England’s men’s cricket team is about to catch a big break. Now they are primed to do battle with Australia in a Test series which promises to provide the Tigers with an opportunity to secure their first triumph down under since the 2010-11 campaign. Under the leadership of Ben Stokes, that seems to have changed, with the team set up to go toe-to-toe with their historical foe. This series is important for England. They haven’t taken an Ashes series down under in over ten years.
The biggest boon for England as they approach this pivotal series is the strength of their batting order. Players like Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope are expected to provide the firepower needed to compete against a formidable Australian bowling attack. The biennial squad’s general makeup is troubling. Most of the players have never played a Test in Australia, which might complicate things further in the wild conditions.
Ben Stokes, for whom there is no glossing over the fact that he has a spectacular record of dominating Australia in Ashes tests, is an immensely pivotal figure. Given the precariousness of his leadership, we are doubly thankful for it, especially as he continues efforts to rebound from a serious shoulder injury suffered this spring. Stokes repeatedly shows he is made for the moment in high stakes, make-or-break games. His presence alone could be the equalizer in this series.
Australia has one of the scariest bowling attacks in the world. Key players Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon have done their best to stamp authority early. Every bowler has a specific skill set and experience that can target any and all deficiencies presented by England’s fragile batting line-up. England has a habit of starting well, regularly taking the first Test of a series. Yet, more often than not, they falter in the second game. Ending this trend will take a concerted effort over the course of the series.
Fittingly enough, England’s abbreviated lead-up time to the main event adds another layer of vexation. With just one warm-up match to spare before the series kicks off, players have little time to adapt to the Australian conditions. None of that is to downplay Mark Wood’s far greater challenge. He hasn’t played a Test match in 15 months, so it’ll be a big ask for him to hit the ground running upon his return to Test match footy.
Furthermore, Jamie Smith’s position as wicketkeeper-batter will be heavily watched. His capacity to show robustness and supply runs is going to be pivotal to England’s fortunes. Smith, Crawley, and Pope are under huge pressure to produce runs every time they bat. If England hope to take their chances against an experienced Australian team, they need to perform.
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