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In what could be the most-anticipated Ashes series in recent memory, the unstoppable BazBall force comes up against the immovable World Test Championship-winning Australia across six weeks of irresistible Test cricket.
England were not at the races when the teams met in Australia for the 2021/22 series, though it'd be fair to say recent form of this series' hosts makes the five matches truly tantalising.
Taking a 4-0 beating 18 months ago, and having any chance of a World Test Championship Final tarnished, England used the second half of their cycle to experiment. Joe Root stepped aside, Ben Stokes stepped up, and new red-ball coach Brendon McCullum rung the changes.
The results were so devastating for their opponents, their defeat Down Under has become a distant memory, to the point where England quick Stuart Broad declared the series "void", amidst other logistical complications. The side have since 11 of 13 matches since McCullum's appointment, a record that stacks up against their rivals, who went on to lift the 2023 mace just a few days ago.
A common ground of world-class cricket by the pair was Pakistan in the last World Test Championship cycle, both bringing back series victories. England went about proceedings with their now-trademark approach; Australia meanwhile used their grit and grind to victory.
There's nothing to suggest that either team will deviate, setting up a gripping six weeks.
Ashes History
Series played: 72
Australia wins: 34
England wins: 32
Draws: 6
England last won the Ashes in 2015, with Australia claiming the 2017/2018 Ashes and retaining the urn with a 2-2 series draw in the UK in 2019. Australia won the 2021/2022 series 4-0.
Team News
England have already named their XI for the first Test, picking both James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who have recovered from groin and ankle injuries respectively.
All-rounder Moeen Ali has also come out of retirement to play as England's frontline spinner, replacing Jack Leach after he suffered a stress fracture in the Lord's Test against Ireland.
England Team
1. Ben Duckett
2. Zak Crawley
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Ben Stokes *
7. Jonathan Bairstow +
8. Moeen Ali
9. Stuart Broad
10. Ollie Robinson
11. James Anderson
Australia at this point are mulling over their bowling options, with Scott Boland potentially bolting into the side following his strong WTC23 Final performance.
As Josh Hazlewood comes back from an Achilles problem, the tourists may opt to save the 32-year-old for the second Test at Lord's.
The Australians will stick with a set seven, and boast the three top Test batters in the world according to the MRF Tyres rankings: Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head.
Head, whose brash batting plays in parallel to England's modus operandi, comes into the series having been crowned Player of the Match of the World Test Championship Final.
Pat Cummins, securing the WTC Final and looking to the Ashes: "We've seen it as one big tour with two huge titles to play for — and (it’s) good to tick the first one off.
“(The) Ashes tend to define eras and teams. Ashes are bloody hard to win. I think it's been 20-odd years.
"It's not going to be easy — but if we were to win it, that is legacy-defining stuff."
Ricky Ponting on ‘BazBall’: “It's been refreshing to see England’s win-at-all-costs mentality, not caring about losing a game – or not putting that ahead of trying to win a game,” Ponting said. “For that fact, I can't wait for the Ashes to start.”
Brendon McCullum on their batting approach for the series: “At the first sign of trouble, you can’t run away from it. Or at the first sign of all the eyeballs in the world watching you, you can’t run away from what’s been most successful for you.
“The more that’s at stake, the more it’s important to keep it simple and relaxed, to do what gives you your greatest chance.
James Anderson to The Guardian on England’s tactics: "I just think if we do what we’ve been doing and play as well as we possibly can, I don’t think anyone in the world can cope with it."
Stuart Broad on the last series held during Covid (to Daily Mail): “In my mind I don’t class that as a real Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game.
“I’ve written it off as a void series.”
Mitchell Starc, in response to Stuart Broad’s comments (Sydney Morning Herald): “The Poms had the pool, the gym, they were in a resort on the Gold Coast, they trained at Metricon, weren’t confined to their rooms and had their families there.
“Was that really quarantine? They were still allowed to play golf on tour. Is that an excuse for 4-0? Dunno. It was a pretty good series to be a part of.”
Stuart Broad, in response to Starc via Instagram: “How many Test matches did Starcy play away from home during Covid? Trying to do the maths on it. Zero wasn’t it?”
Harry Brook on taking on Nathan Lyon: “If he bowls a good ball then I’m going to respect it. But other than that, I’m going to try and take him on. He could get a lot of wickets, but hopefully we’re going to hit him for a lot of runs.”
Steve Smith on Australia potentially attacking Moeen Ali in response: “Leachy’s (Jack Leach) not here so they don’t have a left-arm spinner, so it’s a bit different, the ball’s spinning in. I’m sure there will be times facing Mo there will be times where we’re a bit more aggressive and times where we bring it back."
Squads
Australia (first two Test matches): Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
England: Ben Stokes (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
ICC
==
All posters please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:
1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staffs etc.
