With England having comprehensively retained the Urn during the last encounter, which represented the lowest point for Australian cricket since the mid 80’s, time has moved on, allowing the Aussies time for a media circus to unfold and a national enquiry to take place. Accordingly, changes have been aplenty in the Oz set-up, and not before time. Thankfully, the tenure of Andrew Hilditch as chief selector is mercifully at an end. Time also came to an end for coach Tim Nielsen, replaced by Mickey Arthur, a South African! Michael Clarke has succeeded Ricky Ponting as captain, and a number of changes have already taken place on the selection front, with more sure to follow between now and 2013.
Following the two-Test series with New Zealand, the rebuilding Aussies have a four-Test series against an Indian side, who appear to be on the very edge of a transitional period themselves. Then comes a three Test-match series in the West Indies, where the Aussies will be expecting to do well. During the Oz summer next year, South Africa and Sri Lanka will be coming over for three Tests each, before Australia fly off to India for four Tests, and then hopefully participation in the inaugural Test play-off in England, before the battle for the Ashes kicks off.
In terms of player personnel, I’d expect both Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey to have retired, along with possibly Brad Haddin. The last of the old guard would effectively be all gone, as the next generation for the baggygreen dig themselves in for the long haul. The batting is likely to be built around Michael Clarke, who seems to have taken to his new role of captain like a duck to water.
Since England’s historic win down under, during which several records were broken, they have gone from strength to strength, and now currently sit as the number one ranked Test nation in the world. Gone are the days of England being a calamitous outfit, where selectors were often accused of “shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic” when they made changes. It would seem that the pendulum has swung, with the England Test squad as strong as it’s ever been during the modern era. It really is amazing to think how far England have come under the watchful eye of coach Andy Flower, given the shambolic state of affairs under Peter Moores.
England have quite a challenging road to the ashes themselves, starting with a three-test match series against an improving Pakistan in the UAE. This will be followed with two Tests against a rapidly declining Sri Lanka away. The English home season will then feature three Tests each against the West Indies and South Africa. A tough away series in India for four Tests follows, with a further three against New Zealand in the land of the long white cloud! The Kiwis then back up with two more Tests to kick start the English summer..
Under the captaincy of Andrew Strauss, England has had a stability that was seen for a period under Michael Vaughan, but has lasted longer this time. A considerably more experienced batting line-up will feature Alistair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell. KP’s inclusion remains to be seen, as does Eoin Morgan’s. Bowling wise, England are blessed with plenty of depth, which has really been the catalyst for their rise to the top of the heap. James Anderson leads an attack that features Steve Finn, Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett. Obviously one of those four would have to make way for the spinner, which is likely to be Graeme Swann.
In all, the England team won’t look that dissimilar to the one that wiped the floor with the Aussies a year ago. By stark contrast, the Aussies will be very much a different outfit. What is in stall for fans of both teams is an anxious wait between now and the middle of 2013, and the promise of a long and drawn out contest spanning half a calendar year, which will almost certainly provide us all with memories that will live forever.
How do you think the lead-up to the next Ashes contest will unfold for these teams? Who do you think will be in the mix for the starting XI’s when it all kicks off? Only 500 odd more sleeps left!
