Ashes 2005 Preview

As we near closer to the first day of play for the 2005 Ashes Series, Sports Australia’s newest addition, James Willoughby assesses both sides best XI in this exclusive preview.

AUSTRALIA

Matthew Hayden – Rating: 8

Hayden is one the world’s best batsmen and when he gets going, it is near impossible to stop the big man from Kingaroy, Queensland as demonstrated by his mammoth 380 against Zimbabwe. With a batting average of 53.46, including 20 Test centuries, the English must take advantage of his sometime streaky starts, or they could be in for a long series. His strength is down the ground, so the English bowlers must be careful not to bowl too full.

Justin Langer – Rating: 8

The man who was criticized in his earlier days for not being aggressive enough and boring to watch, has turned his career around in the last couple of years, smashing 1481 runs in the 2004 season. His last innings in England, was a superb 102 not out where he came in as an opener for the axed Michael Slater, and surpassed all expectations after being previously dropped in the 2001 Ashes Series. A lovely cutter and driver, short balls will be punished.

Ricky Ponting – Rating: 9

Ponting is the man who was rated the best teenage batsmen Rod Marsh has ever seen, has lived up to all his hype and is a exceptional player with an average exceeding 56 heading into this Ashes Series. Ponting has never led the Australian team into an Ashes Test, so this coming Thursday will be a new experience which the Tasmanian will enjoy. As well as his brilliant batting prowess, Ponting is an exceptional fielder who takes miracle catches and hits the stumps with relative ease.

Damien Martyn – Rating: 8

Martyn is a man who makes batting look so simple, and will need to be firing on all cylinders in this critical Ashes series. Martyn has scored 11 Test Centuries all on different grounds and if he can hit a couple of tons this series, providing he doesn’t make one at Edgbaston, and the amazing stat will continue. His strong point is his offside play and likes the ball short of a length.

Michael Clarke – Rating: 7

This test series could be career-defining for Michael Clarke. After some great early success, where he made a flurry of high scores including a Test on debut in India, Clarke has struggled of late to reach the lofty heights of his first few innings. However if Clarke has a strong series, and posts some high scores, his place will remain cemented down in the Australian team. But expect the Aussies to stick by Clarke, if he doesn’t hit peak form - he is the 2005 Allan Border Medallist, and would have to do a lot wrong to get dumped from the side.

Simon Katich – Rating: 7

Katich is the man who if he cannot hit peak form, may be dropped in order to give a player like Brad Hodge or Mike Hussey an opportunity. That may be harsh, but Katich is nearing 30 and despite the odd big score, hasn’t regularly been making lots of runs. He is a fantastic player square of the wicket, and has a good pull shot, so if the ball is being banged in short Katich will be making runs. Bowls useful left-arm chinamen as demonstrated by his 6-65 against Zimbabwe in 2003.

Adam Gilchrist – Rating: 10

This is the player, who definitely holds the key to the series. He is Australia’s match winner, with his bludgeoning knocks at number 7, and his brilliant quality behind the stumps. More often than not, when in trouble Gilchrist is the man to stand up and take control and with an average of 55.64 and 20 Test centuries he is the man to watch.

Shane Warne – Rating: 9

Warne has had the wood over England in the past and is an unknown prospect to most of the batsmen, as he did not feature in the One-Day Series due to retirement from the shorter version of the game. His ripping leg-breaks will prove a big problem and Warne has lots of experience on bowling on English pitches, playing for Hampshire in the English County Game. Needs to fire.

Brett Lee – Rating: 8

The tearaway quick proved problems for England in the One-Day Series, and will look to do so again, this time with the red ball. Lee is somewhat of an unproven player at Test level, and despite strong performances in the shorter version of the game, whether he can be the new ball bowler Australia want remains to be seen. However, he is in good form and expect him to step up to the challenge.

Jason Gillespie – Rating: 8

At the time of publication, it was unknown whether it would be Gillespie or Kasprowicz playing in the final bowlers position but I have chosen Gillespie. I think that he will bounce back, because he is a quality bowler and enjoys bowling with the red ball. He bangs the ball into the deck and is a dangerous bowler but can he recapture his form back? My guess is Yes, he will fight back.

