It has been an excellent summer of cricket for the England Test team. They were successful in six of their seven matches, with wins coming over India, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes began their new roles earlier this year. They were very clear from the start that they were going to encourage a much different style of play than England had been used to in the Test arena.

The England players have embraced the attacking and aggressive style of cricket that McCullum and Stokes have encouraged, and they have reaped the rewards with one of their best summers in recent years.

England are now the 11/10 favourites with Betfair to win the famous urn in 2023. Those backing Stokes’ side can pick up a free bet to use on the series through the firm’s bet 10 get 30 offer. With a team that is full of confidence, the hosts are likely to be popular with sports fans in the series betting.

It is the first time England have been favourites for the series since their crushing defeat to their rivals in Australia last summer. The shift in odds since then is a testament to how far the team has come under its new leadership.

Root Looks More Relaxed with Less Responsibility

Without the pressure of having to captain the team on and off the field, Joe Root has shown his class with the bat once again in 2022. The former skipper has scored 973 Test runs in the calendar year and barring an injury, he looks certain to pass the 1,000 mark for the second straight year.

Root has hit five centuries in 2022, including an unbeaten 142 in the second innings against India which helped his side to victory at Edgbaston. His performances have been enough for him to jump back up to the top spot in the ICC Test Batting Rankings ahead of Marnus Labuschagne and Babar Azam respectively.

Like most of his teammates, Root did not have a great Ashes series in Australia. He will be hoping to make up for that next summer in front of his home supporters where he can focus on scoring runs for his team.

Anderson and Broad Prove They Still Have a Big Role to Play

England’s two leading Test wickets takers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad were regulars in the starting XI over the summer and both proved they can still play an important role for their country.

Anderson took 27 wickets in the games against India, New Zealand, and South Africa. Selectors must now decide if to include him in the Tour of Pakistan later this year or to rest him for home matches in 2023.

Broad overtook Glenn McGrath this summer as the pacer with the second most wickets in Test cricket, with only his teammate Anderson ahead of him now. He is fifth on the list of best bowlers in the history of the format.

McCullum has made it clear that he expects Anderson and Broad to play an important role against Australia in the Ashes next summer.

The ECB are set to release the full 2023 Ashes schedule later this year, with an early start to the tour expected to be announced.

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