Cricket News: England-Australia set for biggest clash of summer

Still riding the high on their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 win, England are set for the next big event of their summer: the Ashes against Australia. England announced their playing XI ahead of the start of the first Test at Edgbaston while Australia have decided to hold it until the last minute. GFX IN James Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, returns to the side following a calf injury and will team up again with regular new-ball partner Stuart Broad. Jofra Archer, who has been struggling with a side injury, however, will have to wait for his Ashes debut. GFX OUT Australia, meanwhile, is poised to put its faith in a rapid four-man attack featuring James Pattinson and Pat Cummins. GFX IN It will be interesting to see whether Tim Paine goes with Mitchell Starc as the third seamer or Peter Siddle, who has been in tremendous form in domestic. Here is Australia’s likely XI for the first Test. Several of England’s World Cup winners appeared jaded against Ireland and was on the verge of losing before Ireland made a mockery of a chase in the second innings getting all-out for 38, the sixth lowest score in the history of Test cricket. With runs expected to be at a premium while the bowlers hold sway, England will hope all-rounders such as Ben Stokes, restored to the vice-captaincy, can again make valuable contributions with the bat. Now, let’s listen in what the captains of both sides said ahead of the match