Pace attack to remain intact
PAT Cummins is set to lead an unchanged attack going straight for England’s throat, buoyed by a lightning Adelaide pitch that’s been christened the new WACA.
Australia are all but certain to shelve pre- series considerations of resting Cummins or one of their prized quicks for the pink ball Test and instead debut day- night seam specialist Chadd Sayers.
However, unless Mitchell Starc, Cummins or Josh Hazlewood pull up with an unforeseen fitness issue in the coming 48 hours, it’s expected Australia will back in their thoroughbreds to wipe out crisis- ridden England under lights.
Given the current embarrassment England is facing off the field, going 2- 0 up in Adelaide could prove the fatal blow.
Australia had England’s tailenders hopping around in terror following a short- pitched bowling onslaught carried out on one of the most sluggish Gabba wickets ever produced.
Perth and Brisbane aren’t the nightmares they once were for batsmen, but England have been warned that when night falls, Adelaide turns into the new graveyard.
“It does quicken up at night. It’s probably the fastest wicket around Australia at night,” said Australian coach, Darren Lehmann.
“( Bowling short at England’s tail) certainly hasn’t changed from four years ago. That’s one for us we see as an advantage.
“At the back end when the wicket quickened up ( in Brisbane) and we could go after them a bit harder was helpful.
“That’s the blueprint. It’s no secret we’re going to attack their middle and lower order like that. Hopefully that success continues.”
England spearhead Jimmy Anderson is expected to thrive under lights with the pink ball, and on the back of his ability to swing batsmen out at will, the old enemy may not be as dead and buried in this series as it seems they are.
Pink ball Test match cricket can offer up extraordinary momentum shifts and games can be lost in the space of a session.
All the running is with Australia, but Adelaide was perhaps always going to be England’s best chance to draw first blood.
Lehmann said after three wins from as many pink ball starts, Australia are full of self- belief that they can conquer the unpredictable conditions.
“It ( momentum) does shift but we’ve had a couple of good Test matches in the day- night set- up,” said Lehmann.
“It’s a fascinating Test match.”