More men to watch out for in the Ashes

Last week, we previewed those names who have already written themselves into Ashes history through their past performances. Now, we should look at those with the chance to add their own chapter this winter.

Michael Carberry – 2013 Ashes: DNP

The man who has benefited most from the warm up games, Carberry is now a shoe-in for the opening berth in the first Test. Despite the fact that Carberry only has one Test cap to his name, he is vastly experienced at First Class level, having been around for more than a decade.

For this reason, he is expected to fill a Rogers-esque role in the side; everyone knows that one day Joe Root will open the batting for England, but for now, some experience is required at the top of the order, meaning Carberry comes in and Root drops down to 6. He has a tough battle ahead of him dealing with the threat of Harris and Johnson, but, if Carberry has a good series, he will be more than just a short-term fill in.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Joe Root – 2013 Ashes: 339 runs @ 37.66, 3 wickets @ 11.33.

Unquestionably one of England’s brightest talents, most agree that one day Root will succeed Alistair Cook as the side’s premier opening batsman, and perhaps even as England captain. For now though, Root may need to be content with the No. 6 slot in the batting order; though the 180 he made as an opener last summer at Lord’s hinted at the future, if Carberry is to play, Root will drop down to the position he had great success at in his first few Tests.

This should, however, have a positive effect on his batting; last summer, Harris and Siddle caused him problems with the new ball – shielded from it, he should have a better chance to express himself.

Steven Finn – 2013 Ashes: 2 wickets @ 55.50

Tall, quick and bouncy, Finn has all the tools required to succeed Down Under. However, he still lacks the necessary control that would make him a great Test bowler. The warm up matches have shown a typical Finn; though he has always taken a wicket, they have come at a price – something that Flower and Cook know they cannot afford. Having said this, if Finn can add this essential ingredient to his game, he could be a terrifying prospect for the Australians this winter, particularly at Perth with its extra pace and bounce.

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Chris Tremlett – 2013 Ashes: DNP

A contender to Finn for the third seamer’s spot, Tremlett is the safer bet of the two. Like Finn, Temlett is quick, tall and can extract bounce out of the Aussie wickets, but he also has that essential ingredient of accuracy.

In the ‘10/’11 Ashes, which he came into as a like-for-like replacement for the injured Stuart Broad, Tremlett terrorized the Aussie batsman with pace and bounce, finishing the series with 17 wickets @ 23.35. Since then, his career has been dogged with injuries, but this winter represents a fantastic chance for him to begin an extended run in the Test side.

Dave Warner – 2013 Ashes: 13 runs @ 23.00

Whether it be for a typically exhilarating innings or for throwing a left hook at Root, Warner never seems to be far from the headlines. Brought into the Test team on the basis of his performances in One Day cricket, everything about Warner’s brief Test career has been unorthodox.

Nevertheless, on his day, he is a hugely dangerous prospect; with a Test Match strike rate approaching 70, he can very quickly take the game away from the opposition. However, as his performance in last summer’s Ashes indicated, he is by no means a quality Test Match batsman yet, and if Warner opens for Australia in the first Test, Anderson and Broad will back their chances.

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See Also: Five things to watch out for at the Ashes

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Photo: Rhondda (via Flickr)

Shane Watson – 2013 Ashes: 418 runs @ 41.80, 2 wickets @ 89.50

Rarely has opinion been so polarised about a single player as it is for Watson. Sometimes he fits his tag as the big, brash Hayden-esque destroyer of bowling attacks, yet often he is subdued and containable. Equally damaging to Australia’s cause is his tendency to get out when set – he has passed 50 23 times in 46 Tests, but has only converted three of these into hundreds – a truly appalling stat for a Test Match opener.

Nevertheless, he hinted at his potential in the final Test of last summer’s Ashes, in which he scored a brilliant 176, and one only needs to watch One Day cricket to see that Watson has the talent to cut it at international level. Australia need their second most experienced batsman to stand up this winter and finally fulfill his potential.

