Third Ashes Test: Five players who need to stand up and be counted

The first two Tests have been played, the dust has settled and its time to look forward. Yes, England has dominated and the Australians have wilted under the pressure, but the battle will continue and we will see a fight to the finish.

The Australians have been warriors on the field of cricket, warriors known to never take a step backward in the face of any hostility. The English, on the other hand, they say, would rather lose a battleship than lose a Test match.

Let’s take a look at some of the men on either side, who matter the most and who will have to stand up and deliver for their respective sides.

5. Matt Prior

Ever since the battle hardened Alec Stewart hung up his wicket keeping gloves, England were looking for someone to take over. Geraint Jones, Chris Read and others were tried, and then arrived on the scene “Watermelons”, or so he was called by Shane Warne for the way he walks out to the middle.

Prior scored a century on debut against the West Indies, and fighting through some low troughs in between, he has become  one of the best in the business today. Not having a score above 31 in the first two Tests should hurt him, and every English fan will be hoping for him to come back to form. His aggressive brand of batting is just what England need to grind the Aussies to the ground.