Australian captain Ricky Ponting, left, and bowler Brett Lee confer during the fourth day of the second cricket test match between India and Australia, in Mohali, India, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008. AP Photo/Gautam Singh
The Ashes promises to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year. It isn’t critical simply for the here and now, but also for the short to medium future of Australian cricket.
First and foremost, the legacy of Ricky Ponting is on the line.
He is already suffering from being the first Australian captain to have lost the Ashes since Allan Border in 1985. Sure he won them back, but losing them in the first place still leaves a stain.
Many people out there aren’t fans of his captaincy. They say his Plan A was to give the ball to Glenn McGrath, Plan B was to give it to Shane Warne, and Plan C was to go back to Plan A.
Luckily for Ponting, Mitchell Johnson’s stocks has risen immeasurably over the last year, because without him, who knows how Australia would bowl out a side.
Ironically, it could be the part-time trio of Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Marcus North which bails out the side.
Speaking of Clarke and Katich, they both had horror Ashes series in 2005 with the bat and will be eager to repent.
Is this tour going to be the coming out party for Phillip Hughes?
He burst onto the scene in South Africa, and until Stephen Harmison rattled him, looked to be unflappable. Mark Taylor burst onto the scene in 1989 and there is every chance that Hughes could do the same.
With the county cricket record he has, Michael Hussey was born to play an Ashes tour in England. But at 34 years of age, this is destined to be his first and last one.
He would be aware of this and shouldn’t be placing any more pressure than he already does. His recent struggles have been well documented and England will be looking to target him.
If they could remove him quickly, it will place pressure on the Australian middle order.
A wicket-keeper doesn’t normally have anything to lose. As long as he keeps well, all is cool. But every time Brad Haddin does anything he is going to be compared to Adam Gilchrist.
Gilchrist is to wicketkeepers what Warne was to spin bowlers, so any comparisons are simply ridiculous. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be happening every time he walks out to bat.
He needs to focus on being his own man.
It should be a fantastic five Tests. I can’t wait for them to start.
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