Sports

Ashes captains continue war of words on series eve

November 22, 2017
England's cricket team captain Joe Root and Australia's cricket team captain Steve Smith react as they are directed where to stand while holding the Ashes series trophy during an official event ahead of the Ashes opening Test match at the GABBA ground in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday. — Reuters
England's cricket team captain Joe Root and Australia's cricket team captain Steve Smith react as they are directed where to stand while holding the Ashes series trophy during an official event ahead of the Ashes opening Test match at the GABBA ground in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday. — Reuters

BRISBANE — The war of words that has added spice to the lead-up to cricket's oldest enduring Test series will give way to genuine hostilities on Thursday when bitter Ashes rivals Australia and England march out in front of a packed crowd at the Gabba.

A temporary ceasefire was called on Wednesday as Australia captain Steve Smith and his England counterpart Joe Root paused for photos under a blinding blue sky at the Brisbane stadium, but both captains have been looking to land a psychological blow on the eve of the first Test.

The customary photo opportunity may have been the only chance to get a clear image from the entire day, with smoke and mirrors employed liberally by the captains during the pre-match media conferences.

Root steadfastly declined to name his side but the element of surprise was lost some four hours later when the England and Wales Cricket Board released the team on its website, with Nottingham bowler Jake Ball beating out Craig Overton as the fourth seamer.

Smith had earlier thrown a curve-ball by saying David Warner, his vice-captain, opener and best batsman, remained in doubt for the Test as he battles to recover from a neck strain.

Compounding the drama, Cricket Australia later revealed batsman Shaun Marsh had suffered a back strain at training on Wednesday and was also uncertain for the match.

As to how Australia would deal with Warner's absence, Smith gave no answer. The board later said all-rounder Glenn Maxwell had been rushed to Brisbane in readiness to slot in if Warner failed to prove his fitness.

Quite how Marsh's potential absence would be covered remains up in the air. Before the Marsh news broke, Root had said Warner's injury would do nothing to change his team's preparations.

Root has seemed impervious to the pressure of leading a team regarded skeptically by cricket media in both countries, and he has played a straight bat to the usual provocations from Australia's pundits and players.

Having taken one on the chin for England after a clash with Warner at a Birmingham bar in 2013, Root has gladly stuck it out again on the tour Down Under.

Yet as calmly as he praised his players for refusing to rise to Australia's bait, his voice strayed briefly from its dependable monotone as he chided the home side's spinner Nathan Lyon for an attack on the team.

Taking no prisoners, Lyon said on Tuesday that England's former wicketkeeper Matt Prior had wanted to fly home early during the 2013/14 series, which the tourists lost 5-0.

He also joked that he wanted to see Root, who was omitted for the Sydney Test during that series, "dropped again".

"That’s not how I’d want my players to go about things but that’s up to him to come out and say that," Root said in response, a hint of a frown crossing the 26-year-old's face. "I think it’s slightly out of character. I know Nathan from playing club cricket but it doesn’t seen very real."

England paceman Ball has beaten out Craig Overton to be the touring side's fourth seamer in the series-opening Ashes Test against Australia starting in Brisbane on Thursday.

Ball will be thrown into the Gabba cauldron in just his fourth Test after recovering from a sprained ankle that saw him scratched from the tour match in Adelaide and rested for the final warm-up in Townsville last week, where Overton bowled.

He joins front-line quicks James Anderson and Stuart Broad at the Gabba, along with pace-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes, for his first Test since Chennai last December.

Two of Ball's three Tests came against India on that series, months after his debut against Pakistan at Lord's, and he managed only two wickets across the three matches.

But the tall 26-year-old will hope to generate a lot of bounce off the juicy Gabba deck with his height, despite his limited preparations. "Hopefully I can show that and nick a few of the Aussies off," he said earlier this week.

The rest of the England side is as expected, with the inexperienced trio of James Vince, Dawid Malan and opener Mark Stoneman to feature in the batting lineup and spin bowling Moeen Ali included as a second all-rounder.

Team: Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Dawid Malan, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes. — Reuters


November 22, 2017
41 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Sports
5 days ago

Neom FC clinches First Division spot with a thrilling victory over Al Zulfi

Sports
5 days ago

Hiba Al Owaidi becomes first female main referee in Saudi Women's League

Sports
6 days ago

Salem Al Dawsari's goal secures Saudi victory over Tajikistan in World Cup qualifiers