England have chosen Stuart Broad over Mark Wood for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in the hope the veteran seamer can continue his stranglehold over David Warner in England.
However, by backing their veteran seamers, Jimmy Anderson, 41 next month, and Stuart Broad, 37 this month, England have robbed themselves of the chance of unsettling the Australians with the raw pace of Wood when the Test begins on Friday.
England player Stuart Broad in bowling action during an England nets session ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.Credit: Getty Images
Wood was England’s best bowler during an otherwise miserable Ashes tour of Australia 18 months ago.
Broad had a legendary Ashes series four years ago, dismissing Warner seven times as the Australian opener managed just 95 runs at an average of 9.5.
Outside a fighting 61 at Headingley, Warner made nine scores of 11 or less including three consecutive ducks. He has also struggled for runs lately, managing just one score over 50 in 17 innings during the past year, his epic 200 in the Boxing Day Test.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad chat in the nets at Edgbaston.Credit: Getty Images
But Warner looked good opening the batting after Australia were sent in by India under heavy skies on a greenish pitch for World Test Championship final at the Oval, scoring a compact 43 before he was unluckily caught down the leg side.
Restricted by a chronic injury, England captain Ben Stokes bowled properly at training for the first time in months. With a heavy bandage on his left knee, Stokes bowled the equivalent of five overs at a good pace and with seam movement, although he had an uncomfortable time batting in the nets.
As part of his ultra-attacking “Bazball” approach, Stokes has bowled in England on all four occasions he has won the toss, with good results.
But Australia’s vice captain, Steve Smith, intimated that this Edgbaston pitch looked more like a bat first strip.
“There was a fair amount of grass albeit it was quite dead grass. It was quite brown. It was quite furry,” Smith said, which suggests it could help the bowlers a little if the seam catches the grass but more likely it will be a good batting wicket.
Even so, the Australians are preparing for “a bit of everything” from a steam-rolling England, who have won 10 of 12 Tests at a run rate of almost five an over under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
“We’ve seen in the last 12 months they do some funky things, and they’re going to have to try some different things at certain times,” Smith said before training.
Whatever England try, Smith is certainly not going to be intimidated. He rates his twin centuries at Edgbaston four years ago, 144 and 142, as something special.
“That Test match is probably my favourite out of my career so far, given the circumstances and the importance of it. The first Ashes Test, particularly away from home,” Smith said before training.
Harry Brook, 24, exemplifies the new England. In seven Tests, he has made four centuries and three half-centuries scoring at a run a ball and has a batting average of almost 81.
Brook made it clear he was going to play “fearless” cricket despite the powerful reputation of the Australians.
“I don’t look at it like that really,” he said. “I’m just looking to play the ball and I’m not really bothered who’s bowling at me. It’s the same old ball coming down. Obviously, they’re good, but it’s just another cricket ball coming at me.
He replied “what do you think” when asked if England were going to attack Australia’s most successful off-spinner, Nathan Lyon, who is heading towards 500 wickets.
“If he bowls a good ball then I’m going to respect it. Other than that, I’m going to try and take him on. He could get a lot of wickets, but hopefully we’re going to hit him for a lot of runs,” Brook said.
England team in batting order: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
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