The Ashes 2013: Five battles within the battle

2. James Anderson vs. Shane Watson

This is the battle where the Ashes will be won or lost. James Anderson was the most successful bowler for England in the 2010-11 Ashes that was played in Australia. His ability to move the new ball both ways makes him an enormous threat in English conditions.

He has gradually become a potent practitioner of reverse swing. He is in the form of his life at the moment and is the single greatest threat to the Australian side in this series.

Shane Watson, thus, will have the most critical role of keeping him out when he walks out to open the innings with Chris Rogers. Watson has the talent required to become a successful batsman in the longer version of the game but he has not been able to put it to good use. This can be his coming-of-age series and it can come at no better time for Australia.