30 July 2019, by: Jonhenry Wilson

THE ASHES: FIRST TEST PREVIEW

One of Test cricket’s greatest rivalries resumes this week, as England and Australia commence the five-Test Ashes series at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

England suffered somewhat of a World Cup hangover during the opening throes of last week’s one-off Test against Ireland but recovered convincingly. Their ambition to convert limited-overs success to positive results in the Test arena continues this week.

Australia, meanwhile, have three convicted, punished and forgiven ball-tamperers – David Warner, Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft – back in the Test fold. There are two South African-born players – Michael Neser and Marnus Labuschagne – in the 17-man squad, too. Points to prove for all five, indeed.

Not that the Ashes really requires more meaning and value, but this year’s series will be the first of the International Cricket Council’s World Test Championship.

The winner of the series opener will shoot straight to the top of the table with a handy 24 points, leaving the loser stone last with zero. South Africa’s turn at the newly introduced Championship, of course, will come against India later this year.

A lot has been said and written about Ben Stokes lately. From his involvement in that Bristol brawl, a Player of the Match performance in the World Cup final and a stinging nomination for the New Zealander of the Year award – from which he has since withdrawn – the Christchurch-born all-rounder has had a hang of a couple of years with England. He wasn’t around for the last Ashes – and was recently compared to Andrew Flintoff by Ricky Ponting.

James Pattinson hasn’t played Test cricket in three years in the wake of a string of injuries. The fast bowler is back in the fray, though, after a solid showing in first-class cricket this year.

More importantly, he has been bowling for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship Division One – in English conditions. That said, he coughed up an unsatisfactory zero for 64 at Edgbaston – the venue for the Ashes opener – last month. Pattinson, regardless, is in contention for a starting berth this week – perhaps at the expense of Josh Hazlewood.

Australia were at Edgbaston less than three weeks ago for World Cup defeat to eventual champions England. That fixture yielded less than 450 runs – and eight preceding round-robin innings brought only three 300-plus totals.

The last first-class fixture here was more than 50 days ago when Nottinghamshire collapsed to 97 all out. This, then, can’t really be considered a high-scoring venue.

The Australians have won just three Tests in 14 attempts at this ground since the first in 1902. Their last Test victory here was almost two decades ago, in 2001, when a characteristically brash century from Adam Gilchrist significantly contributed to Alec Stewart and company’s demise.

The last 10 Tests in Birmingham have seen the toss-winning captain opt to bowl first three times. Only one of those decisions saw victory, suggesting Joe Root or Tim Paine will bat first if triumphant at the flip of the coin on Thursday.

The weather, especially in the 48 hours before the match, might influence the choice, though. Plenty of rain lined Birmingham’s Tuesday and Wednesday weather forecast. Perhaps a bowl under heavy clouds, conducive to swing and seam, will bring reward.

Overall, since 1877, England and Australia have contested 346 Tests. The former have won 108 and the latter 144, with 94 draws. The arrival of the World Test Championship – and its discouragement and effective penalisation of stalemates – hopefully, won’t see the draw tally grow during this series.

The Australians won eight consecutive Ashes series between 1989 and 2003, but have only gathered three of the eight since. While Australia are the reigning champions – and some pundits and markets’ favourite to retain the title – they haven’t won an Ashes series in the United Kingdom since 2001.

England have named a 14-man squad for the first Test to Australia’s 17 for the entire series. The hosts are contemplating blooding World Cup hero Jofra Archer in the Test arena at the expense of the reliable Chris Woakes, who is the likely omission amid the return of James Anderson as well.

The Aussies will fit at least two of Smith, Warner and Bancroft into the XI. The largest conundrum is whether Bancroft will crack the nod ahead of Marcus Harris at the top of the order alongside the left-handed Warner. The tourists must also decide if Pattinson, indeed, should play ahead of Hazlewood, Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc.

Stuart Broad recently surpassed Proteas pace Dale Steyn as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test match cricket. Broad has a long way to go before going past the sixth-placed Courtney Walsh, but a dominant haul in Edgbaston will help.

Warner has not played Test cricket in a year but has the patience and temperament to go big upon a highly-anticipated return. His strike rate was tempered during the World Cup. This, complemented by characteristic consistency, has him tipped to be the top-scorer in Australasia’s first innings in Birmingham.