England cricketer and lifelong United fan Sam Cook has predicted that his international team-mates will come out on top in their much-anticipated Ashes series against Australia.
The first Test starts in Perth on Friday (21 November), with England aiming to claim the urn for the first time since 2015.
Cook narrowly missed out on a spot in the tourists' travelling squad, after making his international debut last summer against Zimbabwe.
But despite that disappointment, he told United Review that he's highly excited for the series ahead and believes that England have their best chance in years to triumph in Australia.
Cook narrowly missed out on a spot in the tourists' travelling squad, after making his international debut last summer against Zimbabwe.
But despite that disappointment, he told United Review that he's highly excited for the series ahead and believes that England have their best chance in years to triumph in Australia.
“I’m predicting 3-1 England,”said Cook. “I think a lot will be determined by that first Test. If we can start well, which I really believe they will, especially with Australia not having Pat Cummins, that’s a massive loss for them.
”Their batting line-up is looking as shaky as it has for the last decade, and I think England have got a real chance. I think a lot of it will come down to which bowling attack stands above the rest, but with the Aussies not having Pat Cummins, England have got even more of a chance.
“They would have had a real good shout anyway, but in my head, England are coming into it as slight favourites, even though it’s in Australia's backyard.”
England have not won a single Test down under since 2011, losing 4-0, 5-0 and 5-0 on their last three trips to the Eastern Hemisphere.
But the team has been transformed since the arrival of head coach Brendon McCullum in 2022, under the captaincy of the talismanic Ben Stokes, which has convinced many experts to believe that the five matches to come will be closely contested.
That's certainly a line of thought that Sam would support, after spending quality time around the England camp earlier in the year.
But the team has been transformed since the arrival of head coach Brendon McCullum in 2022, under the captaincy of the talismanic Ben Stokes, which has convinced many experts to believe that the five matches to come will be closely contested.
That's certainly a line of thought that Sam would support, after spending quality time around the England camp earlier in the year.
“Experiencing Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum and spending time with them this summer, they are just two amazing and inspirational people to be around,”explains Cook.
“When they talk, you listen. Like with United legends, there’s that aura that you just can’t put your finger on, you can’t measure it. But they’ve both got it in vast amounts. They’re incredible to listen to speak about the game and they are leaders that you really want to follow.
”There are a lot of similarities with United teams and dynasties of the past, with Sir Alex. I can imagine the players, when he spoke, that they’d sit there and really listen.
“That whole culture of the dressing room and taking the pressure off the players is great,”he continues.
“Now they are just dialling it up and taking the pressure on and trying to take it to the next level and be that no.1 dominant best Test team in the world.
”It’s incredible to see the culture of that dressing room and the mentality of what goes into it. They’ve been fantastic.“
The eyes of the sporting world will be on the Optus Stadium – where United played twice during pre-season 2019 – when the first match starts at 02:20 GMT on Friday.
Another big Red, Jofra Archer, is expected to make England's starting XI, while fast bowler Josh Tongue, also a United fan, is part of the wider squad.
We wish the England team all the best for what will hopefully be a successful tour.
Another big Red, Jofra Archer, is expected to make England's starting XI, while fast bowler Josh Tongue, also a United fan, is part of the wider squad.
We wish the England team all the best for what will hopefully be a successful tour.