Ahead of the first Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston from Friday onwards, Australian cricketers reflected on their last Ashes series win on English soil in 2001, how the odds are in their favour or against them this time, and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon named a player who he thinks will have a “big series”.
The hosts will be aiming to avenge their 4-0 loss in the 2021–22 season. Australia, too, will be aiming to win their first Ashes series in England in over 20 years. The hosts are also charged up by the ‘Bazball’ revolution brought by skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, which has seen England win 11 of their last 13 Tests and dominate their opponents with an attacking, aggressive, and positive style of cricket that aims for victory.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins said that his boys have an opportunity to make history this time.
“It is amazing how an away series win defines an era and a team. You still talk about this series win, 20, 30, and 40 years later. This is the opportunity, this group has right now,” said Cummins in a video posted by cricket.com.au. “Coming to England or India, you feel you have to reinvent the wheel. We have been able to adapt well to different conditions and tweak our style,” he added.
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon said that winning this series will define Australian cricket for years to come, and this group aims to be one of the country’s best cricket teams ever.
