Australia ripe for the picking
And then there’s Australia’s bowlers, their mindset, and a backyard mentality to consider.
The header could have been a question: Is Australia ripe for the picking? Or, removing the splinters, a statement. I used to be decisive, but now I’m not so sure, so I went with the statement. There, I’m cured!
I’ve been wanting to back England for a while now! What’s been stopping me?
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Partly the endemic ‘Englishman in Australia’ syndrome. Suffered by many like-types.
Secondly, I now understand better how important a home Ashes series is to Australia. Conversely, I see many English grounds surrendering to the corporate types; not so here.
And, thirdly, Australia have enjoyed the benefits of a protection racket for the best part of a decade. Messers, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, and Lyon have been undeniably loyal to the Australian cause as both protectors and elite practitioners of their art.
In this age of short-form content, I’m unsure why this Ashes series has occupied so much bandwidth - yes, I’m not clear of culpability either.
So, put simply, the series outcome will be determined by how England’s batting—given they continue in their pursuit of immediate gains—holds up against Australia’s bowling.
Forget injuries, the hosts have strength in depth here. They execute bowling plans military-like, field and hustle as well as any team, and strategise above all others. That said, if England can post first innings scores, they are in this up to their eyeballs—whatever that means! The eyeballs analogy.
If Harry Brook and his merry band of swingers can handle the heat, load up, you’ll still get a reasonable price.
England’s coach, Brendon McCullum, is rightly put out by the one-way, one-lane accusations. Again, for brevity, England’s pivot in method was a necessary adjustment following the meek showing in the 2021-22 Ashes.
McCullum believes there is more to Bazball than bash, bang, wickets, golf, and beers.
He said on a popular English cricket podcast, “I think there’s a misconception about the way we play, I find it slightly disrespectful.”
Righto, Baz, you do like golf, though, and own shares in a London pub.
In fact, it would be hard to separate the two coaches when it comes to beers and golf.
What will we see then? A muted version of Bazball; my view is that Harry Brook aside, the rest of the batters, down to Jamie Smith, play in a more orthodox fashion than the original Bazball way.
England’s calling is here and now. They were bullied and pummelled in 2021-22. In 2023, they regained ground and might still consider themselves unlucky not to win that series.
Winning this Test would be a start, something they haven’t done since 2010-11. The series will be a marathon, but it’s here and now that matters, and Australia look prime for the picking.
Ps. The toss is not that important, although the visitors prefer the bat second and fourth option. If England is inserted, who will take ball one? Their coach knows how difficult a Mitch Starc slinging swinger can be to navigate. Surely he couldn’t repeat the dose!
Enjoy.
