By Matthew Fisher
If conditions suit in the Ashes, there’s only one winner as far as I’m concerned – England.
The bowling attacks of both sides look the stronger suits, but English conditions will always give us the advantage. Our bowling attack is just so good. I know it was only against Ireland at Lord’s last week, but the second innings when we bowled them out for 38 showed how potent we are when conditions suit.
You have to be really patient when bowling in England and not go searching for the swing, which I feel is something Australia do. Mitchell Johnson in the past and Mitchell Starc now, they’re good bowlers, but they can tend to go searching for that swing a bit. That then opens up opportunities for boundaries.
If we win the first Test at Edgbaston this week, I definitely feel like we could romp home and win it three or four nil.
Batting at number three in the order is probably something Joe Root, as our best batsman, should do.
I get why he bats at four, maybe protecting your best player from the new ball. But, at the end of the day, your best players are your best players for a reason. They can get through the tough periods.
Rooty’s one of those players who will play the same no matter when he’s in. He will play his natural game whenever. If there’s a half volley with the new ball, he’ll put it away.
I will be watching a lot more of the series than I perhaps anticipated a few weeks ago before dislocated my shoulder and broke my thumb on the same day at Chesterfield.
