Part 1
Well it's finally arrived, the 2005 Ashes series. The best in the world against the second best team. Atleast on paper it should be a cracking series. The one thing on every English cricket fans mind is can the Poms beat the Convicts. England last claimed victory for the Ashes back in 1986/7 and since then have won just one Test when an Ashes Series was still alive. That was back in June 1997 when they took the opening Test at Edgbaston. Wins at The Oval in 1993 and in 1997, Melbourne in 1998, Headingley in 2001 and Sydney in 2003 were all achieved once Australia had either won the series or couldn't be beaten in it.
England have made good strides at closing the gap between their old enermy and under the leadership of previous captain Nasser Hussain and now Michael Vaughan, England are finally beginning to get some strength in depth and produce young cricketers able to compete with the best. But let's not get to carried away as the difference between Australia and England in the World Rankings is 21 points. That's a large gap demonstrated by the fact that second place England and seventh placed New Zealand are separated by just 14 points.
The ECB love to make live easy for many touring parties here in England. Beginning a five Test series in the middle of the Britsh Summer on pitches that will be hard and flat will be familiar for the Australians. Now I know most other cricket nations would go out of their way to play any opponent when it is favourable for them. For whatever reason in this country, we are very good at doing our best to assist the opposition rather than make life as difficult as possible.
Australia continue to dominate the Cricket World, but as I have said, age is catching up with some outstanding players and their departure over the next few years will be very difficult to replace. So for the time being, Australia dominate, yet in two or three years time their domination will be their demise as they fail to introduce and blood young players. If they believed they were that dominant over the opposition, then why not introduce a young player or two during a series.
Australia are odds on favourites at 1/2 (-200) to win the series, whilst the English faithful can support the home team at 3/1 (+300) with a drawn series at 6/1 (+600). It's no surprise that Australia have dominated for so long when they are able to call on the services of Shane Warne who has 583 Test wickets and Glenn McGrath who has 499 against his name. Warne alone has more wickets than England's five main bowlers put together. Steve Harmison (121), Matthew Hoggard (157), Simon Jones (41), Andy Flintoff (119) and Ashley Giles (127). So already we are seeing the apparant scale of task facing England.
And I believe it's this bowwling pair of Warne and McGrath that hold the key to this series and they will need to be at the top of their form. Why just the two men? Well their is little in the reserve tank of the Baggy Greens. Brett Lee has played himself into the Test team and he no doubt has a very important role to play as he is the one Australian bowler who has pace. However, the Australians have shown that they like stability in their sides, hence why changes are only made when injuries occur and another reason why they don't introduce young talent. Brett Lee hasn't played Test cricket since Steve Waugh stepped down as captain, so clearly thats one positive England can take out in the mental stakes before battle commences.
England can play to their potential only if the players are able to be at the top of their game and avoid injuries to key men. England's chances depend on two factors. First up is will the England opening pair of Trescothick and Strauss perform against McGrath and Lee with the new ball. And second, the main factor will be how well Flintoff and Harmison bowl for England.
So who do I recommend. I can't entertain supporting Australia in the outright markets because at times already this summer they have looked out of sorts. Their fielding has been appauling at times and they are struggling to find a fourth bowler with any form. On a positive note, Australia's batting has an embarrassment of riches which can help them set and chase down totals. I also can't recommend England as they will probably need to win three test's to win the Ashes and let's not forget that they have won only one test match against Australia in 1997 when the Ashes have still been on the line.
What I do like however are some of the prop wagers on players performances and correct series scores. With a late start date of July 21 for a five test series will mean the final Test is to be played in mid-September. That increases the chances of rain and a frop off of in hours of both daylight and sunshine which leads me to believe that one test will finish as a draw.
The gap between these two sides has closed, Australia just starting a downturn after years of setting the standards to which England have finally responded. But I also believe it's not as much as most pundits are writing and talking about, so my head tells me the Aussies will edge a close series.