George Bailey – 2013 Ashes: DNP

Until a couple of weeks ago, the name George Bailey meant very little to the cricketing fraternity, apart from the fact that he was a journeyman pro that had somehow been made Australia’s One Day captain. This all changed in the thrilling One Day series between Australia and India that was contested last month, in which Bailey played out of his skin, scoring 478 runs @ 95.60 with a barely believable strike rate of 116.

After such a phenomenal feat of run scoring, there was no way that Australia’s Test side – in desperate need of some batting strength – could turn their back on such a ready-made option. It would be sheer madness if the Australian selectors did not select Bailey to bat in the middle order for the First Test.

Mitchell Johnson – 2013 Ashes: DNP

The hecklers will be very pleased to hear that Johnson is well and truly back in contention for an Ashes spot. The inconsistent left arm seamer has been bowling seriously quickly over the past few months, giving first the England One Day side and then India some serious hurry-up. On his day, Johnson can be lethal, as shown at Headingley in ‘09 and Perth in ‘10/’11, where he ran through England’s middle order in a brilliant spell of 6/38.

However, the flipside to Johnson is the one seen at Lord’s in ‘09 and Brisbane in ‘10/’11, where England cashed in on his loose bowling. Australia would love the first version of Johnson to turn up this winter; if he does, England’s batsmen have a serious threat to contend with.

So, these are the players who have the chance to make history this winter; the question as to whether they do or don’t should make this series compelling viewing.

Ben Pullan, Sports Team

Should fans be able to stipulate how sporting pros behave?

Jack Wilshere has attracted controversy recently for being caught smoking outside a nightclub. Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons

After recent controversies involving the public behaviour of certain sporting stars, including Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere and England cricketer Joe Root, the Xpression Sport team offered their thoughts as to whether fans should be able to stipulate how professional sportspeople act.

James Beeson

Members of the public shouldn’t necessarily be able to tell sportsmen how they should or shouldn’t act, but their clubs – the people who pay their wages – definitely should have a say. Something like smoking, or doing anything that might jeopardise a professional athlete’s short career seems completely ridiculous. It’s going to impact someone like Jack Wilshere a little bit more than a cricketer like Joe Root, but all the same, it’s a pretty stupid thing to do with a professional career being so short and the potential damage you might do to yourself.

I can see the temptation (there’s the mantra that you want what you can’t have), but at the same time, you’re being paid astounding amounts of money, so they should be able to resist that temptation for at least the duration of their careers.

Dan Hull-Sieff

I think the fans can stipulate how professional sportsmen should behave, especially in terms of international sport when players often aren’t actually getting paid anything.  For instance, the disastrous England 2011 Rugby World Cup Tour with the dwarf-tossing, drunkenness, jumping off ferries – it was a really shocking display of behaviour from the England team. As fans, we have an expectation of our team to try and do as best as they can, to perform to the best of their abilities, and professional sportsmen can’t do that in a Rugby World Cup if they’re drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and generally misbehaving. We should be able to expect our sports teams to behave properly when on tour and especially in a World Cup.

I’m sure there are ways of letting off steam outside of training that don’t involve what we saw with England in 2011. It generated a huge reaction from the public; Martin Johnson was sacked and they brought in Stuart Lancaster, who is a no-nonsense individual. The squad now do not get away with anything like that.

Ben Pullan, Sports Team

Cricket is different in that you don’t have to be quite as physically fit as you might have to be for rugby or football, and there’s actually a rich history of smoking in cricket. Root and Bresnan were caught this summer and I don’t have a problem with that. They won a test match and were having a celebration afterwards, having a quick cigarette outside a nightclub. The one time when it did cross the line was Shane Warne in 1999; being sponsored by Nicorette to give up smoking, he was photographed by some fan in a nightclub having a fag the day before he had to finish the month-long program, missing out on the £200,000 reward!

But, it’s better obviously if sportsmen don’t smoke in public and that’s actually what Arsene Wenger said about Wilshere. He said he doesn’t mind what he does back home, but you’re meant to be a role model as a sportsman. And, for a footballer of his age, it could be incredibly damaging for his career. But, then again, Warne got 700 Test wickets having smoked and drank throughout his career. I think if your performance remains good enough, then I suppose it’s not bad!

