Ashes form guide: Every player rated ahead of the first Test
Ashes form guide: PAUL NEWMAN rates every player ahead of the first Test as arch rivals England and Australia prepare to do battle once again
- The first Test of the five-match series starts at Edgbaston on Friday morning
- Both sides are in form and are regarded as two of the best in the world right now
- Mail Sport have assessed each player’s form ahead of the first ball of the series
The Ashes kicks off on Friday and promises to be a scintillating test of nerve, strategy and ability as two of the world’s best sides go head to head once again.
England go into the series having won 11 of their 13 Test matches under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, but Australia will be their toughest opponents yet, having just won the World Test Championship.
Mail Sport’s Paul Newman assesses the form of the players going into the first Test at Edgbaston.
England
Ben Duckett 8: Incredible that he left just eight of his 605 balls last winter. Scored 182 against Ireland, but loses a mark because he might still be vulnerable to pace outside off-stump.
Test batting ave: 47.05 Bowling ave: N/A
England opener Ben Duckett left just eight of his 605 balls faced last winter in Test cricket
His opening partnership with Zak Crawley (left) is designed to help England start quickly
Zak Crawley 6.5: An average of just 28.26 from 63 innings, but England do not care. They rate him for his impact rather than consistency. Under pressure though.
Bat ave: 28.26 Bowl ave: N/A
Ollie Pope 8.5: Effortless double century against Ireland but, like Duckett, will find Australia a different kettle of fish. Has a much worse second innings Test record.
Bat ave: 35.27 Bowl ave: N/A
Joe Root 9: Huge series for former captain who had a torrid time in last Ashes. Doesn’t have to be funky, as he showed with his 153 against New Zealand in Wellington.
Bat ave: 50.24 Bowl ave: 46.07
Harry Brook 9.5: What a star he has become. Don’t worry about his poor IPL form, he has the potential to be the greatest of them all.
Bat ave: 81.80 Bowl ave: 25.00
Harry Brook has become a star in England’s middle order and could become one of the greatest players ever
Ben Stokes 9: Great that he will bowl, but let’s hope he bats properly too. Says it’s more important to help others now, but is so much more than another specialist captain like Mike Brearley.
Bat ave: 35.92 Bowl ave: 32.10
Jonny Bairstow 9: Was always going to walk back into the side after becoming the face of Bazball and returns in his preferred role with the gloves as well as the bat. Still harsh on Ben Foakes, though.
Bat ave: 37.04 Bowl ave: N/A
Moeen Ali 7.5: His emergency call-up owes everything to a dearth of spin options, but remains a class act and born to play Bazball.
Bat ave: 28.26 Bowl ave: 36.66
Stuart Broad 8.5: Had to play. It’s not so much his hold over David Warner from 2019 but his big match temperament and ability to seize huge Ashes moments. Will relish the atmosphere.
Bat ave: 18.19 Bowl ave: 27.65
Moeen Ali is back in the England team and will get his first taste of Bazball on Friday
James Anderson (left) and Stuart Broad (right), after so many years of service, will line up alongside each other once again
Ollie Robinson 9: Talking like Glenn McGrath with his ‘we want to give them a good hiding’ comment but bowling like his hero too. No exaggeration to say England’s most important bowler now.
Bat ave: 12.73 Bowl ave: 21.27
Jimmy Anderson 9: Remarkable that the old master is in his 10th Ashes. Hobbled away from Edgbaston after four overs last time and was not seen again. Cannot happen this time.
Bat ave: 9.17 Bowl ave: 25.99
Australia
David Warner 6.5: In Broad’s pocket last time in England, averaging just 9.5, and the pantomime villain after Sandpapergate. Has matured but under pressure.
Bat ave: 45.31 Bowl ave: 67.25
David Warner is under pressure after a poor run of form and disappointing series in the last Ashes in England
Steve Smith (left) and Manus Labuschagne (right), meanwhile, are the best two batters in the world
Usman Khawaja 6: Dropped midway through the 2019 Ashes and only recalled for the last Test when Travis Head caught Covid. Responded with two hundreds in Sydney but another with much to prove.
Bat ave: 46.95 Bowl ave: N/A
Marnus Labuschagne 9: What a journey to become No 1 batsman in the world after playing as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith in 2019. A proper, committed overseas player with Glamorgan too.
Bat ave: 56.73 Bowl ave: 56.53
Steve Smith 9.5: What more can be said? England could not get him out in 2019, when he averaged 110, and the same problem applies now. Remains the biggest obstacle between England and the Ashes.
Bat ave: 60.04 Bowl ave: 53.00
Travis Head 8.5: Stokes says Head is the one Aussie batsman who can play Bazball and he showed it in the last Ashes and with 163 against India. Weak against the quick, short ball.
Bat ave: 47.07 Bowl ave: 34.57
Travis Head was described by Ben Stokes as the one Australian that could play Bazball
Cameron Green, meanwhile, is a genuine all-rounder and has helped provide balance to Pat Cummins’ side
Cameron Green 7: Genuine all-rounder and possible point of difference for Pat Cummins. Showed what a great close fielder he is too against India in the world Test final with two sensational catches.
Bat ave: 36.00 Bowl ave: 33.84
Alex Carey 7.5: Tipped by Simon O’Donnell on his Ashes podcast to be player of the series and a much better keeper-batsman than Tim Paine. Fourth left-hander in the top seven.
Bat ave: 34.91 Bowl ave: N/A
Mitchell Starc 7.5: Quickest of the Australians and adds left-arm variation, but can be expensive and was mysteriously held back in England last time. Devastating against the tail.
Bat ave: 21.81 Bowl ave: 27.64
Pat Cummins 9: The best bowler in the world and the big question is whether he will be able to play in six Tests, with the world Test final, in eight weeks. Genuinely nice guy, too.
Bat ave: 15.63 Bowl ave: 21.74
Cummins is the best bowler in the world and is lookin to retain the Ashes as Australia captain
Scott Boland 8.5: A sensational introduction in the last series in Australia and carried it on against India. Takes wickets at 14 apiece, but relies on accuracy and England could get after him.
Bat ave: 5.40 Bowl ave: 14.57
Nathan Lyon 8: World-class spinner and Bumble’s tip to be top wicket-taker. Antagonistic in the past, but has calmed down under Cummins.
Bat ave: 12.69 Bowl ave: 31.03
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