Cricket: The Ashes latest news, preview & betting odds
“How much do you want a bet?” will probably not be a question ushered by either Ricky Ponting or Andrew Strauss this winter. The recent match fixing allegations may have sent the cricketing world into a manic game of Pakistani whispers but when there is an imminent Ashes series on the horizon, it takes more than some irregular no-ball betting patterns to keep this age old rivalry from the back pages.
It was from an article in The Sporting Times of 1882 that the Ashes got their name and the great competition between England and Australia was created. After the Aussies’ first every victory on English soil, a satirical obituary ruled that English Cricket had died and its remains were to be taken to Australia. The following tour down under was thereafter dubbed as, ‘the quest to regain The Ashes’. Though the urn that lies in the Lords museum does certainly contain ashes, it is much debated from what object they are actually from, with a bail, stump and also a ladies veil all highlighted as possibilities. However, regardless of what remnants occupy one of the smallest sporting trophies in the world, one certainty is that every effort will be made on Australia’s part to regain them and on England’s to retain them.
A glimpse at the competition between these two sides from the 90’s is ill advised for any English fans. Throughout the decade and up until the 2005 series, England had only won one match against the Australians when there was still something to play for. The other six victories they achieved in this period had come after the Ashes had been lost, leaving the disgraceful statistics of played 43, won 7, drawn 8 and lost 28. Indeed, if history is written by the winners, there are no prizes for guessing who the illiterate one was in this rivalry.
Cut to today and this is an entirely different ball game; Ashes victories at home on the last two occasions have seen English cricket enter into arguably its most successful period in history, especially when you consider the 20-20 World Cup winning triumph of last summer. Nevertheless, there is still a substantial feather missing from the English floppy cap. An Ashes victory down under and the achievement of lifting the 14cm trophy on enemy soil would be the sweetest icing Andrew Strauss and his boys would have ever tasted.
Latest Ashes odds and betting offers:
Australia 10/11 (Stan James)
Draw 5/1 (Betfred)
In terms of selection the squad mostly picked itself following such a good summer of cricket so the only real debate lay in the second wicketkeeper, spinner and back-up seamers. Pietersen may have come in for criticism following his less than average year, managing only one test score above fifty, but calls for him to be dropped were never going to be taken seriously; realistically there was more chance of Robert Green starting in goal against Germany then Pietersen missing the flight to Australia.
Chris Tremlett was being touted as an Ashes pick weeks in advance but there was some speculation as to whether Rashid would go instead of Panesar as the second spinner behind Graeme Swann. In the end the selectors opted for the experienced left-arm Monty over the exciting, young prospect. Adil Rashid would have added solid batting ability down the order as well as dangerous leg-spin but this may just be one Ashes series too soon for the 22 year-old. Behind the stumps Steven Davies is preferred to Craig Kieswetter but Matt Prior is a certainty to be given the gloves. The manner in which he dispatched the Australian attack in 2009 was instrumental in getting England on the front foot and he would ultimately finish the series as England’s second top run scorer.
Other than Panesar or Rashid, the other hesitation was whether you take Bresnan or Shahzad. Anderson and Broad are now an internationally feared seam pairing, Finn scooped up the ICC Emerging Player of the Year trophy but although Tim Bresnan has cemented his place in the one-day side, playing an important role in the 20-20 World Cup winning eleven, his test match status had come into question after a poor series against whipping boys Bangladesh. Shahzad meanwhile took three wickets in three overs in the second innings of his test match debut against said opposition and finished with 57 wickets in first class cricket last year. Perhaps unsurprisingly though, the selectors stuck with a winning formula giving Bresnan the nod for the main 16-man group. Ajmal Shahzad will have to settle for a place on the EPP (England Performance Programme) squad; a chance for those with great potential to train and tour together in an England environment.
For the first time in twenty years, England have a side that should not fear how badly it could lose but should instead concentrate on how well it can win. With no McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist or Hayden, Strauss and co will be in the unfamiliar position of being able to sleep before a match. The favourites tag will be tough to deal with alongside an ever growing level of expectation but with training done and warm-ups complete, all the Barmy Army can do now is wake up ‘Bill the Bugler’ and say a prayer for the middle-order.
Latest Ashes odds and betting offers:
Australia 10/11 (Stan James)
Draw 5/1 (Betfred)
You’re amazing!!
Cracking article.