We are on the eve of the 2013-14 Ashes Series beginning, and the anticipation is enormous. Both Australia and England have had their worries ahead of this series, and there are plenty of question marks for both nations that need to be answered throughout this series.
Can Australia stop Bell?
Ian Bell is the form batsman heading into this series, having scored 562 runs at an average of 62.44 in the 2013 Ashes Series in England. He has blossomed into a very good player after recovering from his early career woes against Australia, and in particular Shane Warne.
However, Bell is about to face another bowler that has given him grief in the past, and it is not a slow one.
It is the fast, left-arm bowler that is Mitchell Johnson. Johnson has taken the wicket of Bell six times in just seven test matches they have played against each other. It will be a battle worth watching, and a key one in deciding the direction of this series.
Can Johnson hit top form with the red Kookaburra?
Mitchell Johnson is a man that could win this series for Australia if he is in top bowling form. Having had a period in his career where he was still fast, but very much erratic, he has started to become a more accurate bowler, with the help of Dennis Lillee, and Craig McDermott.
With better accuracy, combined with pace, and maybe some swing, he could be a very hard man to stop if he gets it right.
Can Watson be a threat with both bat and ball? (put in BOLD)
Shane Watson has been battling that hamstring injury he suffered on the limited overs tour of India, and although he will be fit for the first Test match, his bowling fitness must be a question mark. Watson’s batting is a question mark, having a tendency to play around his front pad, often getting out lbw.
Despite making a great 176 in the final Test match in England, he is still under pressure to retain his spot in the side. He needs a big series with both bat and ball, as well as in the field, otherwise James Faulkner will waiting at the front door, ready to take his place in the team.
Can England stop Clarke?
Michael Clarke had a below-par series by his standards in recent times, scoring 381 runs at an average of 47.62. However, his batting form in Australia throughout his career has been fantastic.
In the 47 Test Matches that Clarke has played in Australia, he has scored 4156 runs at an average of 64.93, however in the 13 Test Matches that he has played at home as captain, Clarke has scored 1724 runs at a staggering average of 95.77. However, Clarke must overcome his back problems, his woes against both James Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as his yips at batting higher than No.5. Clarke must take the mental attitude that he has at No.5, and take the same approach batting at No.4 or higher. If he can do this, Australia may well be the team to beat in this series.
Can Smith and Warner lock down their spots in the Australian team?
Steven Smith and David Warner are two players that will want and need a big series at home against England to secure their spots in the Australian team going forward.
Smith is probably the less desperate of the two, but will want to score lots of runs after scoring 345 runs at an average of 38.33 in the 2013 Ashes series in England. Warner, on the other hand should be very desperate to score runs in this series, and show to himself, as well as everyone else that he can make it as a Test batsman playing the way that he likes to play. If he can’t, Phillip Hughes will be waiting at the door, if he can make a lot of runs in the Sheffield Shield. A career-make, or break series for Warner.
Can Rogers and Haddin fight off father time?
Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin are both veterans in the game of cricket, both at the age of 36. Historically, the peak period of a cricketer is between the ages of 25 and 35.
After this time, the selectors keep a good eye on these players that are around the age of 35 and beyond, and watch the form of these players very closely. If Rogers and Haddin don’t have a good series with the bat and in the field, they could be replaced with younger, more longer term players.
Can Bailey secure a spot in the Australian team long-term?
George Bailey has proven himself in the one day international arena, scoring 1539 runs at an average of 54.96 in just 35 matches. However, his first class average of 38.13 is not going to get anyone in Australia excited about him.
He is a selection similar to Andrew Symonds in that he is there to give the team a bit of a different dynamic, and is able to take on the bowling and score runs at a quick rate. Time will tell if Bailey can secure a spot long term in the Australian team.
Can Cook, Trott, Pietersen, and Prior produce their peak performances?
Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, and Matt Prior had performed below their best, it is fair to say during the 2013 Ashes series in England, and they know it. All four must perform well in Australia if England are to retain the Ashes.
Can Carberry and Root handle the ‘heat’ in Australia?
Both Michael Carberry and Joe Root are inexperienced at this level and I have reservations as to whether they can perform well in Australia, especially if Australia get on a roll against these two batsmen. If these two both have lean series with the bat, they will be looking at the exit doors.
Which bowler will England select as their third seamer?
So will it be Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett or Boyd Rankin. Finn is still a little raw in his talent, a wicket-taker, but concedes lots of runs. Tremlett has all the key ingredients; pace, bounce and accuracy to be great fast bowler, and Rankin leaks plenty of runs, but can take plenty of wickets. On the basis of my analysis, Tremlett should win this selection battle hands down.
Who will win the battle of the bowlers?
In terms of the fast bowlers, there is little in it, maybe with Australia holding the advantage however Nathan Lyon will need to perform much better than he has in the key moments of the match, throughout his career to give Australia the best chance of winning. I am sure Graeme Swann will perform well at these key moments, so really the pressure is on Lyon to do the same.
Who will win the battle of the batsmen?
There is not much in this between the batsmen, so it will come down to the batsmen who can take the series by the scruffs of their necks. This will determine the winner of this series.
THE VERDICT
AUSTRALIA 2 (Brisbane, Perth) ENGLAND 1 (Melbourne).
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