Talk won’t take care of England
against South under lights at Oval next week.
Lyon’s overall Test record of 269 wickets from 69 matches suggests he’s historically been more lethal against right- handers. But on the subcontinent this year he sent a clear warning that lefties should beware.
On the 2015 Ashes in En- Australia Adelaide gland, Lyon started with a bang against Cook, with the opener unable to score a single run off the 13 balls he faced from Lyon in the first Test in Cardiff before being caught behind off the 14th.
England were to have as many as seven left- handers in their batting order for the first Test at the Gabba on November 23, but Ben Stokes’ behavioural may cut that to six.
With an inexperienced and highly suspect batting order that features the likes of James Vince, Dawid Malan and Mark Stoneman, Australia’s bowlers have already left little doubt about their intentions.
Australia see Cook and captain Joe Root as the key issues
33 DAYS TO GO
wickets, and if they can target them, they’re confident the rest will fall.
Cook’s history in Australia is a story of contrast – in the 2010- 11 series he belted 766 runs and three centuries against Australia to average 127 for the series.
But on the 2013- 14 tour, then- captain Cook averaged just 24. ENGLAND are walking tall after a World Cup win and becoming the No. 1 cricket nation but Australia are ready to prove they’re still the ones to beat.
Star all- rounder Ellyse Perry says even though shots have been fired and a fiery Ashes series appears in the making, it’s still all about backing it up on the field.
Australia w i c k e t - keeper Alyssa Healy sent the first warning signal at the team announcement last week when she promised to “bring back the bitch” when England were at the crease.
Perry said chatter from Healy behind the stumps helped spur the Australians on, but for herself, it’s the competition alone that drives her to her best.
“I think everyone’s their own independent personality and character within the team,” Perry said.
“Alyssa plays a really big role in terms of driving the energy of the group. I suppose more personally speaking that’s not really my style.
“Having said that I absolutely love the competition and that’s why everyone in the team plays at the level that they do, because it’s seriously tough out in the middle.
“You can say all you like but at the end of the day it’s the team that plays the best cricket that wins. Whoever actually walks the walk is the team that’s going to win.”
Perry expects a fired up England at Allan Border Field tomorrow morning.
“I think they probably feel they’re the dominant team in the world at the moment and they’ve come over to make a really big point,” Perry said.