Given their exploits at the 2019 Cricket World Cup, some are heralding a new golden age for the England cricket team. Yet as followers of the sport over the years are quick to point out, nothing is ever straightforward, and there’s no guarantee for anyone backing them to win.
Australia dethrone England as favorites
England started the round-robin phase of the tournament with a comfortable win against South Africa, but narrowly lost their second encounter against Pakistan at Trent Bridge. England then crushed Bangladesh, the West Indies, and Afghanistan to recover their form.
However, despite being pre-tournament favourites to win the Cricket World Cup, England lost to Sri Lanka and were then soundly beaten by 64 runs against Australia, who were subsequently installed as new favourites to reign supreme by the majority of bookmakers.
After teetering on the brink of elimination from the tournament, England demonstrated their capacity to bounce back in the face of adversity, beating India by 31 runs at Edgbaston and following that with a convincing victory against New Zealand by 119 runs.
Regaining the Favourites tag
Their place in the semi-finals now secured, it seemed England had saved their best for last. Australia were defeated at Edgebaston, all out for 223 from 49 overs, while England romped to 226/2 from just 32.1 overs. English fans celebrated with the sensation that something special was just around the corner.
Meanwhile, New Zealand had upset the odds and stunned India in the other semi-final, making the habitual underdogs surprise opponents for England in the final. The tension was palpable at Lords on Sunday 14th July and fans lucky enough to have tickets were in for a real treat.
Lauded as one of the most exciting cricket matches of all time, New Zealand and England were tied after 100 overs and still tied after the Super Overs. It couldn’t have been any tighter, and in the end, only a superior boundary count edged England to victory.
Although the odds had favoured England to triumph at the Cricket World Cup, in the end, and excuse the pun, it was a very close-run thing. Yet, such is the nature of one-day international matches, in which the slightest edge can make all the difference and shape the outcome.
Bookmakers and punters alike now turn their attention towards cricket betting offers and free bets ahead of The Ashes series. Thanks to their triumph at the 2019 World Cup, many betting sites have England firmly installed as favourites to beat Australia over five matches.
The Ashes Urn; Pic Courtesy:Wikimedia commons
Nevertheless, there’s a big difference between the do-or-die nature of fifty-overs cricket played in the decisive one-day internationals of the World Cup, compared to that of test series cricket played over a number of days. Likewise, eternal rival Australia will be out for revenge.
As the current holders, Australia will be keen to retain The Ashes, having emphatically crushed England last time around when they hosted the series ‘Down Under’, winning four matches and drawing one. That said, home advantage is often a key factor ahead of any Ashes series.
Buoyed by their most recent success, the combination of winning momentum and home advantage has many experts tipping England for The Ashes. Yet without any shadow of a doubt, Australia will be more fired up than ever before, determined to have the final word.
