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What now for the champs

by Jonathan Northall

And England finally claimed a Cricket World Cup. Not a definitive, epoch-making, hegemonic victory. More of a statistical one. However, England are the one-day cricket World Champions, and no one can take that away. Plenty of fans from other nations have tried to prosecute an argument in the highest court of all the lands, social media, but the records will show that 2019 belongs to England.

What now for the champs? Australia’s “three-peat” from 1999 to 2007 must be the lofty goal for Eoin Morgan’s men. The most impressive part of England’s victory was their response to the weight of expectation. The team still has room for improvement and several players need to respond or be moved out of the way. It’s a real opportunity for England to dominate ODIs for the several years to come. The new coach will have a team of world beaters at their disposal but will also been looking to take the team in their direction. Trevor Bayliss has proven once again that he’s THE white ball coach. Sunrisers Hyderabad are gaining a winner in Bayliss. England need to find another coach in the same vein.

With the first goal of 2019 being met, part two is almost upon us. An Ashes series is always full of excitement, but this year is extra special. The Australians are looking for their first victory in England since 2001. It’s been a long 18 years for Australia since Steve Waugh’s side wrapped up a comfortable 4-1 series win to retain the urn. Since 2005, England have had the better of things with regards to series victories. Travels ‘Down Under’, apart from 2010-11, have been fruitless whilst Australia have not been successful in their Antipodes either.

Just to bring England fans back down to Earth with a green-tinged bump, Ireland acquitted themselves admirably for most of their first Test at Lord’s. Bowling England out for 85 was just plain rude in an Ashes year. It highlighted known frailties whilst proving the adage, “After the Lord Mayor’s show comes the dustcart.” And what a dustcart it was too. However, all came good in the end and Ireland were vanquished by Broad and Woakes in less than 16 overs of the second innings.

The Ashes will be dictated by the team who can handle the uber-deviating Dukes ball. Handling the ball is not a sleight on Smith, Warner or Bancroft. I’d be less subtle such as removing a foreign object from my pocket, applying it liberally before unsurreptitiously depositing it down my trousers. Anyway, we all live and learn. Hopefully.

The series will be dictated by the bowlers and I expect England to have too much for Australia to handle. Jimmy Anderson is the master of swing whilst Sam Curran is no slouch with the ball. The joker-in-the-pack Jofra Archer will bring real pace which may soften one or two of the Aussies up for others to benefit. Australia will have plenty of pace themselves with James Pattinson looking as sharp as he ever has. Josh Hazlewood will be looking to prove a point or two after being left out of the Cricket World Cup squad.

Batting could be very interesting, and I will not be surprised if we see more than one double digit innings score this series. England’s fragile top order will be severely tested while Australia’s own line up could be almost as delicate. The Australian batters need to acclimatize to English Test conditions or it could be carnage, just like England demonstrated in their first innings against Ireland. “Pick it up early, play it late” was Nasser’s advice on commentary. Don’t tell the Aussies…

In 2019, eight of the Australian tourists of 2015 are still around. England have seven members of their playing members which could increase to eight, as well, if Mark Wood is fit to play later in the series. The big non-surprise for the First Test is the inclusion of Jofra Archer. Having had such a wonderful Cricket World Cup, the paceman is in the squad for Edgbaston. Seen as the fast-bowling panacea, Archer is likely to be the main strike bowler for England for the foreseeable future. Jimmy Anderson’s time is almost up, Stuart Broad likewise, so England’s succession plan is obvious.

Would defeat in the Ashes be an ultimate failure for England? Probably not but they will want to gild the lily that is 2019. Winning is contagious and England need to regain the Ashes to set themselves up for a good World Test Championship campaign. It’s a bit of a ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ from the ICC but the final is being played in England in 2021 so it makes sense to qualify for it. In the meantime, no tied Tests; none of us could bear that kind of drama.

Jonathan

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