The End of the Beginning

Ashes 2013

 

The End of the Beginning

 

July 5^th

 

 

The phoney war is ending. Today Australia finish their final preparation match against Worcestershire. It will be a massive surprise to everyone if the game is not over before the final hour with a huge win for the tourists who are looking better and better. Finally the bookmakers are responding and, although England remain very warm favourites for the 1^st Test, the odds on an England win are lengthening – now at Evens – and on an Australian win have shortened to 3-1, which is still pretty generous in a two horse race, with the tourists showing some pretty useful pre-series form.

The preparations over, the two sides will name their squads. It is assumed that the England selectors will have ten names absolutely nailed down now that Stuart Broad has been declared fit. Cook, Root, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Bairstow and Prior as the batsmen. Anderson and Broad with the new ball. Swann as the sole spinner unless the Trent Bridge pitch is totally uncharacteristic of that renowned seamers’ paradise, especially with Joe Root showing his versatility as back-up. Probably both Finn and Bresnan will be named in the XII. The selectors say that they know the identity of the third seamer, who seems more likely to be Finn than Bresnan. It is just possible that Boyd Rankin may be put on stand-by as cover for Broad in case he shows a late reaction to his injury: if England name a XIII it will be because there are lingering doubts. Most of the Australian squad are also pretty well nailed down. Pattinson will open the bowling, Nathan Lyon will be the spinner, Rogers and Watson will open followed by Hughes and Clarke, Haddin will take the gloves, Siddle will be the workhorse of the attack, etc. There will though be plenty of debate about the other places: David Warner may yet play in the middle order, Steve Smith has had an excellent game at Worcester, Bird, Harris and Starc have shown some good form. Whatever happens, Australia do not lack options.

[Later] As Worcestershire resisted sedately everything that the Australian attack could throw at them during the morning session, one fan suggested that “New Road” should be branded “Absolute Road” in a reference to the pitches it produces. A wicket on the stroke of lunch was Australia’s only success in the morning session. When two wickets fell quickly early in the afternoon it looked as if Worcestershire would roll over, as expected, but it seemed that no one had explained the script to them. After Chris Jones at Taunton, another youngster averaging just 17, this time Tom Fell, hung around to frustrate them. Although a win for Worcestershire was never an option, there was a growing hope that they could hang on for an unexpected draw despite being savaged for three days, with Australia having to take six wickets to win after Tea having managed just three in the first two sessions of the day. However, before that could even be contemplated, they would have to break the stubborn fifth wicket partnership first with Fell 24* at Tea and showing the broadest of bats.

The fifth wicket stand was finally broken with the new ball after Tea, but the writing was on the wall; just eight overs later Michael Clarke tossed the ball to Phil Hughes to concede the draw, which was shaken on after Hughes’s over. Worcestershire became the first side to resist the Australian invader, finishing a mere 187 runs short, with five wickets left. Tom Fell finished 62*, comfortably his highest ever First Class score.

Tomorrow is D-Day for the England hopefuls. The squad will be named in the afternoon at 14:30BST. It is not expected to contain any surprises, which means that Bresnan and Finn will be vying for the final place in the eleven on Wednesday morning. The weather forecast is for it to be very warm and, just as important, dry.