England Test team head coach Brendon McCullum has insisted veteran bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad will be involved in the squad to take part in the 2023 Ashes. Question marks were raised over their future in the side following their omission from England’s tour of West Indies in March, but a flurry of wickets in this summer’s Test schedule has ensured their place in the squad to face bitter rivals Australia.
Anderson and Broad returned to the England bowling attack after the appointment of Ben Stokes as the team’s new captain and McCullum as the team’s replacement for outgoing head coach Chris Silverwood. Subsequently, England won six of their seven Tests during this period, including a 2-1 series win over South Africa.
Anderson and Broad have enjoyed a fruitful summer Test season
Already the attention is shifting to the 2023 Ashes next summer, with McCullum praising the on-field and off-field professionalism of Messrs Anderson and Broad. The former New Zealand international said the pair “are phenomenal cricketers” and determined to enhance the legacy they will “leave for the next generation” of England Test stars.
Anderson and Broad have been an unstoppable force for the England Test team, especially on home soil, where conditions suit their clever swing and seam bowling best. Anderson bagged 27 Test wickets this summer at a meager average of just 17.66, while Broad took 29 wickets at an average of 27.17.
In fact, it’s a mark of how much more dangerous England’s bowling attack is on home soil that there is very little to separate the two teams in the betting to win next year’s Ashes series. The Aussies are even-money favorites, while England are priced at 6/5 with Betway. This bookmaker has its finger on the pulse across all the major cricket markets, including the 2023 Indian Premier League and is therefore a site to be trusted. In fact, the brand has also rapidly emerged as the best online casino in India, after diversifying its services into iGaming alongside its competitive sportsbook. When you consider the bowling options England will likely have available to them next summer, it’s easy to see why Stokes thinks their attack could be “scary”, making an odds-against price a value option for a wager on the series outright.
England’s batting line-up is more likely to cause selection headaches
Perhaps the biggest issue for England ahead of the 2023 Ashes series is the top order of their batting line-up. It’s difficult to pin down a guaranteed opening batter, with Alex Lees and Zak Crawley being out-of-sorts against South Africa. Lees looked particularly fragile against the Proteas, but Crawley’s match-winning second innings knock in the deciding Test may have bought him extra time to cement a place in the Ashes XI.
At number three, Ollie Pope looks likely to be a sound option, with former skipper Joe Root now cemented at number four. Captain Stokes has confirmed he has dropped down to bat at number six, which is arguably the best spot for him, allowing him to play more freely and utilize his big-hitting when the ball is older and softer. The wicketkeeper situation will also need resolving, although Ben Foakes appears to have jumped ahead of Jonny Bairstow as the team’s number-one gloveman. Stokes and McCullum will need to decide whether Bairstow’s batting attributes alone are enough to keep him in the squad.
