Ashes 2009 - What are our chances?

Finally, it’s nearly here! After years of anticipation and hope, the Ashes are returning to England, but what chance does this under performing England side have against a new look Australia? With Kevin Pieterson leading from the front for England and no Glen McGrath, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist or Justin Langer for Australia I think England have a decent chance of banishing those demons who have been haunting them since the 5-0 white wash in the 2006 Ashes in Australia.

Now it’s not as easy as I am making it out to be. Australia may be without some of their star men, but they still have Ricky Ponting, the best number 3 batsman and captain in the world, Simon Katich who is scoring runs for fun at the moment, Matthew Hayden, one of Australia’s better players in 2005 and Brett Lee, one of the fastest bowlers in the world. So it’s by far a weak Australian team. However, they are yet to replace Shane Warne with a leg spinner of a respectable standard, they have failed to bring in someone that has the same effect on the game as Adam Gilchrist and no one will ever be able to replace the legendary Glen McGrath. Australia are not the dominant force they were in 2005 or ’06, they are an old side, who base their still of play on experience rather than the pure aggression we saw in ’05 and ’06.

England, on the other hand, have got a healthy mix of experience, aggression and athleticism, with Kevin Pieterson possessing all three attributes. Peter Moores (England coach) has brought back the once great Steve Harmison, who was one of the stars in ’05; he has been patient in bringing back Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff from his recurring ankle injury and there are talks that he may be bringing back the master of reverse swing, Simon Jones, who is most remembered for ripping Ricky Ponting’s off-stump out of the ground in the ’05 Ashes series. However, it is not just older, more experienced players that Peter Moores has worked into this England team. He has also brought in youthful players such as Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Samit Patel and Stuart Broad. All of which he has picked out of the county leagues where Peter Moores made his name as coach of Sussex.

Despite what I have said, England do have there problems building up to the next Ashes series. The England wicket-keeper position is still vacant of a solid applicant, all the wicket-keepers in the pipe line have their flaws, Ambrose isn’t good enough at batting, Prior makes a lot of mistakes, the list goes on. Whilst I am on the point of selection, I don’t see the logic behind picking Stuart Broad above several other worthy replacements, he is only in the team because he can bat at number 8, that’s it! He is supposed to be a bowler and his main priority should be to take wickets, but he doesn’t even do that. He doesn’t have the pace to trouble the likes of Ricky Ponting and he doesn’t have the experience and intelligence to vary his line, length and pace like the great Glen McGrath used to do. I am not saying that you have to be as good as Glen McGrath to get into the England team but at least show potential as a top wicket taker. Stuart Broad still fails to step up to the big stage of test cricket and I don’t understand his constant selection into this team.

As you can see both sides have there strengths and weaknesses leading up to this Ashes series and it is hard to predict the outcome of the series as Cricket is an unpredictable sport in its self. However, there is one thing separating these two teams and I think it will be the difference in 2009, that difference is Kevin Pieterson. This South African born, big hitting number 3 possesses the aggression needed to battle the Australians and with him leading the charge in 2009, I think that is what will give England there edge in the summer. He was our main man in ’05 and he’ll be our main man again in ‘09.

I am predicting a 2-1 victory for England in the much anticipated 2009 Ashes, with Kevin Pieterson proving that he is the best in the world.