Ashes Preview 2009
A Look Ahead at the England Versus Australia Test Series This Summer
Jul 10, 2009 Sebastian Egerton-Read
The summer of 2009 will stage what should be yet another dramatic test series as England and Australia battle for the much-coveted Ashes. While this year’s clash will likely struggle to match the drama and excitement of the 2005 Ashes, where England managed to win the trophy for the first time in 16 years, it should prove to be a far more interesting encounter than the whitewash in Australia in 2006/07. Both teams have suffered from indifferent form in the lead-up to this series with England losing in the Caribbean before dominating the West Indies at home, meanwhile Australia lost to South Africa and India consecutively before crushing the South Africans away from home in an impressive win. This fluctuating form makes it very difficult to predict just how this series will go, one thing seems certain, it should be worth watching! This article breaks down the match up.
Batting Lineups
Australia: Australia boasts a formidable middle order with arguably the world’s best batsman in Ricky Ponting continuing to lead his side from the front and on the cusp of 11,000 runs in test cricket. Michael Clarke has found his footing in test cricket since 2005 and has solidified himself as danger-man #2. Mike Hussey is perhaps the x-factor in the order, he has struggled in recent times after a supreme start to his test career, however his ability is unquestioned and runs are just around the corner. The performance Australia’s openers could be the key in this series, Simon Katich will need to continue to impress as opener partnered with the inexperienced but so far devastating Phil Hughes, but can they form a reliable opening partnership and regularly give the middle order a decent base?
England: Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook form the most experienced opening partnership in test cricket. Strauss is a good captain but is not as tactically astute as Michael Vaughan was and so will need to rely on leading his team with the bat. England’s middle order is very much a mixed bag, Shane Warne was quoted as saying that England couldn’t win the Ashes without Kevin Pietersen and he was almost certainly right, the flamboyant batsman is undoubtedly the order’s standout player. The rest of the order is somewhat of an unknown quantity, Ravi Bopara has made a positive start to his test career but Australia’s bowlers will give him a far more severe working over than the West Indies did.
All-Rounder and Wicket Keeper
Australia: Shane Watson’s injury means that Australia will likely play a sixth batsman in Marcus North and rely on part-time bowlers to fill the rest of the overs, a disadvantage that cost them the last time these two sides met. Brad Haddin waited for his opportunity and England can expect him to make the most of it now, Haddin is a potentially destructive batsman and very good keeper.
England: Andrew Flintoff is in the team but just how fit is he? Even at less than 100% Flintoff is still probably the key man in this series, no other bowler on either side provides his combination of aggression and accuracy and he is still more than quite useful with the bat coming in at #7. Matthew Prior stands behind the stumps for England, his keeping has been much criticised but Prior’s undoubted batting ability still make him a very useful player for England he has become crucial to the team’s balance.
Bowlers
Australia: Injuries to Brett Lee and Stuart Clark leave Australia with an extremely inexperienced bowling attack. They have high hopes for young fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who has already begun to show some of his excellent potential, while Peter Siddle produced some superb performances against South Africa, Ben Hilfenhaus completes the pace trio. Nathan Hauritz is the team’s only spin bowler on tour and is very much a controversial selection; it is very possible that Australia will opt for four seamers in some of the test matches.
England: James Anderson and Stuart Broad have gradually cemented themselves as very useful test bowlers both capable of swinging the ball at pace, this Australian batting order will provide the young pacemen with their stiffest test. Graeme Swann can be expected to get the nod as the team’s spinner after enjoying exceptional success since taking over from Monty Panesar, bowling with variety and invention. The final bowling spot will likely to be fought between Graham Onions and Ryan Sidebottom, Sidebottom offers an additional bit of variation while Onions took regular wickets against the West Indies.
Ashes 2009 Prediction
England has the home advantage and probably has the more talented and better-rounded team in spite of Australia’s superior batting order. However, England does tend to be a side that beat themselves and Australia are a team that make the opposition beat them.
England to win back the Ashes 2-1.
Ashes 2009
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