Sam Buxey

With things like cigarettes, footballers and sportsmen should try and keep in the best physical condition they can. You look at some of these footballers who are horribly out of shape – you think of Rooney last year, how fat he was, and you just think he’s had a summer of eating doughnuts! How can they do that when they earn so much money? I know he can probably afford the nicest doughnuts in Waitrose, but at the end of the day you’re being paid all that money, which ultimately comes from the fans who want to see you perform to the best you can – you’re not doing that if you’re horribly out of shape or smoking cigarettes.

Whose opinion do you most agree with? Have your say in the below poll.

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Root and Swann fire England to series victory at Headingley

England’s two match Test series with New Zealand moved to Headingley with the home side having taking a 1-0 lead at Lords. However, it was a game in which the Black Caps had competed with England, right up until the last day.  At Headingley, England were looking to assert their dominance, being the last Test Match before ten consecutive matches against Australia, with back-to-back Ashes Series just around the corner.

Joe Root, who has made a big impression during this Test Series. Photo credits to thesun.co.uk

The first day did not see a ball bowled, as the Leeds weather struck to delay the start. The following day saw the weather improve, and Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat first knowing that some of his top order were in need of runs.

England made a shaky start as Nick Compton once again went cheaply, before Cook and Jonathan Trott fell in quick succession to leave England 67 for 3.

However, Joe Root, England’s hero from Lords, set about compiling his maiden Test Match Century, made even more special by the fact that it was on his home ground in Leeds. The young Yorkshireman has impressed everyone so far this series, which has seen calls for him to be moved up to open the batting, thus sacrificing the out of form and under pressure Compton.

Root, who thoroughly deserved his man of the series award, was well supported by Ian Bell, who made 30, and Johnny Bairstow who put together another classy 50, also on his home ground. Another bright spot was Matt Prior’s return to form with the bat, as he made a blistering 39 off of just 50 balls. England were eventually all out for 354, a competitive total on a traditionally low scoring Headingley pitch.

New Zealand went out to bat on the back of being bowled out for just 68 in the second innings at Lords, and they once again folded cheaply as England bowlers got amongst the wickets. Having got to 55 for the loss of no wicket, the Kiwi’s collapsed, losing 9 wickets for just 67 runs.

Their fortunes were only slightly improved by a last wicket partnership of 52 between Neil Wagner and Trent Boult. The New Zealanders have consistently struggled with the bat over the previous year, and Peter Fulton top scored with just 28. Graeme Swann was the pick of the English bowlers, picking up four wickets, whilst the rest were shared around evenly.

Cook decided, somewhat surprisingly with more rain promised, to not enforce the follow-on. However, his decision was more than justified as he made a brisk 130 off of just 190 balls, to completely take the game away from New Zealand.

Unfortunately, Compton failed once again, making a very nervous looking 7. The Somerset man was really under pressure with Root breathing down his neck for that position next to Cook at the top of the order.  Andy Flower has even said publicly that Compton needs runs at county level if he is to play against Australia.

Trott also made a steady 76 in the Second innings, underlining his importance at number 3. However, he could be criticised with the run-rate at which he scored, with England really looking to turn the screw. England eventually declared on 287 for 5, leaving New Zealand a highly improbable 468 to win.

The only thing that could have saved New Zealand was the weather, with more rain promised for the final day. However, their batting looked as dangerously fragile as ever. Ross Taylor’s 70 was the only innings of note as a number of Kiwi batsmen failed to cope with the seam of Steven Finn, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, coupled with Swann’s spin.

Despite a tense fifth day, where England could have been scuppered by the weather, the Black Caps did eventually fold, thus justifying Cook’s decision not to enforce the follow-on. Swann picked up six second innings wickets, leaving him with 10 for the match, the best figures by an English spinner at Headingley since Derek Underwood in 1972. New Zealand were all out for 220, giving England a victory by 247 runs and a 2-0 series result.

