Heroics Root must match as Ashes 'bloodbath' looms

3 years ago 277

England are "a precise mediocre Test side" and lone basal a accidental of clinching an unexpected Ashes bid triumph if skipper Joe Root matches the 2010-11 batting heroics of his predecessor, says Ed Cowan.

The erstwhile Test opener has projected "a bloodbath" for an understrength England connected their circuit of Australia, aft weapon all-rounder Ben Stokes, spearhead Jofra Archer and accelerated bowler Olly Stone were ruled unavailable for selection.

Alastair Cook wasn't England's skipper erstwhile helium toured Australia for the 2010-11 Ashes – Andrew Strauss was yet to manus implicit the reins – but the left-handed opener was successful otherworldly signifier with the bat, compiling 766 runs astatine 127.66, including a apical people of 235 not out, to pb his broadside to a 3-1 win.

Only Australia's Sir Donald Bradman (1930) and Steve Smith (2017-18) person averaged much runs from 5 Ashes Tests successful the 1 series.

Root volition request to nutrient an idiosyncratic bid with the leaf of that calibre if the tourists are to triumph backmost the Ashes urn, Cowan believes.

"When you spell done that database there's possibly 1 batsman who you deliberation could astir apt bat a time and people a 100 – and that's their skipper (Root), who has traditionally struggled successful Australia," Cowan said connected The Grandstand Cricket Podcast.

"He doesn't similar the bounce of the ball, he's a superb subordinate of spin, peculiarly successful England and (on) the sub-continent, but has struggled with the gait successful Australia... it's a monolithic circuit for (Root).

"If helium does an Alastair Cook (in the 2010-11 Ashes) and scores 600 runs oregon 700 runs, it's a antithetic series. But if helium scores 250 runs, there's astir apt lone going to beryllium 18 oregon 19 days of Test cricket."

While Root averages 50.15 from 109 Tests, the 30-year-old averages conscionable 38 from 9 Tests successful Australia.

The highest Test bid mean of the right-hander yet came against Sri Lanka successful January this year, erstwhile helium averaged 106.5 from 2 matches successful Galle.

Cowan pointed retired that Australia had batting problems of their own.

The selectors are yet to settee connected an opening spouse for David Warner and, portion Travis Head has begun the Australian home play successful superb touch, he's shown method flaws and a propensity to autumn cheaply passim his 19 Tests.

But Cowan, who played 18 Tests for Australia betwixt 2011 and 2013, is assured the hosts' bowling portion volition steer them to victory.

"We're not talking astir an Australian squad that is brimming with batting that tin bat them retired of a game. The Aussies themselves person got immoderate questions to answer, but they're going to beryllium a amended squad than England," Cowan said.

"There's nary uncertainty astir that.

"Their bowling's going to beryllium excessively good, we've got a high-class spinner, they don't.

"So it conscionable feels similar it's going to beryllium a bloodbath."