Wounded Aussies won’t lie down — Dunk

CRICKET:

DON’T write off Australia just yet, England’s cricketers have been warned.

Royton professional Ben Dunk, who plays state cricket for Tasmania, reckons the wounded Aussie team can bounce back in the Ashes despite trailing 2-0.

Derided by the English Press and their own followers back home, Australia looked a dispirited bunch when they were hammered by their hosts at Lord’s last week.

But the third Test, which gets under way at Old Trafford on Thursday, gives them the chance to show they have what it takes by pulling a match back.

That would reignite the series – and Dunk reckons they can do it.

“They are all good cricketers, but they need to be given a chance. Now is not the time for making many changes,” he said.

”If I were a selector I would be telling the likes of Usman Kawaja that he was in for the next eight or 10 Tests. That way he could just go out and bat without worrying about his place and we would see what he could do.

“When Ian Bell first started against Australia, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath made him look foolish, but England stuck with him and look what he’s done in this series.

“You need experience at this level and that is the biggest difference between England and Australia at the moment.”

Dunk, who is surprised that captains Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke have struggled in the series so far, believes Australia’s fighting spirit will be in evidence at Old Trafford.

“I wouldn’t write them off,” he said. “Australia is a proud sporting nation and these guys will be extremely hungry.”

If England do not match that hunger in Manchester, they could be in for a nasty shock.