In their quest to reclaim the Ashes from reigning world champions Australia, England will be putting their high-octane brand of Test cricket, known as “Bazball,” to the ultimate test beginning on Friday.
England’s coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have taken the sport by storm, winning 11 of 13 Tests and completely upending conventional thought.
After a record of just one victory in 17 tests, England’s fortunes have been altered by McCullum’s risk-takers, who have scored at a mind-boggling average of over five runs an over.
It has fooled four countries: India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. In the first Test between England and Pakistan, England scored 506 runs in 75 overs on the first day, setting a new record.
In addition, they made New Zealand’s 277, 299, and 297 fourth-innings win objectives seem like child’s play last year at home.
The first Test begins on Friday at Edgbaston, and the major issue is whether England will play with the same nearly reckless abandon against a pace attack that may be the finest in the world.
The anticipation for this series has been over the roof ever since England won the famous 2005 edition. Stokes and McCullum have shown no signs of slowing down.
Whether Australia, who won the Ashes in 2018 with a 4-0 home triumph, kept them in 2019 with a 2-2 draw in England, and will win again in 2021 with another 4-0 home thrashing, is another issue.
Pat Cummins’ squad is no shrinking violet; following a resounding victory over India in London, they took home the World Test Championship and will begin their quest for a first series win in England since 2001 with confidence.
Constant thorn in England’s side Steve Smith made a century in the first innings against India, and he and Marnus Labuschagne will be the backbone of Australia’s batting, while Travis Head will be a headache for England’s bowlers.
Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood make up their bowling unit, and how they perform against ‘Bazball’ for the first time might determine the game’s fate.
“Every Ashes series gets the juices flowing, but there’s added excitement this time around,” former England captain Nasser Hussain told The Metro.
That’s because this England team is playing a different brand and style of cricket. Our collective concern is whether or not “they can show up and do to Australia what they have done to every other side they have come up against.”
While Ollie Pope’s run-a-ball double century secured his spot in the starting lineup, Stuart Broad bowled out Ireland for five wickets in the first innings to strengthen his case for inclusion.
Broad, his former striking partner James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, and Mark Wood are all vying for a starting berth, while Moeen Ali is set to start despite not having played a test for England since 2021 due to Jack Leach’s back injury, which brought Ali back into the test fold.
Moeen, a match-winner on his day, revealed that he immediately accepted Stokes’ invitation.
It’s incredible to be a part of it. The lads have been playing really great cricket, and this is a huge series,” he remarked.
With the forecast looking good, the initial skirmish should be a slugfest as both sides try to get the upper hand.
It’s really close to call, but I’m leaning toward England as the slight favorite since Australia hasn’t won over here in a long time. Former England captain Michael Atherton predicted that there “won’t be too many draws.”