Detailed analysis shows Australia have been better in three key areas so far: batting, bowling and, er, fieldingTen minutes before tea on Friday evening the sky above Adelaide had retreated behind a potent-looking white veil as Jimmy Anderson came on to bowl the 139th over of Australia’s innings. Even from the other side of the world it looked like vicious, sweaty work, in a city where the heat clings to you like a woollen three piece suit.Australia were cruising at 383 for five, sucking time and possibilities out of the game, the day, the series. Steve Smith and Alex Carey had put on 89. Anderson narrowed his eyes, grimaced and ran in to bowl his 26th over, legs pounding the...
Do the pink-ball matches offer the tourists their best chance of a win over Australia? Previous results suggest otherwiseIt is curious how an idea can become accepted as a general truth. For months leading up to this Ashes series, one of the tenets largely accepted by punditry has been that the Adelaide day-night Test would be England’s best chance of getting into the series with a win. When the fifth Test at Perth was moved to Hobart, the framing became whether this second day-night match – without having seen the first – would tilt things even more in England’s favour.The concept is that the pink ball and the evening conditions can offer more chance of making the ball swing and...
The top seven is unlikely to change but the balance of England’s Adelaide attack will be crucial to chances of levelling the seriesIt would be tempting to look up to the heavens for inspiration in the City of Churches but the burden of selection falls chiefly on the shoulders of Joe Root before a day-night Ashes Test that has very quickly taken on paramount importance.Root was referred to as “player” by the crowd during his first Ashes tour, such was his lack of profile at the time, but eight years on he has won more Test matches, 27, than any other man to lead the England team. By his own admission, however, winning back the urn in Australia this winter...
Fielding an all-seam attack in day-night Test seems the logical conclusion but it’s going to be another tough selection meeting Adelaide has traditionally been a good surface, the kind a batter might look at and think: “I fancy that.” A good pitch with consistent bounce should provide the right balance between bat and ball, providing a good game of cricket – which is exactly what England need to play if they are going to get back into the series.I remember going into the day-night Test as batting coach four years ago and there was concern that the twilight period would be difficult, the transition from bright natural sunlight into evening. Batters can be a fragile lot, and there was some...
Australia have a perfect winning record in day-night Tests at the Adelaide Oval but Hazlewood’s absence will hurt the hostsTouchdown in South Australia was probably a relief for England’s cricketers, no doubt glad to see the back of Queensland after their soggy buildup was followed by defeat at the Gabba. Before landing those with a window seat also got a glorious view of the Adelaide Oval, scene of this week’s second Test.From above it is hard to miss a ground that is three parts modern mega-stadium to one part grass bank and sits nestled in the parkland north of Adelaide’s city centre. Where once there were sloped terracotta roofs three giant stands with bulbous white canopies now horseshoe around the...