Ashes is a test cricket series played between the England and Australia. It is the oldest bilateral cricket tournament in the international cricket history. The amount of rivalry, emotion, excitement and passion involved in this tournament, can’t be seen in any other cricket tournament. This test series is played between the two arch rivals in cricket Australia and England. The rivalry is more that 130 years old and it is still growing.
To know more about the Ashes : History of Ashes Cricket Series
 |
| England Team with Ashes 2011 |
This edition of the Ashes is starting from July 10th 2013 at Nottingham. England the current champions will defend it against the Australians in their courtyard. English team will be lead by the Alistair Cook while the mighty Australians will be lead by Michael Clarke. England is currently ranked 2nd in test cricket while the Australians are currently ranked 4th in ICC test rankings 2013.
ENGLAND
The defending champions have played very good cricket throughout the year under the captaincy of Alistair Cook. English team has played well in all forms of the cricket that adds lot of confidence in the squad. England did very well especially in test format under Cook and gelled well. They beat India in India under the captaincy of the Cook also create history with that. There is no injury concern for the English skipper.
England has a balance cricket team which has a good mix of youth and experience. They have Alistair Cook, Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Peterson and wicket keeper batsman Matt Prior which makes their batting look solid. Captain Cook is in the form of his life and return of Pieterson provides the required strength to team. Jonathan Trott, K Pieterson and A Cook are equally good players of the spin as well as of pace.
There are young guys like Eoin Morgan and Joe Root who are thriving to cement their place in the English squad. The problem for the England is going to be the opening as they are going to open with Joe Root along with Cook for the first time.
James Anderson will lead the pace attack of England along with Stuart Broad and Steven Finn. while in spin department they have best off spinner in world Graeme Swann. There are young guys like Nick Compton, Eoin Morgan and Joe Root who are thriving to cement their place in the English squad.
England-Squad:- English team is yet to be announced for the Ashes series. So, here are the probables for the series --
A Cook (Captain), M Prior (Wicket-keeper), I Bell, J Trott, K Pieterson, J Root, E Morgan, T Bresnan, S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson, S Finn, Tredwell / Panesar, C Tremlett.
Watch Out Players For England :
AUSTRALIA
The year has been mix for the mighty Australians as they have been struggling from the injury problems of key players. Michael Clarke is himself making comeback in team after recovering from the back problem which made him miss the entire Champions trophy. Their batting looks very inexperienced and the retirement of Mike Hussey has not done any good to them.There are too many openers in the Australian team.
Australian batting looks too much dependent on the skipper Clarke and opener Shane Watson. They are yet to find a good opening pair for test matches. Their batting looks completely lost as David Warner, Philip Hughes have been struggling for the runs throughout the season. Their batsmen couldn’t put up a fight against Indian team in India and they lost the series 0-4 for the first time.
The department which looks better for the mighty Aussies is their bowling. Their bowling has been good especially Starc and Siddle have been their flag bearers. In the Ashes too Siddle will be the spearhead for the aussie bowling. Return of Pattinson and Harris will provide the required strength to the Australian bowling. There spin bowling looks okay in the presence of Nathan Lyon.
If they are to win the Ashes then they have to play as a unit and also the best cricket of their life. English team is in very good form and they are also playing in their home. Everyone has counted out the Australian chance in the Ashes, that can be a blessing in disguise for the Australian team and captain Clarke.
Australia-Squad:- Michael Clarke (Capt.), B Haddin (Wicket keeper, Vice-Capt.), S Watson, D Warner, P Hughes, C Rogers, U Khwaja, S Smith, J Faulkner, M Starc, R Harris, P Siddle, N Lyon, J PAttinson, J Bird, M Wade(Wicket Keeper).
 |
SCHEDULE:
Date
|
Test
|
Venue
|
10-14th July, 2013
|
1st Test
|
Nottingham
|
18-22nd July, 2013
|
2nd Test
|
Lords
|
01-05th Aug, 2013
|
3rd Test
|
Manchester
|
09-13th Aug, 2013
|
4th Test
|
Chester-le-street
|
21-25th Aug, 2013
|
5th Test
|
Oval
|
Favorite: It is very famous quote that “Anything can happen in cricket”. So, it could be quite foolish at times to give any prediction in cricket. But, the defending champion England will start as the favorite as they are playing in their home conditions and their opponents are not in the best of forms. Their performance as a team throughout the year has been much better than the Australians.
In my view, English team is favorite to win the Ashes series 2013.
What do you think about this ? Who is going to win the Ashes 2013 ? Does Australia have that firepower to outplay the England team and win the Ashes ? Drop your response in comment box.
English team is going to win the Ashes 2013 with 5-0.
ReplyDeleteIt is very early in the series to say anything like this. But, the way English team has performed in recent past and the way Australian team is performing, It is very much on the cards. Keep visiting !
DeletePlayer move leading cricket agency provides opportunities to every domestically and internationally player to play overseas cricket.
ReplyDeleteCricket overseas