The Ashes 2013: Five battles within the battle

A lot of the talk ahead of the Ashes has suggested that it will be a one-sided affair. The English side looks in much better shape in all possible aspects. They seem to have greater skill, a better batting side, a better bowling attack on paper, a quality spinner and experience.

Australia, on the other hand, lack on many fronts. Their batting has suffered frequent meltdowns in the absence of Michael Clarke. The bowling attack is promising but inexperienced. Darren Lehmann will build a better atmosphere in the dressing room but the transition cannot be miraculous.

The Ashes, however, carries its own specific aura. It can exact above-par performances from players who stand big under pressure and it can break players who do not have the psychological strength to perform when the going gets tough.

When one thinks of the great Ashes moments, one tends to remember Michael Slater’s brilliant innings of 176 on the first day of the first Test from 1994, Shane Warne’s hat-trick, that mythical first ball to Mike Gatting and the dramatic two-run victory at the Edgbaston Test of 2005.

These moments spark the rivalry that constitutes the Ashes. It is the aggressively contested battle between the bat and ball, the history and the expectation that make the Ashes such a massive event on the cricketing calendar.

Here are some mouth-watering battles within the larger battle that can throw many more of such memorable moments in this edition of the Ashes:

5. James Pattinson vs. Jonathan Trott

Australia’s best hope at the Ashes is that their inexperienced bowling attack springs a rude surprise on the English batting side. James Pattinson is the most promising fast bowler in the world today and has improved markedly in the last two years.

His athleticism and strength is supplemented by skill and a clever mind. He will be up against the dogged resistance of Jonathan Trott. The English batsman has been in excellent form and has consistently scored against top-bowling sides. His technique allows him to negate swing and that will be a huge challenge for Pattinson.

4. Kevin Pietersen vs. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc has the raw ability but he needs to nourish it. His naivety comes through when he loses control in trying to extract that extra yard of pace. He can falter when the conditions are offering too much assistance and must stick to his basics.

His ability to take the ball across can prove to be effective against England‘s stellar batsman, Kevin Pietersen. The flamboyant right-handed batsman has been out nursing an injury and though he has proved his preparedness in some warm-up games, the real thing will be a challenge for him initially.

Pietersen gives the English team that extra bit of punch as he is adept at playing a counter-attacking innings when the side has lost some early wickets.

3. Michael Clarke vs. Graeme Swann

The Australian middle order lacks experience and is vulnerable to meltdowns. In such a situation, Michael Clarke’s role in the side is critical. He will be assigned the job of anchoring the innings, playing a long innings in the process. He is one of the rare players in this Australian side who are confident against spin and are prepared to use their feet. He will be up against England’s trump card.

Graeme Swann’s off-spin bowling has contributed to the success of this English almost as much as James Anderson’s swing has. He dries up the runs at one end, allowing the fast bowlers to pick up wickets from the other and can do the damage himself when the conditions are supportive. It will be Michael Clarke’s duty to neutralize the threat that he poses.

2. James Anderson vs. Shane Watson

This is the battle where the Ashes will be won or lost. James Anderson was the most successful bowler for England in the 2010-11 Ashes that was played in Australia. His ability to move the new ball both ways makes him an enormous threat in English conditions.

He has gradually become a potent practitioner of reverse swing. He is in the form of his life at the moment and is the single greatest threat to the Australian side in this series.

Shane Watson, thus, will have the most critical role of keeping him out when he walks out to open the innings with Chris Rogers. Watson has the talent required to become a successful batsman in the longer version of the game but he has not been able to put it to good use. This can be his coming-of-age series and it can come at no better time for Australia.

1. Alastair Cook vs. Michael Clarke

Whatever the little soldiers on the field do, history decorates the military generals who command the battle. Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke are two outstanding batsmen who will not only lead their sides but also bear the heavy burden of being the architects of their respective batting units.

They play a similar role in the side as their job is to play a long innings that can set-up a victory for their teams. Cook has greater resources at his command whereas Clarke faces a massive challenge as he tries to join the ranks of his glorious predecessors.