Australia batsmen hold key to Ashes
England will find themselves in the unusual position of firm
favourites when they begin the defence of the Ashes against Australia at
Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground next week.
The hosts are bidding for a third successive series win over their
arch-rivals -- something they last achieved back in the 1950s.
While an Australia attack featuring Peter Siddle and James Pattinson
could yet prove a match for England seamers such as James Anderson and
Stuart Broad, provided they remain free of injuries, the outcome of the
series is likely to hinge on the performance of the tourists' batsmen.
Australia captain Michael Clarke apart, the visitors' top-order does
not boast another proven world-class run-scorer. When England won the
last Ashes series in Australia in 2010/11 3-1, all three of their
victories were by an innings -- a reflection of their batting strength
and Australia's batting weakness.
The hope expressed this week by former Australia all-rounder Tom
Moody was that, just as in 1989 when Australia were written off ahead of
the Ashes only to win 4-0, a new star batsman will emerge just as Steve
Waugh did 24 years ago.
But former Australia captain Ian Chappell was gloomy about
Australia's prospects of regaining the urn.
“I just don't see any way Australia can beat England,” Chappell, who
added he also expected England to win the return series in Australia
starting in November, told the Guardian's website in an interview.
Australia sacked coach Mickey Arthur just 16 days before this Ashes
series and replaced him with Darren Lehmann after poor results,
including a 4-0 series loss in India in March, were compounded by
off-field problems.
South African Arthur, controversially dropped four players from the
Test team in India, including then vice-captain Shane Watson, for
failing to complete 'homework' while the early part of the tour of
England was overshadowed by the ban, which expires with the first Test,
given to batsman David Warner for punching home batsman Joe Root in a
Birmingham bar. Chappell, long distrustful of the influence of coaches,
was keen to stress former Australia batsman Lehmann's limits by writing
in his Cricinfo column: “The coach doesn't make any runs or take any
wickets.
“Many a player has felt positive and strong sitting in a hotel
lounge, listening to a rousing speech. The problem comes the next day
when, under intense scrutiny, he actually has to find a way to score
runs against the swing of a Jimmy Anderson and the guile of
(off-spinner) Graeme Swann.”
AFP |