Wake up England, Australia deserves a competitive Ashes series
As Australia continue to flex their muscles on an unprepared English side, it feels as if we may never again see a competitive Ashes down under, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
IT was the image which made the world laugh but it summed up a tour.
Jofra Archer carrying a pillow into the Gabba triggered all the memes and “soft’’ jokes but behind the quips lay the chastening truth that he and his team are starting to look as if they need a decent lie down.
Archer’s head seems to drift in and out of the game.
When Ben Stokes moved him in at mid-off to keep Scott Boland on strike, Boland simply hit the ball in his direction and routinely stole a single.
Wakey, wakey.
Is he tired? Of course he is? When you have played two Tests in four years tackling two Tests in two and a bit weeks is pushing it.
Archer is a fine bowler but all those breathless Ashes previews about how he was going to rain scorching thunderbolts on Australia throughout the five Test summer ignored the fact that his engine simply was not tuned for the long haul.
The further in trouble England slide on this tour, the worse their preparation looks.
Their poor catching, scrambled line and lengths, and reckless batting is of a side who played one warm-up match against their very own British Lions.
And, as Allan Border shrewdly noted “do you seriously think any British Lions fast bowler is going to bounce Ben Stokes? I don’t think so. You want a proper competitive game.’’
England have missed their long time opening duo of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad who were not only great competitors but model professionals in terms of getting themselves game ready.
You only have to listen to Broad’s insightful commentary on Channel 7 and SEN to realise he is the thinking man’s fast bowler who squeezed every ounce of ability out of himself.
As Australia moved in for the kill, the question hung in the air … will we ever see another closely fought Ashes series in Australia?
There have been none in the past 50 years with England convincing winners in two rubbers and Australia storming home in the rest.
England have fooled themselves into thinking they could carry a featherweight preparation into a heavyweight contest.
Ben Stokes may be good enough to carry a light diet of match play into a major contest … but not the rest of them.
England could do with a Marnus Labuschagne style “I want to play everything’’ sort of guy.
Given the choice between a game of warm-up cricket and a game of golf most cricketers would take the golf. As many a champion has said, professional sport is often boring and hard graft.
But if you don’t do it you will soon be calling for that pillow!
More Coverage
Originally published as Wake up England, Australia deserves a competitive Ashes series
Allan Border went to the edge and came back. Can Ben Stokes?
