The ongoing 2023 Ashes stands at a crucial juncture. Fresh from their victory against India in the World Test Championship at Kennington Oval, the Aussies were brimming with confidence and registered the initial two victories to gain an upper hand against the hosts.
However, Brendon McCullum’s Bazball strategy finally bore fruit and breathed life into England’s campaign against the Australian cricket team in the third and most recent Test. Therefore, the upcoming fourth match in the prestigious series will be pivotal. A win for England would level the score with the Kangaroos.
Conversely, if they fail to outwit the Australian cricket team, they will concede the series. But, a draw could intensify the plot of this longest format series, as it could open up possibilities for a potential drawn series.
The 2023 Ashes curtain-raiser took place at Edgbaston where the hosts, after winning the toss, elected to bat first. Despite losing early wickets of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in the first inning, Joe Root crafted a splendid century (118) against the Australian pacers, anchoring the innings. In tandem, Jonny Bairstow contributed with a brisk 78, encouraging Ben Stokes’ side to declare at 393/7. In response, Australia, despite a shaky start, managed to muster a total of 386, courtesy of Usman Khawaja’s ton.
Australian bowlers Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon led the charge in the second innings by dismantling the English line-up for 273. Chasing a target of 281, Khawaja stepped up once again with a 65-run innings, guiding his side to a nerve-wracking two-wicket win on the final day’s third session.
Leading by one, Australia took on England at Lord’s for the second Test. Standout performances by Steve Smith and Travis Head helped the visitors amass 416 in the first innings. Powered by Ben Duckett’s crucial 98, England replied with 325.
In the second innings, seasoned bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad used their expertise to limit the English side to 279. With 371 to chase in the last inning, Duckett played a crucial knock of 83, along with captain Ben Stokes’ spectacular 155. However, after Stokes was dismissed, the rest of the team followed, resulting in a 43-run defeat.
The third Test at Headingley Carnegie was largely dominated by bowlers. England chose to bowl first and the decision paid off. Although Mark Wood bagged five wickets, Mitchell Marsh’s 118 runs off 118 balls helped Australia reach 263. England responded with 237, with Ben Stokes scoring a gritty 80.
Australia would’ve aimed for a big total in the second innings but fell for just 224. England had a target of 251 to stay alive in the series. Despite losing wickets consistently, Harry Brook showed resilience and ensured that England reached the target on Day 4’s second session, setting up a significant fourth match.
Head to Head Record – The rivalry between England and Australia is one of the most celebrated in cricket history. Since their first Test match in 1876/77, the two sides have faced each other 359 times in tests.
Australia has emerged victorious 152 times, while England has 111 wins, with the remaining 96 ending in a draw. The previous edition of the Ashes, held in Australia in 2021-22, was dominated by the hosts as they crushed England 4-0. They currently lead the ongoing series 2-1.
Key Players
Ben Stokes (England): Ben Stokes, as an all-rounder and captain, has been instrumental for his team. His stunning 155-run innings in the second test has been the standout performance of the series so far.
Usman Khawaja (Australia): Usman Khawaja, the Australian opener, has been in terrific form. His performance against India in the World Test Championship was commendable, followed by a crucial 141 runs against England in the first match.
Predicted XIs:
Australia: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins ©, Todd Murphy, Josh Hazlewood
England: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes ©, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Prediction: The initial three matches of the 2023 Ashes have been extremely riveting. However, the intensity has been cranked up a notch with England’s recent victory. It’s expected that Ben Stokes will persist with the winning combination, while Australia might consider a few changes in a bid to seal the series dominantly.
