Ashes Preview

Hello and welcome back to my blog

I will be putting my weekly entries on hold until the end of the second Ashes test so I can concentrate on the series (I will be providing almost daily updates on the day's play and any important points that I notice). For today I will provide a preview of how I believe the series will go.

The Cardiff Test:

• The pitch is rumoured to be slow and spin friendly (although some have questioned whether this will be so on July 8th)
• Australia should play Hauritz (although they should have brought a different spinner in the first place - a leggie at least given English problems against them)
• England may pick Panesar as well as Swann but either would be fine in my opinion - both are finger spinners which Australian batsmen traditionally have trouble with
• England should be favourites for this test given their better spin options

The Lords Test:

• If Stuart Clark plays and can replicate McGrath then this could be another Australian Lords victory

The Edgbaston Test:

• England's favourite hunting ground - even if they are 2-0 down coming here you wouldn't bet against them

The Headingly Test:

• Ponting has scored a century each time he has batted here (1997 and 2001) so perhaps he can do it again

The Oval Test:

• Traditionally a spinners pitch but does provide some bounce as was seen during the 20/20 World Cup
• Hopefully this game will decide the series

The Players:
ENGLAND

• Struass and Cook are established openers and I don't see the Aus bowlers picking both of them up cheaply
• Bopara should struggle outside off-stump to the likes of Clark and Siddle I think
• Pietersen saves his best for Aus but poor form may hinder this England ace
• Paul Collingwood should struggle like Bopara against the accuracy of Clark and the bounce of Siddle
• If Flintoff is fit he should be a key player as the Aussies will remember from 2005 - especially with all of the top-order left-handers to bowl at
• Prior's batting will be crucial in holding the lower-order together and is a similar player to Haddin
• I like the look of Swann as a bowler, he flights the ball very well and can maintain good accuracy and on a bouncy track he may do well
• Broad hasn't shown his ability to get regular wickets yet and he will be targeted in this series but Australia should be careful of the bounce he should get
• Anderson may be brilliant or terrible - enough said
• They should have picked Steve Harmison!!!

AUSTRALIA

• The baggy green team have some new players that England haven't seen yet which, historically, has often done well for them (Bradman, Warne, Lillee and Thompson etc)
• Hughes is one, impressive early season form brought Bradman comparisons but the short ball seems to trouble him
• Katich will be looking for a better series than in 2005 - he will face less reverse-swing when opening so he should be consistent
• Ponting is the key batsman and his average of 42 in England will not be enough to carry the team this time
• Hussey needs to rebuild and keep his head if the top falls over - Damien Martyn failed at this in 2005 - and has the technique (and record) to excel in English conditions
• Clarke, like Katich will look to improve on his 2005 effort - he is a much better batsman now
• North has hit form at last but his bowling may be more crucial if Hauritz is not picked or is taken to
• Haddin will fill the same role in the lower order as Prior
• Johnson got hammered in the practice match but David Lloyd revealed today that he was bowling the ball cross-seam during the game so he is keeping his best for the Tests - just like Warne in 1993. He is a key player with bat and ball and if he can swing the ball, England will be in trouble
• Siddle and Clark should be the other bowlers with their height and accuracy they will balance the attack well

Sundry

• England have a fairly young team (ages in the mid to late 20s) while Australia have a team of mature players (late 20s to early 30s).
• Reverse swing will destroy the batting of both sides so the question is which bowlers can do it? We know Flintoff and Lee can (the latter is injured for most of the series) but who else will?

The final score line:
I think 2-1 with England winning Edgebaston and Australia winning at Lords. Headingly and the Oval will be the deciders while Cardiff may well be a draw if it is slow

I'm not favouring a team this time round but look forward to competitive cricket (test cricket badly needs it to be honest)

Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again
It's good bye for now