New Delhi:
West Indies batting great Brian Lara has predicted that newly-crowned World Cup champions England will defeat Australia in the ongoing Ashes series. Lara also said that England skipper Joe Root will end the series, which started on Thursday, with the highest runs while speedster Chris Woakes be the leading wicket-taker.
"My predictions for the Ashes 2019, winners: England; most runs: Joe Root; most wickets: Chris Woakes," Lara tweeted.
Here's the Tweet:
My Predictions for the Ashes @icc
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) August 1, 2019
🔶 Ashes 2019
Winners: #england
Most Runs: @root66
Most Wickets: @chriswoakes#ashes #lovecricket #cricket #icc #engvsaus #testcricket pic.twitter.com/8AB4W0nHmj
On day one of the first Test of five match Ashes series, Steve Smith had arrived at the crease with Australia having their backs to the wall on the opening day of the Ashes contest against England. The top order was blown away by Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad and they were left reeling at 122/8. The partisan crowd at Edgbaston was booing and jeering the Australian players, mostly David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft.
However, Smith, playing in his first Test since the infamous ball-tampering scandal, produced a knock for the ages and smashed his 24th century and ninth against England as Australia were rescued to 284 all out at the end of day one. Smith shared an 88-run stand with Peter Siddle for the ninth wicket and a stand of 74 with Nathan Lyon for the final wicket as Australia had plenty of smiles. For England, Stuart Broad was the chief destroyer with 5/86.
