Australia and England will fight for the Ashes from August 1 at Edgbaston. Australia have not won a series in England for the past eighteen years. World champions England, who just had a minor scare against Ireland in the one off test match at Lords last week, will want to set certain things right ahead of the first test.
Top order woes
England will have their job cut out with the retirement of opener Alistair Cook. The legendary opener with more than ten thousand test runs was a rock for England at the top of the order. England have yet to find two solid openers to take the pressure of the middle order. Jason Roy, with a brilliant ODI career till now, found the going tough in his first test against Ireland under challenging conditions. His partner Rory Burns and number three batsman Joe Denly are yet to establish themselves at this level. This leaves Captain Joe Root along with Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes and Jos Butler with a task at hand if there is a top order collapse.
A strong fast bowling unit
England have filled their squad with six fast bowlers in, Anderson, Broad, Sam Curran, Woakes, Stone and Jofra Archer along with allrounder Ben Stokes. This will be their strength if they have to regain their ashes this summer.
Australia have their task cut out
Australia, which won the ashes 4-0 at home last time around, will be under tremendous pressure going into the series. After losing a one sided semi-final at the World Cup last month, albeit a different format to England, the home side is still more balanced. Australia in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner lost the series at home for the first time against India.
Tim Paine’s captaincy under scrutiny
Wicket Keeper Tim Paine who took over the captaincy due to ban on Smith and Warner needs to lead from the front. His batting has not lived up to the expectations and he would need it to come to the party to help Australia retain at the Ashes. With the best of teams failing to beat England in the last eighteen years on their home soil this inexperienced Australian team would need to play out of their skins to defeat England.
All eyes on Warner and Smith
After a one year ban, the two most experienced players in the side Warner and Smith would want to make a massive impact with the bat in the series. Warner, who who gave a good account of himself in the World Cup, will need the support of Smith and Khawaja as the lower middle order is extremely brittle. Both Warner and Smith would know that they would be facing hostile crowds right through the series.
Bowling will be the key
Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc along with comeback men James Pattinson and Peter Siddle would be the key to Ashes success. Off spinner, Nathan Lyon who is the lone spinner will have to shoulder responsibility from one end and make a big impact going forward in the series.
England will start favorites
On the whole England, playing at home would carry the momentum going forward after winning the World Cup two weeks back. With most players in their team having just lifted the World Cup, the team would be desperate to get the urn back.
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