After an already-taxing period of cricket, it appears half the battle for the impending Ashes could be keeping players on the park.
News emerged this week that England quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will miss the start of the series, both with side strains.
The hosts are hopeful Archer can recover in time for the second Test, at Lord’s, while Wood’s injury could see him out until the fourth Test at the earliest.
England’s bowling stocks are further stretched when you consider Jimmy Anderson’s calf complaint, although reports suggest he will likely play at Edgbaston on August 1.
The news brings into sharp focus player fitness – particularly for fast bowlers – over the five-Test series, long held to be one of the most mentally and physically gruelling in world cricket.
World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan, a white ball specialist, said players now switching to five-day duties needed a rest.
“I think everybody needs it,” he said. “This tournament has taken a lot out of us as a team, both mentally and physically. And I think energy levels will drop quite quickly unless the guys are looked after and I think I’m pretty sure they are going to be looked after.”
The key issue here, though, is time. The Ashes begins in less than two weeks, leaving little time for proper recovery before intense preparations begin.
Players from both nations have been in demanding environments since March, the impact of which Chris Lynn noted is underestimated among the general public.
“Some of these guys have gone from the IPL, straight into the Australian camp, a World Cup and now the Ashes,” Lynn said in a recent episode of The Grade Cricketer.
“That’s a long time, and people actually underestimate the time away from home and the toll it takes on you.”
At least in the short term, Australia have an advantage. Having wrapped up their World Cup campaign three days earlier than the hosts, they are yet to report any injuries to any of their quicks.
Further, their fast-bowling depth is perhaps the best it has been in years. With Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc likely locks for Edgbaston, selectors have a choice between Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle as a third seamer.
Mitchell Starc (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
And if several of those bowlers were to, let’s say, tread on a loose ball in the warm-up in Birmingham (sounds unlikely, I know), the stocks don’t stop there. Jackson Bird and Chris Tremain are far from the worst options in English conditions.
Given the demanding nature of the series and likelihood for injury (although Australia did have a charmed run in the 2017-18 series) it’s likely several bowlers will play their part. Pattinson has already been spoken about as an impact option for perhaps two or three Tests.
Shifting back to England, and there are also questions over whether Archer can withstand the demanding nature of five-day cricket from a fitness standpoint.
While the 24-year-old took the world by storm in the recent World Cup, bowling the most dot balls in the entire tournament to shut out opposition batsmen, pundits have speculated his ability to come back late in the day in the longer format.
Can he bowl upwards of 20 overs a day? Can he be effective in a third spell? They’re legitimate queries, especially when you consider he also hasn’t played first-class cricket since September.
Archer’s ability is unquestioned and is likely already causing Justin Langer headaches, but his endurance could be key to the impending series.
AREH
Roar Guru
He might end up an opener by default like Williamson in the WC!
JamesH
Roar Guru
They’ll lose their first wicket inside the first 5 overs more often than not so it probably doesn’t matter either way ;)
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yeah he was good in the last Ashes. His problem was that he went downhill after that! He must be close to a recall though.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Mate it annoys me and I’m only park level!
AREH
Roar Guru
You're right, typically 3 or 4 with Surrey I think. I wonder if England will want to use him as a dashing opener, hoping he can translate limited-overs ability a bit like Warner, or at 3.
David Schout
Expert
True Paul. Root has spent some time at 3 in the last three years though
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
I guess over in UK he can slow it down a touch and improve his output.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Malan was the guy who showed he could bat long - 900 balls in the Ashes! Should always have been at 3 and Vince at 5. Has 166 and 199 in his last 3 county games I'd pick him!
Peter Warrington
Guest
seems to be bowling faster for less impact?
Peter warrington
Guest
i saw him as more like another Lillee, 32 wickets and all that.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
an attack of Cummins, Siddle and Patto Yes. I’d like to see this attack along with the GOAT.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Cummins is the current #1 ranked test bowler in the world, and he managed to do that while almost never having access to a new ball. He's an absolute lock. Starc's record in England is slightly worse than his overall record, but not that much worse. My main concern with Starc is that I'm not certain he is absolutely 100% fit coming out of the World Cup. I think he might have been playing with a slight niggle over the last few games. He really is a bowler who just has to have his rhythm right. But if he does, he can rip a batting lineup apart. At this point though, I'd struggle to pick Hazlewood. A couple of years ago he was the worlds top test bowler, but he's really struggled the last 18 months. I think there's a good chance of Pattinson taking that third pace spot for the first test. Siddle I'd only consider if it was a real green top.
Milo
Guest
Tend to agree there. Starc and Hazlewood are real worries, and Cummins has not been on song either - will he find the length for English pitches? That attack could get carted. I thought JR was still injured? Agree Siddle is a sleeper, and rock solid fallback for the conditions - to tie down an end. And yeah, Pattinson is the walk up start for mine - I can see him going through England like a dodgy prawn vindaloo..
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I do sense Wood finds it a bit frustrating that he feels he has to strain with everything he's got to bowl fast, and then Archer comes out and doesn't even seem like he's trying to bowl fast, yet bowls at a similar pace.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, I think Roy's only chance of doing well is for England to roll out some roads, which then plays right into Australia's hands over all. For England to win they'll want pitches with something in them, and Roy's not going to like that!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I had heard something suggesting he was a chance of being ready for the Australia v Australia A match, but when the announcement of the squad for that came and went without a mention, I assume that means he's not ready yet, and with such a compressed 5 test series, with little in the way of tour matches or anything once the series starts, and other backup bowlers already there, I can't see him getting involved now. He's got a bit of time now to make sure he can be fully 100% fit for the Australian summer.
Paul
Roar Guru
David, don't limit yourself to just the English openers. They've had similar problems at 3.
David Schout
Expert
This ^ Spot on mate
David Schout
Expert
I might touch on that next week actually, would be interesting to look at the players used
JamesH
Roar Guru
I agree with your logic here Kopa, although I suspect the selectors see Starc as a lock. I think an attack of Cummins, Siddle and Patto would be more effective on slower, greener decks. If we get a couple of flatter pitches (and we did a couple of times last tour) then Starc becomes important.