The Ashes fever is on. In fact, it has begun even before a ball has been sent down. “The worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won, and it’s the best English team since then,” claimed Stuart Broad on his BBC podcast in a conversation with Jos Buttler. “Not an opinion, it’s a fact,” he reinstated. Steven Smith meanwhile, has already downplayed the prospect of Bazball being effective Down Under.
How much do the team compositions matter anyway? Australia’s star-studded XI, heading into the opening Test of the 2005 epic had 731 Test caps between them, England’s had 326. England’s bowling attack (including part-timers) heading into that game had 572 Test wickets between them, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath had 583 and 499 respectively. Yet, England were able to achieve the unimaginable by the end of that summer.
They’re now chasing their first Ashes victory Down Under post their 2010/11 triumph. They lost 13 Tests out of 15 across their last three tours, and were saved by a whisker in one of the two drawn ones – the rain-marred Sydney fixture in 2021/22.
Can they turn the tables this time around? Here’s a look at the possible key determinants of the much awaited series.
Consistency in selections and fitness woes
Whether you discover it from the get go or stumble upon it accidentally, history suggests that the team with a more settled combination and consistent selections has come out trumps more often.
Australia fielded the same XI across the five Tests in 2013/14 – one of the three 5-0 clean-sweeps in Ashes history. That’s the only instance of a team fielding the same XI throughout an Ashes series since they did that way back in 1893. England in 2005 used 12 players across the five games, the only change being an injury forced one in the decider at The Oval (Paul Collingwood for Simon Jones).
Australia’s bowling unit has already been marred with the unavailability of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood at the start of the series. It’s a rather unfamiliar territory for the hosts in recent years with regards to their seam attack. Brendan Doggett, almost certain to feature in the series opener in Perth, would be the first specialist quick to make his Test debut for Australia since Scott Boland’s telling arrival at the Boxing Day Test four years ago. For contrast and context, England have had nine seam-bowling debutants in the timeframe. The hosts are also primed to have a new-look opening pair with Jake Weatherald named in the squad. The only specialist opener to make his Test debut for Australia in an Ashes series in the last 32 years was Cameron Bancroft in 2017/18.
As for the England camp, there would be a close eye on Jofra Archer and Mark Wood among others, the former having missed the last two editions after a strong first impression in 2019. Needless to say, much rests on Ben Stokes, who delivered inspiring spells with the ball against India, but was ruled out with injury ahead of the decider.
