Gower fears Ashes hiding on the cards
OE ROOT will be feeling the heat regardless of which England team eventually travels Down Under to face the furnace-like pressure of an Ashes tour.
That’s the view of former England captain David Gower, who fears that if Root doesn’t score heavily then England are on a hiding to nothing against the Aussies on home turf.
They haven’t won a match, let alone a series, in Australia since 2010/11.
On that tour,andrew Strauss’ side had six batsmen averaging more than 40 as the hosts were thumped by a team operating at the peak of their powers.
That’s not an accusation you could level at the current team, with only Joe Root of England’s likely top six with an average above 40.
The Yorkshireman is streets ahead of his team-mates.
But if Australia can stop his prolific run in 2021, then Gower believes that England are in big trouble.
“There are gaps in our Test team,” said the former England captain. “If you say that our best XI includes Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, and one definitely won’t go and the other is very unlikely to, then we’re already missing two key players.
“If we have everyone else available then I would still favour Australia, especially on their home turf.
“One of the big things we’re going to struggle with is getting runs on the board, especially if Joe Root gets less than 150 every time he bats. In any team at any level, if you have four of the top six having reasonably or very good days then you should be all right.
“But we haven’t got a top three that averages 40. You don’t win an Ashes series Down Under with that lack of firepower.”
Despite Australia’s own batting struggles they can rely on Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne – who all average over, or close to, 50.
On a more basic note, though, there is still some uncertainty over whether the tour will go ahead at all.
Australia’s strict Covid restrictions and the government’s reluctance to bend the rules for England’s families has already led to speculation that some players could boycott the tour entirely.
Gower says he would understand if some England players decided not to travel. He said: “It’s a very different equation for those who have concerns about their families and their children.”
David Gower is ambassador for The Cricketer magazine celebrating its centenary year throughout 2021 (www.thecricketer.com)