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England are brimming with confidence before the Ashes but Australia’s batting great Matthew Hayden says the tourists need to get their focus back on the importance of the first session of the series.
After a solid campaign of two wins and a draw in their three warm-up matches on tour, England landed in Brisbane over the weekend ahead of the first Test which starts at the Gabba on Thursday.
England arrived as Ashes holders four years ago and famously fell apart right from the first ball of the Brisbane Test, with Steve Harmison bowling a wide to second slip.
This time they’re Ashes holders again and hoping to retain the urn with a more settled and confident lineup than Andrew Flintoff’s unit from 2006-07.
Andrew Strauss’s side underlined their strength by leaving out their four frontline bowlers and beating Australia A by 10 wickets in their four-day game in Hobart which finished on Saturday.
Australia in contrast have slipped to fifth in the world rankings, dropped their spinner Nathan Hauritz for uncapped left-arm tweaker Xavier Doherty and have middle-order batsmen Mike Hussey and Marcus North under pressure to retain their spots.
But Hayden has all but dismissed England’s promising lead-up form, saying their Ashes hopes will hinge on how they perform in the Gabba Test’s first session.
Hayden believed a tumultuous lead-up would give Australia the edge over a “sleepy” England in the Ashes opener.
If anyone knows the importance of a good start, it is Hayden.
He still sounded amazed when describing Harmison’s now infamous opening ball of the 2006-07 Ashes series in Brisbane.
A shocked Hayden watched from the non-striker’s end on November 23, 2006 as Harmison sent the first delivery down – and into the hands of skipper Flintoff at second slip.
England never recovered, losing the series 5-0 – and the precious urn.
“The cricketing world was just mouth open,” Hayden said in Brisbane on Sunday.
“Not to mention Justin Langer down that end, wondering is he on the wrong wicket.
“In a lot of ways it (the start) sets the tone.
“You are going to have to play well in those first two hours of the game.
“It sets the whole competition up for the rest of the summer.”
Hayden thought stinging criticism of the Australian team would work in their favour ahead of the first Test.
“You boys (media) have been hard on them and they will be feeling that no question,” said Hayden.
“But beware the wounded cricketer.”
Hayden said Hussey’s century in a Shield game for Western Australia last week was a great example of a classy player performing under pressure.
“And that is going to stand him in terrific stead come the first day of the Gabba Test match,” Hayden said.
“That’s the edge we have over England who have had a bit of a sleepier start to their tour.”
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