England leaves it too late to get bowling picks right
THE longer this Ashes series has gone, the more baffling and bewildering England’s original planning and selections have been.
How Stuart Broad was left out for the opening Test on a green Brisbane pitch and how England’s fastest and most potent bowler, Mark Wood, was rested for the second Test in Adelaide is mind-boggling.
Not only has Wood taken the most wickets for England, but also bowled the most overs – however more than half of those overs have come after the visitors had lost the series.
Responsibility lies solely at the feet of coach Chris Silverwood, the lone selector on tour.
Broad’s absence in Brisbane allowed his prize bunny David Warner to score a first-innings 94 and get Australia away to a commanding start that it never relinquished before the Ashes were retained.
Wood had his worst spell when bowling conditions were at their best when he went at eight an over for most of the first day on a green Hobart wicket. But instead of trying to be a seam bowler in conducive conditions, Wood went back to doing what he does best – bowling short and fast.
He rattled the Australians in Hobart, taking three first innings wickets bowling at the badge on the helmets of the batters. Finally, with their tactics right, Wood returned to again upset the hosts in the second innings, taking a career best 6-37.
So ferocious was Wood’s spell that Australian skipper Pat Cummins – no mug with the bat – refused to take singles as to avoid facing the bouncer barrage when every run was vital and costing Alex Carey (49) a half-century.
On his way to a brilliant century in the first innings, Travis Head faced just two bouncers from Wood.
In the second innings, Head faced seven deliveries from Wood, six of which were short – with the last gloved down the leg-side.
After dismissing Usman Khawaja with a brute the night before, Wood also bounced out Scott Boland, Steve Smith and Mitch Starc.