- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 218,056
Leeds: Australia won’t be drawn into an emotion-charged, ***-for-tat bouncer battle at Headingley, according to coach Justin Langer, after the Ashes series was turned on its head by Jofra Archer’s intimidating arrival on the Test scene.
The tourists were on Tuesday yet to confirm an XI for the third Test but, amid suggestions they could look to fight fire with fire with a short-ball spree of their own at England’s batsmen, Langer has made clear they won’t deviate from the strategy that has helped them to a 1-0 lead and given them a chance of retaining the Ashes in Leeds.
At the heart of their approach, in terms of bowling, has been a mantra of discipline and control, although Australia, and Pat Cummins in particular, have employed short-bowling tactics themselves to the England lower order.
While there has been a school of thought that Mitchell Starc could be unleashed in an aggressive counter attack from Australia, it appeared the more likely scenario was that either the same pace line-up from Lord’s would feature here or that James Pattinson, rested in the second Test, would come in for either Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Peter Siddle should one of that trio be given a break.
“We know what our plans are to beat England. What we're not going to do is get caught up in an emotional battle of who's going to bowl the quickest bouncers,” Langer said. “We're here to win the Test match, not to see how many helmets we can hit. And that's the truth, we are literally here to win the Test match and we have our plans on how we think we can beat England.
“[Former England captain] Mike Atherton said a really interesting thing to me the other day. [He said] 'it seems a really different Australian team, in the past you puff your chests out, you grow your beards and you're all tough and see if you can bowl as fast as you want. This isn't as macho as before'.
“We're here to win the Test match, not to see how many bruises we can give, that's not winning Test matches, trust me, you can't get out with a bruise on your arm. So we'll pick the team we think will win it, this is a different ground, we think the wicket will be quite slow, it's not going to be as fast as some of the other wickets we've seen. So I'm sure the bouncer will still be part of every bowler's armoury, if it helps us get batsmen out then we'll use it, otherwise we'll keep sticking to the plan.”
Langer has also implored his batsmen to put ego aside when it comes to facing the dangerous Archer and the rest of the England attack. Aside from the absence of Steve Smith, who is likely to be replaced by Marnus Labuschagne at Headingley as he was when he withdrew with concussion on the fifth morning at Lord’s, the coach said the selectors hadn’t discussed any other changes to the top six, meaning Cameron Bancroft is set to be retained in an opening partnership with David Warner desperately in need of runs.
The batsmen were given a workout on Tuesday to prepare for Archer, with Starc at one point hitting the grille of Labuschagne's helmet, leading to a check-up from team doctor Richard Saw, just as had been the case when the England speedster had bumped him with his second ball on Sunday.
“We keep talking about it ... you’ve got to play on skill, not emotion,” Langer said. “And it’s hard for young players, even senior players. You can get caught up in the atmosphere, you can get caught up in the contest. But it’s not an ego game – you’ve got to just keep trusting your skill, keep watching the ball like a hawk.”
The importance of Warner bringing an abrupt end to his lean start to the series – he has 18 runs across four innings – is amplified by Smith not being there. The former vice-captain is clean shaven after Lord’s, disposing of facial hair and with it, he hopes, form issues in England’s north.
“I expect [a lot] out of him every time he plays, whether Steve Smith is playing or not playing,” Langer said of Warner. “We expect it of all our senior players. He looked really sharp in the nets today. He’ll be hungry. Don’t write off David Warner.”
Langer said he would not demand batsmen wear protective stem guards on their helmets in the wake of Smith being struck in the neck by Archer but has encouraged them to use them.
Vice-captain Travis Head made the decision to use the guards in Australia’s second innings at Lord’s while captain Tim Paine, who regularly wears them, and Pat Cummins were the others to have them on their helmets there.
