Toby Marshall
The England Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed an extensive schedule for the summer of 2023, which includes a five-game Ashes series against Australia and a solitary Test match against Ireland. The English team’s summer will start with a one-off Test match against Ireland at Lord’s between June 1-4.
They will then shift their focus to the Ashes series against Australia, where they aim to win back the trophy after a 4-0 defeat in the 2021/22 series in Australia. The Ashes matches will be played between June 16 and July 31 at five different venues, namely Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
The England men’s team will also participate in a T20I and ODI series against New Zealand, which will consist of four 20-over and four 50-over matches, taking place from August 30 to September 15.
To prepare for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India, they will play a three-match ODI series against Ireland from September 20 to September 26.
June 16 – June 20: 1st Test, England v Australia, Edgbaston, Birmingham
June 28 – July 2: 2nd Test, England v Australia, Lord’s, London
July 6 – July 10: 3rd Test, England v Australia, Headingley, Leeds
July 19 – July 23: 4th Test, England v Australia, Old Trafford, Manchester
July 27 – July 31: 5th Test, England v Australia, The Oval, London
Led by Ben Stokes, England has won 10 of their first 12 Tests under his captaincy and has a strong record in the last five home series against Australia, winning four and drawing the most recent one in 2019. The squad for the tour is expected to be announced in mid-May, about a week before the first Test starts on June 16, as per the usual practice for the home side.
England fast bowler Stuart Broad expressed his anticipation for this summer’s Ashes series against Australia, predicting that it will be “one hell of a series” given the recent success of his team.
England’s exciting and entertaining approach to test cricket, nicknamed “Bazball,” has the potential to revolutionize the sport, and Broad is eager to see how it will fare in the five-test series that starts in Birmingham on June 16.
Broad stated to Sky Sports that he believes the upcoming Ashes series against Australia make up an incredible summer. He explained that England’s team style is centered on entertaining the crowd with the type of cricket that people want to see on TV and in-person, regardless of the opponent.
Broad is confident that his team’s batting will continue to impress and that they will be able to handle Australia’s formidable bowling attack, which could include Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon.
Despite the fresh, fit, and ready condition of the Aussies, Broad pointed out that England has played against brilliant bowling attacks before, and their style of cricket will not change against Australia. He anticipates a thrilling series given the quality of both teams.
The second Test match in the Ashes series between England and Australia reached an exciting conclusion on Sunday, with another thrilling Day 5 finish. The match at Lord's will be remembered for Ben Stokes' brilliant innings and Australia's ability to maintain their composure in a winning position. However, it will also be known for the controversial moments that sparked intense debate within cricket circles.
In the multi-format series, England managed to level the score with Australia at 8-8, showcasing their prowess in limited-overs cricket. Winning consecutive T20 matches and starting the ODI leg with a victory in Bristol demonstrated their competitive spirit. It's worth noting that Australia, the No. 1 team in the world, hadn't lost a bilateral ODI series in a decade prior to this.
