- Anticipation Builds for Ashes Series
- Australia and England’s Strengths and Strategies
- Potential Storylines and Swansongs
Over the past several days, expectation has reached critical mass even for the Ashes and cricket’s greatest rivalry. During the sun-drenched buildup at Edgbaston, as players prepared, bar staff loaded the store rooms like missile silos, and mowers buzzed across the outfield, there was an abundance of knowing glances and instant smiles, with each interaction promptly followed by speculations and forecasts. The stage is finally prepared, the pyrotechnics are mounted, and all that remains is the initial spark.
It occurs at 11 a.m. on Friday, in front of 25,000 spectators and, presumably, millions of viewers and listeners at home and abroad, when the first ripe ball is sent down – a moment that has become a part of the 146-year-old legend. They have sailed beyond off-stump, flown gallantly wide to second slip, whistled to the rope, or clattered into the trees. While this typically has little significance, it can occasionally establish the tone.
In the previous season, it undoubtedly did the latter. When Mitchell Starc detonated Rory Burns’ leg stump at a feverish Gabba 18 months ago, it set in motion England’s complete dismantlement and a 4-0 loss from which many – including myself – anticipated a long and excruciating road back.
After Joe Root’s disastrous captaincy, this summer’s return visit was expected to end Australia’s 22-year skid.
In the interim, it appears that they have grown stronger. Under the blue-eyed, smiling leadership of Pat Cummins, the team has strengthened its connections as a unit, allowing head coach Justin Langer to be relegated to the role of Banquo’s ghost in the commentary box. Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Scott Boland’s frightening onslaught have boosted Steve Smith’s legacy. Cummins acknowledges that this Ashes defense will now define the team’s legacy, as they are now World Test champions.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum liberate England. It has shifted the needle and made choosing favorites and underdogs an exercise in futility. Similar to the one-day team’s breakthrough under Eoin Morgan, they have devised a ground-breaking style of play, which, despite being a high-wire act at times, has resulted in 11 wins out of 13 for both teams.
People name it “Baseball” to honour McCullum, but they know it severely understates Stokes’ importance. The all-rounder has stated on record that it should simply be referred to as “English Test cricket”, believing that he and McCullum have established a model that could outlive his own aging body.
The duo even gave a presentation to the counties in January, extolling the virtues of batting quickly, bowling solely for wickets, putting entertainment above all else, and disdaining the draw.
There are skeptics on both sides of the divide and elsewhere who are rooting for it to fail. Disgusted by saving Test cricket or seeing it as a fad and a sign of a wider decline. There are also those, including myself, who believe that regardless of the league’s long-term viability. It has been a delightful contrast to a global landscape that is being transformed into a succession of soulless franchise competitions. Overall, it has undoubtedly provided England with the best opportunity to reclaim the urn.
A day before the toss, Stokes was in a relatively relaxed mood, donning the bucket hat that represents his team’s club-side outlook and the knee brace that represents the concerns regarding his durability as a bowler. Again, he emphasized that the outcome is irrelevant to him, and while some supporters may disagree. He was right: the following six weeks offer a wealth of tales, regardless of the score.
Primarily, this is the binary reaction that will result from the two contrasting playing styles, but also the individual threads one through eleven on both sides, be it the late arrival of Moeen Ali – a “gut and heart” decision, according to Stokes – the return of Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps, or Head’s run-a-ball form for Australia. Harry Brook will make his debut in the Ashes. Boland will get to prove that his amazing debut was correct and that he loves the Dukes ball in England.
And there is the potential swan song for two of England’s all-time greats, though neither is saying so.
This week, Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson will play their 135th Test, surpassing Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath’s 1,001 wickets. Broad is 18 shy of 600, whereas Anderson is 15 short of 700. Even reaching this stage demonstrates their professionalism, skill, and insatiable desire to win the Ashes contest. And what follows could rival the farewell these two Australian legends received in the past.
Warne would have adored this Ashes series, both England’s reckless approach on and off the pitch and Australia’s well-oiled machine. To quote his old friend Rob Key, who united Stokes and McCullum last year, buckle up and enjoy the trip.
