3 Reasons Make England the Favorite to Win the 2023 Ashes: The much-awaited Ashes series will begin on June 16 at Edgbaston with England taking on Australia. The two greatest forces in the sport will play five matches in this series, which will last until July 31.
The greatest rivalry is greatly anticipated by fans, especially because England, known for their dynamic Bazball style, hasn’t won the Ashes since their 3-2 home series victory in 2015.
Australia, on the other hand, won decisively 4-0 in the 2017–18 and 2021–22 series and secured a 2-2 draw when visiting England in 2019. The general consensus is that England, led by Ben Stokes, is the favorite to turn the tide and win the urn, though.
We examine three factors that make England the presumptive victor of the 2023 Ashes.
1 Bazball in full flight
When Ben Stokes took over, he made it quite plain that England would not be playing for draws. This has served as the team’s model, and while it will be put to the test against the Australian onslaught, the team has demonstrated its ability to exert pressure even when cornered.
Given that he beat Ben Foakes for the wicket-keeper position, Jonny Bairstow will be a major player for England, which fits in well with the way the hosts have been playing the game. The openers will need to get rid of the new ball because the high-flying middle order will use it as a springboard to hit Australia hard.
Australia, on the other hand, will conduct themselves in their own manner, much like how they defeated India in the WTC final. However, England will not back down, and because of this, they are clearly the favorites, particularly at home.
2 Variety in bowling
England has been batting at a blistering rate, but their bowling has often done the job, allowing the batsmen to be even more expressive. They may rotate their fast bowlers as the series progresses and have a good crop of them.
Stokes chose Stuart Broad over Mark Wood for the opening test at Edgbaston, but considering the close proximity of the tests, it won’t be shocking if the bowlers are frequently switched.
The absence of Jack Leach was a major disappointment for England, but Moeen Ali is capable of doing the job, particularly in the first Asesh test at Edgbaston where the surface will turn. He will also be a strong option against Australia’s left-handed bowlers.
3 Settled Unit
Despite all of their bold choices, England has a large established unit. As evidenced by the opportunities offered to Zak Crawley at the top of the order, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes think that giving players a long rope is important. There is very little switching and chopping because each member of the team is aware of his or her position. This will be apparent in the protracted Ashes series.
The team has remained committed to this new strategy, and as a solidified unit, they now have the freedom to put pressure back on the bowlers even when the going has not been particularly smooth. Stokes’ decision to select his starting lineup almost three days in advance says a lot about the mood in the locker room.