Ashes rivalry: Preview of the 1st Test
The Ashes rivals, Australia and England, are all set to begin the latest installment of the much celebrated 133-year rivalry. In the last couple of Ashes series, England has been struggling with injuries and form issues but this time it is Ponting’s side
being embroiled by all such major issues. Strauss and his army, on the other hand, are hopeful to turn their perfect Ashes Preparations into an Ashes win.
The hosts would enter the Gabba ground with a three-Test losing streak in their account - a string of defeats that has not occurred since 1988, the same year when Australia faced a defeat at Gabba for the last time. So after defeating Australia at Lord’s
last year after a gap of 75 years, England would be eager to break the 24-year victory drought in Brisbane. Their last win at The Gabba had come in 1986, the year when England, under Mike Gatting’s captaincy won their last Ashes series in Australia. So if
the tourists can replicate that part of history, they can put a lot of pressure on Ponting’s side over the rest of the series.
England’s tour has so far been remarkable. They started the tour with a six-wicket win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844. The final tour game of England against the Australia A was sealed by the visitors
by 10 wickets despite missing their four main attack bowlers including James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann.
The Gabba track, soft from a spring of heavy showers and a light shade of green, is expected to be a bowler friendly pitch. The forecast of overcast conditions throughout the game will add to the dangers offered by the wicket. The bowlers are expected to
control the Ashes opener.
As the track would favour the bowlers, the outcome would also depend heavily on the bowling armoury both sides have. The destiny of Aussies would mostly rely on Mitchell Johnson’s left hand while England will have hopes attached with Sturat Broad, son of
Chris Broad who bagged the urn for England in 1986-87.
The Gabba is a wonderful ally of Kangaroos and Australia have not lost a game at the venue since they were packed down by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 during their 1988-89 tour of Australia. This makes the Australian captain more positive about the Ashes opener.
"History suggests that every touring team coming to Australia generally finds here and Perth, the places harder to adjust and adapt to," said Ponting.
A defeat in Brisbane would not necessarily be lethal for Strauss’s team. But for hosts a defeat at a venue that has welcomed them with open arms over the last 22 years could be terminal, whereas a victory could invigorate them.
Even though the seaming surfaces have troubled the Aussies a lot in the recent past, Ponting expects England would find it more difficult to handle with the extra bounce offered by the track. "England have been here a while and in Hobart last week it seamed
around a little bit. But history suggests we handle these conditions very, very well and opposition teams struggled a bit."
Out of total 321 Tests played against Australia, England has prevailed in 99 and lost 132. Off these 99 victories, 55 came in Australia as compared to 85 defeats on Australian soil.
Given the build-up of both the sides and the changes the home side has undergone lately, this is best chance for England to script an Ashes win on the Australian side after a drought of 24 years. If Strauss’s military does not take it over the coming seven
weeks they would have to wait for decades to get their historical cricketing rivals at such a vulnerable stage.
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