Glenn McGrath – Rating: 9

McGrath just needs one more victim for his 500th Test Wicket, stuck on 499 at the current time. McGrath, despite being 35 is a fantastic bowler and loves the English conditions, especially Lords – the scene of the first Test. My guess is that he will get his 500th wicket rather quickly as he has the wood over Marcus Trescothick in recent battles. Needs to lead the bowling attack from the front.

ENGLAND

Marcus Trescothick – Rating: 7

Trescothick is a player who has struggled in the past against Australia as the figures show. His Test Average is 45.47 but his Average against Australia drops a whopping 16.37 runs per game, down to 29.10. Likes the offside, but has had trouble with McGrath and needs to get on top of the bowlers early.

Andrew Strauss – Rating: 8

One of England’s 3 great hopes, just ignore the fact they’re all from countries other than England (Strauss, Pietersen: South Africa, G Jones: Australia). Strauss goes about his cricket, very similar to Justin Langer – both having spent time together at Middlesex. Strauss has made a whirlwind start to his career, but to maintain his current average of 55.12, he will need to have an almighty good series.

Michael Vaughan – Rating: 8

One of England’s rare batting successes against Australia in recent times was Vaughan’s trip to Australia in 2003, when he showed a lot of poise and promise, showing up other members of the England team. The skipper will need to be on his game, and expect the Aussies to target Vaughan.

Graham Thorpe – Rating: 8

Thorpe is an elegant player, who with 16 Test centuries is the most successful English batsmen. However, Thorpe is edging closer to 36 and is getting near his Ashes finale. Thorpe has just played 1 test against Australia since 2001, so he will be keen to get out there and make a score. Needs to make runs.

Kevin Pietersen – Rating: 7

Despite having made a brilliant start to one-day cricket, the jury is still out on Pietersen’s form in the five-day game. Will his bludgeoning style of batting, suit Test cricket? Pietersen does have one very good strength and that is his ability to play himself in for a long time, then once set, start punishing the bowlers. Along with Flintoff, holds the key for England.

Andrew Flintoff – Rating: 9

Every time I see Flintoff play he keeps getting better, looking like the ultimate all-rounder. He can be defensive and build an innings or he can slog, and he bowls quite well and troubled the Australians in the One-Day Series. Has dropped a lot of weight which has helped him significantly, and if England are to win the Ashes, the man they call ‘Freddy’ must fire.

Geraint Jones – Rating: 8

Jones is a very good wicketkeeper, whose batting skills are always improving. It seems that England have tried to model him into the next Adam Gilchrist, by opening him in some previous One-Day Series. The man who at one stage was rated the 4th best wicketkeeper in Queensland, has now progressed into a very handy player for England.

Ashley Giles – Rating: 7

Although Giles has improved of late, he in my mind has never troubled the Australian batsmen. He tries hard and bowls fairly well, but doesn’t have the repertoire that a Shane Warne has. Australia will look to target Giles for runs, and with seemingly no-one in line behind Giles, if Australia can dominate him early it could be a long series for Giles.

Matthew Hoggard – Rating: 8

Hoggard is one player who gives 100% every time he steps out on the field, and with him not playing the One-Day Series could be a unknown prospect to the Australians early on. The Yorkshireman is deceptively quick, and moves the ball away from the right-hander. Could be dangerous and can bowl all day.

Simon Jones – Rating: 7

Jones, who was very good in the summer Test series against South Africa for England, looked down in the One-Day series and didn’t seem to pose a real threat for Australia. He is relatively quick but can be wayward at times, and is another player the Aussies will target for runs.

Simon Harmison – Rating: 9

Harmison is going to be a key player for England, over these next couple of months as he is the one bowler who currently has the wood over Australia. He gets a lot of bounce from his gangly frame but can be expensive also and Australia will try to take advantage of this. One man Australia need to stop.

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