Tim Paine, a former Test team captain of Australia , believes that England lacks the depth to compete with Pat Cummins and company in the ongoing Ashes series, but he also believes that the visitors will continue to improve with each match.
Australia took a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series with an exciting two-wicket victory over England in the opener on a flat Edgbaston surface.
Tim paine stated “I think Australia played ok in the first Test, I think we’ve got a lot of improvement in us. I’m not sure the Poms have got the depth to go with us,”
“We heard pre-series that they wanted hard and flat wickets. They got that in the first Test and it didn’t quite pan out.” Ahead of the series, skipper Ben Stokes had said that England wanted fast, flat pitches to help execute their attacking style of play.
However, the loss in Birmingham has seemingly forced the host to change their game plan as a green wicket has been prepared for the second Test at Lord’s, according to Paine.
“If you look at tonight’s pitch, it looks like everyone’s backyard in Australia, so it’s going to be interesting. They’re obviously trying to bring (Stuart) Broad and (James) Anderson back into the Test match. They didn’t have much of an impact (in Birmingham).” Paine further stated that while the the green wicket will bring back leading bowlers Anderson and Broad into the equation, the home batters will struggle on it.
“They’re very reliant on Joe Root, their top three is pretty suspect and on a green wicket, whilst it will bring Broad and Anderson back into the contest, I think their batters are going to find it extremely difficult.” On the other hand, the Australians too have to improve.