Australia have been asked to bowl first by England at Edgbaston after the visitors made the call to leave Mitchell Starc out of the first Ashes Test.
Captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood would both play, leaving Starc as the unlucky man out.
“Tough call, especially on Mitchy,” said Cummins at Friday’s toss. “I thought he was very impressive last week (in the World Test Championship final) but there’s a squad mentality.
“It’s a good problem to have, having someone like Josh Hazlewood coming in.”
Cummins confirmed that he would have batted too if he’d called heads correctly.
England captain Ben Stokes’ decision to bat first marks the first time he has done so in a home Test, with the team generally preferring to chase in the fourth innings.
But the Edgbaston wicket looks flat, and there are clear skies overhead in Birmingham on Friday.
“It looks a really good wicket, a good toss to win, but now we’re gonna have to go out and put some runs on the board,” Stokes said.
Coach Andrew McDonald, captain Pat Cummins and selector George Bailey had been engaged in a lengthy pitch-side chat early on Thursday afternoon before training.
And the pitch itself looks more like a wicket you would see in Australia than the green seamers that England have traditionally rolled out for Ashes contests.
Looking dry and straw coloured, it is expected to be flat but not quite as fast as an Australian wicket, which is exactly what Stokes was hoping to see as it suits their Bazball up-tempo style.
Boland had not previously been picked in a full-strength Australian attack, with all seven of his previous Tests having been played with Hazlewood out injured.
But the incredible start to his career has made him near undroppable, after taking 33 wickets at an average of 14.57.
Hazlewood has been limited to four Tests in the past two years, having battled a run of side strain injuries and an Achilles problem.
But his control in England and the promise of a fresh body who did not play in last week’s World Test Championship win over India at The Oval would have been a lure for selectors.
Starc was expensive in that final, and while Australia value his wicket-taking edge he has now been left out of an attack when fit for the first time since the 2019 Ashes.
Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald inspect the pitch. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Australia will likely rotate the three quicks through the English summer, with fellow paceman Cummins keen to play all five Tests as captain.
England had confirmed their side earlier in the week, with veterans Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the attack and their fastest quick Mark Wood overlooked.
Stokes was looking forward to the much-hyped series finally reaching lift off.
“It’s an amazing feeling. After all the hype that’s been around this series for the last six months, it’s obviously a very special moment for me and for the rest of the guys.”
None of Australia’s quicks bowled on Thursday, as is convention on the day before a match.
AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
ENGLAND: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
with AAP
Simoc
Roar Rookie
News for you DTM. Neser isn't even in contention and never was. Reason is he is not good enough. If someone gets injured he can play or be 12th man.
Steele
Roar Rookie
Not often they pick the eleven I want! Crikey this hasn’t happened since the last UK Ashes when my man Patto got the call up at Starc’s expense!
U
Roar Rookie
I’m seeing rumors of Mitch Marsh getting a run. Tell me they aren’t that stupid
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Solid thinking a DaveJ. My simplified approach is pick your best bowlers, don't pick bowlers be for their batting
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Maybe a Lyon's Den?
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
The difference between Starc and Hazlewood’s bowling average in England (8.5 to Hazlewood) is greater benefit than the difference between the difference between their batting averages (15 to Starc), especially as Starc’s batting averages is probably flattering and based on a small sample size. (You multiply the bowling average by the percentage of overs bowled x 10 wickets, which will be times 2-2.5 i.e. the bowling advantage is 17-21.) Starc looks in poor form, so there’s no reason to believe he’ll do much better than his career average, probably worse, whereas Hazlewood has an excellent record in England. A decisive difference between bowlers outweighs most differences between tailenders in batting in terms of likely impact on a match.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
To me, the only reason to play Starc ahead of Hazlewood is that Hazlewood is more ideal for Lords and more helpful pitches later on.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Agree with this. England talk big about going for the win no matter what. So if the pitch ends up being a road (and that's a big if, because even flat decks generally offer something in England with the Dukes ball), then why not try to bat into Day 3? Put pressure on England to manufacture something to keep up with their 'brand'.
matth
Roar Guru
Plus footmarks for Lyon.
matth
Roar Guru
All the 'vibe' is that we will back to the Big 3, at least to start with.
Pop
Roar Rookie
That pitch looks like it’s come from central Australia and been dropped in. Very little shine left on the duke cherry after 5-10 overs in my opinion. Garry your in for a lot of overs. Bolo build pressure and the wickets will come.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
I really enjoyed that link thanks hilsnz. I had previously thought that bazball mainly applied to the batting with only a few funky field placings but it's interesting to read about the inc in bowling strike rates as well. Perhaps because of the pressure opp batsmen are under to try to match England's scoring rate. Like many, I'm fascinated to see how this series will play out
hilsnz
Roar Rookie
There was a good article in yesterday's guardian re Bazball. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/13/bazball-unpacked-england-test-cricket-analysis-ashes
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
That's my understanding too Ouch. Eng like to bowl first and any other rational team would choose to bat first
jameswm
Roar Guru
That would be the plan – bat till tea on day 2. Mind you, the way the English bat, just bat it out. No need for declaration to avoid the match petering out into a boring batathon. We would want one of Smith and Marnus to go big, one of Head and Green to come off (or 2 of them with Carey), and one opener to pass 50. We need contributions.
jameswm
Roar Guru
If that's the case England would want a bit of grass on the deck - make it harder for us early on the first day, and the pitch will break up less on the 4th and 5th days. We all know the Aussies love to bat first almost all the time, but Cummins has changed that a little.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
I've listened to a few English takes and the majority of them think England will choose to bowl first regardless, as they like to chase a 4th innings total. The key for Australia is to make them chase on the 5th day rather than the 4th.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Aggers was discussing the pitch on the TMS preview and said it looks flat. If Australia bat first they could make hay and keep the Poms in the field for a couple of days.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Not 100% sure Neser is the right person for these conditions. Starc is a decent pick if the pitch isn't offering a lot and is dry and flat, as he does his damage through the air, and with reverse, and through speed, angle, and more bounce.
jameswm
Roar Guru
All things considered – looking at the pitch and knowing the Aussie selectors – the team will be the same one from the WTC final. Minor possibility of Haze coming in for Starc or (please no) Boland. Massive toss I reckon, esp for the Aussies – you really want to win it – bowl last with Lyon, and we are better front runners. England might not care so much.