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Ashes 2019: Steve Waugh makes an interesting prediction regarding the outcome of the series
The former Australian skipper has made an interesting observation about the two sides and predicted the outcome of the series. Australia have never won a Ashes series in England in 18 years
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh said that the Ashes tournaments are too close to call as England will lock horns against Australia. The biggest rivalry in Test cricket is all set to commence on 1st of August at Birmingham. This will also be the first match of the ICC World Test Championship.
Steve Waugh said, "I really believe it's a big task for the fast bowlers on both sides to play five Tests in six weeks and that could have a big impact on the whole series, so for instance Jimmy Anderson gets injured, or Mitchell Starc gets injured for us, it could really affect the line-up. Depth in the squad will be important but I honestly think if I was a betting man I wouldn't back either sides because I don’t know who's going to win. It's going to be that even. I think it's going to be a fantastic series."
Steve Waugh feels that it is a mystery as to how Australia have not won in England for a long time. "We've come up against some really good England sides in those last 18 years. We've had some tight series and moments when we could have won the series, probably a bit like the other way round for England in that period where they lost a lot." Australia last won a test series in England in 2001.
When asked whether the World Cup victory will be a morale boost for the hosts, Waugh said, "One-day cricket is irrelevant to Test cricket. It's a different sport really. If you compare Test cricket and one-day cricket you're almost not playing the same sport. It's played in a totally different way. England will say it’s important for everyone and sure, if you win that's great but when it comes to the first Test at Edgbaston it's not going to matter what happened in the one-day World Cup."
Ashes Schedule:
First Test - Edgbaston, Birmingham from 1st to 5th August.
Second Test - Lord's, London from 14th to 18th August.
Third Test - Headingley, Leeds from 22nd to 26th August.
Fourth Test - Old Trafford, Manchester from 4th to 8th September.
Fifth Test - Kennington Oval, London from 12th to 16th September.
