The Ashes 2017 Preview

With the 2017 Ashes series almost upon us, there is no better time to preview the upcoming series here on the Arun Lakhani Sports Blog!

Now England’s preparation had not started well with one of their star players and Vice-captain Ben Stokes arrested on suspected assault charges. Whilst the team are out in Australia preparing for the series, he is still in the UK under police investigation and his chances of participation in the ashes look very slim. Alongside that England have had injuries to deal with; Toby-Roland Jones and Steven Finn ruled out of the series.

Who will Bat at 3?

Going into the series, the holders England also have some burning questions to answer; Firstly who will bat No.3 at the Gabba. James Vince, Gary Ballance are in the running but both have mediocre test records. Dawid Malan is set to start at five in the first test but with five tests to his name at an average of 23, he will have a lot to do to cement his place in the side. The opening batsman position has also been an issue for England ever since Andrew Strauss’s retirement.

Alastair Cook is on his 12th partner now and the current incumbent of the shirt is Surrey’s Mark Stoneman; on the back of a prolific English summer Stoneman was named in the squad for the test series against the West Indies and in three matches scored 120 runs with a top score of 52. He deservedly will start the first test match but will have a lot to prove in an Ashes series that can be unforgiving.

Home Side – Favourites

Australia go into the series as favourites deservedly on home soil having won the last home series 5-0. Their bowling attack is strong and very balanced with the out and out pace of Cummins and Starc, which suit the Australian conditions down to the ground; if those two can stay fit then they will be a massive handful for the English batsman. They also have the height and accuracy of Josh Hazlewood who reminds me of a young McGrath! Australia named their squad for the first two tests this past week and there were a few surprises and an indication that the Aussies had a few issues of their own.

In form youngster Cameron Bancroft, fresh off the back of a double ton in the Sheffield shield has been called up to make his debut opening up the batting with David Warner; making a debut in an ashes series is never easy! Sean Marsh who has spent a lot of time in and out of the Australian side is called up for what is his eighth recall! His overall test record and his average for this season 39.33 is largely unspectacular but he has the potential to be a big player for Australia at six if he finds some form.

However, the biggest selection surprise was that off Wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Recalled after only four test appearances which came 7 years ago! What makes the call up a bigger surprise is Paine is not even Tasmania’s first choice keeper this season and has only ever hit one first class hundred! Paine was chosen in a Cricket Australia XI to play England in one of the warm up games. Paine took 5 catches and scored a half century which looks to have impressed the selectors; there will be a lot of pressure on the inexperienced test keeper on his ashes debut and he will have a lot to prove to the doubters who have questioned his selection.

“If England avoid defeat in the Gabba…They will go onto lifting the Urn”

Now as I said before, Australia are favorites being the home side and with England not having a settled side, missing their star player and having some injuries in their bowling line up you can hardly argue against that! However, Australia also do not have a settled side and with a bowling attack that will probably chop and change due to injuries/fitness off Cummins and Starc.

I believe this series will be much closer than anticipated; Australia are not at the level of when they won the last home series 5-0 but England are not at the levels of when they won in Australia 3-1; These are two bang average test sides (In relation to Australia and England sides of recent times) going hammer and tong in the heat of an Ashes battle. England are 3rd and Australia 6th in the ICC Test Rankings but both a long way from being the finished article and ranked in the coveted No 1 place!

“Weakest Aussie Team For Some Time”

If Opener and debutant Cameron Bancroft can get some runs at the top of the order and take the pressure of David Warner; Warner is at his best when he plays his natural game! I think Australia will benefit from this because I worry about the likes of Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine having to bat under pressure. These Batsmen will need to perform, as Australia cannot rely on Warner or Captain Steve Smith to keep scoring the big runs. If Australia’s bowling attack can stay fit and largely unchanged throughout the series then they will be very hard to beat. That in itself is a tall order as it is rare to see both Cummins and Starc play a whole series without being affected by injuries. England can win the series but they will need to work hard and get the basics right. The England players will need to block out the Australian Media who can be relentless in an Ashes series, they need to block out the sledging and the ferocious Aussie crowds and concentrate on playing cricket.

England will need to bat big in their first innings and put the pressure on the Aussies; in the 2010-11 series, which England won 3-1 down under, they made first innings scores of 620, 513 and 644. If England’s bowlers can bowl well in partnerships and build pressure they will reap the rewards; England’s bowling attack does not possess raw pace, but in Anderson they have the No 1 Test Bowler, Broad has bags of experience and loves the big stage. Woakes is a bit of an all-rounder who can bowl accurately and Jake Ball is relatively unknown at test level with 2 wickets in 3 matches. First Choice Spinner Moeen Ali has proven why he is first choice with 128 wickets in 44 tests; he is also no mug with the bat with 5 hundreds and 12 50s! If this bowling attack can get at the unsettled Aussie Top Order then they may just win the Ashes!

Personally, I think if England Avoid defeat in the first test at the Gabba and go into the day/night test at Adelaide in conditions that will favour the Englishmen then they will go onto lifting the Urn, England to win the series 2-1.