MetLife main man Andrew Strauss believes that Lehmann’s late arrival could galvanise the Australians going into the series. “Everyone has a clean slate again. There’s a bit of a honeymoon period for a new coach and, where Australia are at the moment, that’s exactly what they need - the ability to put everything that’s gone on behind them and just focus on the cricket.”
The dearth of danger men
And yet, the problems belying the Aussies look eerily familiar to that of the 2011 Ashes defeat. The team have a frightening lack of danger men, while the discord in the dressing room mirrors that of two years ago. Where Mitchell Johnson’s off-field issues saw the young bowler perform tepidly at the crease in 2010/11, so too has another upstart - David Warner, Birmingham bruiser and Twitter twit - let behavioural problems overshadow Australia’s plans to snatch back the Ashes.
You get the feeling this kind of indiscipline would never have been allowed to happen under Strauss. His view of Warner, who was fined and banned for punching English batsmen Joe Root during the Champions Trophy, is characteristically curt. “Look, he’s probably out for the first two tests, because he’s not going to get any practice. He’s paid the price for his indiscretion, and someone else is going to get the chance to open the batting.”
That said, history dictates that Aussie bad boys - cast your mind back to Ricky Ponting’s black-eyed early days and the multiple trangressions of Shane Warne - have a nasty habit of coming good.
And Strauss believes that underestimating the Australian underdingoes is to do so at you peril. The former England captain says that a fit Michael Clarke is vital to Australian success. “He’s held the Aussie batting single handedly. They’ve still got a lot of quality in their side. Their seam bowlers are going to be really important - Mitchell Starc has a big role to play as a left arm seamer.”
Treasures of Trent Bridge beckon
The red howitzers of Starc and compatriot Peter Siddell are going to be critical if Australia are to survive on the sedate green of Trent Bridge, the host of the first test. The 175 year-old ground, with its 19th century pavilion glaring solemnly upon the 17,000-strong crowd, will act as heaven and hell for both sides.
While players like Trott and Clarke can thrive on the pitch, the wicket lays invitingly for Australia’s swing bowlers, a fact that is all too apparent to Strauss. “The wicket at Trent Bridge will be the one where, on paper at least, Australia look the most competitive side. With their seam bowling attack, they’ve got a good opportunity to start the series well and put England under pressure. That first test match is going to be completely pivotal in how the series plays out.”
