3 minute read

Cricket’s holiest of grails awaits as Australia and England battle once again for the most treasured prize in all of the sport - ok cricket.

Racing and Sports will cover the five tests which are hoped to be played in varying cities across the wide brown land although these days, flux is the default position in sports timetabling. We'll also put in a few gambles which might add to the viewing pleasure.

AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

First Test

8-12 December @ the Gabba

Anyone for cricket – boy we could do with the diversion of some leather on willow.

Such an anticipated Ashes Series, following the pulsating last edition, has almost limped to the line with some terribly sad and concerning matters away from the village green and rain on it.

From the racism issue in England to the resignation, then effective retirement of the Australian Captain, positivity has not abounded of late. Tack on Covid confusions and we need play – fast!!!

One imagines had the Barmy Army been able to arrive in the fullest of force, there would be some outrageous, obscure and haughty ripostes for a few over-imbibing Aussies under the blazing sun.

So now to those who will actually fling it and hit it. And to those who make the decisions about that.

Douglas MacArthur once offered – "A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent."

Well if you plugged Pat Cummins somewhere into the framework of that quotation, you get what you'd think to be the right man for the job.

It has been well over 60 years since Australia had a recognised bowler toss the coin. That was Ray Lindwall in 1957 and now Cummins has that call.

There cannot be a question on his talismanic qualities. His past leaders have themselves called upon him at times of greatest need.

But now he has to know when is the best time to bowl, leave alone try setting the field. To know when to hold them and when to fold them is critical.

He will need a dominant and respected Vice-Captain to be able to tell him "It's time for a break Skipper." You'd think Steve Smith would have that authority and the fortitude to offer it willingly and readily.

There is no soft landing here. No cheap few games, easing into the chair and putting the feet up on the mahogany desk to get used to the flow of captaincy.

Cummins is straight in. Only playing the Ashes in England would have been a greater first up test of his resilience and capacity to handle the ebbs and flows under the brightest of cricketing lights.

While he takes a group of experienced competitors onto the Queensland turf, many of them have themselves been subjected to a questioning of their selection – nay their long term viability.

The openers have either scant current first class form or just debateable credentials in the first place.

David Warner has only T20 runs on the board and even then leading into that successful World Cup, it was no fait accompli he'd end it atop the order. Marcus Harris averages 23 in 10 tests without a hundred. He is vulnerable early (as many are) but has lacked conviction at the crease.

Then the Number 5 is another much scrutinised position. Matthew Wade, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh have all been holding court in the middle order for a while but they too have not grasped the mantle. Techniques have been examined and techniques have been doubted.

Head gets first call but it won't be long term if two failures prevail. Khawaja probably should have played at Five - if not then facing first cherry.

Stability midway through the innings will be so important as Cameron Green is certain to play and he must be maintained. There is a domineering potential recommending that he will grow into the role.

Like a 'green' colt in his first racing campaign, he has rough edges but there is something there to work with. He will need to roll the arm over at times too – the odd wicket would be nice.

The bowlers have been institutions for a while but with that comes a sameness. Variety is needed but so too control. Josh Hazlewood and of course Cummins are morals but … the others not so.

Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon have been stalwarts. 161 Tests and 654 wickets fill their boots. But a brave selectorial decision would have been to go in other directions.

Jhye Richardson has only played the two games against Sri Lanka two years back. He did very little wrong there. However it's his domestic productivity that deserves reward. 23 wickets @ 13 and at good pace makes for good reading.

Injury curtailed any ascent to regular big game play. If he's considered right he really should have taken the lefty's spot. That said, it won't go that way bar for late manoeuvrings.

Perhaps the more contentious though is Lyon. So long the heartbeat of the team, the singer of the song and the planter of the seeds of doubt for oppositions. Those offerings in the public arena are almost more for the audience of his own mates than the rivals.

Not that Australia has played anything near enough international cricket through the Covid period but even just since the start of the last Ashes Series, only once has he taken 10 wickets in a match and on many occasions not been able to drive that final nail in a defensive coffin.

We have a leggie in Mitchell Swepson (thus enhancing the Mitchell quota) who is ready. He was good last season, has been in the national system for a while and needs blooding. It might be time soon.

The keeping job eventually goes to Alex Carey after a drawn out discussion. Do GWS get a compensatory pick now – end of second rounder?

Even though Australia has been poor through the tumult of fixturing (4 Tests in total since the virus overtook the world in early 2020), England have played the small measure of 21. One is ring rusty, one is just plain tired.

