Opinion
The upcoming Ashes series promises to be tantalising and exciting. Bazball versus the more traditional, attritional approach that the Australians employ as two teams seek the still ultimate prize, the little urn.
The series winner will come down to the team that has the least question marks about it. For this reason this author contends that Australia will prevail in a challenging but ultimately comfortable victory.
For Australia there are a few questions that need answers. Can David Warner justify his place in the team for the entire series? If not then Australia will be forced to shuffle the batting order in some fashion or bring in the reserves in the form of either Marcus Harris or Matthew Renshaw.
In any case this would give rise to instability at the top of the order.
Another key question is the composition of the pace attack. Can Starc hold his nerve and place if the Bazball frenzy takes place ? As shown in the World Test Championship and other matches Starc can be expensive but he is a big time bowler taking crucial wickets at key moments.
A related question is whether to play Josh Hazelwood or Scott Boland as the third seamer. That question is perhaps not as hard to answer as it seems. Echoing Allan Border, Scott Boland appears to be born to play in England with his impeccable lines and length and subtle movement.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Finally a key question is can Australia counter the expected aggressive onslaught by England? Pat Cummins has a tendency to go onto the defensive when the team is challenged, for example. The team psychology will be crucial here.
For England the questions are more in number and significance. Can the openers handle a world class attack on pitches potentially with some “juice” in them? Zac Crawley has been in patchy to poor form while Ben Duckett is something of an unknown quantity in the cauldron of high stakes Ashes cricket.
Will England hold its nerve? Should England have a poor start will they continue to play Bazball? The answer appears to be yes. Both Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are single minded in their attack at all and any cost mentality. However, there appears to be very few other gears in their game plan which could spell trouble.
Will the pace attack have a sharp enough edge to it? In the absence of Joffra Archer arguably England lack an enforcer type. A related issue is whether Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad can do the rounds successfully once again.
Ben Stokes’s desire to have eight fast bowlers fit and ready to go has already not come to pass. A question also relates to the captain himself. Of late his batting has fallen away save for a few cameos while his bowling is potentially hampered by a chronic knee complaint.
Then there is the question of Mooen Ali. Ali has not played red ball cricket for nigh on two years and leading the spin attack will be hugely challenging. There is precious little back up in this department and Ali’s record against Australia is poor. Coming in at number eight in the batting order, however, Mooen Ali does provide considerable heft to an already deep batting line up.
Further, there is the question mark about Jon Bairstow. He is coming back from a lengthy layoff and not likely to be be “Ashes match fit”. Also the weight of expectations is high as England have jettisoned their specialist wicket keeper in Ben Foakes.
Then there is issue of Harry Brook. He appears to be a prodigy in talent but can that translate into first time Ashes runs? There is no doubt about the great start to his career but arguably Ashes series are a whole different ball game with its high intensity, relentless pressure and severe questioning.
Finally is the imponderable one about any scarring? While England have done well at home in previous Ashes series their record against Australia down under has been nothing short of diabolical.
The likes of Ollie Pope and Mooen Ali have struggled against Australia. However, the mindset of McCullum and Stokes would be to let the past remain where it belongs. Sometimes that may be easier said than done.
Overall, this author contends that Australia is more settled, balanced and has an overall edge in class. For these reasons I expect it to be a three-nil victory to the visitors. However, a surprise win for England would not altogether shock.
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