England and Australia seek edge ahead of Ashes
England enter the ODI series against Australia this summer in the unfamiliar position of holding all the bragging rights, after winning both the Ashes last year and the recent World Twenty20 final against the Aussies.
And you can bet Andrew Strauss’ men will be eager to ram home the advantage in the upcoming five matches against their old rivals ahead of their Ashes defence Down Under this winter.
All of which makes it all the more important for Australia that they exact some revenge and win this series. The question is: can they do it?
While England team director Andy Flower is comfortable enough with his bowling attack that he’s sent dangerous young paceman Steven Finn to undergo strengthening work while this series takes place – after doing the same with Stuart Broad for the recent Tests against Bangladesh – Australia’s relatively inexperienced fast-bowling attack doesn’t look quite as potent as it might for this series.
Mitchell Johnson’s absence due to an elbow infection (theories on the reason for the problem include his recent tattoo to the area and boxing drills) hasn’t helped the Australian cause as they turn to Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris and Clint McKay to shoulder the load. And if for some reason one of that trio is either injured or dropped, 19-year-old New South Wales quick Josh Hazlewood is waiting in the wings.
By contrast, England is spoiled for choice with pace options, with Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, Tim Bresnan, James Anderson and Ajmal Shahzad to choose from. And while Graeme Swann is arguably the most dangerous spinner in the world right now, the World Twenty20 also proved he’s not the only slow bowler capable of taking wickets for England, with Michael Yardy proving his worth in the Caribbean.
Australia have what could be an interesting dual developing between their current first-choice spinner Nathan Hauritz and young leg-spinner Steven Smith, but neither are currently in the same class as Swann.
What the visitors do have is a batting line-up that should be able to cause the England bowlers a few headaches (then again, they should have been able to do that in the Caribbean as well), with Shane Watson capable of collecting early runs, Ricky Ponting holding down the all-important No. 3 slot and Michael Hussey to guide his side through the closing stages.
None of those three, it might be observed, set the world on fire in Australia’s tour match against Ireland last Thursday. And while it may be dangerous to read too much into that match, which at one stage they looked in very real danger of losing, Ponting’s side will be looking to show some improvement when the step out on the field at The Rose Bowl.
For England, the selectors have been bold with their decisions, dumping Matt Prior as wicketkeeper in place of the explosive batting (and none-too-shabby glove work) offered by the young Craig Kieswetter. The hosts will be hoping for some fast runs from the latest South African-born player to join their ranks, while Strauss will provide the stability in the opening partnership.
Their first outing as England’s opening partnership in the weekend’s ODI against Scotland (where Strauss made 61 from 43 balls and Kieswetter 69 from 65 balls) certainly ticked all the boxes and was the cornerstone of the England innings in what was the most straightforward of victories for England.
Australia, who came within one match of completing an ODI series whitewash over England after last year’s Ashes series, now find themselves in need of gaining a psychological edge over an opponent that not so long ago they routinely imposed their will upon.
A vastly improved England may just have something to say about that when the first match of the series gets underway tomorrow.
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