england can prey on our weaknesses
Sam Pilger speaks to Adam Voges, who hails the performances of two of his old Western Australian team-mates in the first Test, but suggests England should not be written off yet...
How do you look back at the first Test in Brisbane? If you just look at the scoreline you would think Australia had won comfortably, but England were in the Test for the first three days, and might have won it. The real difference was Steve Smith; take away his runs in the first innings and England could have won. There really might have been a different result. Australia will know they are in for a tight series, and won’t be getting carried away. What will most have pleased Australia about their victory? It was the performance of their bowlers, who all took wickets. The wicket started slow, but quickened up after two days for Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. And I thought Nathan Lyon was outstanding in the second innings. With the bat, Smith looked great, Shaun Marsh’s 51 was a good sign, and Cameron Bancroft looked very comfortable on his Test debut. As a former Western Australian team-mate of Cameron Bancroft, how pleased were you for him? I have known Cam a long time, and watched him since his WA debut, and I am delighted for him. He has achieved this through hard work. He is playing as well now as he ever has, and has timed his run into the side brilliantly. I feel sorry for Matt Renshaw, but I think Cam has proved it was the right call. Did you always think Bancroft would play Test cricket? I am not surprised. He was all set for his Test debut in Bangladesh in 2015, but then the tour was cancelled and, if I am honest, I think that shook him. He thought his chance had gone, and it took him a while to get over it, at least six months, but he overcame it with good consistent cricket. There are no guarantees in Test cricket, but I think he could now have a fine career at this level. He certainly has the desire and work ethic to have a great chance. Another former Western Australian team-mate Shaun Marsh also played a crucial role in Australia’s win. Do you think he deserved yet another chance? I am so happy for Shaun, and I think this could be his moment. I know he divides opinion in Australia, and some think he has already had too many chances, but, for me, when he’s fit and in form he’s one of our best batsmen. OK, it was a contentious call to drop Glenn Maxwell, but I think Shaun will grasp his chance now. Most of the time he’s lost his place in the past because of injuries, and not poor form any way. He could have an extended run in the side now. What weaknesses are there in this Australian team for England to exploit? England will have spotted them in the first Test, but they didn’t grab their chances. Having made 300, and having Australia at 76 for four, they could have gone on to win. They know they can play a lot better, and I think we will see that. A lot depends on the three Australian quicks, and how they deal with this heavy workload, because it will be difficult for five Tests. If they stay fit, Australia should win, but if there are problems, England could exploit that. What will have most pleased England at the Gabba? They will have taken enormous confidence from the performances of Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Dawid Malan. I know all of these guys from the county circuit and being in England last summer, but Australia is just beginning to learn about them. They did really well in the first innings, and if Joe Root and Alastair Cook can contribute more runs England will be dangerous. Should England be concerned about Alastair Cook’s form? He missed out at the Gabba, but it would take a brave man to write off Cook. He is class, and will have an impact on this series. There has been some talk of England dropping Jake Ball for the second Test in Adelaide.Would you agree with that? I would definitely stick with him. I know Jake well from my time at Nottinghamshire, and his development has been excellent. I think the conditions in Adelaide for the second Test will be more favourable to him as well. The Gabba was his first Ashes Test, so he was probably nervous, but he’s a seriously talented bowler. What should we expect from the Adelaide pitch for the second Test? This is England’s best shot, they really have a great chance of getting back in the series here. The wicket will really suit their attack, because I expect there to be more grass on it. There will be more for the bowlers at Adelaide, and extra challenges for the batsmen. I think this is the place for Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad to show their skill, and Chris Woakes will have an impact, too. What was your take on how the Jonny Bairstow headbutt story came out during the first Test? It happened a month ago where I live in Perth, and I didn’t know anything about it. The WA guys kept it really hush-hush, so maybe there wasn’t much to it. But then the Australians used it as a tactic to put Jonny Bairstow off his game, and it worked really well for them, as we could see. I have spoken to Cameron, and there was not much to the incident. I think both teams will now move on from it for the second Test.
The headbutt incident happened a month ago in Perth where I live, and I didn’t know anything about it