Whilst the England team are currently riding high in the ICB rankings (potentially overtaking the Aussies should they lose their upcoming series against India), the English Ashes team is still considered by most bookies, experts, and more than a small number of fans to be a group of players potentially on a hiding to nothing and, at the very least, massive underdogs in the Ashes betting odds for the Ashes cricket series.
Although mind games are relatively rare in cricket compared to many other sports, the majority of England fans will be hoping that Kevin Pietersen’s latest outburst (which saw him admit all too readily that England are the underdogs) is simply the start of a psychological war of words, rather than a worrying sign that England’s players are already fearing the worst ahead of a series that saw them humiliated 5-0 the last time they were on Australian soil.
However, with Pietersen also suggesting that the England team is fully prepared to put up a good fight, whilst also hinting that there is even an air of quiet confidence surrounding the team, their status as underdogs and an unusual lack of pressure from the UK press and public should see the English lads play their cricket without the burden of fear or expectation, something that could provide a significant boost to the side’s prospects out in Australia.
With Pietersen having been handed the opportunity to regain some kind of form in his native South Africa, Graeme Swann playing some wonderful cricket at the moment, and the England players always able to take full advantage of a close team spirit and togetherness, the English do have a few reasons to be hopeful in their quest to pull off what would be a shock result remembered by fans of cricket across the world for many years to come.
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