With Justin Langer’s position safe from media scrutiny for another year after T20 World Cup success, the cricketing world can now look forwards to the Ashes. Both England and Australia have had their recent struggles in test cricket, but this rivalry almost throws form out of the window, and rewards those with the mental grit to get through one of the biggest rivalries in all of sport.
Jo Harman, magazine editor for Wisden Cricket Monthly, spoke to me about how he views this England side, why England have struggled so much over in Australia, and what figures Joe Root will need to attain to see him lifting that prestigious urn come mid-January in Perth.
“When England teams are in Australia one thing they’ve got to overcome is history”.
I asked Jo about what England will struggle with this Ashes tour, and he believes that Australia’s ‘Serious bowing attack, particularly the three seamers of Hazelwood, Cummins and Starc’ are a dangerous, formidable attack. Although he believes that there is vulnerability in their batting line-up.
Harman also believes that “For England to win the series it’s probably got to be a reasonably low scoring series” as England’s current openers didn’t have the greatest of summers, often being bailed out by Joe Root.
On England’s bowling attack Jo believes that it is unlikely that Broad and Anderson will line up together in the same side alongside, with them playing alongside Wood as long as he is fit. He also singled out Ollie Robinson due to his “brilliant start to his test career, having an exceptional record in his brief career so far, crucially against high class opponents of India and New Zealand.
“What he has shown so far is his consistency is so good, he should be effective anywhere, if he is hitting off stump as regularly as he is doing just enough with the ball and bowling from a good height… I think he’ll have a good series”.
“Whatever situation the team is in Stokes might just be able to pull you out of it”
The initial omission of Ben Stokes from the England Ashes squad due to his own personal reasons left many England fans in serious doubt over their chances in the series. However, with his comeback to the squad, belief around the England fans instantly rose.
Jo agreed that the addition of Stokes can not only bring the quality of the team up, but also the morale, adding: “when England walk out at the Gabba they will feel so much more confident because Ben Stokes is walking out alongside them."
However, he also added not to expect too much from Stokes due to the lack of game time he has had over the last 6 months, as well as the finger injury he sustained in July.
“When Stokes is around, he usually pulls something out of the bag”.
It is not just Ben Stokes that can give England the hope, however. Australia’s test form over the last year to 18 months has not particularly been to be desired in the limited games they have played. The India test, despite Rishabh Pants heroics, was not a great look for Australia, because of the weakened India side, without their captain Virat Kohli.
Harman said: “England can take heart from (the India) series. India are a wonderful test team but that was an understrength team minus Kohli and a lot of their bowlers.”
He also compared Rishabh Pant’s heroics in that game to Jos Buttler, and the sporadic displays of that type of cricket he has shown, while having the ability to turn a game on its head.
Finally, I asked Jo for his prediction for this Ashes, to which he believes will be a 3-1 Australia win, maybe 3-2 just to add drama and to finally have a close test in Australia, with Stokes giving that tiny boost of enthusiasm.
Here is the link to myself and Jo's whole, unedited chat: https://youtu.be/ga4kar_h7jE