The GABBA, Thursday 25th November-Monday 29th November, 11am AEDT, 10am Local
Another summer and another Ashes series is upon us and another sponsor for the tests as well with Vodafone taking over 3. This year the summer began with an ODI series against Sri Lanka which Australia got badly beaten in but no one cared as this is the main event, its what everyone has been waiting 15 months for to see if Australia can yet again reclaim the Ashes or can England finally win a series in Australia. England enters the Ashes with the form, they have had a big year winning all their series whilst also managing a very good draw against South Africa away this time last year in a series they were given no hope in.
Australia is struggling, they lost the Ashes last year and then were happy having trounced the might of Pakistan and West Indies at home then headed to Kiwi land to topple them as well. But a drawn series in England against Pakistan shook the side and a shocking loss to India just recently sees the team in disarray, yet just 1 player from their preferred side in those series makes way because of it. However the Aussies are now at home and having set up a fortress at the GABBA having not lost in 22 years since Marshall, Ambrose and Walsh ran through them, the GABBA could be the deciding test, last time England won in Brisbane they won the series.
That was 1986/87 with England winning 2-1 with Chris Broad having a sensational series with the bat, 24 years later and England will be hoping another Broad dominates this time with the ball. The last time England toured Australia it was a disaster, from losing the toss and conceding 600 on a GABBA highway to letting all the momentum of a brilliant first innings in Adelaide disappear in a disastrous last day collapse at the hands of Warney. Thankfully for England he isnt around anymore and last year in England it was the Aussie batsmen doing the collapsing.
They started off well in Cardiff but some extremely poor captaincy and fine batting at the end saw a draw salvaged by England. England looked in control after that untill a Headingely collapse saw Australia draw level and so came the controversial last test as a flat Oval saw some life for the first time in decades and with Trott making a century on debut the Poms regained the Ashes. Clarke was the only Australian batsman to have a great series whilst Watson started off ok in opening following the dropping of Hughes whilst with the ball Hilfy loved the English conditions and Siddle found his rythym by the end and was Australias 2nd best bowler. Strauss was Englands best with the bat and Broad with the ball but it was overall a good team effort and great use of home conditions that saw them prevail. Over the last 12 months though the English side has used the momentum and becomes a stronger outfit
Now we move forward to 2010, Australia has pretty much the same side that lost the Ashes with Stuart Clark never playing again after Australia stuffed up by playing him ahead of Hauritz at the Oval whilst Hauritz has now been dumped as the scapegoat for losing in India. In to the squad comes Xavier Doherty, the bloke averaging nearly 50 for Tasmania with the ball but has been in some fine form the last year or so having finally pushed Krezja out of the side.
Doug Bollinger is also around having benefitted from injuries since the last Ashes however his own injury may cost him his spot as the selectors return to the pace trio that lost the Ashes 15 months ago as Peter Siddle looks fit and fired up for a return after 11 months on the sidelines. His last test was pretty good though as he dominated with the bat to get Australia home. Steve Smith looks likely to be heading home on Thursday morning so he can join NSW on Friday as North is safe and Hussey saved his spot with a century against a weakened Victorian outfit last week and his young challengers couldnt make anything at all against Englands 2nd attack. However Michael Clarke who failed to get through the Shield game 2 weeks ago and was rested last week has missed training as they continue to manage his back injury and could be in some doubt.
For England things couldnt be better, having won 2 of their tour matches and rain and a flat Adelaide Oval seeing a draw in the other, their form is high. They sent their 2nd string attack to Hobart but it was still enough to topple the Aussie A side and their batsmen have mostly found form. Trott hasnt done much though and after 2 shocking tours last English winter when he couldnt make a run at his native home or against Bangers away he looks to continue that so far as he can only make runs in England. Kevin Pietersen hasnt fired in a long time and that will worry England, but he loves it downunder and this may be his last chance to really make a name for himself, a failure here and his career may wind down as he gets remembered as a good batsman who didnt do enough after a great start.
Strauss and Cook couldnt make any runs 4 years ago but with Strauss leading run scorer last year and both making centuries in tour matches their confidence will be high and will be important to get off to a great start with Englands worries at 3 and 4 but their middle-lower order is stronger than ever. Collingwood loves it downunder and Bell loves batting at no6 having now proven once and for all he is no no3. Prior, Swann and Broad round out the batting lineup and alot will be expected of them and with Australias troubles finishing off teams lately, they should fire up this series.
Australia
Shane Watson
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting (c)
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Marcus North
Brad Haddin +
Mitchell Johnson
Peter Siddle
Xavier Doherty
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger
Steve Smith
Usman Khawaja
In:Xavier Doherty
Steve Smith
Peter Siddle
Doug Bollinger
Brad Haddin
Usman Khawaja
Out: Peter George
Nathan Hauritz
Tim Paine
England
Andrew Strauss (c)
Alastair Cook
Jonathon Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Paul Collingwood
Ian Bell
Matthew Prior
Stuart Broad
Graeme Swann
Steven Finn
James Anderson
In:Ian Bell
Out: Eoin Morgan
Umpires
Aleem Dar
Billy Doctrove
Tony Hill
Jeff Crowe- Match Referee
The video review system is in place for this series
Coverage
Cricinfo Scorecard and commentary
Cricket Australia Scorecard and commentary
Session Times all local, add 1 hour for rest of East, 30 mins for Adelaide and remove 2 hours for Perth
1st Session - 10:00 - 12:00
2nd Session - 12:40 - 14:40
3rd Sessions - 15:00 - 17:00 + 30 minutes for poor over rates every day...
Weather
Showers, showers and more showers forecast throughout the first 4 days although just expecting early ones on days 2 and 3 and late on day 4, likely more on the 5th as well seeing where the forecast is headed. Be 26-27 degree maximums across the test.
Brisbane has been wet as always so some life expected in the pitch, conditions dont seem to bad though this week and a run fest early may be expected again once seen off the new ball, the limited overs pitches have been very flat and with a bit of pace and bounce in them. With no storms forecast we probably wont see a game like the NZ one a few years back
Betting
The punters are favouring Australia despite everything else against them
1st Test
Australia 2.10
England 3.00
Draw 3.70
Series
Australia 1.85
England 2.90
Draw 5.00
Tickets
Sold out days 1-3
