Warne urges Oz to adopt ‘Bodyline’ tactic ›
MUMBAI: Shane Warne has urged Australia’s pace troika of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to adopt the ‘Bodyline theory’ in the first Ashes starting November 23 at the Gabba. Asserting that aggression is key, Warne urged Australia to ‘set the tone for the rest of the series’ in Brisbane.
“Australia can blow this very good England team out of the water at the Gabba with a strategic blast of Bodyline bowling. All the verbals in the lead-up to the first Test have been fun but it’s time to let the battle of bat, ball and tactics begin,” Warne wrote in his column in The Herald Sun.
“For Steve Smith and his terrific pace trio, the opportunity presents to put England on the back foot early and keep them there for the entire series. It’s been 85 years since the very clever English captain Douglas Jardine unleashed quickie Harold Larwood at Bill Woodfull’s unsuspecting Australians and I reckon this Aussie team can similarly catch Joe Root’s Englishmen off-guard,” he said.
VULNERABLE IN MIDDLE Warne, who is of the opinion that England are brittle in the middle-order, wrote, “England is vulnerable in the middle and lower order and this is where the Bodyline theory can work. There is a question mark over Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes with the short ball and there should be no mercy shown to the tail.”
Warne also likened Cummins to former pacer Mitchell Johnson, who ran riot in English ranks last Ashes in Australia.
“The Australians must go after the Poms with aggression – plenty of short stuff – and really set the tone for the rest of the Ashes matches.
“The Gabba is a scary place for opposition teams and especially for the English, who have not won here since 1986. Intimidation is the key and the man to make this happen is Pat Cummins, just as Mitchell Johnson did four years ago,” Warne wrote.
Warne has pointed out two England players --- Joe Root and James Anderson to ‘play out of their skin’ for them to win this Ashes.
The Australians must go after the Poms with aggression and set the tone for the rest of Ashes. SHANE WARNE, On strategy