Australia are currently leading 2-0 in the five-match Ashes series and they will be determined to seal the series by winning the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
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The Australian cricket team is on a high in the ongoing Ashes 2021/22 series against England. After comprehensive wins in Brisbane and Adelaide, Australia is on the cusp of retaining the Ashes for the third straight time. The Brisbane Test marked the start of Pat Cummins’ captaincy and the pacer started off brilliantly, taking five wickets and guiding the side to a win. But, a coronavirus scare forced him to miss the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide. That saw Steve Smith take over the captaincy of the Australian cricket team after three years.
To compound their woes, Josh Hazlewood was injured and Australia had to field a new team. But, a weakened Australian team was still powerful for an England side reeling from a lack of confidence. Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser supported Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to help Australia continue their unbeaten run in Day-Night Tests.
Ahead of the Ashes Boxing Day Test, Australia has received a major boost. Pat Cummins is back and will take over the captaincy. The Australian team has also included Scott Boland in the team. But, there is still a question mark on Josh Hazlewood. If he does not recover from the injury, then Richardson might keep his place after taking a maiden five-wicket haul.
The only place that might be up for grabs is Marcus Harris, who has struggled in the first two games. The left-hander has failed to support David Warner as he has struggled in all three innings that he has played. But, Justin Langer, the head coach has stated that the team supports Harris and he will bounce back for the Melbourne Test. If Marcus Harris is not picked, then Usman Khawaja might come in. If Hazlewood does not recover, then either Jhye Richardson or Michael Neser might go out. Mitchell Starc was suffering a back injury in Adelaide but he is fit for the MCG Test.
Read | Ashes 2021 News: Steve Smith returns as Australia captain, Pat Cummins misses Adelaide Test
David Warner, Marcus Harris/Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood/Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon
For England, there are plenty of problems with the bat and the ball. Only Joe Root and Dawid Malan have contributed with the bat. With the ball, James Anderson and Stuart Broad have looked off-color. Chris Woakes has struggled while Ollie Robinson’s place is also in doubt after he chose to bowl off-spin in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. England might need a total overhaul. With Jack Leach not picked for Adelaide when the pitch was offering turn, England has made two major blunders in Adelaide and Brisbane. Root might need a total overhaul of the England team ahead of the Melbourne Test.
Daniel Lawrence, Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow / Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach
Zak Crawley, Daniel Lawrence, Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Craig Overton, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Dom Bess, James Anderson, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson
England cricket team’s head coach Chris Silverwood has expressed confidence in the team s they look to bounce back. He has also stated that he is the right man for the job. “There is always going to be a divided opinion. You pick a team and not everybody’s going to agree with you (but) I was happy with the skillset we had in the pink-ball Test. So, I would pick the same team again. Am I the right man to help the players get better? Yes, I believe I am. We have had those honest chats and I believe I have the right coaching staff around me to make that happen as well,” Silverwood said.
The year 2021/22 is a hectic period for the England cricket team. After the Ashes, England will travel to the West Indies for a series of three Tests and five T20Is. This will be the end of the Winter tours. After the Windies series, England will host New Zealand and South Africa at home. India will also come to finish the one Test that was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here is the complete schedule
