For a long time it seemed like it might not happen but the Ashes series is set to get underway on Wednesday at the Gabba. It has been a long time since either side have donned the whites and there are no real indicators of form.
Australia vs England | 8 – 12 December 2021 | The Gabba, Brisbane
To Win Match
Australia 11/10 | Draw 17/10 | England 7/2
Australia
Australia have laid their cards on the table naming their match XI three days out from the Test.
Pat Cummins takes charge of Australia for the first time and has indicated that Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will take the new ball.
Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc will be supported by Australia’s answer to Ben Stokes, Cameron Green, who has an important role to play with the ball.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey comes in to make his long-awaited Test debut after the sacking of Tim Paine. Carey’s toughest assignment this series could prove to be keeping wicket to Nathan Lyon.
England
England still have some selection questions to answer but it appears that they have settled on an opening pair in Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed and we will see the return of Stokes.
Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Pope appear to be locked in a battle for a middle order place after Stokes and skipper Joe Root and ahead of all-rounder Dan Lawrence.
England might be tempted to go with an all-pace attack and leave out Jack Leach, given the reputation of the Gabba.
An extra seamer would help to manage the workloads of the three main men, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood.
Verdict: Australia 11/10
With so little cricket played ahead of the series, the in-season and at home Australians will be favourites for this one.