This series against New Zealand has banished some of the demons from the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture over the winter. However, England know that their greatest test is still to come with the Ashes this summer. The bowlers all look in good form with Broad and Anderson particularly impressing at Lords, whilst Swann did the damage at Headingley.

In terms of batting, Root has been the stand-out performer, having established himself as a definite star of the future. However, the form of Compton is a serious concern for the England management; he still doesn’t look comfortable at a Test match level and seriously needs runs for Somerset before July. The picture is mainly bright for the Ashes, but the selectors will know that they have some tough decisions ahead of them.

Alex Manning

Kiwis make England work hard for victory at Lords

Captain Alastair Cook hailed the performance Stuart Broad (pictured) during the Test. Photo credits to telegraph.co.uk

The first Test of an English summer is always an important week in the calendar of any cricket fan, especially when the prospect of an Ashes series is just around the corner. Before that, England have a tricky two-test match series with New Zealand to negotiate. In the reverse fixture over the winter, the black caps exceeded expectations by achieving a 0-0 draw. However, at home, England were expected to comfortably beat a side still ranked eighth in the world.

On what appeared to be a traditionally flat Lords wicket, Alastair Cook would have been looking for his batsmen to set an imposing total after he won the toss and elected to bat. However, this did not materialise as the first day proved turgid. The pitch played a lot slower than initially expected and England’s batsmen only reached 160 for 4, at a run-rate of less than 2 an over. A number of batsmen got themselves in but none could even pass 50 on a disappointing opening day for the home side.

Day two saw England’s hopes firmly rested on the shoulders of two young Yorkshiremen, Joe Root and Johnny Bairstow. In the morning the pair made steady, if slow progress. However, the impressive Southee managed to remove Root for 40, thus opening up an end for New Zealand to attack. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as England were bowled out for 232, with Bairstow eventually top scoring with just 41.

New Zealand’s reply got off to a slow start as they lost both of their openers early. These wickets saw Jimmy Anderson become one of the great English bowlers, by becoming only the fourth Englishman to pass 300 Test match wickets; he is now only 84 behind Ian Botham’s all-time record. However, the highly rated Kayne Williamson and ex-captain Ross Taylor put a partnership of 93 together, as both passed 50. New Zealand looked well set to build a first innings lead at 100 for 2, but they began to lose wickets and the tail was quickly rolled over as the Kiwi’s were bowled out for 207, a deficit of 25.

As England began their second innings, the general feeling was that they would improve on their first innings total. Once again Cook and Compton got England off to a decent enough start, before falling in quick succession to leave the score at 36 for 2. With Ian Bell taken ill with flu, Joe Root was promoted to number 4. This did not faze the young man in the slightest as he put together a beautifully crafted 71, well supported by the ever-solid Trott.

Root, only 22, has been tipped as a future England star, and this performance certainly saw his stock rise, on a pitch that was still proving helpful for bowlers. However, once again, wickets fell in a flurry and having been 159 for 2, England finished day 3 on 180 for 6, a lead of 205. Tim Southee was New Zealand’s main protagonist once more, his late burst leaving the match finely balanced going into the penultimate day.

The fourth and ultimately final day proved compelling viewing. Southee and Williamson quickly wrapped up the English tail in the morning, as England were all out for 213 – Southee finishing with 10 wickets for the match, earning himself a place on the Lords honours board. This left New Zealand requiring 239 for victory; although not immediately imposing, it would have been the highest score of the match and the third highest fourth innings run chase at Lords.

England felt confident of victory, knowing that Graeme Swann would prove a handful on a turning pitch. However, he was not required, as James Anderson and Stuart Broad set about ripping the heart out of the New Zealand run chase. Broad produced a superb spell of fast bowling as he took 7 for 44 in just 11 overs. A fit and firing Broad is excellent news for England’s bid to retain Ashes, and he looked back to his best. One ball in particular stood out as it seamed up the Lords slope, sending Rutherford’s off-stump cartwheeling. New Zealand eventually limped to 68 all out, losing by 170 runs.

