Ashes 2017/18: Friends Ready to Turn Foes

Nov 21, 2017 at 1:12 PM

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Ashes 2017/18: Friends Ready to Turn Foes

With just two days remaining for the main event, Australia and England are preparing themselves for the fierce battle on the 22-yards.

As we inch closer to the all-important Ashes, the tensions are high as expected and the stage is set for David and Goliath to collide. We will not only witness a game of excellent cricket but also will get to see some friends collide with each other for their country’s pride.

Though the players are friends off the field, there would be no signs of friendship when the two teams take the field. Australian opener David Warner has cleared his intentions by using words like ‘hatred’ and ‘war’ last month and wants his team to develop the same mentality.

Peter Handscomb shares a close bond with Gary Ballance, his Yorkshire teammate. Similarly, Dawid Malan is close to his Middlesex captain Adam Voges, and the two has already caught up.

Gary Ballance

The Indian Premier League has also provided a platform for players of the different team to work together. Steven Smith and Ben Stokes got a chance to play with each other, courtesy to the IPL early this year.

Also, Aussie bowling coach David Saker considers James Anderson and Stuart Broad as very good friends, and he met the two and Alastair Cook early this month at Adelaide during a tour game.

James Anderson has been named as the vice-captain of England, replacing Ben Stokes. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

Saker quoted the AAP,

“It was good. We just had a few beers and talked about what you normally talk about – family, what’s happening in their lives. Not too much cricket.”

“I don’t think we’ll catch up that much throughout the series … our boys will rip me to pieces if I socialise with them too much.”

“Those two (Anderson and Broad) did a lot for me and my career.”

There are not many players in the England camp who have played a test in Australia, but Gary Ballance is certainly one of them. Despite his experience on the Australian soil, Ballance is all set to get overlooked for the first test at the Gabba.

Peter Handscomb was in all praise for Gary Balance and hoped to see him soon. He also believes that Gary Ballance is a wonderful player and should be given more chances to prove himself.

“He started off the county season going hundred, hundred, double-hundred,”

“I couldn’t believe how quickly the media – and it seems like the English selectors – get off him.”

“He comes in for a couple of Tests, might fail, then all of a sudden he’s gone again. You need to give him a chance because he’s a good batter.”

“We’ve kept in touch a little. We’ll obviously catch up for a coffee at some point. He’s a good lad; I’m looking forward to seeing him.”

Handscomb also spoke about how it is to compete against his friends and how things are on and off the field.

“It’s not really awkward … you might have some mates playing for the opposition, but when you’re on the field there are no mates.”

“Once the game or day is done you go back to being normal people.”

Adam Voges admits his career might soon be over

Adam Voges who retired with an average of 61.87 after 20 Tests spoke high of his Middlesex teammate Dawid Malan and gave him a few tips about what to expect during the monumental clash.

“I caught up with him when they played the first tour game against WA. We didn’t talk a lot about cricket, it was more to say g’day,” Voges told AAP.

“I’ve spoken to him a little bit about local conditions and what to expect, but he fully knows what is coming.”

Also Read: (Ashes 2017/18: ‘Coach&’ Usain Bolt Trains the Australian Team Ahead of Ashes Opener)

(Ashes 2017/18: Alastair Cook has his Say on Nathan Lyon’s Comment)

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