I’m still undecided as to who will go on to win the Ashes. An away tour for the Ashes against a fantastic, balanced and experienced English side is always going to be among cricket’s greatest tests.
However, I’m willing to be optimistic, fly in the face of articles written before mine and look for reasons why Australia, the clear outsiders, can win back the precious little urn.
The batting isn’t as bad as some may think. We’ve been exposed to collapses at times, but as long as a couple of guys manage to dig in and get big runs, as we did against the Proteas, we’ll be able to match the output of the English top-order.
Michael Clarke has carried us before and he can do it again. Who is to say that Clarke won’t have another huge series? And if he does, look out England. He’s easily the best number five in the world and has led Australia with great distinction thus far in his captaincy tenure.
Phillip Hughes is carrying a lot of confidence and is a proven run-scorer. If Hughes can continue his recent form for Australia, England will look very silly. They consider him an easy wicket and might get a serious shock when balls they’re used to seeing fly to second slip, start dissecting gully and point as they fly to the boundary.
Hughes also played most of the county championship last season, where he experienced a great deal of success and gained an inside running on conditions.
David Warner has been cited as a wicket waiting to happen when the masters of swing in the English pace attack bowl to him. I would argue quite the opposite.
Warner has played two Tests at Australia’s greenest, and most testing venue for batsman, Bellerive Oval. In those two Tests he scored a hundred and two 50s. On all of those occasions he has tempered his attacking game in an effective effort to dig in, survive the tough spells and grind out runs.
If Australia faces tricky conditions in England, expect Warner to adapt, work hard and find a way to score runs that may be a step away from his natural game.
Shane Watson may find himself back at the top of the Australian order. Watson has experienced a great deal of success opening the batting and has done so in England before.
Watson at the top of the order looks far better to me than Ed Cowan and may be just the right move to balance the team and add solidarity at the top of the order.
Usman Khawaja is a man in waiting. He has been biding his time and has demonstrated good form in both the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League. He’s the next man in line and deserves his place now. Four Tests in India may be an excellent way for Khawaja to slot into the side.
If Khawaja gets the chance, his technique and knack for scoring in testing conditions will place him in fantastic stead to succeed.
Our bowling can be world-class. If the selectors get it right, we can easily assemble a bowling attack among the best in the world. Australia finds itself in the fortunate position where we have depth in quality fast-bowlers. There’s no reason we cannot out bowl the English.
Peter Siddle and James Pattinson are unquestionably among the top fast bowlers in the world. They will likely lead the Australian attack and both have been in fantastic form of late.
Pattinson dominated the start of the Sheffield Shield, was solid against South Africa and then broke down. He now has the opportunity to get some first-class cricket under his belt and then will likely play in India.
Siddle likewise has been in formidable form, and has shown himself to be a reliable work-horse for any circumstance. When Australia needs a wicket, it’s Siddle they turn to.
Jackson Bird has been dominating the toughest domestic cricket competition in the world for two years, he’s clearly got the ability to make it in the Test arena and his bowling style will suit English conditions nicely.
Mitchell Starc is among the most improved cricketers in the world and has a deadly inswinging Yorker at his disposal. I don’t expect him to start many Tests, but when called on, he’ll do the job admirably.
Mitchell Johnson looks reborn. On his day, he is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous quicks in the world. If we’re lucky enough to see that version of Johnson, England will be well and truly worried.
Let’s not forget to mention Ben Hilfenhaus and Ryan Harris. Hilfenhaus performed fantastically last time he toured England and was the leading wicket taker that series.
Ryan Harris, who will be busting a gut to make the Ashes, is a very dangerous prospect when on song, which has been pretty much every time he’s worn the baggy green.
Nathan Lyon is under-rated. Had Matthew Wade’s keeping done him justice, Lyon would have collected a bag full of scalps this summer. He’d be talked of among the top spinners in the world. We would all be confident he will match it with Graeme Swann or Monty Panesar.
Lyon is always creating chances, is a tight and very economical. He will tie down the English batsmen and then as the pressure builds, they will play false strokes. We’ve just got to hope Wade and his fellow close-in fielders will be ready this time around and snaffle any opportunities that come their way.
Finally, Australia matched it with South Africa, the world’s number one side, for the best part of a three Test series. It could be argued that Australia outplayed the Proteas throughout the entire first two Tests. If it weren’t for the shambolic selections of the WACA Test, we may well have gone on to win the series.
Australia did this with a team that carried an out-of-sorts Ricky Ponting and Rob Quinney, the scorer of the most polished nine in Test history.
If we can match it with them, what’s to say we can’t do the same, or go even one better, against England?
If the Australians are fit and firing, we can well and truly do a job on the English. I wouldn’t be surprised if Australia is taken lightly and they’ll be determined to make the most of any opportunity that presents itself.
Over to you Roarers, am I being too optimistic or have we got as good a chance as I think we do?
EowyMEnglandCookie
Guest
World Class Poms Cook Trott Bell KP Bairstow Prior Swann Jimmy Finn You Ozzies are trying to intimidate us Pommies World Class aussies Clarke ..... maybe Siddle and Starc Broads hatttrick vs India at Trent Bridge yeah sure hes average Were u guys on drugs in the 2010 11 ashes? Jimmy is the 2nd best swinger in the world to Steyn England summer 4 0 winter 5 0 you heard it hear first Finny92. Listen to him PS Im 12
nachos supreme
Guest
Anyone in the order actually know how to play the moving ball? Once a couple of them work that out we might have a better chance to "match the output of the English top-order." I'm sick of seeing our top order batsmen play the ball with their hands so far away from their body or even worse, being knocked over through the gate.
