Ashes 2021: Australia v England second Test, Shane Warne’s high praise for Cameron Green

There was much to like from Australia’s Ashes-opening win, Test great Shane Warne gives his verdict on who impressed, and who needs to fire in Adelaide.

Shane Warne weighs in on the Gabba performances of Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc.

There were so many good things to come out of the first Ashes Test for Australia.

Nathan Lyon taking his 400th Test wicket and really springing back to his best, Travis Head scoring the third fastest Ashes 100 of all time, Pat Cummins’ captaincy debut, runs for David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, the smooth debut from the drummer in the band, Alex Carey plus the first ball wicket from Mitchell Starc to ignite the Ashes.

But, and I know this might sound odd, the best thing to come out of the Gabba for me was Cameron Green’s bowling.

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Shane Warne weighs in on the Gabba performances of Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc.

He became incredibly important with Josh Hazlewood struggling with his side strain, and he stood up.

He bowled in the 140kmh range, he swung the ball, he hit the deck hard and what a fifth bowling option he’s now become.

This is another idea out of the box, but I’d roll him back one spot on the batting order. I’d bat Cameron Green at number seven, with Alex Carey coming in ahead of him, and let him ease his way into his Test career. Take a little bit of pressure off him as a batter, tell him he’s going to bowl a lot more – which he will – and let him play with some freedom.

Remember that Steve Smith started his Test career batting at number seven.

Nathan Lyon taking his 400th wicket could also be massive for the rest of the series.

Nathan Lyon nabbed his milestone 400th Test wicket at the Gabba. Picture: Getty

First of all, what a great achievement.

He was putting so much pressure on himself to get that milestone, he’d lost his patience and you could see his frustration.

Then as soon as he got a bat-pad in front of Dawid Malan, he looked like he was going to get him out all the time. If he continues to have a fielder in there to Malan, Lyon will get him out there again too.

He took that 400th wicket and it was like a relief for him. He suddenly looked so much more relaxed, he had so much energy, and he was back to the Nathan Lyon of a couple of years ago.

That’s such a great and important sign for Australia.

England look like they are going to go off the India blueprint from last summer – get through Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and then go after Lyon and Mitchell Starc.

Cummins is an early dangerman for Australia – and England need to see him off without absorbing too much damage. Picture: Getty

It looked like it was going to pay off in the second innings in Brisbane, but then Nathan Lyon clicked into gear on that fourth morning, and showed that strategy may not work this summer.

He helped go through the England tail, and that’s a major issue going to Adelaide where it won’t be as easy against Starc as it was in Brisbane when he has a pink ball.

I know the batters are there to get runs but across both teams, for the last four wickets, England lost 4-34 and 4-51. Australia lost 4-189. England must do better.

When Pat Cummins came in to bat the lead was only 89 runs, then the Australian tail wagged and got to a 278-run lead which was enormous.

I thought Ollie Robinson bowled really well, but it’s been an issue for a while now how quickly he tires. It’s only going to get hotter and harder on flatter wickets after Adelaide. Let’s keep an eye on him again this Test.

MAKING UP FOR FIRST TEST MISTAKES

Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad have to play in Adelaide, but that creates a selection dilemma for England.

With the hot temperatures predicted for the match, outside of those times in the game when the pink ball is humming, a spinner is going to be required and Joe Root has said he wants to back Jack Leach.

England made a huge mistake by omitting Stuart Broad and James Anderson from the first Test. Picture: Getty

It would be a huge gamble not to play a spinner, although Root and even Dawid Malan could be the spin options.

But to play a spinner would mean most likely Robinson and Chris Woakes miss out to bring in Anderson and Broad, who must play.

An attack of Anderson, Broad and Mark Wood is pretty good.

Robinson was their best bowler in Brisbane, but as I said, he tired early, it’s going to be hot in Adelaide.

I’ve said this before that Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad‘s record in Australia is average for such world class bowlers – but I reckon they would’ve bowled pretty damn well at the Gabba.

Jack Leach (left) had a dismal time at the Gabba – but it would still be risky leaving him out. Picture: Getty

England missed a trick with their strategy.

They have had a long time to work it all out and their preparation wasn’t great, but I would have thought the first two Tests were England’s best chance of winning with the conditions at the Gabba and those two guys who can swing and seam the ball as good as anyone.

I would have played them in Brisbane and Adelaide, then mixed it up after that. It looks like England have put all their eggs in the Adelaide basket now.

I think Zac Crawley should come into consideration for Rory Burns or Haseeb Hameed.

I know Hameed did OK in Brisbane, but the thing is he hasn’t got too many aggressive shots, which means he allows bowlers to bowl to him and doesn’t put any pressure on them whatsoever, so the batsman coming in after are under pressure as the bowlers have been allowed to find their rhythm and confidence is up which allows them to be relentless.

Haseeb Hameed could find himself under pressure at the top of the England order. Picture: AFP

A NEW TEST AWAITS

Despite the overwhelming Australian win in Brisbane, I still think the two teams match up pretty well going into new territory against the pink ball, under lights and if the England skipper, Joe Root, gets a bit more help with the bat then this will be a close contest.

With Travis Head and David Warner finding form, you add them to Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, the Australian middle order looks pretty good compared to England.

But then England will throw four seamers at Australia, with a pink ball, and it’s a new ball game.

So much comes down to when you bat. If you win the toss and bat, if you can bat well for the first two sessions, get to 220, then the last session is purely survival when the lights come on and the pink ball starts humming.

Stuart Broad tests out the pink ball. Picture: AFP

Ben Stokes could be dangerous under lights. Picture: AFP

If you bowl the opposition out in 70 overs, and you have to face 20 overs under lights, you could be four for not much pretty quickly.

It’s a real tricky one and you need a bit of luck so you aren’t batting under lights all the time, which can happen.

Teams will consider declaring if they are seven or eight wickets down and instead of trying to get the tail to wag, they’ll try to come out and get three or four of the top order wickets.

It changes the dynamics of the game completely, and the team that can survive the night sessions with the bat the best could be the one that comes out on top.

STARC REALITY

I said before the first Test I wouldn’t have picked Mitchell Starc in Brisbane as I thought Jhye Richardson was a better selection based on form, but would have locked Starc in for the pink ball Test.

After Mitch took a wicket with the first ball of the match, there was plenty of constructive criticism directed my way, which made me giggle.

And yes, I’m happy to admit the first ball of the match swung a little bit. But Rory Burns still missed a half-volley on leg stump that he shouldn’t have.

Mitch has to find a way to bowl with the older ball, as lots of people have mentioned, and pointed out the stats as well. Losing Josh Hazlewood in Adelaide is massive but I think Starc will find his mojo with the pink ball.

I have a feeling this Adelaide Test match could be one that goes down as an all-time great match. Amazing Adelaide 2.0?

Originally published as Ashes 2021: Australia v England second Test, Shane Warne’s high praise for Cameron Green