With the introduction of Jofra Archer’s viciousness, the Ashes have taken a dramatic turn.
Although Australia managed to squeeze out a draw at Lord’s, there has been a sudden momentum shift and with Australia’s best batsman Steve Smith sidelined for the third Test after copping a nasty bumper from Archer, England would further fancy their chances of squaring the series at Headingley.
Archer set the tone for the match with his hostile approach and made an impactful debut for England. However, moving forward, it’s crucial for Australia to not get bogged down by his belligerence and not let him dictate terms throughout the rest of the series.
The Aussies should have confidence that they can still rattle the English line-up and that they possess enough firepower in their bowling battery to avenge the injuries that Archer inflicted on them in the Lord’s Test.
For that to happen, the induction of Mitchell Starc or James Pattinson into the playing XI is necessary. Australian fast-bowlers have been brilliant in the series thus far, but they have lacked venom.
The Aussie quicks employed an aggressive approach when England last toured their shores. Now it’s time to revive some good old chin music.
Is it time for Starc to return to the Test arena? (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
With Smith out of the equation for the Leeds Test at least, Australia need to be at their brutal best to avoid losing to an English side that is gradually finding its mojo. If England manage to level the series, regaining form and getting back on the winning track might become challenging for the tourists.
The openers should remain. Despite the horrific run of form David Warner and Cameron Bancroft find themselves in, they are both due a big knock. And who knows, the absence of Steve Smith and the added responsibility might prove to be the lucky charm for them.
Bancroft battled at Lord’s and played lots of deliveries without ticking the score along. Warner, on the other hand, has had his fair share of troubles from the around-the-wicket angle and needs to find a way to tackle the new Dukes cherry.
Usman Khawaja at three seems to be the likeliest of choices given Smith’s injury. Khawaja has routinely made steady starts before being dismissed.
Marnus Labuschagne is almost a certain replacement for Smith. Labuschagne’s name was forever scribbled down in the history books after he became the first ever concussion substitute in the history of Test cricket.
Labuschagne made a gutsy 59 off 100 deliveries to take Australia safely to the draw. His gritty approach, mental toughness and solid technique should earn him a spot at Headingley.
But with the blow to Smith, Travis Head could be expected to elevate himself up the order. The co-vice-captain has looked in solid nick throughout the two matches and would be looking to shoulder the extra responsibility and stack up runs for the visitors.
Labuschagne might be demoted to No.5 and he will be followed by Matthew Wade and Tim Paine.
Pat Cummins, Australia’s other vice-captain, occupies the spot right after the skipper. He bowled lion-heartedly in the Lord’s Test but it’s time to up the ante even more.
Peter Siddle has been a gun player for Australia and is in good bowling rhythm. At the moment, however, the tourists require a tearaway kind of a bowler – a Starc or a Pattinson with express pace to trouble the Englishmen.
Headingley usually bears a variable wicket with a result in it more often than not. Australian pacers will prefer a hard deck with tennis-ball bounce in it.
Josh Hazlewood featured for the first time in the series at Lord’s and bowled well. He right on the money in the first innings, picking up three wickets at the top.
The tall right-armer was unfortunate not to scalp anything in the second innings. But he will be raring to go to Headingley and utilise the seam-friendly conditions that are usually on offer there. He is a definite selection for this match.
There is talk about leaving out Nathan Lyon and playing an extra paceman. Leaving out a specialist spinner in a possible five-day game is risky.
Lyon proved his credentials at Edgbaston and also bowled nicely on the second day at Lord’s. With the heavy rain around and the wicket being covered for long intervals of time, he didn’t benefit from the rough patches he would’ve liked to see.
But he is still an automatic selection for this Test and can play a massive role in deciding Australia’s fate in this series.
Hillbilly
Roar Rookie
Carey a better keeper and better batsman than Handscomb!
Simmo
Roar Rookie
I even offer this article for perusal, in argument of Nesers inclusion, for containing some solid stats/facts: "Neser bolts into ashes contention" Ronan O'Connell, 05/04/19 Roar Article
Rellum
Roar Guru
I think people are finally starting to see the value of a Test quick and how much harder the game is with someone who can bowl with real Test level speed. None of the nonsense of blokes bowling 140kph being quick.
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Pity that Burns and Patterson arent on tour. Carey would be a better keeper than Handscomb, as he is prone to full swinging deliveries
Simmo
Roar Rookie
Totally agree Hutcho re: Neser. If the wickets conducive, I'd like to see Neser given a go, he's a handful in the nets apparently, swinging it both ways. Makes me think of how long Australia waited before giving Ryan Harris a go, and how he went in England. Alderman went alright over in English conditions....
Mashrur
Roar Rookie
Mate Now he is a lot more experienced. The fact is that, u need a balanced attack. If u need bowlers who can contain batsmen, then u also need a Mitch starc who will produce a spell where he will take 3 to 4 wickets. Even if he leaks some runs, then uve got hazlewood and Cummo to back him by containing the batsman. Now they couldn’t work it out under lehmaan coz they played both Starc And Johnson in the same XI that’s where they missed the trick. But here, Starc really offers some variety to the current bowling attack which looks pretty ordinary bar cummins.
Mashrur
Roar Rookie
Fact is that Starc will get wickets, whether he leaks runs or not. And with Smithy out, Australia should attack. Just look at the English batting line up mate they've gotten used to this bowling attack of Aus. Everyone has looked ordinary bar Cummins at lords. Even if starc leaks some runs, then there's hazlewood and Cummo to back him up by controlling the flow of runs. Mitch Starc is a wicket taker. And especially when the ball gets old, he is the best one to reverse it at 96 miles.
