2017-18 Ashes: Aussies to watch
The Ashes, arguably international cricket’s most
vicious rivalry, rolls around once more in November. Although England emerged victorious (3-1)
in the Australian series of 2010-11, the series of 2013-14 saw Australia enact
vengeance in the most emphatic way possible – a 5-0 whitewash. Given the
squad’s home ashes record, Australia would always be favourites against
England. However, the home side have never been so widely backed to score a
second consecutive home whitewash over England.
5-0 whitewash universally
expected
To say that the two sides approach the series in
contrasting mindsets would be an understatement, and this is reflected in
current Ashes odds, which can be viewed by anyone who opts to click here. After losing 2-1
to South Africa last autumn, Australia have bounced back in very real terms,
with perfect home test form prevalent after that disappointing showing against
the Springboks. By contrast, England will travel to Australia in unusually low
spirits, with Ben Stokes’ recent exclusion (on disciplinary grounds) from the
visiting squad only serving to divide and disrupt.
England’s away form can only give the Australian
squad even more encouragement, with the squad losing 4-1 to India in its last
away test series. Some experts would assert that England’s only true hope is
Joe Root, with most of the other expected first XI performing erratically of
late. To the more ardent England fan, Alastair Cook is considered something of
a talisman, but many believe that age is now catching up with him. Even at
home, England have been susceptible to the occasional batting collapse, with
the fourth test in the recent home series against the West Indies being a very
damning case in hand.
Smith can be ‘captain
fantastic’
As one of the chosen few to be an Ashes
captain, Steve Smith will naturally be in the spotlight more
than any other home player. Though his captaincy has seen mixed fortunes for Australia,
if all forms of international cricket are taken into account, his personal statistics spell
danger for England. As of June 2017, Smith had scored twelve centuries and
averaged 73.27 per inning. Overcoming a humiliation at the hands of South
Africa in 2016 was also a real test of character for Smith, with his captaincy
then very much in the balance. 2017 has been a truer reflection of his
abilities, and Smith also has a test win rate of exactly 50% as Australia’s
captain.
NSW Trio to give England the
‘blues’
Much of the confidence in the home side stems from
the range of efficient fast bowlers that Australia coach Darren Lehmann has at
his disposal.
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell
Starc are the most prominent men in that respect. With the latter two
being left-handed, Australia will have the luxury of a multi-dimensional
approach to dismissing England’s top batsmen. The fact that the trio are
teammates at the NSW Blues can only add further fuel to the arguments in favour
of an Australian whitewash.
David Warner: 30 not out
Though now the wrong side of thirty, top order
batsman David Warner has the experience and composure needed
to fulfil the expectation of a whitewash. Though part of a side that completed
a 4-1 ODI series defeat to India just days ago, it was Warner’s never-say-die
attitude which yielded the century that enabled the touring Aussies to win and
avoid a whitewash. As one of the most hard-hitting Australian batsmen in recent
memory, those who simply crave entertainment will certainly be keeping one eye
on Warner.
Looking ahead
Lehmann’s uncompromising Australia squad has the
impetus, but stranger things have happened in international cricket. The
2017-18 Ashes series begins at The Gabba on 23 November.
Author bio
A
BJTC-accredited graduate, Tamhas Woods is a sports writer who specialises in
betting previews.
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