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England are all set to take on Australia in the Ashes which is a part of the ICC World Test Championship will begin from August 1 at Edgbaston. This is going to be important for both the sides where Australia are looking for their first series win in England since 2001. However, former Australia player Glenn McGrath believes England pace-spearhead James Anderson could make a difference in the Ashes. Although, Anderson has been trying to be fit from his calf injury.

“On home soil with the Dukes ball, he’s the best in the world bowling in those conditions,” Glenn McGrath said to the Sun in an interview. “He is a big player and if he has a big series for England, Australia will find it tough. If Australia bat well and can get on top of him, that’ll make a massive impact on their chances.”

Anderson is needed 25 more wickets to become the first fast bowler to take 600 wickets in Tests, surpassing former pacer McGrath’s record of 563 against India last September.

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“But Jimmy is on his way to 600 Test wickets, which is absolutely incredible. Jimmy’s got the record now and it won’t be beaten,” shared Glenn McGrath. “For a fast bowler to beat whatever record he sets, they are going to have to play 150 Tests-plus.”

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As the Ashes will be played with last year’s Dukes ball, the seamers will get the benefit of the seam. However, both England and Australia pacers will be beneficial from the situation.

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“Pat Cummins will bowl really well with it and if Mitchell Starc is swinging that new ball 150 kilometres (93 miles) per-hour-plus and bowling attacking lengths, he’s a handful for anyone,” he said. “It’s going to be whether our batsmen have learned and adjusted from last time they were here, when they just went too hard at the ball.”

Australia didn’t have a great record for the Ashes in England as they managed to win only three of the last 19 Tests.

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“Teams around the world are becoming stronger at home and worse away. That is a massive concern,” he said. “But having been here for the World Cup, a lot of Australia’s players have been able to adapt and adjust to conditions, to play on the pitches and get a little bit of a feel for everything.”

“We have got the players to do it. But they are going to have to be on the top of their game if they are going to compete with England in their own conditions,” he concluded.