It is with that in mind that they venture Down Under but with predominantly a group of well known faces leaving not much to the imagination.

They will be relying SIGNIFICANTLY on 39yo Jimmy Anderson and the comparatively spritely 35yo Stuart Broad. Combined they have an incredible 1156 wickets.

But the tail of the tape doesn't read so well bowling on less responsive pitches. That level of output dries up like a 35 degree December stroll in Adelaide.

Anderson's 60 @ 35 with 1 x 5WI and Broad's 34 @ 37 with 1 x 5WI read far differently to having a trundle on a green seamer at Trent Bridge. That is not necessarily to decry their ability but to state the facts.

Without Jofra Archer to produce some Bajan chin music via Hove in Sussex, there is a worrying monotony. Can the pace of Mark Wood, the swing of Chris Woakes or the freshness of Ollie Robinson be moulded in and around those two warriors?

Then there is the matter of Ben Stokes. He too is short of full cricketing mode but when you play like him, a sense of freedom forebodes danger. Few will ever forget Leeds in the last series. The English never want to, the Aussies never will.

Can he transpose that yield closer to the country of his birth? His batting and bowling averages here mirror those around the world. But it has been seven years since he played here too.

The real concern for England is their batting. While Joe Root is clearly the shining light, around him technical frailties overflow.

Rory Burns picks up the bat like a harvester, scything through fields of wheat. He's more likely to chop off a toe than damage the scoring at any rate.

Dan Lawrence is not much better, Zak Crawley hasn't bedded down a spot and while Haseeb Hameed has only just begun, there is a lack of conviction too. He was missing straight ones which is never good batting 1, 2 or 3.

There will need to be partnerships formed to cause damage and the experience of Bairstow and Buttler might be called upon more so.

Given both batting line ups have some foibles, whoever bowls best will likely uphold the urn. While that is true on many occasions, Australian dull, placid but true pitches lend that to be the case in most situations.

There is only so many times Australia can rely on Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne but the fact they haven't been mentioned until now possibly reflects their level of quality and esteem. Batting is their DNA. They'd prefer to bat on Christmas day than do much else.

So to the Gabba which was fortress Australia right? Remember they hadn't lost there since the last of the formidable West Indies attacks ran through them in 1988.

Well India put an end to that, running down a total on the last day earlier this year. And that was a team without 80% of their biggest of guns. They had their (Rishabh) Pants pulled down – figuratively and literally.

Don't forget we saw Fortress Edgbaston portrayed as such leading into the first test last outing and Steve Smith kept those expecting an English rout amused. From 8-122 midway through Day 1, the tourists won it by the odd 251 runs. Strongholds can be breached.

Australia has a good proportion of its team coming off the high of the World T20 but again, England had the same level of emotion leading into the 2019 Series when they conquered the ODI WC. The issue here though is the lack of First Class preparation.

England by contrast has far less in their squad heading home from the UAE but haven't fared so well with the weather.

Trust is a big thing and you tend to trust the main Australian players more so on these versions of 22 yards. Until England show the capacity to score big hundreds and also not go around the park, it should remain that way.

One who has had a great grounding in the preliminaries is Marnus Labuschagne. He's been able to play the cricket that others haven't. With an average of 60 and a thirst for more runs, you could see him having some days out.

Just the way he finished off a great Asian short form campaign, Josh Hazlewood is a likely type to be leading wicket taker. He almost bowled a test length and line in the T20s and got responses not normally seen. It would not surprise any to witness a lot of outside edges to balls best left alone.

Cam Green adores the Gabba too. He wishes he could dig it up and just transport it with him. Pencil him in for a nice return in Brisbane.

England is not hopeless though. Australia has a propensity not to finish the deal. If Lyon can't do that now he would be best left out for someone turning it the other way.

Ultimately there are 'more better' Australian players on Australian pitches than English players here. With techniques more stringently examined, emphasised and analysed, the home team can retain the Urn. But it's not going to be easy.

Enjoy the Series and let the games begin – FINALLY!!

Suggested Bets: Marnus Labuschagne 50+ 1st Innings @ $2.60

Suggested Bets: Cameron Green 50+ 1st Innings @ $3.25

Suggested Bets: Marnus Labuschagne Most Australian Series Runs @ $3.60

Suggested Bets: Josh Hazlewood Most Australian Series Wickets @ $3.75