Kevin Pietersen: We're underdogs
Key batsman Kevin Pietersen says England is the underdog to win the Ashes despite the recent good form of the team.
England saw off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 since 1986/87 but Pietersen believes the side has a better chance than ever.
Pietersen seems fully aware of the task that lies before England. The side will have to work very hard to prevent a repeat of the 5-0 thrashing that was handed out to England during the last Ashes series
in Australia.
There are many advantages and disadvantages that England faces with this Ashes tour. It's important that England stays strong in a hostile environment in order to defend the urn.
Advantages for England
England has a number of players in good form. Coach Andy Flower was spoilt for choice with his selections for the Ashes squad because there are so many good English players. The likes of Ravi Bopara, who
has scored runs for county side http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 all summer, has not even made the squad.
England has beaten Bangladesh and Pakistan easily in the Test match arena in recent times. The side also competed well to draw a Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in South Africa last winter.
It seems as though England is going to be better prepared than ever before for a Test series in Australia. There are a number of players, including Pietersen, who are joining other domestic sides to get
practice in before the Ashes starts.
"We are definitely underdogs because Australia in Australia is an incredible cricket team.
They beat us 5-0 last time we were there but we are quietly confident that we can put on a really good show.
I think we have got a really good squad and it is a squad that has matured a lot," said Pietersen.
Disadvantages for England
There are many disadvantages that England is going to have to combat. There is no such thing as a bad Australian team and every member of Ricky Ponting's side will be chomping
at the bit to beat England.
England must handle the environment of playing in Australia better than England sides of the past. This means being able to deal with a loud and hostile public crowd. It
also means staying on top of the Australian media, which likes to attack important players in touring sides.
"It has become a really tight unit, all the guys get on well and when the going gets tough, as I know it does when you tour Australia,
we have a unit that will stand together and pull through. We have just had a camp in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Germany-c2904 and the team spirit and bonding was amazing on what was quite a tough trip," he added.
Betting advice
Pietersen seems to relish playing against Australia. He was the top scorer for England the last time the Ashes was played in Australia. He also seems very determined to
get his Test match average back above 50, which means he must score a couple of big hundreds.
England is definitely worth a bet to win the Ashes. The main problem will come in the bowling department because there are questions over whether England has enough to
take 20 wickets in Australian conditions.
The batting will take care of itself and there are a number of players that are capable of scoring a hundred in any game. Ian Bell looks to be the most in form player of
the current England team. He's worth a bet to get a hundred in the first Ashes Test match in Brisbane.
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