England’s big guns must stand up and be counted

SPORTS BETTING: I SUPPOSE it shouldn’t have come as too much of a shock. After all, England’s cricketers never start a series well and Australia were bound to be fired up.


But the manner of England’s capitulation in the first Ashes Test at Brisbane was deeply
disturbing.

Our bowling in the first innings was fine, but the batting in both attempts was pathetic.

I would be inclined to forgive our bowlers for letting Australia get away in their second knock

simply because they hadn’t been given enough time to recover from their first-innings exertions. That was the fault of the England batsmen.

So now we know where the blame lies, what do England do about it? The departure of Jonathan Trott is a bitter blow and either Joe Root or Ian Bell will have to step up to the plate at number three.

It ought to be the more experienced Bell, though I suspect the management will opt for the younger man, who played the hostile Mitchell Johnson so well in the second innings at Brisbane.

One thing is certain: the pitch for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts tonight, will not be as fast and bouncy as the opener. That should suit England and help to nullify the threat of the rejuvenated Johnson, but our batsmen really do look vulnerable at the moment and one of them needs to hold up his hand.

Step forward Kevin Pietersen. Like him or loathe him, there is no doubt KP has the tools to destroy any attack and win a game virtually on his own. At 4-1, he looks a good bet to be top England batsman.

As for the bowlers, I am keeping faith in Graeme Swann. Swann rarely starts a series well, but improves dramatically in Test two.

He was very good at Adelaide last time England were here and 4-1 about him being top England bowler on a wicket almost certain to take spin as the match progresses looks too big.

Forget the fact that the Aussie batsman got after him during the second innings in Brisbane. They had no scoreboard pressure and were free to do so.

As for the match itself, I am not confident given England’s displays in the first Test and other tour matches.

This is usually a batsman’s paradise so 7-4 the draw could be the answer, which would be of little use to England given the next Test is in the Aussie fortress of Perth.

England are 27-10 to win with the Aussies 7-4.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Kevin Pietersen to be top England batsman, 4-1 (Stan James, Ladbrokes); Graeme Swann to be leading England wicket-taker, 4-1 (Coral, William Hill, Betfred).