Another battle begins for historic urn

cardiff, July 7

A callow England team, with a new coach, take on a bullish and streetwise Australia in an intriguing Ashes series which should provide plenty of drama and aggressive cricket. Michael Clarke's touring side will attempt to win the urn on English soil for the first time in 14 years and Alastair Cook's hosts will try to win back the trophy following their crushing 5-0 defeat in the last series Down Under.

Two years ago Australia went into the Ashes with a new coach in Darren Lehman and lost 3-0, but it was a victory margin which flattered England. This time around the hosts will be led by Australian coach Trevor Bayliss who will aim to build on the feel-good factor generated by England's impressive resurgence in the recent One-day series against New Zealand.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes having the 52-year-old Bayliss at the helm will give England an advantage. “He knows a lot of us very well,” Watson said. “He'll have these ideas about how he can try to expose our team. The edge will be the inside information he will have. But we know that if we are at our best we will be very hard to beat.”

After two barren years Alastair Cook has rediscovered his batting form but doubts remain about whether he has the captaincy acumen to outwit the Australians.

“I'm not sure how much flair he has,” said former England captain Mike Brearley who masterminded three Ashes victories.

“It will be difficult for him if things don't go well to start with — and if he doesn't feel he's got the same spirit that the team have had in the One-day matches recently, and if he doesn't quite feel in charge.

“Alastair Cook is not a big extrovert. He's not somebody who is going to change things in dramatic ways.”

Significant advantage

Brearley thinks Australia have a significant advantage in their bowling attack spearheaded by Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

“Australia are a very tough team,” Brearley said. “On paper, they're a better team than us. They've certainly got better bowling than we have.

“But we're playing at our home grounds, which makes a difference. If we can get that spirit going, and people play to their best, then we've got a chance.”

England were lifted in the New Zealand series by positive and match-changing innings from their middle-order batsmen.

“One of the exciting things is the flair in the young players from number five to number eight — Joe Root is a terrific player, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali,” Brearley said.

Cook will need major contributions from his experienced opening bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad and will be desperate for Gary Ballance and Ian Bell to rediscover their form at No. 3 and 4.

England could be tempted to play leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the first Test in Cardiff starting on Wednesday but it would be a gamble given the prolific form of the Australians. — Reuters

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