The Ashes, 2021-22: Preview

The Ashes is one of the most historic test series in all of cricket, played at least once every two years between England and Australia. The competition dates back to a series played between the two countries across 1882 and 1883.

Since then, 71 Ashes series have taken place and the two nations remain pretty much equal; Australia has won 33, England has won 32 with six drawn series between them. It is a heated yet respectful rivalry that has produced some breathtaking moments over the years.

The last series took place in 2019 and resulted in a 2-2 draw - the first since 1972. Australia are set to host this year’s Ashes, which is scheduled to kick off in December and run through until January 2022. 

However, there have been concerns over whether or not the series will actually take place given the tight restrictions on travel to and from Australia, as well as safety measures while in the country.

As things stand it appears the series will go ahead as planned and the travelling England squad are gearing themselves up for what will likely be a gruelling set of test matches.

The hosts enter the series as comfortable favourites with most bookies and if you are thinking about betting on this year’s Ashes, OLBG’s list of free bets should help with some risk-free betting.

One of the biggest deciding factors in this series could be location. England have struggled in the Ashes while on the road, having only triumphed in Australia twice in the past 10 attempts. 

The conditions in Australia differ quite greatly from those in England, and 10 of the 17 players in the travelling squad have never played a test Down Under. That lack of experience on different terrain with flatter pitches that allow for faster ball travel on the horizontal could prove costly.

Plus, there is no getting around the difficulties of performing at your best on the other side of the planet. The England side will need to get acclimated to the timezone and differences in climate, as well as keep themselves focused and calm in a different country for over a month.

One thing in England’s favor though could be the strained relationship between Australia head coach Justin Langer and his players. There’s been no hiding the fact that Langer’s hard-nosed leadership style has rubbed most of the Australian squad up the wrong way.

He frequently shouts down at his players and expects them to push themselves beyond their limits every time they step onto the wicket. This approach does not always produce the best results.

England will also enter this Ashes series with much more recent test experience compared to Australia, who haven’t played a test match since January when they were beaten by India at the Gabba.

England have had excellent preparation against the likes of India and New Zealand this year and though their results have been mixed, those games will have kept the team sharp ahead of the Ashes.

One of the biggest blows to England’s chances has been the sidelining of Ben Stokes, one of the squad’s talismans. The all-rounder is taking some time away from the game for his mental wellbeing and to recover from surgery on his finger.

Jofra Archer is another absence that will be felt by England, as he remains injured and won’t be travelling to Australia.

Captain Joe Root will prove essential to how England fares in this series. He finds himself in perhaps the greatest form of his life, having scored six centuries already this year and averaging a whopping 66 runs. 

Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad bring a wealth of experience and are likely entering their final Ashes series. Broad has had to contend with injury this year while Anderson has looked impressive, and how they fare in Australia will have a big impact on the England team.

For Australia, captain David Warner will need to turn around a declining run of form in front of the stumps and try to set the tone for his side. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are the other two big batsmen for the Aussies and will have their work cut out in compensating for weaknesses lower down the order.

What most agree on is that the opening test at the Gabba could prove crucial. If England can churn out a victory, their hopes for the series will be buoyed whereas Australia will attempt to start off strong to develop a commanding lead.

There are several factors that make the upcoming Ashes series a fascinating prospect, with both countries having several aspects working in their favour and against them. Time will tell which side prevails.