All eyes are turning eagerly towards the Ashes, and the Aussies are looking like the team to beat.
Mitchell Starc is on fire with form, having achieved the remarkable feat of two hat-tricks in the same match recently! Meanwhile, England have suffered a blow with Steven Finn sidelined due to injury. Tom Curran steps in as Finn’s replacement, bringing exciting prospects to the fore. Though his cunning slower balls may not be heavily called upon in Test cricket, his outright pace is sure to be an asset.
England’s squad looks a bit inexperienced overall, featuring fresh faces like Curran, Mason Crane, Ben Foakes, and Craig Overton. Veterans Dawid Malan and James Vince haven’t seen much international cricket action lately.
Pressure mounts particularly on Mark Stoneman, who must quickly prove his place in the touring party amidst tough competition.
On paper, the squad seems stretched thin – with players like Gary Ballance and Jake Ball included. Alastair Cook, Joe Root, James Anderson, and Moeen Ali will need to shoulder much of the responsibility with runs and wickets.
The availability of Ben Stokes remains uncertain. If he’s unavailable due to off-field issues, Chris Woakes will become a crucial figure for England.
On the Australian side, Ryan Harris has declared the current pace trio – Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins – stronger than his famous trio of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle from the past.
This is a bold statement and a credit to the current team, though some might still favour Johnson ahead of Starc and Harris over Cummins. Interestingly, compared to Hazlewood, Siddle edges the comparison.
The series will be pivotal for Cummins, who has worked hard to avoid typecasting as a short-format player and overcome past injury setbacks. Let’s hope his fitness stays intact.
Pre-series hype always brings loads of chatter, but it’s the action on the field that counts the most. Right now, Australia seem to have the edge and are primed to make the most of their advantage away from home.
The tour promises electrifying cricket, with several thrilling finishes expected, especially the day-night encounters in Adelaide this December.
Die-hard cricket enthusiasts might have to adjust for some odd hours, but catching this Aussie-England battle live will definitely be worth it.
