England count toll of wounded
England’s walking wounded are counting the costs of one of the country’s gutsiest test draws this century after they fought through the pain barrier at the SCG.
Within an hour of avoiding any chance of an Ashes whitewash on a gruelling final day, England confirmed Jos Buttler had batted with a broken finger and his series was over.
The England wicketkeeper will immediately flew back to the UK yesterday for treatment, with a test tour of the West Indies due for March.
The tourists will also continue to sweat on the fitness of Jonny Bairstow (thumb) and Ben Stokes (side strain) for Hobart, after they too batted through the pain on Sunday.
Stokes lasted 123 balls in clear discomfort, Bairstow 105 and Buttler 38 as England’s side became just the second team in Ashes history to draw a test while nine down in the second innings.
Stokes and Bairstow will now be assessed further in Hobart, after the latter did not field and the former couldn’t bowl after the Sydney injuries.
“There was clearly a bit of pain relief required,” England captain Joe Root said.
“A lot of the guys could see a number of players hurting physically and still putting in a huge amount. In many ways it lifted the rest of the group.
“Knowing that you’re going into a highpressured situation not 100 per cent and then still be able to perform at the level that some of the guys did. It was phenomenal really.”
Root hailed the effort as one of the gutsiest he had seen, a week after England were all out for 68 at the MCG to surrender the Ashes.
In the time since they have also battled a Covid19 scare, with daily PCR tests between matches that stand-in coach Graham Thorpe admitted were wearing players down mentally.
Regular coach Chris Silverwood was also sidelined by the virus, as well as three other members of England’s coaching staff.
Meanwhile, England have confirmed their coaching staff will rejoin them for Adelaide, with the outbreak seemingly now over.
Sam Billings has also been called into the squad as cover for Buttler, and will join the team in Hobart pending another negative PCR test.
Assuming Bairstow also can’t keep with his finger, Ollie Pope would be another option to take the gloves after filling in the role as a sub fielder in Sydney.
Meanwhile Pat Cummins would support any changes to test cricket’s archaic rules to get play between rain delays after the Ashes draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground again shone a light on the issue.
Around 60 overs were lost to rain across the match, during an on-again off-again five days where all but one day had stoppages.
Australia could dearly have done with that time back, after they fell just one wicket short of taking a 4-0 lead
Burnley’s All White star Chris Wood is reportedly being chased for a transfer to Premier League rivals Newcastle United, who are now backed by the wealthiest owners in world football. A report in The Daily Telegraph claimed Newcastle – now owned by a Saudi Arabia government-backed consortium – hope Wood will sign this week. The report said Newcastle had made approach for the New Zealand international and were ‘‘pushing hard to make the deal happen’’. ‘‘The player would like to make the move across the Pennines and Newcastle will intensify their efforts to land the 30-year-old. Interestingly, they have not been discouraged in their pursuit so far and Wood has become one of their priority acquisitions.’’ Wood only has three goals in 17 EPL games for Burnley this term, but has netted 50 times in 155 Premier League appearances. The Burnley targetman has scored 10 or more goals in each of the last four EPL seasons. He joined Burnley in 2017 in a club-record $26 million transfer from Leeds United.