England appear to have got exactly what they asked for as the Ashes prepares to kick off on Friday night Australian time.
The world got its first look at the pitch ahead of the first Test of the highly anticipated series with the pitch appearing to be a batters paradise — just like England wanted.
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In April, English skipper Ben Stokes called for “flat, fast” wickets so the team may continue its “Bazball” approach which has been so successful.
After its horror 4-0 loss in Australia, England moved on from former coach Chris Silverwood and hired New Zealand legend Brendan McCullum, who has turned the side around.
Before McCullum’s appointment, England had won one of their previous 17 tests, and have won 11 of 13 Tests using the tactic.
Last year, England set the highest average run-rate in Test cricket history, scoring at 4.13 across their 15 Tests in 2022.
And after three Tests in 2023, including two against New Zealand and one against Ireland, England have scored at an average of over six runs per over across 316.1 overs of batting.
The curators were told to produce pitches conducive to the English batters and Stokes said the groundsmen were all in.
“We’ve been very clear, especially with the ground staff around England, about what type of wickets we want,” Stokes told Sky Sports in April.
”And they’ve been very responsive to us which has been good.
“We want fast, flat wickets. We want to go out there and score quickly. It brings their (Australia‘s) guys in: if they’ve got fast wickets to bowl on then they’ll be happy with that as well.”
However, Edgbaston ground staff claimed they had not received any direct requests from England and have prepared the pitch as normal.
Senior correspondent of The Cricketer magazine George Dobell shared a picture of the pitch and fans were quick to claim it looked like batting first would be a huge advantage as wickets should be at a premium.
Some even claimed that it would be a spinning wicket with the pitch appearing to be very dry from the image of the pitch.
But Dobell said he believed there was 13mm of grass as he shared a first look at the pitch, although there was still nearly three days before the toss.
Grass generally suggests swing but after The Oval’s World Test Championship surface appeared to be a green top and then offered India little after the opening hour of play.
And England are bristling with confidence, announcing its team two days out rather than waiting for the morning of the Test, with the nation’s fastest bowler Mark Wood left out of the side in favour of Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson.
Does it suggest they’re expecting swing?
Speaking on SEN’s Whateley program, Australian coach Andrew McDonald said he didn’t know what to read into the pitch.
“We’ve had a couple of days to look at it. Like any wicket, you see it progress towards day one,” McDonald said.
“The ground staff do a tremendous job at all venues and wickets do change in 24 hours. We’re always mindful not to read too much into it too early … I’m not too sure what to read into it.
“I haven’t seen too many fast wickets by our terminology in England, comparing them to Australian surfaces, but it may be a fast English-type surface.
“There’s a little bit of grass on it but we’re a couple of days out and we don’t tend to want to read too much into the surface this far out.”
However, despite what McDonald has said, it’s clear Australia are preparing for an assault from the English batters.
CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny shared video of Aussie squad members Matthew Renshaw and Josh Inglis teeing off against spinner Nathan Lyon.
Although England have pledged to continue playing aggressive cricket and even raised eyebrows by naming their first Test team two days out from the game, questions have been raised as to whether preparing fast, seaming wickets similar to what Australia is used to at home might backfire on the home side.
Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood told AAP Stokes’ public pronouncement surprised him.
“If I am England, I am probably going the opposite way,” Hazlewood said. “You are probably going green wickets that are doing a fair bit, and then back yourself to make more runs than us on those types of wickets.
“They come to Australia and the wickets are harder, flatter and faster. And we’ve seen the results.”
Bring on Friday!