1 point Australia to win 2-1 @ 15/2
1 point Australia to win 3-1 @ 11/2
1 point Drawn series 2-2 @ 8/1
Well it's finally arrived, the 2005 Ashes series. The best in the world against the second best team. Atleast on paper it should be a cracking series. The one thing on every English cricket fans mind is can the Poms beat the Convicts. England last claimed victory for the Ashes back in 1986/7 and since then have won just one Test when an Ashes Series was still alive. That was back in June 1997 when they took the opening Test at Edgbaston. Wins at The Oval in 1993 and in 1997, Melbourne in 1998, Headingley in 2001 and Sydney in 2003 were all achieved once Australia had either won the series or couldn't be beaten in it.
England have made good strides at closing the gap between their old enermy and under the leadership of previous captain Nasser Hussain and now Michael Vaughan, England are finally beginning to get some strength in depth and produce young cricketers able to compete with the best. But let's not get to carried away as the difference between Australia and England in the World Rankings is 21 points. That's a large gap demonstrated by the fact that second place England and seventh placed New Zealand are separated by just 14 points.
The ECB love to make live easy for many touring parties here in England. Beginning a five Test series in the middle of the Britsh Summer on pitches that will be hard and flat will be familiar for the Australians. Now I know most other cricket nations would go out of their way to play any opponent when it is favourable for them. For whatever reason in this country, we are very good at doing our best to assist the opposition rather than make life as difficult as possible.
Australia continue to dominate the Cricket World, but as I have said, age is catching up with some outstanding players and their departure over the next few years will be very difficult to replace. So for the time being, Australia dominate, yet in two or three years time their domination will be their demise as they fail to introduce and blood young players. If they believed they were that dominant over the opposition, then why not introduce a young player or two during a series.
Australia are odds on favourites at 1/2 (-200) to win the series, whilst the English faithful can support the home team at 3/1 (+300) with a drawn series at 6/1 (+600). It's no surprise that Australia have dominated for so long when they are able to call on the services of Shane Warne who has 583 Test wickets and Glenn McGrath who has 499 against his name. Warne alone has more wickets than England's five main bowlers put together. Steve Harmison (121), Matthew Hoggard (157), Simon Jones (41), Andy Flintoff (119) and Ashley Giles (127). So already we are seeing the apparant scale of task facing England.
And I believe it's this bowwling pair of Warne and McGrath that hold the key to this series and they will need to be at the top of their form. Why just the two men? Well their is little in the reserve tank of the Baggy Greens. Brett Lee has played himself into the Test team and he no doubt has a very important role to play as he is the one Australian bowler who has pace. However, the Australians have shown that they like stability in their sides, hence why changes are only made when injuries occur and another reason why they don't introduce young talent. Brett Lee hasn't played Test cricket since Steve Waugh stepped down as captain, so clearly thats one positive England can take out in the mental stakes before battle commences.
England can play to their potential only if the players are able to be at the top of their game and avoid injuries to key men. England's chances depend on two factors. First up is will the England opening pair of Trescothick and Strauss perform against McGrath and Lee with the new ball. And second, the main factor will be how well Flintoff and Harmison bowl for England.
So who do I recommend. I can't entertain supporting Australia in the outright markets because at times already this summer they have looked out of sorts. Their fielding has been appauling at times and they are struggling to find a fourth bowler with any form. On a positive note, Australia's batting has an embarrassment of riches which can help them set and chase down totals. I also can't recommend England as they will probably need to win three test's to win the Ashes and let's not forget that they have won only one test match against Australia in 1997 when the Ashes have still been on the line.
What I do like however are some of the prop wagers on players performances and correct series scores. With a late start date of July 21 for a five test series will mean the final Test is to be played in mid-September. That increases the chances of rain and a frop off of in hours of both daylight and sunshine which leads me to believe that one test will finish as a draw.
The gap between these two sides has closed, Australia just starting a downturn after years of setting the standards to which England have finally responded. But I also believe it's not as much as most pundits are writing and talking about, so my head tells me the Aussies will edge a close series.
1 point Australia to win 2-1 @ 15/2
1 point Australia to win 3-1 @ 11/2
1 point Drawn series 2-2 @ 8/1
