Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh predicts the upcoming Magellan Ashes series will go in favour of hosts 3-1 while believing the Steven Smith side is a strong force to reckon in their home conditions.
“I think Australia will win 3-1,” Waugh told Sky Sports Radio and was quoted by Cricket Australia.
The veteran batsman Waugh also felt Joe Root-led England side is going to face the stern test if star all-rounder Ben Stokes would miss out on travelling to Australia for the traditional five-match Test series.
“England without Ben Stokes, if he doesn’t come, I don’t think they can win the Ashes,” Waugh added.
Pertinently, in 2015 under the leadership of Alastair Cook England clinched the Ashes series 3-2 at home and this time around Waugh believes it would difficult for the Three Lions to retain the Urn.
“Without Ben Stokes, we’ll win. I can’t see England winning,” Waugh maintained.
Earlier, The 26-year-old Durham star Stokes was grilled following the street -brawl in Bristol on September 25.
Expressing somewhat a concern, Waugh dictated terms while saying the visitors’ senior bowlers in the form of James Anderson and Stuart Broad would feel the heat while adding the senior campaigners won’t be able to play five Tests on trot owing to their age.
“It’s too much pressure on [Stuart] Broad and [James] Anderson, and they’re getting a bit older, and I can’t see them playing five Test matches straight,” Waugh asserted.
Waugh reiterated Stokes should not be allowed to take field while revealing had the latter being from Australia he would not have been allowed to be the part of the team after bringing bad name to the gentleman’s game.
“I think if it was anyone in the Australian side, they wouldn’t be picked. It just didn’t look good and it’s a bad image for the game,” Waugh said.
As the controversial incident of Stokes is under investigation which already witnessed the batting all-rounder behind bars for causing actual bodily harm to Ryan Hale, the 27-year-old who was hospitalized after facial injuries during the fracas soon after England’s third ODI win over Windies.
(Read Also: Kevin Pietersen Feels England may Suffer Immensely without Mighty Ben Stokes in Ashes 2017-18)
Interestingly, during the altercation with Hale, who is said to be a former British Army man, Stokes while walking down the street alongside teammate and England opener Alex Hales was further quizzed by Avon and Somerset police and both were released without any charges following the savage brawl.
With England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) suspending Stokes and Hales until further notice, the cause is being investigated by the independent committee set-up by ECB itself in the form of Cricket Discipline Commission.
However, Waugh has a strong feeling that ECB selectors have had shown a firm belief in fourth-ranked Test all-rounder Stokes while stating they are trying hard to keep him in the fold.
“I think they (England selectors) are pretty keen for him to play in Australia … he’s probably their best player, so it would be a real shame if he’s not out here,” Waugh concluded.
And Waugh, who was captained in 57 Tests during a golden era of Australian cricket, tipped the hosts to claim a convincing victory in the five-Test series, which starts in Brisbane on November 23.
Waugh, who has had a terrific record under his belt in the Test fold, claimed 41 wins in 57 Tests during his captaincy period.
The former middle-order batsman represented Australia in 168 Test in which he had amassed 10,927 runs at an average of 51.06. During his career, he smashed 32 hundreds and 50 fifties, as he also bagged 92 wickets in 150 innings of the longer format of cricket.
As England squad with the management will fly to Australia on October 28, the top notch sides will face in the first Test which is scheduled in Brisbane from November 23.