James
Guest
well written but most of it is premised on every australian playing their best, yes hughes can score runs as can warner etc but not consistently, only really on their day. and i dont know about being able to match the english batsman, yes clarke is wordclass but i think he would be the only australian in a combined batting line up at the moment. im hoping its a better series than the last one here will be interesting to see if any australians are carrying scars like the english did after years of being second best.
Dadiggle
Guest
Warne88: Australia got the best batsman and captain in the world currently @Warne88: Graeme Smith is currently the best captain in the world and if you can not see that you are a muppet. Blocked
Finny92
Roar Rookie
He's not the first player to have played a year of county cricket and come on a lot.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
I think it'll be a hammering over here.
pope paul v11
Guest
Hope it's a great fight
deccas
Guest
Jaysus they are in their bloody prime. I think pattinson might actually be a superstar. I'd be surprised if we beat them but it doesn't strike me as beyond the bounds of reason. If our quicks fire and stay fit we can beat anyone. That does seem to be asking a.lot though.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
Did you see Kp's knock vs SA? Genuinely one of the best I've seen. I've watched a fair bit of the Aus vs SL series, and you can't really get much from that other than it was expected you'd muller them. We seem to have gotten over collapses that have blighted us for years, however your bowling is easily your strong point. Agree with you on the batting point, you've been skittled a few times in the not to recent past, (NZ and SA) Haha Don't do what we did in the 90's and select all rounders who weren't good enough for the fun of it, to try and get the next Botham.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
Ryan Harris has played 12 test matches and can't stay fit. There's better bowlers, as barely plays. Cummins has played 1 test match and can't bowl for long before breaking down, his first class average is pretty mediocre tbh, and again he's only played 4 games @ 33.67. So you can't say he's one of the most exciting prospects when A). he can't stay fit and B). his first class average suggests otherwise. Siddle has been bowling against mediocre sides, you've played SA twice in that time and he's averaged 51 and 38 respectively. I wouldn't go as far as "unbound potential" he might be very good however. Mitchell johnson is a joke really. The same Ben Hilfenhaus that was taken apart by England? Cutting & Bird are un-tested at the top level. The same bowlers that made your batsmen look mediocre in the most recent ashes :)
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Ryan Harris, when fully fit, is second only to Dale Steyn. James Pattinson, when fully fit, is one of the most exciting young fast bowler on the planet - the only other 2 in the same class are Pat Cummins and Marchant de Lange of South Africa. Peter Siddle is the most improved Test bowler over the last 18-24 months. Mitchell Starc has unbound potential. Jackson Bird, Ben Cutting, Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus. We have the best pool of fast bowlers. You can keep mickey mouse bowlers like Finn, Broad and Bresnan
Frankie Hughes
Guest
He got dropped, then when he was recalled for an ODI he badly dislocated his shoulder. He's playing for Brisbane and he's still better than Lyon....
Finny92
Roar Rookie
"Getting smashed around at 4 RPO in a Test. Dire." goes at 3.62 an over. If you seriously think he's rubbish, you're a clown. He'd get into your side. That series was 3 players getting done for bowling deliberate no-balls, nothing to do with getting out. Broad has been injured since last summer, and has played through it, but they've recently left him out in order to sort him out, hence why he hasn't played in india much. Bresnan is also injured and keeps having an old elbow injury haunt him. Half your current test side aren't fit for the baggy green. You're telling me that Bell is a worse bat than the 2 shot Cowan?..
pope paul v11
Guest
Nope should get flogged but KP has entered the danger zone. Our bowlers are not bad and capable of a causing a collapse or two. Our batting is the biggest problem against outstanding Ando and excellent support. Not to mention have you heard we have a great allrounder? We just don't know who he is.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
It's a Test series not ODIs. Finn is rubbish. Getting smashed around at 4 RPO in a Test. Dire. James Anderson's stats are boosted by the Pakistan match fixing series. He's a mentally weak bowler. Broad bowling 78-81 mph ain't getting any wickets. Same for Bresnan Bell isn't fit to wear the Baggy Green...
Finny92
Roar Rookie
What's happened to Hauritz? He wasn't bad last time I watched him.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
So a 6ft 8, 90mph bowler is a pie chucker??... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67bvaVTI2SY Not bad for a pie chucker.. You've not got a clue lad have you?.. Anderson has been excellent since 2010, Remind me how awful anderson was in the last ashes?? Dale steyn is one of the best bowlers to have played the game, no shame being worse than him. Broad averages 28.74 in Eng Bresnan averages 19.74 in the ashes Onions isn't near the test team, he's still a decent bowler though. Bell would get into your side.
Finny92
Roar Rookie
Ages of the England team for the 1st ashes test Cook: 28 Compton: 30 Trott: 32 KP: 33 Bell: 31 Root: 22 Prior: 31 Broad: 27 Swann:34 Finn: 24 Anderson: 30
Frankie Hughes
Guest
You talking rubbish again? Steven Finn is a pie chucker. Was ordinary bowler. James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and Pat Cummins are lightyears better than Finn. You Poms go on about James Anderson as if he's a world beater, he's not. He lives his life in the shadow of the great Dale Steyn. Broad, Bresnan, Onions are all pretty averages. Ian Bell is still a waste of space. Only gets runs when everyone else does.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
It has to be O'Keefe. Doherty is rubbish, No tests selection should ever be made on how someone bowls in a T20. Ever. It should be based on first-class performances. And Steve O'Keefe has actually performed at first-class level. Unlike Doherty who's bowling figures read like Tendulkar's batting record.