England and Australia will face off in the first Test of the five-match Ashes series in Birmingham from Thursday. The game will be the beginning of the first-ever International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship which will be played over the course of the next 24 months.
Edgbaston in Birmingham will be used as the venue for the contest, which will be hosting its 52nd Test from Thursday. Highest team score at the ground in a five-day contest of 710-7 was registered by England in the match against India in 2011 whereas lowest total of 30 was registered by South Africa while playing against the home side in 1924. Highest individual score of 294 was registered by England's Alastair Cook in 2011 whereas best bowling figures in an innings of 7-17 was registered by England's Wilfred Rhodes in 1902.
The home side will enter the game relatively high on confidence as they are coming on the back of an impressive win against Ireland side in the hard-fought match recently. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the likes of captain Joe Root, all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow to score the bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Sam Curran to produce timely breakthroughs. It will be interesting to see whether fast-bowler Jofra Archer will going to get his debut in the five-day format.
On the other hand,
England and Australia will face off in the first Test of the five-match Ashes series in Birmingham from Thursday. The game will be the beginning of the first-ever International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship which will be played over the course of the next 24 months.
Edgbaston in Birmingham will be used as the venue for the contest, which will be hosting its 52nd Test from Thursday. Highest team score at the ground in a five-day contest of 710-7 was registered by England in the match against India in 2011 whereas lowest total of 30 was registered by South Africa while playing against the home side in 1924. Highest individual score of 294 was registered by England's Alastair Cook in 2011 whereas best bowling figures in an innings of 7-17 was registered by England's Wilfred Rhodes in 1902.
The home side will enter the game relatively high on confidence as they are coming on the back of an impressive win against Ireland side in the hard-fought match recently. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the likes of captain Joe Root, all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow to score the bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Sam Curran to produce timely breakthroughs. It will be interesting to see whether fast-bowler Jofra Archer will going to get his debut in the five-day format.
On the other hand, for Australia, the series is another chance of redemption for the trio of Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft as they are all set to make a combined return in Test cricket after the infamous ball-tampering scandal. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the likes of Warner, Smith and Usman Khawaja to score the bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the pace attack comprised of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson. However, veteran pacer Peter Siddle might get a game in place of Hazlewood.
Player Recommendations:
Batsman: David Warner (10 Cr)
David Warner is arguably one of the best openers currently playing across all formats. From Thursday, the left-hander will surely have a point to prove to his critiques that he still has a lot to offer to his national team in red-ball cricket. The 32-year-old has represented Australia in 74 Tests where he has scored 6,363 runs at an average of 48.20, which included 21 centuries and 29 fifties.
Wicketkeeper: Jonny Bairstow (9 Cr)
Jonny Bairstow is now a permanent feature in England's Test team. The 29-year-old has represented his country in 64 Tests where he has scored 3,806 runs at an average of 36.24, which included six centuries and 20 fifties.
All-rounder Ben Stokes (10 Cr)
Ben Stokes is being termed as one of the best all-rounder currently playing the game. The 28-year-old has represented England in 52 Tests where he has scored 3,152 runs at an average of 33.89 and also has 127 wickets to his name.
Bowler: James Pattinson (8 Cr)
James Pattinson is ready to make his long awaited comeback in the Australia's national team in the red-ball cricket. The 29-year-old has represented the Baggy Greens in 17 Tests where he has 70 wickets to his name at a strike-rate of 46.80.
Predicted Playing XI:
England: Jason Roy, Joe Denly, Joe Root (captain), Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper, captain), Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon
