There isn’t a single person out there who thinks there is any way for Australia not to win the Ashes – they are the red hot favourites, and any result other than a win by Australia would be completely unexpected.
England are doing much better than they did a couple of months back and have a decent side, but truth be told, not just England, even South Africa or India wouldn’t stand a chance against the mighty Aussies.
Let’s take a quick look at Australia’s squad for the Ashes and see why they are such a strong team: Michael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith (vice-capt), Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.
We can see a couple of weak links in the Aussie line-up – the opening batsman, Chris Rogers is too old to play cricket at the highest level – he is in his late 30s. So is new boy Adam Voges, who is 35. The Australian team is called derisively as “Dad’s Army” by some, but really they can’t be serious!
That’s because although a majority of Australia’s players are 30 plus, they are all supremely fit professional athletes who are playing at the peak of their careers. Men like Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers, Adam Voges and Peter Siddle may be 30 and above – but there is no denying their quality and hunger for another Ashes win against the English.
There are a plenty of young rising stars as well – Steve Smith is easily the best young batsman in the world. Mitchell Starc is in his mid-twenties and is already the more feared fast bowler on the planet right now. David Warner has been around for a long time, but he is only 28. Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Shaun Marsh are the other young performers.
The Australian batting is heavily dependent on young Steve Smith and David Warner. There are many chinks in the batting line-up and they will be up against it against a high quality England pace attack comprising of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Wood and the phenomenal Ben Stokes.
It is the Australian bowling attack that is incomparable and gives them such a big edge. Think about it – two of the world’s quickest bowlers – the two Mitchells – Johnson and Starc, feature in the same attack. If that wasn’t enough, you have the ever reliable Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and the young Josh Hazlewood. And the spin department? That’s covered as well, with Nathan Lyon and his understudy, Fawad Ahmed.
Clearly, there isn’t a single weakness in the Australian bowling attack. It is an attack that is guaranteed to take 20 wickets in every Test match. They are unlikely to face much of a resistance from the fragile English batting, so the Ashes will basically be a contest between the bowlers of both sides – who gets rid of the opposition faster.
In fact, this is a refreshing change and it is wonderful to have the bowlers in control for once, as cricket was becoming too much of a batsman’s game. As exciting Ashes is in prospect, and at IndiaBet.org, we will be sure to bring all the action, fun and excitement of cricket’s greatest contest. Let the games begin!
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