A victory in the first Test match of the Summer is exactly what was required of England. However, it was harder work than the margin of victory suggests. New Zealand were right in the game up until their second innings collapse and were even in the driving seat going into the fourth day. They will take heart from the performance of their impressive young seam attack, led by the ever-improving Southee.

England will need to improve on their first innings batting performance, as the Series moves to Headingly on Friday. Nonetheless, a victory at Lords in the first Test has started the process of momentum building that is required before the Ashes kicks off on the July 10 at Trent Bridge.

Alex Manning

England get off to strong start in New Zealand

Photo credits to Ramograph

England head into the Test series against New Zealand with plenty of confidence having beaten the hosts 2-1 in both the Twenty20 and One Day International legs of the tour.

After a successful tour of India, England headed to New Zealand in early February hoping to continue their great form ahead of back-to-back Ashes later this year.

The visit began with a three-match Twenty20 series, with Stuart Broad’s men getting off to the perfect start by racking up their highest innings score of 214. Openers Lumb and Hales got their side off to a solid start before the middle order set about destroying the Kiwi bowlers. Luke Wright smashed four sixes during his quick fire 42 before Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow combined for an 80 run partnership off just 50 balls.

Once they were dismissed, it was left to Jos Buttler to finish the innings off with an unbeaten 32, completing one of the finest displays of power hitting in Twenty20 history. Despite an aggressive start from Martin Guptill and three sixes from the inexperienced Colin Munro, the score always look beyond New Zealand’s reach with captain Broad cashing in with four wickets.

England decided to field first in the second match at Hamilton and Broad was soon made to regret his decision – the star of the innings was New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who smashed 74 off just 38 deliveries.

England never got going in response with a half-century from Buttler, the only bright spot of a disappointing 55-run defeat. James Franklin collected 4 for 15 and Mitchell McClenaghan two wickets as the teams headed to Wellington with the series up for grabs.

For the third time in as many innings, Guptill got his side off to a great start with 59 but Dernbach and Broad soon used their variations to good effect to slow down the scoring rate and pick up three wickets apiece. After James Tredwell dismissed danger man McCullum for 26, the innings subsided dramatically with New Zealand only scraping up to 139 for 8.

Although it was a mediocre effort from the hosts, there was still a job to be done by the England batsmen. Coach Ashley Giles need not to have worried however as Lumb and Hales produced a wonderful partnership to lead their team home within 13 overs.

The Kiwi bowlers had no answer to a wonderful display of placement and power with Hales collecting 13 boundaries in his 80 not out and Lumb hitting five sumptuous maximums in his half century.

The first 50-over match was a tight contest from start to finish. Despite losing captain Alastair Cook early on, England built a strong platform through half centuries from Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott and Joe Root. A late flurry from youngsters Buttler and Woakes took them up to 258 but the New Zealand batsmen felt it was well within their reach.

Their response was led by Kane Williamson’s calm 74 before it was left to McCullum to take his side to victory with a perfectly timed 69. After missing his team’s last ODI series due to a dispute with management, Ross Taylor bounced back with a fine century that set the tone for the rest of the innings; he and McCullum combined for a 100 run partnership that took less than 10 overs to compile.

The wicket keeper was again at his flowing best with nine fours and four sixes as he scored 74 at a strike rate of over 200. James Anderson was the only England bowler to come out with any credit as his five-for confirmed him as the leading international wicket taker for his country.

What looked like a tough target for England turned into a breeze with captain Cook getting the ball rolling with a composed 78. With Bell also back in pavilion, Trott and Root joined forces with 120 needed in 20 overs. With Trott steadily accumulating and Root finding the gaps with regularity, New Zealand had no answer as the visitors romped home with 14 balls to spare.

Trott ended with 65 not out whilst Root was unbeaten on 79 from just 56 balls, confirming him as one of the brightest talents currently in international cricket. The result set up a ‘winner takes all’ clash at Auckland which would give one team the momentum heading into the crucial Test series.

New Zealand got off to poor start at Eden Park as Steven Finn and Anderson ripped through the top order to leave them tottering on 11 for 3. A slight recovery followed but only McCullum showed any attacking intent in another sublime innings. A selection of resolute defence and excellent counter attacking saw him reach 79 before being brilliantly caught on the boundary going for another six.

