With Australia announcing their squad for the first two Tests, the stage is all set for the first Test in Brisbane. The Ashes is all about the intense rivalry between the two teams, and rivalry gets the best out of the players. The Australia Cricket Board on Friday announced a 13 men squad and had picked the trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins along with Nathan Lyon to take on the English batsmen.
In the batting department, the onus will be on experienced shoulders of David Warner and Steve Smith, whereas Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh will have the responsibility to bat in the middle order. Players are now preparing themselves for individual battles and get the better of each other.
Let’s have a look at three key player battles for the upcoming series-:
David Warner Vs Stuart Broad
Australia’s vice-captain David Warner is one of the key players in the Australian team if they want to regain the Urn. Warner’s hard-hitting playing style has helped the team gain supremacy over the touring teams in recent times. Warner’s aggressive nature and get it attitude has helped his team stay motivated and fired up for the upcoming challenges. His verbal banters, and tactics have already begun, and his rivalry against Stuart Broad will be a contest to watch.
Broad has already labelled Warner as a real threat for England and has cautioned his bowling partners about Warner’s abilities at the top of the order. Broad has never backed out of a challenge and this time around too Broad has said that he ready to help his team retain the Urn. Broad recorded one of the best Ashes spells in the previous series when he picked up eight wickets giving away just 15 runs.
Josh Hazelwood Vs Alastair Cook
Alastair Cook is the most experienced batsmen in the England team and played his first Ashes in 2009. He has been a part of four Ashes-winning campaigns with one of them being in Australia in 2010. Cook played brilliantly in the 2010 Ashes in Australia and scored in bulk for the England team making him the highest run scorer in the series. Cook has been one of England’s mainstay at the top of the order and England’s success will depend on how the veteran plays in the series.
He will be up against a bowler who is making a comeback to international cricket from an injury lay-off, Josh Hazelwood. Hazelwood along with Mitchell Starc will lead the Australian bowling attack and will hold the key to stop the England top order. Hazelwood led the Australian attack in Starc’s absence and did pretty well and has earned a reputation of a master in line and length for himself over this period.
Mitchell Starc Vs Joe Root
Mitchell Starc believes he will repeat the heroics of Mitchell Johnson in the upcoming series and has already warned Joe Root and the rest of England Batting line up to brace themselves for Mitchell Johnson 2.0. Starc is also returning from a long injury lay-off but his recent fiery spells in the Sheffield Shield are a sign to worry for the English batsmen.
On the other hand, England’s captain Joe Root will have the responsibility of tackling Starc. Root is England’s X-factor in the batting department for the upcoming series, and the Australian bowlers are well aware of this factor. Nathan Lyon recently in an interview said that all the Aussie bowlers are focusing on the England captain Joe Root.
The first Ashes Test begins on 23rd November at Gabba in Brisbane.