Image via WikipediaThe Ashes is definitely the most-anticipated series across the world - the amount of articles written about it are numerous. Being an Indian, I feel that the India-Australia or the India-Pakistan series are even more liked but that is probably restricted to the Indian sub-continent.
Interviews are happening with almost every English player active in the cricketing circles. There are a number of people who believe that England has a chance to retain their urn while some more think that the Aussies will be able to repeat the performance of the last Ashes in Australia (which they won 5-0). The TV crews are all over the place in Australia while the English at home are following the action very closely.
The
English team has started the warm-up matches in right earnest - the Indians must take a leaf out of their English counterparts - by starting the tour almost three weeks earlier and getting used to the ball, bounce, pitches in Australia. One can only laud the ECB for their planning. Will Andy Flower succeed where his predecessors failed?
The teams are evenly matched at this time - probably, the
spin bowling department is one where
Swann scores higher than Hauritz. The spectators must be hoping for the lead batsmen (
Kevin Pietersen and
Ricky Ponting) to return to form.
England has not done so well to call themselves the favorite for the series but try telling that to their supporters. The Aussies have slipped from the heights of their achievements but on their soil, they are still a mighty force to reckon with. They lost the test series against South Africa but this series should see them straining every sinew to bring back the urn.
I feel that the series will be closely fought but still rate the Aussies as favorite to win the Ashes back.
The great performance that I feel has happened even before the series has started has been (yes, on for the last 14 months) by a person who has been
cycling for more than 25000 kms from Lords to Brisbane - really superb feat by this great person -
HATS OFF!!!
