Sports Betting Articles
England's Next Ashes Team Will Be Unrecognisable From The One That Beat Australia In 2005
By: Phillip Oliver
Ashley Giles and Marcus Trescothick have retired from international cricket, whilst Simon Jones appears unlikely to return due to injury problems. Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan have missed a great deal of cricket because of their own ailments, but both should play next year if fit. Geraint Jones has been dropped due to poor form, as was Andrew Strauss, although his recall against New Zealand suggests a run in the team is again on the cards.
This leaves Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison from that year's vintage. Pietersen is unlikely to replaced unless he suffers a serious loss of form, but the others do not have the same security.
Hoggard and Harmison were unceremoniously axed in New Zealand and although the former was recalled for the first Test of the summer, his subsequent finger injury - ironically at the hands of Harmison - means he has slipped back down the pecking order.
The Durham man is even further out of the picture, especially as Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and James Anderson are are making good claims to long-term places in the team.
Bell is always under pressure to convert his clear talent into big runs and another summer of under-achievement might prompt the selectors to blood another player in the winter tours. England's hopes of another successful era depend on the performances of players like Bell.
Australian cricket has lost the legendary figures of Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath, as well as Justin Langer and Damien Martyn, but they are well-equipped to deal with these retirements, as they have the likes of Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden in the best form of their careers. Australia's 5-0 series win in 2006/07 means they will start as favourites in the series betting, especially as they continue to overcome all challengers with their new-look team.
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