The Ashes 2023: Ben Horne and Robert Craddock answer key questions ahead of World Test Championship final

What does the English summer look like for David Warner? How will the Aussies handle Bazball? Crash Craddock answers the big questions ahead of the World Test Championship final.

Australia’s magical – and marathon – English summer gets underway on Wednesday night with the World Test Championship Final against India at The Oval.

The five Ashes Tests then immediately follow, with the legacy of this Australian team hinging on the outcome of the six-match odyssey against India and England.

News Corp cricket writers Robert Craddock and Ben Horne have got together to debate the big talking points.

‘Crash’ Craddock will be answering all your questions on our live blog from midday Wednesday so please shoot your questions through.

What do you make of David Warner’s decision to flag his desire to retire at the end of the Sydney Test next summer?

HORNE: It was a provocative statement, and it’s certainly created some debate, but I just think he was trying to light a fire under himself and get himself going for this series. David Warner has to be thinking long-term. He can’t afford to go into this series with the mindset that there’s only one or two Tests left. He’s setting himself that goal, but he did say he needs to make runs so ultimately it will come down to the selectors. David Warner is a combative personality. He uses things to get himself going. We saw that with his incredible double century at the MCG in his 100th Test. I think visualising that the end of the road is a lot further away than what some people have been predicting is his way of getting himself up for the fight.

David Warner wants to go out on his own terms.

CRASH: I don’t think (Warner’s statement) will change anything during the Ashes. If his form fades they’ll make a change at some point. But I do think it does change the narrative in Australia. If he gets to Australia, they won’t drop him during the Pakistan series. It just won’t happen. Even if he scored 5, 10, 6 and 2 in the first two Tests he will be given the farewell in Sydney. But there are no guarantees in England where the greater good, winning the Ashes, that’ll be central to selectors, not David’s personal career.

Why are selectors set to overlook Michael Neser for the World Test Championship Final against India?

HORNE: I think there’s a feeling he doesn’t quite have that penetration you need in Test cricket. Yes, when the conditions are all in his favour, he could wreak havoc. But in Test cricket you don’t always get that. Obviously the selectors like Neser, he wouldn’t be around the set up if they didn’t and I think there is a very real chance he will play a Test during the series. But I think Australia will wait for the moment where everything lines up for Michael. Perhaps a bit of green in the deck, overcast skies. In those conditions he could destroy.

Michael Neser has been overlooked despite being in form in the County Championship.

CRASH: I would have had Neser in there, and I’m still not sure who for. I always feel for 100 years we’ve been underrating the old fashioned swing bowler. Terry Alderman bowling at 127 km an hour took 83 wickets in two Ashes series. I just feel Neser was the guy with the motor that’s running. Out of Alderman’s 83 wickets, a lot of them were taken on sunny days, on flat decks where he just worked his way into their heads. But like you Ben, I feel he will play in the Ashes at some point.

Will Ravichandran Ashwin play for India in the WTC Final?

HORNE: There’s a big chance he gets left out. He didn’t bowl in the nets yesterday in England, and he’s a guy that does like to bowl every day before a Test match. You wouldn’t necessarily go to the bank with that – that he’s not playing – but there’s a big chance he doesn’t play and they back in Ravi Jadeja as their spinner, with four quicks. The other guy who is coming back is Ajinkya Rahane who of course captained India to that famous victory at the Gabba when Virat Kohli was at home for the birth of his child. He’s had a mysterious absence from Test cricket.

Will India try and adopt Stuart Broad’s tactics for dismissing Warner right arm around the wicket?

Ravi Ashwin could be left out of India’s final team.

CRADDOCK: Absolutely. They have to try it. Imagine if they didn’t try it. They’ve got a guy there (Warner) who averaged less than 10 to a bowler bowling around the wicket trying to hoop it through … and that’s a natural angle for Mohammed Shami trying to hoop it through. I totally agree with dropping Ashwin. Jadeja can handle the spin.

Looking slightly ahead to the Ashes. England have lost their unassuming spinner Jack Leach with back stress fractures. What do you think about this SOS for Moeen Ali?

