‘Jofra will love to see it’: England’s verdict on Australia’s Ashes squad

3 months ago 25

England’s fast bowlers will be relieved not to have to bowl to a rampaging Mitch Marsh in Perth and Jofra Archer will be licking his lips at the sight of two left-handed openers to bowl to in the Ashes opener.

That’s the verdict of former England captain Michael Vaughan on Australia’s squad for the first Test, after he landed Down Under this week ahead of commentary duties for Fox Cricket.

Jofra Archer celebrates taking the wicket of Marcus Harris in 2019.

“I’m surprised they didn’t pick Mitchell Marsh,” Vaughan told this masthead. “The last few weeks, whether in New Zealand or against India I think he’s looked Australia’s best batter. I’ve not seen Mitchell looking as still for a long period of time and I know the English quicks don’t like bowling to Mitchell Marsh.

“That innings he played at Headingley where Mark Wood bowled as quick as I’ve ever seen was spectacular, so I’m surprised they didn’t go with Mitchell, for the fact that he’s playing great and also to have a right-hander at the top of the order against Jofra Archer.

“[Jake] Weatherald has been a stalwart for a while, and he’s earned his chance. But to have two left-handers going out to open against Jofra Archer will be something Jofra will love to see.”

Casting his eye towards Usman Khawaja, Vaughan said the senior opener’s age would challenge his sharpness against top pace. But he was sympathetic to the fact that top-order batting in Australia has become increasingly difficult over the past five years.

He also wondered at the balance of the English attack – heavy on high pace bowlers – when Australian pitches are now most helpful to highly accurate seam bowlers who hit the top of the off stump.

“Usman is one I’m looking at actually, he’s 39 in a month,” Vaughan said. “I feel for a lot of players who’ve played in Australia in the last two or three years because I don’t think batting’s been easy.

“We’re talking about a different era of Australian batting because of the pitches, the ball.

“England have picked a side with a bowling attack of the kind I think you needed in Australia 10-15 years ago when the Kookaburra ball did nothing and you needed extreme pace. I just wonder whether England will miss that consistent-style bowler with the Kookaburra ball doing more.”

Mike Hussey, meanwhile, has questioned the national selectors’ handling of Sam Konstas and also his opening predecessor Nathan McSweeney, asking whether the pair had been set up adequately for success.

“I must admit I haven’t fully agreed with some of the selections over the last couple of years because you need to set players up for success, rather than put them in there and see how they go and then have to try and pick up the pieces later,” Husssey said.

“I didn’t mind McSweeney getting picked, he’s a good player, but he’s used to batting No.4 mainly, three and four, and to ask him to open in his first Test match against India, against [Jasprit] Bumrah, are we setting him up for success or failure? I felt it was a tough ask and we weren’t looking after him as best we could.”

As for Konstas, Hussey drew a parallel with the selection of another teenager, Ashton Agar, in 2013. Agar made a memorable 98 on debut in an Ashes Test, but struggled to build off that harsh early exposure to the spotlight.

Sam Konstas failed in both innings of the first Sheffield Shield game in Perth.

“Even the Konstas selection, when he first got picked I know his first Test innings was unbelievable and caught the imagination of the whole country, but were we setting him up for long-term success, I’m not sure,” Hussey said.

“He’s learning in front of the whole world at the moment, and learning some tough, hard lessons when he’s so young.

“But I just hope we look after him now and give him every opportunity to learn at his pace and don’t have to rush it or put any extra pressure on him, and let’s hope he can come through when he’s ready.

“He’s got an eternity left in his career. Tough to have to learn these lessons at such a young age, but I’m sure they’ll hold him in great stead for the future.”

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