Full Ashes Ahead - For InLondon Magazine

England is in full Ashes recovery mode, and it comes as no surprise. While Michael Vaughan’s men have just won their 5th successive series, their best run since 1969-71, the Australians have overcome early tour wounds inflicted by England, Somerset, and once, albeit enough, by Bangladesh to show they are nearing top gear, at the right time.

This series of humiliating losses in the short version of the game, incomparable to test cricket, could just be enough to fire up the home side to drown the unflappable Australia spirit in a well of England enthusiasm the visitors might not swim free of. Yet let’s not forget Australia is number one in the world for good reason, and even under mounting pressure to perform, the Australian juggernaut will not lie down as easily as England’s cricket crusaders might think.

Trading on a wealth of on field success over the last 2years, the ECB are drumming support for England, with their ‘Big Bat Campaign’ that sees five 8ft long bats receiving signatures of good will from around the nation in an unprecedented show of support. It will take a monumental effort for England to create a new record of series wins, yet if England has a team to overpower the all-conquering Aussies, then this is it, even with Australia at the top of their game.

The vibe flavouring the nation’s newspapers, televisions, and pubs following England and Australia’s early tour (on and off field) performances are certainly shifting the balance of victory favour towards England. Australia will have read the papers, looked over their earlier poor state of play, and will certainly regroup to take the field in the matches that truly count and England should remain wary. (Below: The Spaceship Media at Lord's will have much to beam up about both sides after the first Test)

England may have won five consecutive test series, but are about to face a side that hasn’t lost a series since 2001, has beaten England at worse 3-2 in 16 years both home and away, and won on all soils they have competed in the last 7years. And in the previous 44 Ashes Matches, England has only won one test prior the Series being decided.

Yet with a winning drive through the camp England are prepared to take on Ricky Ponting’s chaps, will no doubt seriously push Australia, and the public can excite to a phenomenal showdown. Public interest has seen all tickets sell out well before 2005, so you might end up just having to read about it in the paper, which can’t be so bad. England looks fantastic on paper but can they match in on the field, where the game must be won?

Though losing the Waughs and Lehmann (injured at the time) since the last Ashes campaign, Australia’s balance disruption through forced change is non-existent. Australia dominates test cricket against all nations in all conditions, no matter who takes to their field. Since the 2001 Ashes Series in England, Australia has used or discarded only 12 players, whereas England totals at least 22.

At England’s top for the last four years (almost) has been the irrepressible Trescothick and Vaughan, and at the bottom Hoggard and Harmison. It’s the 7 in the middle England has found hard to cement, yet have succeeded because they’ve performed at both ends, albeit against the same opposition Australia plays. This coming series however is not another against Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, and those book-ending England’s success will have to put their recent victories on the back burner, and as a team, fire on all 11-cylinders if they are to compete for 5days. (Below: Lord's is always good for the picknickers!)

England may need veteran stalwart Graham Thorpe to take his career another step up, while dynamic new boy Andrew Strauss, who is yet to lose a Test since debuting last May and in complete ‘winning mode’, must ensure he keeps his eye on the ball, not on the history books. And with exciting Kevin Pietersen likely to make his debut at Lord’s, momentum is high in the England camp.

For the shortfalls in England’s midlands, Flintoff, Geraint Jones and, pressing for selection, Ian Bell all possess ability to influence the game, not necessarily change it. England isn’t a shadow of former teams that haven’t come close to beating Australia, but need a team that will remain just that for the duration, and not a handful of innings.

Australia’s playing 11 are largely unchanged game after game, due to consistency in selection year after year. But the lack of change has England chirping. Australia appears to be aged on paper, and some might even say match jaded, when compared with youthful England, but their experience has cemented Australia’s continued winning when up against the wall. In Sri Lanka last year, Australia trailed on the first innings in all three tests, yet fought back to win 3-0. Down at the moment, it’s a side that should not be judged on the strength of their recent scorecards.

When you look down the order (except Hayden), Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke, and Katich have all hit multiple centuries in the last 12months. And when they under-perform, there’s Gilchrist. Little more can be said about a man that averages near 60 each time he walks to the middle. And once the score is on the board, lurking with the ball ready to defend the runs is Warne, Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Lee, and McGrath, with MacGill waiting in the shed.

Prior to the losses against Somerset and Bangladesh it’s hard to imagine how any of today’s teams consider themselves a threat to Australia in either forms of the game, yet the ageing cracks in Australia’s armour may just be wide enough for England to break through with their first Ashes Series win since 1987. If you are going to beat Australia you must believe it and for the first time in a long time, it’s real belief for England, and making for an exciting, and emotional series.

There is no denying Australia face their toughest Ashes battle for almost 20years and will have to bounce back from early tour setbacks, yet the result I believe will not look much different… this time around. After scoring 162 against Bangladesh Ian Bell said, “It’s my first hundred. Obviously I’d like to do the same against Australia, or someone like that.” There is no other test team like Australia and England might need more than 8ft long bats to win back the Ashes, this year. Australia 3, England 1, Mother Nature 1.

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Luke Gillian 20/07/2005 11:13:26