The Ashes has always been the most popular and influencing battle in cricket. It has been 133 years that both England and Australia have been fighting for the little urn. Someone might argue that the cricket rivalry between http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 is stronger
than the one between the British and the Aussies but the traditional value of the Ashes makes it more special for sure.
In the modern times, Australia has had a clear advantage in the competition before England turned the tables in the fascinating Ashes series of 2005-06 when the English bowlers used reverse-swing to great advantage. England regained the Ashes after almost
18 years but their supremacy did not last long as Australia took its revenge in great style at home with a thumping victory of 5-0. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Gilchrist-c918 and Justin Langer retired from test cricket after that series. They all were influential
in the Australian victories for the last one and a half decade. The retirement of Warne and McGrath weakened the Aussie bowling attack to such an extent that after their retirement Australia have found it difficult to get 20 wickets in a test match.
In 2008-09, England regained the Ashes at home once again with a 2-1 victory. In recent times, it’s been England who has been facing more problems with their squads before the Ashes but this time it is quite different. English team looks settled and all
of their players look to be in good shape. Plus, they have beaten Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 recently.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 have lost the last 3 test matches that they have played, 2 against India in India and 1 against Pakistan at Headingley, Leeds. These defeats have rung alarm bells in Australian media which has been quite harsh on the Australian
team since last couple of months.
There have been reports of infighting within the team as some of the newspapers have reported that the senior players are not happy with Vice-captain Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clark-c51118. However, the Australian captain Ricky Ponting has denied all of these rumours.
The biggest concern for Australian team remains their weak bowling attack which is also missing a match-winning spinner. The fate of Australian team in the Ashes remain in the hands of Mitchell Johnson as Ricky Ponting would be praying that his left-arm
fast bowler comes back in form and can produce early inroads in the English batting line-up.
England seems to have a strong batting which is filled with world-class players like Straus, Pietersen and Collingwood. Ian Bell has also shown tremendous form in the tour games.
But like Australia, English team’s bowling is also vulnerable. Anderson has been a class act in the wet English conditions but he would need to deliver on the Australian conditions as well which are more conducive for batting and the ball would not swing
as much as it does in England. The major advantage that the English have over the Aussies is in shape of their influential off-spinner, Graeme Swann. He has been leading the English bowling since for the past 1 year. A lot would rely on him if England is to
beat Australia in Australia since 1986-87.
No matter what the result of this series is going to be it will definitely be fascinating to watch the two teams fighting for the Ashes.
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