Australia legendary bowler Shane Warne believes Australia can rule over England, if the hosts’ bowlers would be available to make things pretty tight on bouncy wickets for the newly-appointed skipper Joe Root and senior opening batsman Alastair Cook, in a bid to regain the coveted Ashes.
The 47-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator Warne reiterated the Australia has decent pace bowling attack, as he stated the bowlers have the potential to pay rich dividends for the side owing to the bowling-friendly conditions.
“If Cook and Root don’t get runs then I think Australia could really dominate England, especially with the bowling we have,” Warne wrote in his column for Sky Sports.
The star leg-spinner Warne has further praised the chairman of Cricket Australia (CA) selectors Trevor Hohns for playing a significant role in Australian set-up of gentleman’s game — to boost the morale of the youngsters at the elite-level cricket.
“Over the last year the Australia side has been much more settled and I think Trevor Hohns has to take a fair bit of credit for that,” Warne added.
Warne further revealed Warner and Smith are the crucial players for the hosts, as he pointed out the batting order of both the teams looks weak at the top, adding the teams would rely on their senior campaigners to enjoy the success.
Warne admitted the fact if skipper Smith and opener David Warner would go through a lean patch in the traditional home series, England are bound to lift the trophy without any doubt.
“But let’s says Warner and Smith have poor series, then I think England will win,” Warne maintained.
Warne suggested the national team players have to make comprehensive use of the domestic fixtures, to rise to the occasion on home-based wickets which are far different from the Asian conditions like India and Bangladesh.
“Playing conditions in India and Bangladesh are completely foreign. It is important to make full use of the first class games they now have, in the Sheffield Shield,” Warne remarked.
Experienced Warne, who has bagged 708 wickets in 145 Tests, stated the Australian side is focused on playing during the bilateral series and has been consistent particularly with the ball.
“It is a more balanced side, a more consistent side and the bowling I think is fantastic,” Warne further added.
However, Warne is aware of the injury-hit side, as the fast bowlers are recovering from rolling over the arm which further saw the fit Pat Cummins participated in the recently concluded Test series against Bangladesh.
“If they’re all fit I think the first choice three would be Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins,” Warne said.
Warne has praised the senior off-spinner Nathan Lyon for his pivotal role in the two-match series against the Mushfiqur Rahim-led Bangladesh.
“Nathan Lyon is a quality spinner and there are four or five quality fast bowlers,” Warne concluded.
Pertinently, Warne is of the view that series could become more interesting if the players from both sides would remain fit and performing during the upcoming five-match series. Warne expressed that England has an edge with the strong lower-order, in the form of wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow, followed by all-rounders like Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes.
The first Test is scheduled for November 23 at the Gabba in Brisbane, as Root has already vowed to give their best performance. Warne, who made his international debut in 1992, played 194 One-day Internationals in which he had bagged 293 wickets.