England is about to go head to head with Australia, in Australia, for the Ashes. The series will be contested at five different venues across the Land of Oz between 23 November 2017 and 8 January 2018.
For the uninitiated, the Ashes is a series of five grueling cricket test matches between the two nations, taking place at least once in every four years. Whether you’re a hardcore cricket fan or looking to add another sport to your wagering repertoire, this is where to get started.
England is on crutches. Frontline fast bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been plagued by injuries over the season and their participation may be in question as the big date approaches.
However, top-order batsman Ian Bell, with 118 tests under his belt for England, is set for a return to the test squad for the Ashes. Former skipper Alastair Cook is currently the highest run-getter in tests with 30 hundreds and 53 fifties on his resume and has been putting up impressive statistics in List-A and First Class matches. Then there is current test captain Joe Root, who performed well at the Champions Trophy and through England’s test series in India. Also look for paceman Chris Woakes and England’s spin attack weapon Adil Rashid to step up as uncertainty over the play of Anderson and Broad remain in question. If Anderson and Broad are healthy through the Ashes, England has a great chance at coming out on top, but if either is not – what are the odds? Not so good.
At press, there is a bitter pay dispute between the Australian players and Cricket Australia. With the Ashes just weeks away, neither is budging, which is a major distraction going into the series. While it will be resolved, tension is likely to carry over and may impact performance on the field if the players don’t get the pay and concessions they are looking for. Pay up Cricket Australia, the clock is ticking.
Backroom antics aside, Australia is in good shape. David Warner (leading run-scorer in tests) and Steven Smith (skipper) are primed, as are bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Starc and Halewood have a respective 148 and 118 test scalps to their name, and are expected to be lethal on the fast and bouncy pitches found on the Australia tour. In addition, offspinner Nathan Lyon is coming off of a very impressive (individually) India tour so look to the spin department to rely heavily on him.
Australia has won 6 of their last 10 test series. More importantly, they have won 6 of their last 7 test series, at home. Since 2012, only South Africa has been able to beat them at home, so if they can keep focused (and not distracted by the backroom B.S. addressed above) little can be done to stop Australia.
Australia will leave England in the ashes and claim the 2017-18 Ashes.
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