England's tough challenge against WTC champions Australia in 1st Ashes Test

Betting Odds  

Our Predictions 

• Steven Smith has odds of 4.30 to be the best batsman for Australia in this Test Match  
• Joe Root has odds of 4.14 to be the best batsman for England in this Test Match  
• James Anderson has odds of 3.54 to be the best bowler for England in this game  
• Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Lyon share odds of 3.86 to be Australia's best bowler  

MATCH PREVIEW     

The oldest rivalry in cricket resumes as hosts England take on a confident Australian side in the 1st match of The Ashes, 2023, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The English side won the last game against Ireland and shall feel confident. The Aussies come here with the biggest trophy in Test Cricket after their win against India in the ICC World Test Championship final. They will be in no mood to relent and press hard for a win. England, which has done well against Australia at home over the last decade, would be eying an early lead.  

England Preview     

Ben Stokes would be confident after a good start to the summer as they defeated Ireland two weeks back. The English skipper would have watched Australia's performance in the ICC Test Championship final and know what's in store for his side. His side will be up against a very strong bowling attack, and Stokes would like to use his side's depth in batting to even it out. It will be a tough challenge for them, and the hosts must be on their toes to win this game.  

Ben Duckett did well against Ireland and must carry his form and deliver a good start with Zak Crawley. Ollie Pope comes here with a double hundred, and he must do well in the middle order with Joe Root and Harry Brook. Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, and Moeen Ali make it a formidable batting line-up, and they must do well down the order as the confident Australian bowlers would probe them.  

England may field the experienced new ball pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad in what will be their last Ashes series. They must strike early in the game to put the Aussies under pressure. Mark Wood and Stokes will need to hit the deck hard and bowl good likes for the side to be in a comfortable position. Ali and Root must do well with the old ball as they take on a batting line-up in good form.  

Expected Starting XI for England

Ben Stokes (c), Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Mark Wood, Moeen Ali 

Australia Preview      

Pat Cummins' side is the World Test Champion, and they put up an incredible show against India in the Final. However, the Aussie skipper won't want this glory to deviate their focus from this all-important game. They haven't won the Ashes in England since 2001, and Cummins shall like to change that. It is one of the strongest Aussie sides to tour England since the turn of the century, and they would look for an early lead.  

Usman Khawaja struggled against the Indians and will look to provide the side with a positive start, opening the batting with David Warner. Travis Head is in the form of his life, and he will look to set up partnerships with Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the middle order. Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and Cummins add strength to this line-up and will look to do well.  

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are in good form, and they will look to make good use of the moisture on the surface. Scott Boland will be confident after his good show against India in the last game. Nathan Lyon will have a key role in this game and add to his more than a hundred wickets in Ashes. Cameron Green and Labuschagne will look to do well in the supporting role.   

Expected Starting XI for Australia     

Pat Cummins (c), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland 

TOSS: To Bowl First      

The side batting first has lost four games in the last five games at this venue. The conditions at Edgbaston are good for fast bowlers at the start of the game. It is challenging to bat on this track on the first day, and the conditions improve from Day 2 onward. Hence, we believe the side winning the toss would look to bowl first.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

There are predictions for rain in the last two days of the Test Match. It is a fresh wicket, and batting would be tough. The ball is likely to seam and swing during the game. The pitch will likely have some grass cover. The average 1st innings score is 306, and the side batting first shall be happy to have 350 on the board.  

OUR PREDICTION      

The English team has dominated the Aussies at home in the last decade. But they face the toughest Australian side to visit them since 2005. The hosts have to bat well against the pace attack that Australians have. The Aussies come here with their confidence soaring, and they have the right balance in batting and bowling. We expect a close contest here, but our money would be on Australia, thanks to their stronger bowling attack.  

Our Prediction is for Australia to win