Buckle up: liberated England face ultimate test against greatest rivals
E ven by the lofty standards of the Ashes and cricket’s most storied rivalry, anticipation over these past few days has reached a level approaching critical mass. During a sun-drenched buildup at Edgbaston, as players prepped, bar staff loaded up the store rooms like missile silos, and mowers buzzed around the outfield, there has been an abundance of knowing looks and instant smiles, every interaction swiftly followed by theories and predictions. The stage is finally set, the pyrotechnics locked and loaded, and all we need now is that initial spark.