2. No making fun of player's, official's, coaching staff's names.
3. Do not add any references to media, their social media or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.
4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.
England were not at the races when the teams met in Australia for the 2021/22 series, though it'd be fair to say recent form of this series' hosts makes the five matches truly tantalising.
Taking a 4-0 beating 18 months ago, and having any chance of a World Test Championship Final tarnished, England used the second half of their cycle to experiment. Joe Root stepped aside, Ben Stokes stepped up, and new red-ball coach Brendon McCullum rung the changes.
The results were so devastating for their opponents, their defeat Down Under has become a distant memory, to the point where England quick Stuart Broad declared the series "void", amidst other logistical complications. The side have since 11 of 13 matches since McCullum's appointment, a record that stacks up against their rivals, who went on to lift the 2023 mace just a few days ago.
A common ground of world-class cricket by the pair was Pakistan in the last World Test Championship cycle, both bringing back series victories. England went about proceedings with their now-trademark approach; Australia meanwhile used their grit and grind to victory.
There's nothing to suggest that either team will deviate, setting up a gripping six weeks.
Ashes History
Series played: 72
Australia wins: 34
England wins: 32
Draws: 6
England last won the Ashes in 2015, with Australia claiming the 2017/2018 Ashes and retaining the urn with a 2-2 series draw in the UK in 2019. Australia won the 2021/2022 series 4-0.
Team News
England have already named their XI for the first Test, picking both James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who have recovered from groin and ankle injuries respectively.
All-rounder Moeen Ali has also come out of retirement to play as England's frontline spinner, replacing Jack Leach after he suffered a stress fracture in the Lord's Test against Ireland.
England Team
1. Ben Duckett
2. Zak Crawley
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Ben Stokes *
7. Jonathan Bairstow +
8. Moeen Ali
9. Stuart Broad
10. Ollie Robinson
11. James Anderson
Australia at this point are mulling over their bowling options, with Scott Boland potentially bolting into the side following his strong WTC23 Final performance.
As Josh Hazlewood comes back from an Achilles problem, the tourists may opt to save the 32-year-old for the second Test at Lord's.
The Australians will stick with a set seven, and boast the three top Test batters in the world according to the MRF Tyres rankings: Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head.
Head, whose brash batting plays in parallel to England's modus operandi, comes into the series having been crowned Player of the Match of the World Test Championship Final.
Pat Cummins, securing the WTC Final and looking to the Ashes: "We've seen it as one big tour with two huge titles to play for — and (it’s) good to tick the first one off.
“(The) Ashes tend to define eras and teams. Ashes are bloody hard to win. I think it's been 20-odd years.
"It's not going to be easy — but if we were to win it, that is legacy-defining stuff."
Ricky Ponting on ‘BazBall’: “It's been refreshing to see England’s win-at-all-costs mentality, not caring about losing a game – or not putting that ahead of trying to win a game,” Ponting said. “For that fact, I can't wait for the Ashes to start.”
Brendon McCullum on their batting approach for the series: “At the first sign of trouble, you can’t run away from it. Or at the first sign of all the eyeballs in the world watching you, you can’t run away from what’s been most successful for you.
“The more that’s at stake, the more it’s important to keep it simple and relaxed, to do what gives you your greatest chance.
James Anderson to The Guardian on England’s tactics: "I just think if we do what we’ve been doing and play as well as we possibly can, I don’t think anyone in the world can cope with it."
Stuart Broad on the last series held during Covid (to Daily Mail): “In my mind I don’t class that as a real Ashes. The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game.
“I’ve written it off as a void series.”
Mitchell Starc, in response to Stuart Broad’s comments (Sydney Morning Herald): “The Poms had the pool, the gym, they were in a resort on the Gold Coast, they trained at Metricon, weren’t confined to their rooms and had their families there.
“Was that really quarantine? They were still allowed to play golf on tour. Is that an excuse for 4-0? Dunno. It was a pretty good series to be a part of.”
Stuart Broad, in response to Starc via Instagram: “How many Test matches did Starcy play away from home during Covid? Trying to do the maths on it. Zero wasn’t it?”
Harry Brook on taking on Nathan Lyon: “If he bowls a good ball then I’m going to respect it. But other than that, I’m going to try and take him on. He could get a lot of wickets, but hopefully we’re going to hit him for a lot of runs.”
Steve Smith on Australia potentially attacking Moeen Ali in response: “Leachy’s (Jack Leach) not here so they don’t have a left-arm spinner, so it’s a bit different, the ball’s spinning in. I’m sure there will be times facing Mo there will be times where we’re a bit more aggressive and times where we bring it back."
Squads
Australia (first two Test matches): Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner
England: Ben Stokes (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
ICC
==
All posters please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:
1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staffs etc.
2. No making fun of player's, official's, coaching staff's names.
3. Do not add any references to media, their social media or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.
4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.
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