Shane Warne says a fearless England is in box seat to break Australia’s 30-year Gabba stranglehold
TEST legend Shane Warne believes England is perfectly poised to capitalise on Australia’s “confusion” and break the host’s 30-year Gabba stranglehold.
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SHANE Warne has declared Australia is in a state of “confusion” heading into the Ashes, with England in the box seat for a Gabba boilover.
Even amid the mass drama caused by the Ben Stokes assault drama, Warne believes it’s the visitors who are in the enviable position on series eve, adamant that England no longer hold any fears about an unsettled Australian cricket team.
Mitchell Johnson turned the Gabba into an English graveyard four years ago, but Warne says it’s Australia who are a shambles this time around — with Tim Paine’s bizarre selection pointing to a lack of direction from those calling the shots.
Australia’s first Test Gabba fortress, which has held firm for more than 30 years, is suddenly under threat from a no-name English squad missing their best player.
“At the moment, where the biggest shift has come over the last few years is they don’t fear Australia anymore,” said Warne at a launch of Nine’s summer of cricket in Sydney.
“England no longer fear Australia and haven’t for a long time and hence that’s why they can beat Australia.
LISTEN! In a special episode of Cricket Unfiltered we analyse Australia’s controversial Test team for the first Ashes Test.
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“I don’t think they (feared them in 2013-14) until Mitchell Johnson bowled to them at the Gabba.
“England, I think at the moment, are just going along nicely. They’re just doing their business.
“Australia look confused. They’re picking wicketkeepers that aren’t even keeping for their state.
“To me, I think England are in a better situation going into that first Test match than what Australia are.”
Nine commentating legend Bill Lawry agrees with Warne that Australia is missing a true intimidator, despite Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins capable of bowling 150km/h.
“I think the big key to this Ashes series is Mitchell Johnson and he’s not playing. If I was an opening batsman I wouldn’t be losing too much sleep facing the Australian pace attack as far as pace is concerned,” Lawry said.
“They’re all good bowlers but they’re not going to frighten you.”
Warne is predicting this Ashes series to be the hardest-fought and most dramatic since the iconic 2005 campaign, which England famously won in a fifth-Test decider.
The leg-spinning great says both sides are weak because they rely too much on two players — Australia on David Warner and Steve Smith and England on Alastair Cook and Joe Root.
“It will get down to how those guys bat,” said Warne.
“England have a few very good cricketers. Chris Woakes is underrated, he’s a very, very good cricketer. Moeen Ali, I don’t think he plays the short ball very well, but he’s a dangerous cricketer at No.7.
“On paper you look at the rankings, England are ranked No.2 and Australia fifth. Australia has the home advantage but I think this will be a super close series and it all gets down to the bowling mainly.”
Former Test captain Michael Clarke said David Warner held the key to Australia’s fortunes and needed to be positioned close to the bat by Steve Smith in the field.
“His attitude is the key to Australia’s intent,” he said.
LISTEN! On our new CRICKET UNFILTERED podcast, Ian Chappell explains his reasons for omitting Steve Waugh from his list of Ashes greats and Robert “Crash” Craddock provides his unique insight into the battle for the urn.
You can download Cricket Unfiltered from the iTunes store
“When he gets into the game and gets involved … he always has success. That’s why I feel the frustration when I see someone as good an athlete as David Warner fielding at mid-off and mid-on.
“To me, he needs to be involved in the game at all times. He needs to set that tone.
“I think the Australian team is a little unsure about their style at the moment … it’s an opportunity for them to work out what style of cricket they want to play.”