Australia’s issues go far deeper than missing Steve Smith and David Warner - England have little to fear
5-6 minutes
If you think Australia’s problems will be solved the moment Steve Smith and David Warner are available for selection again then you are wrong.
They have issues that run far deeper than two players. Batting, bowling, selection and tactics were poor against India and Australia have to admit they were just not good enough.
Clearly if you take the two best players out of any team they will struggle. But losing Smith and Warner is an easy excuse for Australia to hide behind.
India were beaten 4-1 in English conditions last summer, although the matches were closer than the final score line suggests, but would have beaten Australia 3-1 had it not rained in Sydney for the last two days. I honestly can’t see Australia beating England unless they assess themselves brutally. Techniques have to be better with the bat and they need to be more consistent with the ball. Every facet of their Test team has to improve. They are kidding themselves if they think everything will be rosy when Smith and Warner come back.
This series against India has reminded me of the Ashes in 2010-11. Australia beat India in Perth, as they did England in 2010-11, when conditions were in their favour and it was quick and bouncy but were outplayed everywhere else.
The absence of Steve Smith and David Warner is an easy excuse to hide behind Credit: Getty Images
On normal, flat pitches Australia really struggled. On good batting pitches your weaknesses are highlighted. As a batting unit your defence is tested because you have to bat long periods of time. At the moment Australia are unable to play long innings. They look like a team that can score 250-300, and that is good enough on sporting pitches, but when it is flat it is not enough to win Test matches.
The bowling is not as good as they think. They are very good when conditions are in their favour or well ahead in the game. But there is room for them to become a much more skilful and consistent bowling attack.
For the Ashes next summer Australia have to look at breaking up Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins. They need a more skilful bowler such as a Peter Siddle or Trent Copeland. They need someone who can match England’s consistency and skill with the Duke ball and bowl the fuller length.
A ridiculously low percentage of balls bowled by Australia against India were going on to hit the stumps. They took only one wicket lbw in the whole series. The bowlers and the coaching staff have to take the blame for that and ask how can we improve? To beat England in England they have to bowl more intelligently. It is not often quick bowlers come to England and blast batsmen out. It may happen in one Test but not over the course of a five match series. You need consistent line and length, and skilful manipulation of the conditions. At the moment I don’t see Australia having those attributes.
Starc is an issue. He is wayward. He is fantastic when the team are on top. He makes things happen, but he is a luxury bowler. When the side are chasing the game, or in English conditions when every run can be crucial, he might be a bowler Australia cannot afford to pick.
Mitchell Starc has been wayward in recent weeks Credit: AP
Australia now play two Tests against Sri Lanka and it is a chance to have a look at new players and improve selection because it was poor too against India. Aaron Finch is not an opener in red ball cricket but opened the batting. They should have played him in the middle order. Instead of moving him down the order, he was dropped and Usman Khawaja opened, with Peter Handscomb recalled for Sydney. Mitchell Marsh was brought back for one game and dropped again. How many times has that happened? How can you expect someone to become a Test cricketer if they play only one game?
Marcus Harris is a fighter who looks like he can play a bit. But what let Australia down against India was that their two senior players - Khawaja and Shaun Marsh - struggled at a time when they had to step up. You look at senior players to drive you forward, more so when Warner and Smith are absent. But the senior core looked fragile. When Khawaja and Marsh walk out to bat I never feel they look like senior batsmen. I still feel they are making their debuts or starting out in their career yet between them they have played 75 Tests. Against Sri Lanka they could gamble on a younger player, just to shake up these guys.
Fundamental batting basics have to be sorted out. Australia’s system has had a rich batting heritage. But I can’t see any Australian player who plays spin well. They have an issue with that. In England they will face seam, swing and spin. I can’t see there being a draw in the Ashes. There will be five results.
England should be careful in preparing green tops because I don’t think you need to do that against this Australian side. England do not need to take any risks. Just prepare a good Test match wicket because the best team will come out on top and in English conditions that is England.
