance to what has sadly been a dying format.  Test cricket seems at odds with the current era of T20 Franchises and the mercenary needs of modern day players to maximise their short lived careers.  However, the Ashes tests occupy a special place in the Australian sporting calendar and this series will be keenly anticipated.  Fans can also look forward to the very first Ashes day night test match in Adelaide.  Grounds will be packed to the rafters to watch these two nations battle to see who gets to kiss the urn.  Read on for my preview of how the series can be expected to pan out, which players to watch and my predictions!

Australia Team Review

This Australian cricket team under Steve Smith has been successful at home but has been unable to produce the same form overseas.  Losses overseas in England, India, Sri Lanka and even Bangladesh have meant that the team is currently ranked #5 in the world and last season even succumbed at home to South Africa.  Last year’s home loss was a bit of an SOS and turning point for captain Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehman.  It created a team reshuffle which brought in some new blood, a renewed focus on youth and more energy with players like Peter Handscomb, Matt Renshaw and Matthew Wade coming into the team.  Australia have struggled with the moving ball in seaming, swinging or spinning conditions.  At home though, the pitches will be dry, hard and bouncy.

The Australian team has always been known for its high intensity, fighting spirit and aggression.  They will expect to win at home but it will not be easy as their opposition is ranked #2 and the current Australian team is not yet fully stable.   This team does not yet have the aura of previous Australian teams yet but the Ashes series is often where reputations are forged.  Who can ever forget Steve Waugh’s watershed Ashes series back in 1989 where he peeled off three hundreds to end with a Bradmanesque average.  Who will be the hero of this series?

Australia’s strength is definitely its bowling attack.  With Starc, Hazelwood and Cummins all fit and raring to go, this is as close as Australia has come to the holy grail of four fearsome fast bowlers.  James Pattinson would be the fourth member of the quartet had he not succumbed to injury.  Still, the quartet may just be a pipe dream as Captains would be hard pressed to go into a 5 day test match without a specialist spin bowler.  Mitchell Starc has been in irrestistable form with his swinging yorkers, bagging two hat tricks in a recent shield game.  Hazelwood is arguably even more skillful and consistent often playing the spearhead role during Starc’s absence.  He bowls a consistent nagging length at high speeds.  Pat Cummins will play the role of enforcer who can bowl bursts of high speed to extract venom from the most docile of pitches. This is a fearsome attack when fully fit and Smith will be ready to unleash them.  Nathan Lyon completes our attack and is easily our best spin bowler since Warne.  Other than Lyon, there is unlikely to be many other relief bowlers so workloads will need to be managed.

Batting wise, Australia has tweaked its batting lineup, in a quest to find more consistent performers.  Dave Warner has had more partners than Don Juan DeMarco and will form a brand new combination with Cameron Bancroft replacing Matt Renshaw at the top of the order.  Khawaja, Smith and Handscomb form the middle order with the highly experienced but somewhat inconsistent and fragile Shaun Marsh completing the top 6. Australia have momentarily shelved their all-rounder obsession in search of the six most in form batters in the country.  However, their selection policies have been very inconsistent toggling between youth and experience, sending mixed signals to all and sundry.

The biggest shock selection was the recall of Tim Paine.  Tim Paine must have broken a mirror as he has had 7 years of ill fortune.  However, his fortunes are about to change and his recall is well deserved.  He is defiintely the finest gloveman in the country who has the potential to score big.  Paine is also a natural leader who will provide wise counsel to Smith and Warner behind the stumps.  Players who narrowly missed out were Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Stoinis, Moises Henriques.  Daniel Hughes, Jake Lehman and Kurtis Patterson were also in contention.  Cowan, Bailey, Burns, Doolan are all still prolific on the domestic scene but have all been already tried previously.

Australia – Five to watch

1. Mitchell Starc – It is hard to pick any one standout bowler but Starc will make life unpleasant for the top order batsman and will be an absolute wrecking ball against the tail. Look out for his inswinging yorkers.

