England, coming off the back of a
very wet and cold ‘warm up’ game against Australia ‘A’, travel to Sydney and
hopefully warmer surroundings today in the last tour match before the first
Test next week. Cricket Australia Invitational XI are the opponents who are led
by Peter Nevill and feature a number of New
South Wales players.
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Captain Cook |
For the second game in a row the
Aussie selectors have selected a batting heavy eleven, with several players who
could feature in the Ashes series, but a weakened bowling attack.
Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch,
Steve O’Keefe and Ed Cowan are included in the XI although Usman Khawaja,
who had intended to play, has been released to play for Queensland
and Phil Hughes has also gone back to Adelaide to
play in the next round of Shield matches that start on the same day as the England
game.
The bowling attack is a lot
greener. New South Wales
fringe players, Josh Lalor, Chris Tremain, and Nic Bills are the men who along
with O’Keefe are charged with taking it to a presumably strong England XI.
Clarke...settled side |
Is it Australia ’s
plan to starve England
of quality bowling before the first Test? I’m not sure it is wise to give the
tourists a glorified net, just like in Hobart .
Cutting and Copeland looked like honest pros and moved it around early on but
Cook and the watchful Carberry saw off the new ball and the rest was
borderline bullying.
If it is a cunning plan to starve England
of a meaningful bat then I hope Captain Cook wins the toss and bats for three
days. Another big ton will be a massive boost for Carberry and KP
along with Bairstow, who will potentially come in for the injured Matt Prior,
need some time in the middle.
That’ll teach ‘em.
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The physio's table...home of the Australian quicks these days |
What an opportunity it is for the
young quicks though. With Australia ’s
bowling attack seemingly spending more time on the physio table than
Darren Anderton and Jamie Redknapp, a terrific spell with the new ball couldn’t come at a better time. It’s not as if Australia
don’t blood the youngsters; remember Ashton Agar?
For the fans who don’t know the
young men: shame on you! Bills is a quick from North Sydney Bears who has
played Shield cricket but is way back in the NSW queue. Lalor is Pat
Cummins’ opening partner for Penrith Panthers who has played BBL cricket
and is less injury prone than his new ball buddy and Tremain is currently
playing grade cricket after shining for UNSW.
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