The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Australia determined to stick with gameplan
AU S T R A L IA ARE unrepentant about their aggressive bowling tactics against all England’s batsmen — including the tailenders.
The home pace trio of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris have been free and easy with their bouncers in the first two Tests from one down to 11.
As England struggled to an inadequate 172 all out in their first innings in Adelaide, on their way to a second successive landslide defeat, Australia’s fast bowlers were more than happy to pepper last man Monty Panesar with plenty of short deliveries.
Bowling coach Craig McDermott clarif ied on Tuesday too that, as the series moves on to the bounciest pitch in the world at the Waca in Perth, there will be no let-up from his charges.
“That’s been our team plan, and I don’t think we’re going to go away from that,” he said.
“There’s not too many tailenders around the place who bat below seven that enjoy playing a lot of balls around their helmet — so, so be it.
“The way we want to play our cricket, we will continue to do — and what you want to describe that as is up to you.We just want to play good, aggressive, Australian cricket — and keep doing that every single day.”
Australia’s surge into a 2-0 lead has put an obvious dent in England’s hopes for a fourth successiveAshes series victory.
But the hosts are wary of complacency and batsman George Bailey echoed the words of captain Michael Clarke 24 hours earlier.
Clarke made it clear, immediately after his team’s 218-run win in the second Test, that their job is far from complete, especially after losing the Ashes 3-0 in England only four months ago.
Bailey said: “I think it would be a bit naive of us to suddenly think we had any sort of advantage over them.”