We are just over a month away from Ben Stokes leading his team out in Australia to reclaim the Ashes after 10 long years, but are they prepared?
The Summer of 2023 was an enthralling watch, as the two sides ended up drawing the Series 2-2.
However, as Pat Cummins’s side won the 2021-22 Series down under, they hold the Urn, and it will take a huge effort to take it from them.
Head Coach Brendon McCullum has described the upcoming Series as “the biggest series of all of our lives”.
He and Stokes are determined to win back the Urn, which they lost seven years ago.
Schedule
First Test: Friday, November 21-Tuesday, November 25 (2.30 am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
Second Test (day/night): Thursday, December 4-Monday, December 8 (4.30 am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
Third Test: Wednesday, December 17-Sunda,y December 21 (12 am) – Adelaide Oval
Fourth Test: Thursday, December 25-Monday, December 29 (11.30 pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
Fifth Test: Sunday, January 4-Thursday, January 8 (11.30 pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
Squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Harry Brook (vice-captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
One To Watch: Will Jacks
England has named a squad that is similar to the one in the Series against India. The addition of Jacks is an intriguing one, given his expertise in the white-ball format.
The fact that he can bowl off-spin gives Stokes another option in terms of bowling.
As there have been fitness issues regarding England’s Captain, they will need an extra bowling option, particularly on the occasions when he can’t bowl.
Stokes missed the fifth and final Test against India due to a grade 3 muscle tear on his shoulder, which he picked up in the fourth Test.
No doubt Stokes the Bowler can be a lethal weapon, but if England are to have any hope in this Series, they need Stokes the Batter, as well as the Captain.
Coming back to Jacks, he made his debut in 2022 on the flat pitches of Pakistan, where he took 6-181 in the first Test at Rawalpindi.
He could be a helpful option, especially for the final Test at Sydney, as the SCG pitch can dry out, providing some assistance for the spinners.
Root To Break Australia’s Curse?
England’s most successful Test Batsman has scored runs all around the world; however, Australia always seems to be his Achilles heel.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Root has just 892 runs in his 14 Tests in Australia, with an average of 35.68, along with nine half-centuries.
For a player of his calibre, this is nowhere near good enough.
The last time England toured Australia, Root was burdened with the role of being Captain; however, this time, here is ready to put in a much better performance.
“I feel I am in a different place to when I last went out there. I haven’t got the responsibility of captaincy and I am a lot more experienced. “I have had a good couple of years coming in and I have learned good lessons from my previous tours there as a batter and senior player.
Root: Sky Sports
If England are to post competitive score on the board, he will be the glue of the batting, that holds the innings together.
One of the reasons why Root has struggled in Australia, is that his game isn’t quite suited to pitches that offer pace and bounce.
Root is someone who likes to play late, and allow the ball to come to him, rather than him going towards the ball, which is what Australian condition require from a batsman.
Can he defy all the odds and pile on the runs in the Ashes?
So, what is your opinion on England’s preparations for next month’s Ashes?
Are they prepared?
Can they bring it home?
Send us your thoughts on World in Sport.
