TEN years ago next week, Michael Kasprowicz’s glove, Geraint Jones’ dive and Billy Bowden’s finger combined in Birmingham to create one of the most memorable finishes in Ashes history.
If the 2005 Ashes was the Himalaya of modern Test series, the Edgbaston Test was its Everest, the site of its highest drama. Michael Clarke and Ian Bell are the only two players remaining who took part in that Test; now they will return to Edgbaston with their teams locked at 1-1 in the 2015 Ashes. The stage is set. What will this year bring?
England’s victory in Cardiff was followed by a punishing defeat at Lord’s, and it is the task of Alastair Cook and Trevor Bayliss to ensure that Australia do not carry significant momentum from that result.
England’s form in their most recent six Tests – win, loss, win, loss, win, loss – might hint at bouncebackability, but it should be noted that the first two losses each marked the end of a series, so the wins that followed were against new opponents.
The selectors have responded by cutting Gary Ballance and recalling Jonny Bairstow, who last played Test cricket during the Ashes tour of Australia in 2013-14.
It remains to be seen whether that is the only change. Australia have confirmed that Peter Nevill will be retained ahead of Brad Haddin, who withdrew from the Lord’s Test for family reasons. It is a move that may well spell the end of Haddin’s Test career.
The other key factor at Edgbaston will be the pitch, after the first two Tests were played on surfaces lacking in pace and bounce.
Two days before the Test there was so much grass on the Edgbaston pitch that Clarke compared it to the Gabba green-tops used in Sheffield Shield cricket, but the likelihood is that cover will be shaved off before play. Whatever the case, the toss may again prove crucial. England won the toss and the match in Cardiff and Australia won the toss and the match at Lord’s.