HORNE: It’s a funny situation. No one was talking about Jack Leach being a factor in this Ashes series. He’s just a guy who would have done his job. But as soon as you remove him, there’s just this massive hole and how do you fill it? Moeen Ali would be a desperation call. He’s retired from Test cricket, his record against Australia isn’t flash. But in the crisis that they’re in I don’t mind it. He’s got a lot of experience. If nothing else, he does make their batting order a lot more formidable. Moeen Ali coming in at No. 8 just enhances that whole Baz Ball potential.

Australia has had Moeen Ali’s measure in past Ashes series.

CRASH: I’m haunted by a number – 63 – it’s his bowling average against Australia. I just feel Australia slaughters part time spinners. And people can say he’s more than that, but is he? Not having played a game of first class cricket for years, I wouldn’t pick him. I’d go Joe Root. And here’s me saying I don’t like part time spinners, but Joe Root plus an extra seamer would give England a strong look. Joe at least can come around the wicket and spin it and straighten the ball up. He knows how to contain bowling 10 overs a day.

Do Australia mentally have Moeen’s number?

HORNE: Nathan Lyon just ate him for breakfast in every Test match in that 2017-18 Ashes and Moeen actually walked into the SCG dressing rooms after the series with a target blue tacked to his head which said; ‘Hit me Garry.’ It shows Moeen’s sense of humour, but also, in his mind that was the beginning of the end of his Test career. They would have brought him to Australia in 2021, but he didn’t want to come here again. That almost prompted his retirement from Test cricket. Obviously the Ashes is a different ball game when you’re in England. It sounds like he’s considering it.

Nathan Lyon appeals for Moeen Ali’s wicket.

CRASH: It always worries me when a guy retires because he doesn’t want to face an opponent. And that’s one thing I’ll give David Warner. At least he wants to play on. And I don’t mind that, setting that goal. Plenty of guys have done it. Doug Walters tried to get one last Ashes tour, he failed in ‘81. David Boon wanted one last Ashes tour in ‘97 and didn’t get there. But their intentions are OK. We are having so many guys walk out on formats, I don’t mind hearing a guy who wants to play on.

Who would you rather have in your line-up, Ben Stokes or Cameron Green?

HORNE: Stokes is aiming to bowl. Whether or not he’s physically up to the challenge of bowling through five Tests remains to be seen but he is aiming to do that. There are a lot of things going against England. Ben Stokes seems like the perfect siege mentality type guy. As does Brendon McCullum. For England to win, Ben Stokes is really going to have to inspire that kind of attitude amongst the England players. Cam Green on the other hand really doesn’t have a huge amount of pressure on him. He’s fit. He’s got batsmen above him who are there to score the bulk of the runs. He’s got a very good bowling arsenal that will do most of the bowling. But if he can add that x factor for Australia, that really could be the difference.

Ben Stokes.

Cameron Green.

CRADDOCK: There was a little story that came out a month or so ago about Ben Stokes and his knee. From that moment I decided Australia was going to win the Ashes. If Stokes can’t bowl to his full potential It echoes through the entire team’s game plan. It means they’ve got to cover for him in the bowling and that weakens their batting. Jonny Bairstow has to keep.

Can Australian captain Pat Cummins get through all six Tests this English summer?

HORNE: It’s hard to know how the Ashes will develop. Say they lose the first Test, or it’s one all after two Tests, you want Cummins there leading, to make things happen. But if Australia get off to a good start and are 1 or 2-0 up, I would seriously think about giving him a spell. It’s not just this series. There’s a World Cup later in the year, which they’ve decided to make Pat Cummins’ captain of that team as well. They do need to look after him. Australia doesn’t lose much direction with Steve Smith in charge. He did a very good job in those last couple of Tests in India leading the side. Australia can trust Steve Smith to do the job and if Josh Hazlewood is in the side they certainly have the fast bowling depth as well. The smart play would be to give Pat Cummins a Test off at some point. I think that will happen. It’s just hard to say when.

Can Pat Cummins lead Australia in six Tests?

CRADDOCK: My tip is six Tests in about eight weeks is too much for a quick. I don’t mind the fact he will try and do it. But gee, he’ll know he’s alive in two months’ time. I sense he might not get there.

Originally published as The Ashes 2023: Ben Horne and Robert Craddock answer key questions ahead of World Test Championship final