2. Usman Khawaja – Uzzie been in and out of the team and has a point to prove.  He is in good form and occupying a key role at #3 so will be keen to cash in on his recall to the team.  His silky touch is a delight to watch.

3. Tim Paine – If he can score 3 or 4 fifties and maybe even a hundred here and there, Paine will be a “keeper” for the next 4 years especially with the dearth of wicketkeeper batsmen after the high standards set by Adam Gilchrist

4. David Warner – Scored a century before lunch last summer in the Sydney test and is the type of batsman who can change the game in a jiffy. Sets the tone right at the very top and these days he comes off far more often than not.

5. Steve Smith – Steve Smith is remarkably difficult to dislodge.  He is very unorthodox and difficult to bowl to and bowlers find it hard to settle into a rhythm against Smith.  A master at adjusting his technique to suit different conditions.

England Team Review

England are ranked #2 in the world and have been consistent performers for a number of years.  Cook has passed on the captaincy mantle to Root so they have begun a new era under Root who is probably one of the top 4 batsmen in the world along with Steve Smith.  That said, England have had a few problems with their batting as well and like Australia, their bowling is probably their strength.  It has been difficult to find an opening batsman to partner Cook.  Stoneman looks to have the goods hitting good form during the warm up games.  Stoneman will probably be one of the highest run scorers for England.  Root will still be the mainstay of their batting and he does not look to have any weaknesses.  He should bat at number 3 but prefers to bat at 4.  Vince and Malan are unproven but Johnny Bairstow is a quality player.  Moeen Ali is also a very stylish batsman who can score quickly but is sure to be tested with the short ball in Australia.

The one player England will miss the most is Ben Stokes.  There is no hiding the fact that their punchy allrounder is world class.  He has been their second best batsman after Root and at times their best bowler.  He brings a lot to this team although Chris Woakes is not far behind in the allrounder stakes too and bowls a yard quicker.  Allrounders is one area where England have many riches and as a result can bat very deep.  Australia cannot afford to relax as England batting is capable of mounting a rearguard action.  Opening bowlers Anderson and Broad are highly experienced swing bowlers although they have lost a bit of pace.  They will find it harder to swing the Australian Kookaburra cricket ball compared to the English Duke ball.  However, England will be glad to be playing the Gabba and Adelaide tests early on in the series.  The Adelaide test is a day night test where the combination of the pink ball and evening sessions should favour the English swing bowlers.  England’s coach is Australian Trevor Bayliss who is a very shrewd tactician who will have lots of useful intel on the Australia team.

England – Five to watch

1. Stoneman – Stoneman could be the player England have been searching for.  He has been very reliable and consistent in County Cricket and has been overdue for a call up to the England team.  I expect Stoneman to make plenty of runs and cement his spot in the England team.

2. Root – Root has no apparent weaknesses and an insatiable appetite for runs.  If Australia does not get Root early, he will make them pay.  Plays all the shots and growing from strength to strength.  Like Steve Smith, his maturity belies his mid twenties age.

3. Bairstow – Unlike Australia who have struggled for runs from their wicket keepers, Johnny Bairstow has been a strong performer who has contributed mountains of runs along with Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes in the England middle to late order

4. Woakes – Woakes bowling style will probably suit Australia’s hard bouncy pitches more than Anderson and Broad and he is quick although he is not express.  Woakes is good enough to make the team as a bowler alone so the fact that he can bat well is a tremendous bonus

5. Cook – Cook has the patience to bat for lengthy periods of time.  Not as consistent as he used to be but still highly capable.  His experience will be important in what could be a tough first time tour for England players.

Prediction

This will be a very close test series and difficult to predict.  I think England has a very good chance of winning 1 or 2 test matches, possible the Gabba and Adelaide.  Australia’s batting looks a bit unsettled but I think they will get better as the series progresses and should win the last 3 test matches.  My prediction is for an exciting series to be won by Australia 3-2 .