BRING ON THE ASHES
Cricket’s greatest and best-loved rivalry once again takes centre stage this summer.
It is the series that really needs no introduction, drawing as it does upon a history some 127 years in the making. Australia are once again back in town, flushed with success from having beaten South Africa in their own backyard and buoyed by the memory of their brutal 5-0 triumph over England during the 2006/07 series.
But England are on the upswing, and have fond memories of their own to draw upon. The glorious events of the 2005 series, the last time this contest took place upon these shores, have already gone down in history as the greatest series the game has ever known, and the level of anticipation surrounding the series has rapidly reached fever pitch, with the paying public growing anxious to once again see Andrew Flintoff, Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen defy the mighty Baggy Green.
Both sides have changed dramatically since their 2005 heyday. England’s injury problems are well documented, but Australia have had to endure a succession of outstanding cricketers stepping down from the limelight, amongst them Shane Warne, the greatest spinner to have ever played the game, Glenn McGrath, the best
seam bowler to have represented Australia since Dennis Lillee, and Adam Gilchrist, a man who redefined the role of wicketkeeper for the modern era. Throw in the loss of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, one of the most belligerent opening partnerships cricket has ever known, the mercurial batsmanship of Damien Martyn and the resourceful bowling of Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz and you can understand why many pundits have suggested that Australia will never again regain the heights they attained around the turn of the millennium. Chastening series defeats at the hands of India and South Africa have served only to add further fuel to the fire.
But the strength-in-depth of the Australian game has meant that there is no shortage of others to take up the running, and soon enough the side has reclaimed that priceless aura of potency. Mitchell Johnson has emerged to become one of the great fast bowlers in world cricket, whilst Peter Siddle has added some crucial venom to the attack. And then there is the phenomenon of Phil Hughes, the 20-year-old southpaw opener with the lightening quick hands who carves everything through the off-side. This Australia side might lack for a great spinner – following in the footsteps of Warne is no easy task – but they will not lack for pace, runs or aggression.
But it is remarkable when you compare the two teams just how well England, invigorated by their performances against the West Indies, stack up against their rivals. Both teams boast potent seam bowlers, deep batting line-ups and excellent fielding but England, in their home conditions and with their own crowds roaring them on, will back themselves to the hilt.
And thus the stage is set for a truly memorable encounter, one that will be played out across five Test matches, two T20Is and a mammoth seven ODIs. It promises to be a contest that highlights all that is great about top-level cricket: character, rivalry and sportsmanship. You would be well advised not to miss a second of it.
THE AUSTRALIA SQUAD
The cricketers charged with defending the honour of the Baggy Green.