Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust

The waiting’s over, the First Test starts today, will Alastair Cook’s England be able to wrestle the urn back..?

Article by Rupert Watkins

The amount of ink expended in the run up to an Ashes series is always enormous. Has Trevor Bayliss settled in? Do Australia have more firepower in the bowling department? Ian Bell to bat at 3?Are the Baggy Greens too old… ? And so forth…

If England play to their undoubted ability and potential, this will be a close series. In Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, they have three wonderful young players. Jimmy Anderson should have one last great series left in him and his mastery of English conditions remains a potent threat to the Australian batting line up.

England’s vibrant and testosterone-fuelled One Day series against New Zealand gave English fans a much needed fillip. Playing without fear and backing their innate ability, much now will depend on how that verve and élan can be bought into the Test side. Alastair Cook’s batting has recovered over the past four tests and so he will feel more able to lead by example though there is no doubt he will have to pull a couple of tactical blinders to outsmart his Baggy Green opposite number, Michael Clarke.

The Australians arrive off the back of World Cup victory and a demolition of the West Indies. In Steve Smith they have the current number one rated batsman in the world – though it may be interesting on seaming wickets to see how his somewhat idiosyncratic technique works out. In Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, they have two outstanding left arm fast bowlers and despite the sudden and unfortunate retirement of Ryan Harris perhaps have the more complete attack.

This series may be too soon for a new look England, under a new coach, to climb the peaks of cricketing glory. However, despite many Baggy Green protestations of a walkover, this series is likely to be a cracker. riddle_stop 2

 

Further Details: First Test Cardiff. Starts 11am. Ball by ball coverage on Sky Sports. Radio: BBC Test Match Special. Television highlights on Channel 5