England vs Australia 1st Test Preview & Prediction | 2023 Ashes Series
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THE FACTS
When is England vs Australia taking place? Friday, June 16th-20th, 2023 – 11:00 (UK)
Where is England vs Australia taking place? England vs Australia will take place at Edgbaston, Birmingham
What channel is England vs Australia on? England vs Australia will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream England vs Australia? Sky Sports subscribers in the UK can stream England vs Australia live on Sky Go.
LAST MEETING
Australia beat England by 146 runs
THE LOWDOWN
ENGLAND
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s red ball revolution is all set for its ultimate litmus test. Their thrilling brand of Test match cricket has transformed England’s fortunes in the long form of the game and gives fans genuine hope of regaining the Ashes for the first time since they lost them down under back in 2017-18. Series wins at home against the likes of New Zealand and South Africa have been impressive, alongside Test victories vs India and Ireland, but old rivals Australia will offer up their strongest challenge. After all, it was only a year and a half ago when England, led at the time by Joe Root were comprehensively beaten (again) in Australia, losing the five-match series 4-0.
England will hope that playing at Edgbaston plays to their advantage in the first Test, although the ‘Fortress Edgbaston’ moniker has long been extinguished following defeats on the ground against New Zealand in 2021 and of course, Australia in 2019. The rumour is that England have asked for flat pitches to suit their fast-scoring style of play, affectionally dubbed ‘Bazball’ by all and sundry in tribute of their current head coach. Of course, the top order firing will be so important to their success with all eyes glued on openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett alongside Ollie Pope at number three, all of whom face the stiffest challenge of their international careers to date. With the ball, James Anderson and Stuart Broad are proven performers against Australia on home conditions and Ollie Robinson will be heavily fancied to continue showing why he firmly belongs on the international stage. The big worry though, is whether Ben Stokes will be fit enough to bowl, with his skills with the ball being so important to the balance of England’s side.
AUSTRALIA
Newly crowned World Test Champions, Australia couldn’t have asked for better preparation going into a gruelling series. They dominated India from session one of the World Test Championship Final at the Oval, the imperious Steve Smith racking up another century, as did Travis Head. The latter played the more aggressive role, whilst Smith ground India into the dirt and with a significant first innings score on the board, they never looked back. The bowlers outperformed their opponents, taking crucial wickets at key times, not letting India develop a game-changing partnership. In the end victory came early on Day 5 for Pat Cummins’ side by 209 runs. But England pose a significantly stiffer challenge than India on their home turf. For all the hosts’ struggles down under, Australia haven’t won an Ashes series outright in England since 2001.
Australia’s last red-ball tour of England came in 2019, which saw them retain the Ashes following a 2-2 series draw. It was one which the tourists should have won and will always be remembered for Ben Stokes’ last-wicket heroics at Headingley together with Jack Leach, not to mention a multitude of Australian howlers under pressure, which saw them somehow snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This is a different team now though, with then skipper Tim Paine long gone and Cummins now in charge. They can also call upon a genuine world class all-rounder of their own with Cameron Green set to make his first Ashes bow overseas. The No. 1-ranked men’s Test batter in the world Marnus Labuschagne’s international breakthrough came in that 2019 series and his long association with Glamorgan means he is right at home in English conditions. Then you have Smith, the man who in the same series plundered 774 runs with an average of 110.54. Like Labuschagne, he was in England acclimatising to conditions long before the World Test Championship Final, making his first foray into the County Championship with Sussex.
THE TEAM NEWS
ENGLAND
There’s only one place to start when it comes to England team news and that is the shock recall of Moeen Ali. Following a stress fracture to frontline spin-bowler Jack Leach which will keep him out of the entire series, England had a huge decision as to who they would call up to replace him. In the end, Stokes has turned to a long-time international teammate in all formats of the game whom he clearly trusts implicitly, asking him to come out of Test retirement for the series. After a short period of consideration, Moeen has answered the SOS call and is expected to make his return to the England side on his home ground.
The batting line-up picks itself with Moeen slotting in at eight, leaving the only real selection dilemma being which three quick bowlers to choose from. It’s hard not to see both James Anderson and Stuart Broad playing the first Test, which would leave one spot for either Ollie Robinson or Mark Wood. Stokes has previously stressed the need for a point of difference within his bowling pack, which may work in Wood's favour. But Robinson's consistency in an England shirt, not to mention his home record should see him given the nod.
AUSTRALIA
England aren’t the only side who have a big decision ahead when it comes to which three seamers play at Edgbaston. The excellent performance of Scott Boland in the World Test Championship final served as the strongest possible audition for a place in the starting XI, but with Josh Hazlewood having been passed fit, that would mean leaving out of their three usual first-choice quick bowlers. Captain Cummins obviously plays, but left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc’s place could be at risk. The 33-year-old was expensive in both innings against India and if he gets it wrong against England, their ‘Bazball’ fuelled batters will milk him like a cow.
However, Starc’s left arm angle and extra speed offers a weapon none of the other Australian bowlers can claim, not to mention the foot holes which spinner Nathan Lyon could well benefit from. Like England, the tourists’ batting line-up is more than likely locked in, but both openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner will start the series under scrutiny, the former has been in excellent form but has a rotten record in England, whilst Warner’s struggles against Stuart Broad are well documented.
THE PREDICTION
After what feels like absolutely ages, all the talk will finally stop come Friday 16th June. The most highly anticipated Ashes series since 2005 gets underway and we finally see how these two cricketing titans match up. Both contain middle order steel, but maintain top order fragilities, whilst even on a flat Edgbaston pitch, England and Australia will each be confident of taking 20 wickets. Ben Stokes has no interest in draws and England are expected to risk defeat in a bid to force victory. The hosts have had significantly more recovery time than their opponents, whose successful World Test Championship assignment came to an end less than a week ago. Such small factors could be critical in what should be an extremely close contest. But it would be no surprise if Australia initially struggle to adapt to England’s ultra-attacking approach with bat and ball, which may prove their undoing at a raucous Edgbaston. Therefore, consider backing England to draw first blood in the 2023 Ashes.
TIP: ENGLAND TO WIN
