Australia v England: The Key Battles

The decisive battles between key players in the upcoming Ashes series.

The battle of the captains:
Flintoff v Ponting. The two knockabout players who used to waste their talents years ago square up against each other. Ponting is the one under severe pressure, can he stand up and perform? As Michael Slater said, whoever performs better will take the Ashes home.
Verdict: Flintoff, no question. Might as well put money on England now.

The battle of the middle order batsmen:
Kevin Pietersen v Michael Hussey. The two players who've lit up international cricket with their batting prowess in the past year or so. Their success will be important to both teams.
Verdict: Equal. Hussey can do no wrong at the moment, and Pietersen performs on the big stage - and can the stage get any bigger than now?

The battle of the spinners:
Shane Warne/Stuart MacGill v Monty Panesar/Ashley Giles. Since the kookaburra ball is unlikely to offer much help to the fast bowlers, the spinners will have to make the major breakthroughs.
Verdict: The legspin duo, no contest. Now that depends on the Australian team selection. Will they go with one or two spinners? If they are smart, two.

The battle of the key players:
Flintoff v Gilchrist. In 2005, Flintoff had the series of his life scoring runs and taking wickets. But the best thing he did for England was to keep Gilchrist quiet, with an around the wicket attack. When Gilchrist has a poor series with the bat (India 2001, India 2003, England 2005), Australia invariably lose. Can Flintoff do it again?
Verdict: Gilchrist may just get his revenge, especially if he gets the captaincy.

The battle of the good friends:
Kevin Pietersen v Shane Warne. Pietersen played Warne with aplomb in 2005, sweeping across the line, mainly in the air, on the small English grounds. Would he do it on large Australian grounds?
Verdict: KP. Pietersen is an excellent player of spin as he has tremendous reach. The big grounds won't deter him from the slog sweep.

Series prediction: England to retain the Ashes.