One-day series says little about the Ashes
Plenty of ink has been spilt over the recent one day series between England and Australia and its implications for the Ashes
Tariq Engineer
25-Feb-2013
Plenty of ink has been spilt over the recent one day series between England and Australia and its implications for the Ashes. England won the first three games, and the series, to supposedly give them the edge come November. Then the Aussies roared back to win the final two games, giving them the momentum. But are any of these assumptions warranted? The BBC’s Oliver Brett doesn’t think so, saying a lot can change between July and November.
Perhaps a whitewash for either team would have adjusted the balance a bit, but Australia were warm favourites for the Ashes before the ODIs began, and they are still warm favourites now. There is so much that will be different on 25 November in Brisbane, when the first of five Tests starts: a raucous, partisan crowd, a red Kookaburra ball, and changes in personnel for both teams.
Neither starting XI can be determined beyond vague conjecture, particularly in the case of Australia whose fast bowling cortege has been badly affected by injuries for a while.
Tariq Engineer is a former senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo