Ashes Series: Manchester Test from today, Steve Smith will start fighting against England

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The first Test of the series was won by Australia, while the second match was a draw. Thanks to Ben Stokes’ unbeaten century in the third match, England drew 1-1 in the series snatching victory from Australia’s mouth.

The England team, who have been equaling the five-match Ashes series on the back of an unbeaten century from Ben Stokes in Leeds, is full of confidence. She will take on Australia to take the lead in the fourth Test starting in Manchester on Wednesday. The first Test of the series was won by Australia, while the second match was a draw. Thanks to Ben Stokes’ unbeaten century in the third match, England drew 1-1 in the series snatching victory from Australia’s mouth.

There is good news for Australia before this match. Steve Smith, the number 1 batsman in the ICC Test rankings, will return to Manchester. In the Lord’s Test, Smith was injured after Joffre Archer was hit on the neck. After that, he was out of the Leeds Test. Ideally, if Australia has the upper hand in this series, then Smith is a big reason for it.

Smith took the team out of the crisis with his batting in the first two Tests. Apart from him, no other batsman has left a special impression. David Warner’s bat is quiet. Usman Khawaja could not maintain consistency. Matthew Wade has scored a century, but after that, he is also seen sitting the pavilion quickly. Captain Tim Paine has not been able to show anything amazing. However, Penn has not picked Khwaja in the last-12.

Smith’s return to England will surely be a cause for trouble, but the form in which Jofra Archer is going has continuously encouraged the hosts. Archer has been a strong link to England. He came in the team in place of James Anderson and he has not let the lack of experienced bowler be forgotten.

A change in England’s batting order is certain. In place of Jason Roy, Joe Denley will come to start the innings and Roy will play at number four. England’s top order is still struggling. Captain Joe Root will also have to play the responsibility and Stokes and Jose Butler will also have to run in the lower order.

If Stokes is omitted, the England batsmen have not yet become a real trouble for Australian bowlers. The team selected Mitchell Starc in the final-12 in place of James Pattinson. Stark’s match is also considered to be fixed.

Teams

Australia: Tim Paine (captain/wicketkeeper), Steven Smith, David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labushane, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

England: Joe Root (captain), Joffre Archer, Johnny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jose Butler, Sam Curran, Joe Denley, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes Chris Woakes.