“I think it’s still the player’s choice,” Langer said. “I didn’t know who does and doesn’t wear them, it’s obviously going to become very topical. It’s like wearing arm guards or chest guards and over the years obviously everyone wears helmets now so I would be surprised if our guys don’t but it’s still not mandatory
“If it’s going to protect our players obviously they should be wearing them.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...nterested-in-bouncer-war-20190821-p52j4c.html
The tourists were on Tuesday yet to confirm an XI for the third Test but, amid suggestions they could look to fight fire with fire with a short-ball spree of their own at England’s batsmen, Langer has made clear they won’t deviate from the strategy that has helped them to a 1-0 lead and given them a chance of retaining the Ashes in Leeds.
At the heart of their approach, in terms of bowling, has been a mantra of discipline and control, although Australia, and Pat Cummins in particular, have employed short-bowling tactics themselves to the England lower order.
While there has been a school of thought that Mitchell Starc could be unleashed in an aggressive counter attack from Australia, it appeared the more likely scenario was that either the same pace line-up from Lord’s would feature here or that James Pattinson, rested in the second Test, would come in for either Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Peter Siddle should one of that trio be given a break.
“We know what our plans are to beat England. What we're not going to do is get caught up in an emotional battle of who's going to bowl the quickest bouncers,” Langer said. “We're here to win the Test match, not to see how many helmets we can hit. And that's the truth, we are literally here to win the Test match and we have our plans on how we think we can beat England.
“[Former England captain] Mike Atherton said a really interesting thing to me the other day. [He said] 'it seems a really different Australian team, in the past you puff your chests out, you grow your beards and you're all tough and see if you can bowl as fast as you want. This isn't as macho as before'.
“We're here to win the Test match, not to see how many bruises we can give, that's not winning Test matches, trust me, you can't get out with a bruise on your arm. So we'll pick the team we think will win it, this is a different ground, we think the wicket will be quite slow, it's not going to be as fast as some of the other wickets we've seen. So I'm sure the bouncer will still be part of every bowler's armoury, if it helps us get batsmen out then we'll use it, otherwise we'll keep sticking to the plan.”
Langer has also implored his batsmen to put ego aside when it comes to facing the dangerous Archer and the rest of the England attack. Aside from the absence of Steve Smith, who is likely to be replaced by Marnus Labuschagne at Headingley as he was when he withdrew with concussion on the fifth morning at Lord’s, the coach said the selectors hadn’t discussed any other changes to the top six, meaning Cameron Bancroft is set to be retained in an opening partnership with David Warner desperately in need of runs.
The batsmen were given a workout on Tuesday to prepare for Archer, with Starc at one point hitting the grille of Labuschagne's helmet, leading to a check-up from team doctor Richard Saw, just as had been the case when the England speedster had bumped him with his second ball on Sunday.
“We keep talking about it ... you’ve got to play on skill, not emotion,” Langer said. “And it’s hard for young players, even senior players. You can get caught up in the atmosphere, you can get caught up in the contest. But it’s not an ego game – you’ve got to just keep trusting your skill, keep watching the ball like a hawk.”
The importance of Warner bringing an abrupt end to his lean start to the series – he has 18 runs across four innings – is amplified by Smith not being there. The former vice-captain is clean shaven after Lord’s, disposing of facial hair and with it, he hopes, form issues in England’s north.
“I expect [a lot] out of him every time he plays, whether Steve Smith is playing or not playing,” Langer said of Warner. “We expect it of all our senior players. He looked really sharp in the nets today. He’ll be hungry. Don’t write off David Warner.”
Langer said he would not demand batsmen wear protective stem guards on their helmets in the wake of Smith being struck in the neck by Archer but has encouraged them to use them.
Vice-captain Travis Head made the decision to use the guards in Australia’s second innings at Lord’s while captain Tim Paine, who regularly wears them, and Pat Cummins were the others to have them on their helmets there.
“I think it’s still the player’s choice,” Langer said. “I didn’t know who does and doesn’t wear them, it’s obviously going to become very topical. It’s like wearing arm guards or chest guards and over the years obviously everyone wears helmets now so I would be surprised if our guys don’t but it’s still not mandatory
“If it’s going to protect our players obviously they should be wearing them.”
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...nterested-in-bouncer-war-20190821-p52j4c.html
