5 Compelling Ashes Stories to Watch in Australia in 2013-14
Sudden re-matches in international cricket are very much a rarity. Unlike other sports, cricket's preeminent encounters are founded upon a basis of lengthy anticipation.
The impending Ashes series, however, will take on a vastly different feel.
What we're about to witness is a Test series that will uniquely carry a host of storylines that have continued to linger since the conclusion of the last Ashes encounter.
Consequently, an added spice will exist in this showdown; simmering feuds will bubble away.
It's a backdrop that will undoubtedly create a truly compelling battle between cricket's most fierce rivals.
So while Australia and England slug it out in their quests for the Urn, the following five stories will be ever-present throughout the duration of the series.
5. George Bailey vs. Michael Carberry: Battle of the Mature Ashes Debutants
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While both men own significant first class experience, an Ashes encounter represents a colossal step up for both George Bailey and Michael Carberry.
Yet, how quickly these two mature Ashes debutants adapt to the rigours of such a battle may play a big part in determining which set of hands lift the Urn at the beginning of January.
By opting for mature heads rather than young tyros, both England and Australia are hoping to bring a sense of calm and composure to the areas of their batting units that have been seen as problematic.
Bailey's sumptuous form in the limited overs arena (where he's averaging 54.96) has pushed the 31-year-old to the top of the list for Australia's vacant No. 6 slot. With the top five looking set, it's hoped that Bailey's leadership and no-fuss methods can complement the exuberance that exists within the home side's middle order.
For England, Carberry's inclusion is expected to do the same at the top of the lineup. While Joe Root's 180 at Lord's in July was a glittering example of what lies ahead, the 22-year-old found himself severely worked-over by Australia's bowlers for the remainder of the series.
By shifting Root down to No. 6 and inserting Carberry alongside Alastair Cook, the visitors are banking on experience at the top to guide themselves past the Australians.
If either of these two men are able to have a significant impact on the series with the bat, then it's likely their team will be well placed when the series reaches its conclusion in Sydney.
4. Michael Clarke vs. Alastair Cook
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It has been a long time since two Ashes captains have polarised opinion in the way Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook have.
As contrasting as the two nations themselves, Clarke and Cook have become curiously intriguing examples of leadership during their respective reigns.
While the Englishman's tenure has yielded far more success, he hasn't escaped the wrath of some—most notably Shane Warne—who point to his conservative methods as the definitive element preventing England from becoming the dominant team of their generation.
Yet for Clarke, the criticisms are aimed at his man-management skills and apparent inability to inspire unity behind closed doors. Despite being a proactive and audacious tactician, Clarke's captaincy was a contentious issue before the appointment of Darren Lehmann as head coach in June.
Now, these two very different leaders face the challenge of an unusually sudden Ashes re-match.
Can Clarke dispel the concerns surrounding his fragile back and steer his underdog team to a famous victory? Can the methodical Cook overcome the mental hurdle of being labelled boring and negative?
A stern test awaits these strikingly different men. Their captaincy duel will unquestionably shape the outcome of the series.
3. Trials and Tribulations of the Decision Review System
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The Decision Review System was unquestionably the most contentious issue of the 2013 Ashes campaign, and its story in 2013-14 looks set to be just as compelling.
In early October, it was announced that the host, Australian broadcaster Channel Nine, had scrapped the controversial Hot Spot component of the system due to the heavy costs associated with its implementation.
However, it appears that Hot Spot could be set for a reprieve, possibly being used in conjunction with "Snicko," the audio monitoring system regularly featured on television broadcasts.
At present, concerns exist regarding the time needed to synchronise the audio and video components of the "Snicko" system, while its accuracy is still being tested by the International Cricket Council.
To add to those issues, umpires would need to be trained in the use of the system in time for the first Test in Brisbane starting on Thursday, leaving little time for those matters to be addressed.
However, both England and Australia are heavily in favour of "Snicko" being used to complement Hot Spot and will continue to push for its introduction.
Yet, the fact that this issue remains unsolved just days before the series begins is a sign that the DRS will again be in the spotlight during the Australian summer.
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2. Mitchell Johnson's Ashes Redemption
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Few have forgotten his dramatic scenes of self-destruction in both the 2009 and 2010-11 Ashes series.
Such a gifted athlete, Mitchell Johnson's disintegration on cricket's grandest stage has perhaps left the 32-year-old as one of the most unfulfilled Ashes competitors in history.
In 2013-14, he has the chance to re-write that story.
Suddenly finding himself as the leader of Australia's attack, Johnson is in a position he may feel he's been in before.
Yet there's a small difference in his circumstance this time around.
Whereas he's previous entered his encounters with England being touted as a world-beater, Johnson comes into this series as a man seeking redemption. The humiliation, the ridicule, the failure: It has all been and gone.
That, of course, leaves the left-arm quick in a positive situation. It can only get better. Having reached the darkest depths of the Ashes experience, Johnson can now only look up.
However, that doesn't mean he's set for an easier ride, as he more than anyone should understand what an Ashes series can do to men with wavering levels of self-belief. But one gets the feeling that Johnson is ready for a different ride—ready for his chance at redemption.
What a story his is set to be.
1. Stuart Broad vs. Australian Public
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Sport loves its pantomime villains. They add spice, intrigue and drama that would simply not exist in their absence.
As we get ready to embrace another Ashes battle, one man will certainly carry with him that tag for the entire of the summer.
Stuart Broad.
Yet, understanding Australia's dislike of Broad is more complicated than the combining the events of his involvement in the Ashes series just gone.
Instead, Australians—in their own way—respect England's impetuous and fiery spearhead, for Broad's approach is ironically, rather Australian. His whole-hearted and combative exhibitions of bowling stir the emotions of the Australian public, as it's an approach very much akin to the essence of Australian sport.
Whereas the nation's public have no time for talented yet timid performers, they celebrate those that display the very spirit by which Australia prides itself on the global stage.
In Broad, Australians see themselves.
Which, of course, is why they love to loathe him. They see Broad as a unique England cricketer, capable of rivalling the imperious Australians for uninhibited ferocity. It's this underlying theme that will make Broad's tour of Australia a turbulent and unforgettable ride.
What an Ashes series it promises to be.
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