In looking ahead, skipper Stokes has expressed a desire to “not just compete with Australia, but beat them”
England’s off-spinner Shoaib Bashir bowls against West Indies during 3rd Test in Birmingham last month. Pic/Getty Images
It is not surprising that under the adventurous captaincy of Ben Stokes, England are heeding the vital lesson that you must pick a team with one eye on Australia.
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While selectors have to pick a team to beat the current opposition they must also consider players who could help defeat the better sides. Australia are currently one of those.
England are making positive choices with the inclusion of Gus Atkinson to complement the fiery pace of Mark Wood. They’ve also opted for a wicket-taking off-spinner in Shoaib Bashir over the more defensive minded Jack Leach.
It wasn’t ideal that on a flat pitch and a warm day the England bowlers took a pasting at Trent Bridge (against the West Indies). They need to learn from that setback and trust England will continue to make selections that are important on the 2025-26 tour of Australia.
In the past, they’ve often overlooked the fact that very good pace bowling has helped England achieve some famous victories in Australia.
Those victories include Harold Larwood in the Bodyline series of 1932-33 and Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson in 1954-55. Both of those bowlers were renowned speedsters, while John Snow was quick and accurate and played a vital role in the 1970-71 victory. In the 2010-11 win over Australia, England utilised a battery of pace bowlers.
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Skipper Stokes’s desire
In looking ahead, skipper Stokes has expressed a desire to “not just compete with Australia, but beat them.”
In that regard, England have progressed against a battling West Indies. Significantly, they’ve achieved success while using both pace bowlers Atkinson and Wood, but also the crafty off-spin of Bashir.
A strong England side to tour Australia would include a fit Atkinson, Wood and hopefully Jofra Archer to ensure the seam bowlers are complemented by fast men.
The Australian batting is vulnerable, especially without the aggressive opening talent of David Warner.
Australia is an extremely tough tour because in addition to selecting a strong pace attack, England have to hold its chances while making sufficient runs. The latter skill is difficult because Australia currently boasts a very strong attack.
England’s Bazball strategy
England have an attacking batting line-up which they’ve bolstered with the inclusion of a solid wicketkeeper/batsman in Jamie Smith. The players who could cause Australia concern are Joe Root for his sheer ability, Zac Crawley and Harry Brook because of their aggression and capacity to score quickly. If Stokes recaptures his batting form he would fall into that category, especially as he’s bowling again and taking important wickets.
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope are talented players who can score quickly. However, the Australian bowlers will be encouraged by their flirtatious tendencies and will hope they can be exposed. Pope in particular is a skittish No. 3 and is yet to prove he can succeed in Australia.
How important is catching in Australia, especially off genuine pace bowlers? In the late 1970s the media inadvisably decided to choose between Don Bradman’s Invincibles of 1948 and the successful Australian team of the era. Former great Australian fast bowler Ray Lindwall admitted to me, “We [the 1948 team] would have won but I would’ve liked your guys catching for me.”
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