India VS RSA PREVIEW... The intensity of the Ashes has shifted down several gears after the frenzy of the first Test. Following the early Brisbane finish, England traversed the Australian wasteland to play a meaningless two-day affair amid stifling conditions in Alice Springs. The past 10 days has provided respite for all and sundry. Recovering from their Queensland mortification, Englands been able to regroup by seeking solace in the serenity of Australias great outdoors. Even the Australian media, which was spewing barbs to the besieged English more rapidly than Dave Warner, has been subdued since Jonathan Trott pulled out of the tour due to a stress-related issue. It appears Trotts heartbreaking plight has curbed the periphery silliness. But the intensity is set to be rekindled on Thursday with England suddenly in the vulnerable position of relinquishing the urn, while Australia will be aiming to continue to erode their opponents fragility with sustained aggression and intimidation. Adelaide Ovals penchant for staid pitches will be tested with the unknown of its first drop-in wicket, due to the redevelopment of the quaint ground. However, Sheffield Shield cricket this season has reinforced the wickets stereotype -it is a bowlers graveyard and a batsmans Disneyland. Meaning, both teams have interesting selection quandaries. England Trotts departure leaves England vulnerable at the crucial position of first drop. Despite his recent struggles, Trott brought a wealth of experience, composure and class to the crease. Now, England have a dilemma over who to propel up the order - the experienced Ian Bell or the precocious Joe Root? Indications are that management loathe shifting Bell away from his favoured position at five -a slot where he averages a tick under 50 from 54 innings. Conversely, Bell averages 10 less, batting at three from 37 innings. Root is likely to be given the nod, and is no stranger to the rigours of coping against the new ball having opened during the English leg of the Ashes, albeit with mixed results. But with England having two inexperienced Test players in the top three, Australia will fancy their chances of exposing Pietersen and Bell to a new ball. Despite possessing a bevy of well-credentialed batsmen, Englands batting order has been worryingly chugging along for some time. After twin calamities in Brisbane, Englands batting may now be out of gas. Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen will hope the docile Adelaide wicket rekindles their turgid batting. Both played memorable innings -Cook 148 and Pietersen 227- during Englands powerhouse performance in Adelaide three years ago. Both will be relied to provide substantial innings to resuscitate England fortunes. With Root set to be promoted up the order, Gary Ballance is likely to be preferred over Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes for the number six slot after his assured batting in Alice Springs. As another England player born abroad, the Zimbabwe-born batsman should no doubt brace himself for being the butt of more banal banter from Australian public and press. The batting is not Englands only burden. The bowling -such a pillar in Englands glittering recent success -was comatose in Brisbane bar the mercurial Stuart Broad, who rose above the bile from Brisbanes crowd and Australias press with aplomb. England has a selection headache -do they stick with Chris Tremlett, who was docile in Brisbane after a prolonged Test exile, plump with bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan or boldly select Monty Panesar, whose let-arm tweak could threaten Australias right handers? Expect Bresnan to be given the nod due to his consistent seamers and ability to strengthen Englands lower order. For a team priding themselves on continuity, theres very much a feeling of fallibility about England. They have not mustered a total of more than 400 since March. A first innings total under that landmark could signal the death knell of not only their Ashes domination but of this teams golden era as well. Probable XI: Cook, Carberry, Root, Pietersen, Bell, Ballance, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson. Australia Australias Gabba success was their first Test victory since January. Suddenly, this team seemingly has an aura akin to an Australian team during the Steve Waugh halcyon years. When the bravado of Warner and the brutality of Mitchell Johnson simultaneously unite, Australia are indeed are destructive force. But was their win fools gold? In Adelaide, Australia will have to be content to graft and grind, most probably for long stretches. Playing at this tempo is a brand more suited to Englands ethos of dour and unyielding cricket. If Australia wants to become a consistent Test team, and unshackle their schizophrenia, then they are going to have to temper their aggression at times. The trio of Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon should ensure discipline, off-setting any potential Johnson calamity. Australias batting is less certain, despite a powerful second innings demonstration in Brisbane. Too much emphasis is still heaped on Michael Clarke, although Warner may have finally discovered some much needed maturity in his game. Chris Rogers and Shane Watson will need to come to the party, otherwise their immediate futures will once again be at the forefront. George Bailey was set to become a casualty after his underwhelming debut in Brisbane, setting the scene for the re-emergence of talented all-rounder James Faulkner, who impressed as a debutant at The Oval.But Australia has decided to stick with their winning formula and grant Bailey a lifeline. The fast bowling rotation, a bone of contention during the Mickey Arthur reign, has been blotted from existence, according to coach Darren Lehmann. So, there will be no rest for the injury-prone Harris and his comrades. In a bid to ensure their bowlers survive the entirety of the series, Australia will hope Watson can provide some relief. They must believe Watson is over his fragilities and can bowl some spells if needed, hence the non-inclusion of Faulkner. The bowlers will need respite on an expected unmerciful pitch. Probable XI: Warner, Rogers, Watson, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Bailey, Johnson, Siddle, Harris, Lyon. Prediction: Draw While the break has halted some of Australias momentum, the ascendency is firmly with the home side. England appears to be on the edge of a precipice. They may take a fateful fall in Adelaide. The Adelaide pitch should stymie some of Englands frailties -inability to curb short-pitch aggressive bowling and a dire struggle to yield a sizeable score. Draw is the favoured result, but dont be surprised if England self-destructive amid the inevitability of their demise as a Test powerhouse.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:41:36 +0000
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