Michael Atherton believes England can take encouragement from the current Take a look at collection between Australia and India as Ben Stokes’ facet put together to face each groups within the subsequent 12 months.
Australia had been handily overwhelmed by 295 runs within the opening Take a look at in Perth earlier than combating again to win the collection 3-1, however Atherton noticed vulnerabilities within the hosts’ batting line-up, particularly, that has the previous England captain “optimistic” of a primary Ashes win Down Beneath since 2010/11.
Travis Head and Yashavi Jaiswal had been the one top-order batters on both facet to common over 35 – 56.00 and 43.44, respectively – and although scourge of England in Ashes’ previous, Steve Smith, matched Head’s two centuries for the collection, he averaged a modest 34.88, with different big-name gamers, Virat Kohli (23.75), Rohit Sharma (6.20) and Marnus Labuschagne (25.77) faring even worse.
England host India in a five-Take a look at collection from June 20 this summer time, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket, earlier than travelling to Australia for the Ashes in November.
“The lack of form for India’s top players, Rohit, Virat and others, allied with an over-reliance on [Jasprit] Bumrah, in the end was the difference,” Atherton mentioned on the most recent episode of the Sky Sports activities Cricket Podcast.
“From an England perspective, I felt that they might have taken some encouragement… from either side, really.
Steve Smith hit two a whole bunch however in any other case struggled with the bat, as did most batters through the Australia-India collection
“Either side’ batting seems to be weak. Australia struggled as nicely; Usman Khawaja on the high, Smith acquired two a whole bunch however did not fairly look like the participant he was, and Labuschagne actually struggled. Mitch Marsh was dropped, and [Alex] Carey seemed weak to the ball coming again into him.
“Unlike perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, when we were playing – and you’d look down the Aussie line-up and think, ‘how are we going to get 20 wickets here?’ – I can see an avenue for England, if their bowlers are fit, where there might be some possibilities.
“I feel they’d have been fairly inspired by what they noticed, regardless that either side performed good, onerous, aggressive cricket and it was a improbable collection.”
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On the Sky Sports activities Cricket podcast, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain assessment how good England have been in Take a look at cricket in 2024.
One more reason for optimism within the England camp could possibly be the age profile of their Australian counterparts.
With the introduction of eye-catching teenage opener Sam Konstas for the ultimate two Exams of the collection, Pat Cummins’ facet contained zero gamers of their 20s, with the remainder of their 30s – together with a bowling assault that’s getting older, with the captain the youngest by a few years at 31.
“[Mitchell] Starc, Cummins and [Josh] Hazlewood have held sway for so long, and [Scott] Boland as back-up, but they’re no spring chickens, are they?” Atherton added.
Mitchell Starc is now 34 years previous and Australia captain Pat Cummins the youngest of their seam assault at 31
“Looking ahead another 12 months, they’re at that stage where they’re in what you’d think would be the twilight of a fast bowler’s career, although Jimmy Anderson [retiring at 41] may suggest that you can stretch that a bit more now.
“I suppose you may argue that with Konstas coming in, Beau Webster coming in, [Nathan] McSweeney had a go, they’re beginning to regenerate that facet, however for the Boxing Day Take a look at, it was a bizarre age profile for the crew.”
All that said, Atherton still gives Australia the slight edge as favourites for the Ashes next winter.
“I feel England are favourites to beat India at house,” he added. “For the Ashes, it’s important to say Australia are favourites – as a result of only a few England groups have gained and regained the Ashes Down Beneath – however, for the primary time since 2010/11, I am comparatively optimistic.”
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