"with this hot-ticket Ashes series a few days from setting off in sundrenched Perth, the mix of fear and excitement among them has arguably never been greater. The difference being that rollercoasters tend to stay on the rails, whereas England tours of Australia often career off them. No one is quite certain which way this one will play out, other than a broad agreement that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing the first Test (at least) presents Ben Stokes and his tourists a golden opportunity."
"Not that many locals are tipping England. The former Australia spinner Steve O'Keefe is an outlier, fancying the hosts will get dusted by a 3-2 scoreline an unthinkable call, as per one headline. According to Jim Maxwell, the ABC's veteran commentator: A lot of Aussies are getting sick of crap English teams turning up here. If he is honest, Stokes will know deep down that his men should probably be defending the Ashes rather than the tougher challenge of trying to win them back."
Brendon McCullum's appointment set a high-energy tone ahead of the Ashes in Perth, producing a mixture of fear and excitement among supporters. Tours of Australia frequently derail despite optimism, and outcomes remain uncertain. The absences of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the first Test create a significant advantage for Ben Stokes and his side. Local opinion largely doubts England's chances, with a few outliers predicting an Australian victory. Critics argue England should be defending rather than trying to reclaim the Ashes given recent form. Recent results against top opponents show limited success and concerns about substance persist.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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