Surprise me!

Ashes 2013

 

Possibly the Least Surprising Squad Ever?

 

July 6^th

 

 

The only slight surprise in the England squad announcements is that a thirteen has been named instead of the expected twelve and that the thirteenth man is Onions. Since the identity of ten of the eleven to take the field on Wednesday was known weeks back, the only slight suspense is the identity of the third seamer, with England keeping their options open with a “bang it in” bowler (Finn), a “seam and swinger” (Onions) and a reverser (Bresnan). Just possibly the weather and the state of the pitch will be decisive, with warm, almost hot weather forecast in the days before the match.

How though to read the Australian warm-ups? Between Australia A and the official tourists they played four matches and won three. Gloucestershire, Somerset and Ireland gave them a scare – in the case of Gloucestershire a last wicket partnership got them agonisingly close to a remarkable win – but the Australians were ultimately just too good and, when someone had to step up, the bowlers responded. New Road, now to re re-named “True Road” (when it is not being used as a boating lake), was too much even for them. While the Australian bowlers have been generally irresistible, two young batsmen who were the typical county pick against tourists – both went into their respective games averaging 17.3 in First Class cricket – have shown that those same bowlers can be played. At Taunton it was Chris Jones with 130 who defied them. Yesterday it was Tom Fell, who batted most of the afternoon for 62* to earn his team a famous and unexpected draw when all logic said that they would lose.

Which is the true Australia? The one that collapsed to a little over 100 against Gloucestershire and came close to defeat? The one that was made to look incredibly ordinary by Chris Jones? Or the one that then took 6 Somerset wickets on the same score with the new ball? The one that scored runs at a ridiculous rate with complete impunity against Worcestershire? Or the one that could not remove rookie, Tom Fell?

The impression is that this Australian side goes into the 1^st Test in excellent form and that it is a lot better than many people give them credit for, but is vulnerable in a way that Australian sides never were between 1989 and 2009.  To win, England need to exploit Australian vulnerabilities, without exposing their own. Many of Australia’s hopes lie on the shoulders of James Pattinson and it may be the wish to stop him getting momentum with the new ball with big opening partnerships that has caused England to move Root up to open. Similarly, the Australian batsmen have struggled to score centuries and to set competitive totals: if England’s batsmen can outdo them on that score, Australia will find it difficult to win.

On the day that the British and Irish Lions managed a famous – and massive, 16-41 – win against Australia in Sydney, the hopes of a nation lie with their cricketing counterparts to ensure that the Ashes urn stays in England.