Mika
Roar Rookie
This has to be the most exciting pre test build up ever! What a series and we're only 2 games in. Whatever the outcome here, the excitement will continue. I've been pondering this pace question. I was thinking play Starc. But the fact that they've got Jofra does not mean Starc will get us more wickets. Langer is right. Cracking skulls is not wickets. Headingley is often the kind of place where the seamers clean up. Siddle should have 10 wickets for the series except for all the dropsies. And barring a few overs where Stokes took to him, he's been miserly. What we've learned is the England top order are not much chop. Unrelenting pressure is the key. If Siddle is 100% he's likely to be picked. So is Lyon, especially if the pitch is a little firm and dry. In which case, there may be a case for the big fella: he needs a hard, fast track. But who does he replace? How many overs can you get out of him before he leaks? Id think they'd consider Patto for Cummins. Very interesting to see what the pitch is like and how Langer plays the selections.
Rob JM
Roar Rookie
Australia needs Starc. He's the only bowler who tends to hit the wicket, and thus takes the poor catching and umpiring out of the equation!
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Burns Harris Kurtis Patterson Head Maxwell Labuschagne Handscomb (keeper) Hazelwood Pattison Cummins Lyon total 11 players. 1 keeper. 8 batsmen. 7 bowlers
Rob JM
Roar Rookie
Yet cummins is the leading wicket taker, who has been getting wickets with pace and short balls. The english don't have the patience or technique to survive starc if he gets it right. Were on a hiding to nothing with smith out, so a high risk strategy makes sense.
Paul
Roar Guru
The only mention on the CA website is about Smith missing the Test, McB and no other mentions about selections. They're usually pretty good at getting this type of information posted quickly. I agree it would be great to see Head get his maiden Ashes hundred, but I'd be just as happy for all of the top order to get at least 40 or 50. Given recent Test results, a first innings in excess of 300 would be an imposing total. Guys need to earn their place onto this team and I'd only be bringing in younger player if they deserve a chance. The problem is in recent times, every time they need to score runs in lesser competitions, most fail pretty miserably. Patterson, Burns, etc didn't set the world on fire when they needed to, which is why they're not touring. Until they can step up consistently, Warner & Khawaja will remain in the side, I think.
Omnitrader
Roar Rookie
You been playing Ricky Ponting cricket blanco?
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Yep and refer correctly!
pakistanstar
Roar Rookie
Australia had this approach under Lehmann and it rarely worked. I think everyone is getting a bit carried away on Archer's performance considering he's only played 1 test and still prone to injury. Pattinson is obviously going to come in otherwise he would've played at Lords, I'm just not sure who will be dropped. Starc is a no in England until he can fix his economy rate. This is his 3rd tour of England and he's still going for over 3.5 an over. Scoreboard pressure is so much more important when the boundaries are 60m square of the wicket.
James Butcher
Roar Rookie
Kopa, I’m not sure if you’ve been watching but the Aussie bowlers have bowled plenty of bouncers, it’s not a tactic that they’ve ignored, quite the contrary. Watch Cummins in England’s second innings at Edgbaston.
McBumble
Guest
Do we have confirmation that Bancroft has actually been dropped from the 3rd Test XI? Source please? Would love to see Head get his maiden tonne in this test. Labuschagne would be another worth tonne scorer. Khawaja posibly playing his final series as with Warner. Might be time (post-Ashes) for Australia to pick a young XI and rebuild. Travis Head as the new Captain. Thoughts?
Paul
Roar Guru
"Australian fast-bowlers have been brilliant in the series thus far, but they have lacked venom. The Aussie quicks employed an aggressive approach when England last toured their shores. Now it’s time to revive some good old chin music." Momin, I don't understand this part of your article? On the one hand, you're saying our bowling to date has been first rate and it has, which is why we have a 1 nil series lead, but on the other hand, your saying we need to change that, become more aggressive and start bowling a la Archer. Surely we need to stick with plans that have worked. If the best way to get a batsman out is to bowl at their ribs, eg Broad, then fair enough, but that's not going to get out a Joe Root for example, but a length delivery on off stump will. I'd much rather see Australia being ultra aggressive in the field, first of all by holding it's catches and aggressive with the ball by sticking to plans and executing them as perfectly as possible. Leave the chin music to Archer, especially if we win the series.
Rob JM
Roar Rookie
I'm hoping they go with both Starc and Pattinson to give us swing bowling options. Cummins is automatically selected if fit. Lyon is an automatic choice unless it is a green top, where Siddle or Nesser combined with Labs Legspin is better bet for a quick demolition job. Fresh fast bowlers are our only advantage.
Hutcho
Roar Rookie
There seems to be a train of thought emerging that the only thing that stops a bad guy with a bouncer is a good guy with a bouncer? Spare me. Starc bowling bouncers is not going to do anything to negate Archer, batsmen employing skill, composure and a bit of courage will negate Archer. Australia have turned up with a bowling plan for this series and it is not the old speed is everything approach of Lehmann. It would be folly abandon that now. Sure, it was a tense finish to the match at Lord's but before the controversial dismissal of Labuschagne not much was happening and it all looked pretty comfortable, conversely Australia were guilty of dropping a number of chances, couple that with some poor umpiring / DRS reviews this match could have been very different. Siddle has been excellent and terribly let down by a weak slip cordon and Paine shelling a couple of tough ones that probably should have been taken. Leeds should be tailor made for him but I suppose it depends how he backs up. Incredibly there are calls to play four seamers, completely ignoring the record of right arm off-spin at this venue in the last ten years. I look at the record of Hilfenhaus, Anderson and Boult at Headingley and wonder whether Neser isn't an option with serious thought. Warner, Harris, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head, Wade, Paine, Pattinson, Cummins, Neser/Siddle, Lyon