It would be a tough call to make at this moment. Australians have done well in the last two years, where they have won 11 matches and lost only three times. During the same period, England won 12 games and lost 10. However, the English Lions have dominated the Australians at home, winning eight games and losing only four. Hence, we expect a great contest between the two teams as England looks to guard its home fort while the Aussies look to conquer it for the first time in over two decades.
England Team Preview
Ben Stokes would lead the side for the first time in an Ashes series at home. The squad for the first two games doesn’t have any surprise other than Josh Tongue, who has received a much-deserved call after his impressive debut against Ireland. They have gone for tried and tested players and shall look to play to their strengths and trouble the Aussies with seaming and swinging bowling conditions.
On the batting front, the side will rely on Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, and Moeen Ali, who has come out of retirement for the series. They will have to bat well, as the Australian bowling attack has made the right noises during the ICC World Test Championship final. The series would feature Stuart Broad and James Anderson, perhaps in an Ashes at home for the last time. The old workhorses would look to make this memorable. Mark Wood. Chris Woakes and Ali need to play their parts well.
English Squad
Ben Stokes (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope (wk), Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Australia Team Preview
Pat Cummins will be eying the most coveted trophy in Australian cricket. A generation of legendary captains, including Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, and Tim Paine, have failed to take the trophy home from England. No player in the squad has been part of an Ashes series win on English soil. Cummins has the resources with a strong batting line-up and one of the best pace attacks in the world. He will look to make it count this summer.
Travis Head has been in excellent form, and he along with Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, are the mainstays of this line-up. Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, and David Warner would have to play their parts well in the game. The side will bank on its pace attack, and Cummins will look to lead from the front. Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green, and Nathan Lyon have important roles to play in this series for the Aussies to emerge victorious.
Australia Squad
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
What Are The Odds?
The bookmakers have already assigned odds for the series in favour of Australia, as the side has enjoyed a good run in the last 12 months. The odds are as follows –
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