Ashes Test Series Preview

Two weeks til the most eagerly anticipated Ashes Test Series begins, Shane Potter previews the potential match winners for both teams.

AUSTRALIA

BATTING

The Aussies batting line-up is starting to age with Langer (36), Hayden (35), Martyn (35), Gilchrist (35) to go with Hussey (31) and Ponting (32) who are at the peak in there careers.

The Aussies, however, will have the experience to deal with the Australian pitches which they have played on. It will be with interest to see if the selectors go with, what I would consider to be the right way and slot in, all rounder Shane Watson at number six.

Aussie captain Ricky Ponting has come out and thrown his support behind Western Australian Damien Martyn and says he will keep his spot at number four for the Ashes. Ponting will be keen to star and has a great record up against England which will continue over this summer.

Ponting v England

BOWLING

The big question for the Aussies is who to leave out of what is sure to be a strong bowling attack. Glenn McGrath has come under scrutiny in the last week with both Ian Chappell and Geoff Lawson concerned about McGrath being able to return from his time off.

Mitchell Johnson has been touted, by former Australian great fast bowler Denis Lillee, as a possibility to join the pace attack which is sure to be spearheaded by Brett Lee and Shane Warne.

Dan Cullen could be thrown a chance to prove himself as another spinning option on the turning wickets in Sydney and Adelaide to help Warne who has thrown his full support behind having the young offy in the team.

While Nathan Bracken will also be in line for a selection and then comes the back up in form of Gillespie, Tait, Clark and Kasprowicz who would all be unlucky to miss out but all look as though they have either got injuries at the wrong time or the youth of Australia is catching up to some of these old timers.

It will be very interesting to see what way the selectors go for the first Ashes Test up in Brisbane and it is sure to be a red hot bowling attack whichever way they go.

FIELDING

The best in the world when it comes to the field, Hussey, Ponting and Clarke just to name a few. Then Gilchrist behind the stumps does not get enough credit for the great glove man that he is due to the great batsman that he is.

The Aussies don’t drop there catches and will make a run out from the smallest of chances. This team will have the upper hand on England when it comes to the field.

CAPTAINCY

Ricky Ponting has led the Aussies into battle for a number of years now and he has the most experienced leadership group around him. There are no more experienced then Warne, Gilchrist and McGrath all there giving there input.

Former Australian captain, Mark Taylor believes that Ponting will be in the best position he has been in at the helm to lead his country into battle against England.

ENGLAND

BATTING

Young batsmen Ian Bell and Alistair Cook have found some form in the last few months and they could prove a huge strength for the Poms in this Ashes campaign. There is, of course, the power and prowess of both Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen. However, with the addition of an inform Cook and Bell the English bating line-up begins to look like the facet of the game were they will win the series.

They are of course without their captain, Michael Vaughan, who has had great success against the Australians and he will be sorely missed. After taking the Champions Trophy off to recover from stress related injuries, Marcus Trescothick will be fit and raring to go at the top of the order, while Strauss and Collingwood are the other two that could play a vital role with the bat.

The real key is how well Pietersen can do and even Ponting sang his praises recently saying that he is set to become the games next superstar. Will the pressure become too much on Pietersen or will he be able to cope and smash the Aussie bowling attack to the fence.

BOWLING

The England bowling line up will look a little different to the one that took on Australia in the last Ashes series with the destroyer Simon Jones out through injury, while guys like Monty Panesar have become new additions to a strong bowling line-up. The key once again will be Steven Harmison and how he copes bowling on these Australian pitches, especially the WACA which will suit his bowling perfectly.

Matthew Hoggard will not get as much swing as he would at home in England and will want to get off to a good start at the GABBA which is probably going to have the most movement in the air for the bowlers out of all these Australian wickets. The spinning options are open with Panesar and Ashley Giles who, has not played in almost a year, has declared himself fit to play and is confident of taking some part.

FIELDING

This is an area at which England have improved over the last few years but they are still not the best fielding side in the world. The wicket keeping aspect will be interesting as to who gets the nod to keep in the opening game.

Chris Read has been in favour with the selectors since Geraint Jones’ horror Ashes series last time around. I doubt Jones will get the gloves unless they really need him for his batting aspect.

CAPTAINCY

The pressure will be on the England skipper, Andrew Flintoff who is at the helm in place of the injured Michael Vaughan. Flintoff will be under immense pressure from the Australian crowd, media and public in general. It will be a true test to see if “Freddy” has what it takes to take on the world champions on their home soil.

THE RESULT

The Aussies are full of experience and have not lost a series at home for a number of years and I don’t see it happening against this English side. The Poms will find it hard without Vaughan and Jones, while Flintoff is the only way I can see England claiming victory.

My tip is the Aussie batsmen will be too strong on there home pitches that they know better then any.

The Aussies to win 3-1 (with one drawn match).

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