The 2009 Ashes Test

With the 2009 Ashes Test Series about to start there is a growing expectation among England cricket fans that it will be just as dramatic as the 2005 Ashes won by the home side 2-1 which was their first victory over the Australian cricket team since 1987.

The victory by the Australians some eighteen months later is a painful memory best forgotten by England cricket fans! With the Lions Rugby tour being over the Ashes will take over the sporting centre stage.

The composition of both sides is far different to the sides that took to the field to do battle for the Ashes in 2005. Although Andrew Strauss returns this time as captain hoping to regain the sacred urn, many of his team are young and up and coming with no experience against the Australians. There are however a few old heads in the shape of Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff with the relevant experience to steady the England cricket team. The Australian cricket team have lost a number of players considered to be the core of their team. They are however led by Ricky Ponting who is looking after a new young crop of talented Australian cricketers such as Phillip Hughes, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.

The Ashes would not be the Ashes without some kind of controversy and 2009 is no exception. The choice of Glamorgan's Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is a departure from tradition that has raised a few eyebrows. Drainage problems dogged the ground for many years but apparently this has now been rectified. From the five venues played at in 2005, Lord's, Edgbaston and the Oval stay, two ,Old Trafford and Trent Bridge have been dropped. Both these grounds are not only steeped in history but more significantly they were both games in 2005 that were in England's favour. Yorkshire's Headingley, an old favourite returns to complete the five.

Ashes 2009 Test Series

1st Test: Wednesday 8 July Sunday 12 July (Cardiff)

2nd Test: Thursday 16 July Monday 20 July (Lords)

3rd Test: Thursday 30 July Monday 3 August (Edgbaston)

4th Test: Friday 7 August Tuesday 11 August (Headingley)

5th Test: Thursday 20 August Monday 24 August (The Oval)

May the battle for the 2009 Ashes Test commence.


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