‘Australia batsmen key to claiming urn’

Ian Chappell singles out team’s weak area ahead of Ashes.

LONDON:

England will find themselves in the unusual position of firm favourites when they begin the defence of the Ashes against Australia at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge ground next week.

The hosts are bidding for a third successive series win over their archrivals — something they last achieved back in the 1950s.

While an Australia attack featuring Peter Siddle and James Pattinson could yet prove a match for England seamers such as James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the outcome of the series is likely to hinge on the performance of the tourists’ batsmen.

Australia captain Michael Clarke apart, the visitors’ top-order does not boast another proven world-class run-scorer.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell was gloomy about Australia’s prospects of regaining the urn.



“I just don’t see any way Australia can beat England,” Chappell, who added he also expected England to win the return series in Australia starting in November.

Chappell, long distrustful of the influence of coaches, was keen to stress former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann’s limits by writing in his ESPNcricinfo column, “The coach doesn’t make any runs or take any wickets.”

But it was a batting lineup missing not only former captain Ricky Ponting but also Michael Hussey, who unlike his old skipper retired when still in form, that most concerned Chappell.

“They can’t conjure up victory without considerable help from the batsmen.”

Warner could feature in first Test: Clarke

The Australia captain said that David Warner could still feature in next week’s first Test against England despite his recent ban.

“I think he’s served his punishment,” said Clarke. “His punishment was no cricket up to the first Test match. Now it’s about working out what our best team is. I don’t believe David won’t be selected because of punishment.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2013.

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