As England prepares to host Australia for The Ashes in 2023, the long-running cricket rivalry is likely to flare up once more. The first match of the eagerly awaited five-match Test series is set to begin on Friday, June 16, at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Australia comes into this match on a high after just winning the World Test Championship by dominating India by a score of 209 runs at The Oval in England.
The recent triumph over Ireland in a thrilling one-off test match has given England the momentum, on the other hand. They aim to increase their lead in Test matches under the explosive leadership of captain and coach Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
However, let’s first take a look at the important player matchups for the series before we get caught up in the excitement of the upcoming Test series:
- Stuart Broad vs David Warner. Stuart Broad, who has dismissed David Warner 14 times since 2013, has become the Test cricketer’s Achilles heel in what can only be described as a one-sided battle. Stuart Broad famously returned David Warner to the pavilion seven times during the 2019 Ashes series. The upcoming match between the two players promises exciting drama as Stuart Broad tries to hold on to his grip on the Australian opener while David Warner tries to escape the English pacer’s grasp.
- James Anderson vs David Warner: Stuart Broad’s bowling presents a threat, but even if David Warner is able to avoid it, James Anderson, Broad’s accomplice in crime, will present a formidable obstacle. Since 2013, David Warner has lost to Anderson’s deadly bowling ten times in Test cricket, making it a significant challenge for him to overcome.
- James Anderson vs Steve Smith: James Anderson presents a significant challenge for Steve Smith, who is still on a high from his recent century that ensured Australia’s victory over India in the World Test Championship final. Since 2010, the seasoned English pacer has had the upper hand against Smith, dismissing him ten times in Test cricket. The star Australian batter has an outstanding record in England, and he will be eager to make a statement there once more. His struggle for supremacy gains an exciting new facet as he faces off against the talented James Anderson.
- Stuart Broad vs Steve Smith: As Steve Smith and Stuart Broad face off, another riveting conflict is on the horizon. With Broad dismissing Smith nine times in Test cricket, these two cricketing legends have had great success against one another. Smith, though, hasn’t been idle either; since 2013, he’s scored more than 500 runs against Broad.
- Nathan Lyon vs Ben Stokes: English captain Ben Stokes and prominent Australian spinner Nathan Lyon have engaged in a thrilling duel, with Lyon triumphing nine times in Test cricket. However, Stokes hasn’t been idle either, scoring more than 300 runs against Lyon. It’s fascinating to see how Nathan Lyon can silence Ben Stokes and lessen his influence on the game because he plays fearlessly and aggressively in Test cricket.
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