England and Australia will go head-to-head this summer in a series of high-stakes
Test cricket matches for the Ashes 2013.
The two proud cricket nations will battle it out in five locations across England, beginning at Trent Bridge in Nottingham this July and ultimately concluding at The Oval in London in late August.
England defeated
Australia 3-1 two years ago to retain the Ashes and will now look to defend the title on its home soil.
With the action officially underway, here we'll take a closer look at some key players to watch for.
Despite making his Test debut for Australia this summer, 19-year-old record-breaking Ashton Agar will be a huge key for the Aussies as they look to knock off England.
If there was any doubt about Agar's ability it was quickly erased at Trent Bridge during the first Test, as the left-handed teenager became the first No. 11 to make 50 in his Test match debut and the second-fastest Australian batsman to 50, according to BBC Sport:
In addition to his batting skills, Agar is also a promising all-around bowler who will provide the Aussies with an additional option on the pitch. There's certainly still a lot that Agar must learn and experience before he can reach his full potential, but he'll be a key player to keep an eye on this summer nonetheless.
ngland's opening batsman, Joe Root, is just a few years older than Agar and will be critical to England's success in 2013. Root is a right-handed batter and a strong bowler with an off-breaking delivery that can create problems for the opposition.
Physically, there's nothing stopping Root from becoming one of the world's best. As long as he follows the lead of guys like Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook, his play should speak for itself at this event.
