Our batsmen need 160s... not just 60s, says Bayliss

ENGLANd gained one small victory when they brushed aside a Cricket Australia XI, and then headed for north Queensland yesterday where they have already pulled off another one.

Before the first Test at the Gabba, past Ashes touring sides have been sent to Hobart — as far away from conditions in Brisbane as it is possible to get in Australia — to mess with the acclimatisation process as much as possible.

But this time, thanks to the local knowledge of England’s Australian coach Trevor Bayliss, they have possibly gained a small advantage by playing Wednesday’s all-important final warm-up game in the naval city of Townsville, Queensland.

It will be hot and tropical, as opposed to possibly cold and English-like in Tasmania, and Bayliss chose Townsville from options offered to England after his first choice of Brisbane’s Allan Border Oval was turned down.

‘We are slowly getting there,’ said Bayliss after England had bowled out a weak CA team for 75 in Adelaide on Saturday. ‘It was an improvement on the last game and we have still got some improvement in us and a way to go before that first Test. We are heading in the right direction.’

The batting is the big worry, not least because there is no Ben Stokes here to carry out his usual rescue act alongside Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali, who has now recovered from a side injury.

‘It was good to see a number of guys spend time in the middle,’ added Bayliss. ‘The No 1 thing for us is that 60s are not enough. We need 160s.’ The man in the England order most likely to provide big hundreds remains former captain Alastair Cook and his lack of form so far in being the only member of the top six not to make at least one half century is a concern. Cricket Australia coach Ryan Harris said Cook looked rusty in Adelaide and Bayliss agreed.

‘It would be fair to say Cooky always looks a bit rusty,’ said the England coach. ‘He’d probably be the first to admit that.

‘This game he started to hit a few more in the middle of the bat and he’s hitting plenty in the nets.’

England are without a string of bowlers and have been forced to turn to the little-known left-armer George Garton as their latest shortterm call-up.

But Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes looked close to their best in Adelaide and England could even be able to include Jake Ball on Wednesday against the same Cricket Australia squad as he continues to make good progress from the ankle ligament injury that brought his impressive start to this tour to a halt.

‘It’s possible he could be right for Townsville,’ said Bayliss. ‘We have to make sure he’s available for the first Test whether he plays here or not.’

In the meantime, England will have a look at the exciting 20-year- old Garton (below) who, apart from a penchant for bowling the odd beamer, is one of the best prospects in the domestic game.

So why Garton? ‘Because he’s fit,’ said Bayliss bluntly. ‘Mark Wood and Tom Helm were our first choices and they are coming out with the Lions but they aren’t quite up to game speed. Liam Plunkett missed his last game in the Bangladesh Premier League with a slight hamstring, so it’s down to Garton.’