IT’S the Ashes and it begins on Friday. From then until July 31, the England men’s team will face off against our antipodean rivals in five Test matches, the winner of which will receive a comically small urn that matters far more than the World Test Championship (WTC) that Australia have just won or lost. Who is good? Who will win? Let’s find out.
England, in Test cricket, are on fire. They have won 11 of their past 13 games, against India, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan. In their most recent victory against Ireland, they hit 500 in 80 overs, which was only dwarfed by the 506 they scored in 75 overs against Pakistan. As previously written, they have chucked out the rule book, the sense of patient decorum, and decided to attack their opposition from the first ball to the last, which has provided astonishing results. Stuart ‘the Nighthawk’ Broad may have been being facetious when he described the last tour to Australia as a ‘void series’, but, as far as Australia are concerned, they are playing a totally different team. Coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have completely revitalised not only an abject England, but an entire format. Of course, to the discerning English Test-cricket watcher, none of that past success will matter unless the Australians are defeated, but, considering where they were two years ago, England have given themselves the best possible chance of victory.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 14, 2023-Ausgabe von Country Life UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 14, 2023-Ausgabe von Country Life UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery