"Can Win 5-0 If...": Ex-Australia Star's Bold Prediction For Ashes 2023

17.06.2023 - 15:03 sports.ndtv.com

Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin feels that England's wish of playing on flat and fast wickets for the five-match Ashes series could backfire.

With the first Test set to begin on Friday, June 16, England captain Ben Stokes declared he wanted "fast, flat wickets" for the Ashes to support England's aggressive mentality.

Under the leadership of head coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes, England have been a revelation in Test cricket, winning 11 of their 14 Tests.

However, Haddin feels that Australia could win 5-0 if the pitches are prepared as per Stokes' liking. "What I find interesting with the 5-0, and it could happen, England want wickets that are nice and flat so it comes onto the bat.

Australia Cricket Team Ben Stokes England Cricket Team win Ricky Ponting Fox Sports Brendon Maccullum Australia Ireland India

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes that England's pacer Ollie Robinson did not look dangerous in the Ashes as he has only taken wickets of tailenders. The English bowler has taken three wickets in the ongoing second Test match of the Ashes series against Australia on Thursday at Lord's. He had also taken five wickets in the first Ashes Test. Ponting in ICC Review said, "I don't think he's looked dangerous in the series at all. I mean, if you look at the wickets, he's got the tailenders out in each game. Yes he got Marnus (Labuschagne) in this innings here. But then he got (Nathan) Lyon and then he got (Josh) Hazlewood. So if he didn't get the 10 and 11 out, then he finishes his innings with one wicket at over four runs an over."

Ian Healy 'Worried' By Some Australian Bowlers Leaking Runs In Second Ashes Test

Legendary Australian cricketer Ian Healy is "worried" about some of his country's top bowlers conceding six-runs-per-over against England in the second Ashes Test at Lord's, and said Pat Cummins' side will have to work really hard to stop the home team's run flow. England came out all guns blazing after Australia seemed to have put themselves in a comfortable position at 416 in the first innings on Day 2 of the second Test. But Ben Stokes' side continued to play their aggressive brand of cricket -- called Bazball named after their New Zealand coach Brendon McCullum -- and managed 278/4 off just 61 overs at stumps on Thursday, scoring 4.55 runs per over.

What is 'Bazball' in cricket? England's style explained in the Ashes 2023 vs Australia

The word ‘Bazball’ dominated the first Ashes Test but there will be plenty of casual cricket fans who are still unfamiliar with the term.

"Don't Think We Played Our B-Game": Australia Star On 1st Ashes Test Win vs England

Marnus Labuschagne said Australia, especially the pacers, did not even bring their "B Game" in the win against England in the Ashes opener, adding that there is plenty of room for the visitors to improve as the series goes on. Australia edged out England to win the opening Test in Birmingham by two wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. There were a number of impressive individual performances from the visitors but Labuschagne felt that the formidable Australian pace attack was not at its best.

"Use Joe Root As...": England Legend Offers Interesting Advice For Ashes

Nasser Hussain believes England should replace Moeen Ali with either speedster Mark Wood or Chris Woakes, who has had fantastic success at Lord's thus far and is also a useful hitter later down the order. The second Ashes Test between Australia and England begins at Lord's on Wednesday. England ended up on the losing side in the first Test match at Edgbaston and lost narrowly by two wickets. If England are willing to rely on Joe Root's effective part-time spin, speedster Mark Wood and Lord's specialist Chris Woakes appear to be the likely replacements for Moeen.

"He's Over Complicating Things...": Ricky Ponting's Advice For Australia Batter Ahead Of 2nd Ashes Test

Former captain Ricky Ponting has offered technical advice to Australia batters Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head to counter England's bowling attack ahead of the second Ashes Test starting Wednesday at the Lord's. Australia won the opening Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham by two wickets in what was the first match of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle. There were a number of impressive individual performances, but Labuschagne and Head struggled in the Ashes opener.