The fast bowlers quickly dismissed the tail as the Kiwis collapsed to 185 all out with Finn the main beneficiary as he collected 3 for 27. Despite some good bowling from Tim Southee and Andrew Ellis, the target never looked big enough to trouble England who completed a series victory in comfortable fashion with 12 overs to spare.

New Zealand seem to be suffering from internal wrangling and inconsistent performances with only McCullum offering any hope going to the longer form of the game. They must now re-build their form and confidence if they are to become a force in world cricket again.

Conversely, England head into the Test matches in March with a huge mental advantage, which will be buoyed even further by the return of star man Kevin Pietersen. This should ensure they start as big favourites to collect another series win and march towards the top of the Test and ODI rankings.

Simon Dewhurst

Cricket: Five to watch in 2013

Photo credits to Wikimedia Commons

Joe Root

Having made an impressive Test debut for England last month, Joe Root (above) is now hungry for more runs on the international stage. Having opened with great success for Yorkshire in the 2012 county season, the 22-year-old deserved his opportunity to represent his country and he soon looked at home against the Indian bowlers in Nagpur. Many observers have compared his technique to that of former England captain Michael Vaughan and this was clearly in evidence as he compiled a patient 73 and 20 not out to lead England to a series victory. This year, Root will try to cement his place in the England top six for the Ashes and also look to make an impact in the limited overs side when the chance arises.

Jackson Bird

In the space of 18 months, Jackson Bird has gone from being on the verge of quitting cricket to becoming one of Australia’s greatest threats for the upcoming Ashes series. With first team opportunities not arising in New South Wales, the seam bowler headed to Tasmania in late 2011 hoping to ignite his career.  He made an immediate impact in his first season with 53 wickets at 16 apiece in the Sheffield Shield including a hat-trick against Western Australia. This alerted the Australia selectors to his potential and when Mitchell Starc was rested for the Boxing Day against Sri Lanka in December, Bird got his opportunity and responded with eight wickets in his first three innings. Although he does not possess express pace, his greatest weapons are his seam and swing movement – expect big things from him in England this summer.

Ajinkya Rahane

When you have scored 19 first-class centuries and average 62 with the bat, you would normally expect to have many international Test matches under your belt. This is not the case for 24-year-old Ajinka Rahane who has not yet represented India in the longer form of the game, something he will be looking to put right in 2013. He first announced himself to the world stage in 2008 when he became only the 11th batsmen to score over 1000 runs in a Ranji trophy season. He has also made big runs in the Indian Premier League and was rewarded with his Twenty20 international debut against England in a Twenty20 international in 2011. He did not disappoint, hitting a fluent 61 against a strong opposition attack featuring Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann. With 19 limited overs caps for his country, this could be the year where Rahane breaks into the Test team – especially if friend and teammate Sachin Tendulkar retires as widely expected.

Ben Foakes

Another wicketkeeper-batsman to emerge from Essex, Ben Foakes got his county career off to a flying start with a fluent 93 against Leicestershire in May. Since representing England Under-19s from an early age, many people have predicted big things from the stylish right-hander.  Towards the end of 2012, he top scored for England in the Under 19 World Cup and has been rewarded with a place in the England Lions squad for their trip to Australia in February.  With the likes of Graham Gooch and Alec Stewart singing his praises, do not be surprised if Foakes has a long and distinguished career for club and country.

Georgia Elwiss

With Women’s cricket set to be bigger than ever in 2013 with the World Cup and Ashes to look forward to, many female players will also want to make an impact over the coming months. One player who could benefit from the global attention received for the Women’s game could be Georgia Elwiss. The young seam bowler from Wolverhampton made her debut for England in 2011 but has failed to nail down a regular spot in the team. However, good performances for the England Academy have resulted in a call up for the World Cup which will be her first taste of a global competition.  With a good action and strong work ethic, 2013 could be the year that Elwiss becomes a household name.

Simon Dewhurst