Ben Stokes has rejected suggestions that his underdone bowling attack is already feeling the strain while denying the selection of Will Jacks was a conservative move by the all-out attack Bazballers.
England have chosen Jacks to replace Mark Wood in the side for the Gabba Test with the batting all-rounder set to bat at eight to strengthen the line-up in case the tourists suffer another flurry of wickets like the series opener in Perth.
Jacks is not considered a frontline spinner but will be called upon to bowl in Brisbane to give the pace trio of Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse and Gus Atkinson a rest with Stokes elevated to fourth seamer duties with Wood sidelined by a knee problem.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes the tourists are on a hiding to nothing in Brisbane after snubbing the chance to have a pink-ball warm-up game in Canberra so they could have a few days off then prepare in the nets.
Michael Vaughan. (Getty Images)
“The more I think about what England have done to prepare for this – if Thomas Tuchel goes to the World Cup next year, and say the first game is in Orlando,” he said on the Stick to Cricket podcast.
“A week out, he gets asked about the quick pitch and he says ‘well, this week, we’re going to bring a load of our reserves over and we’re going to play a game of football but we’re going to play on a pitch that’s got really long grass and will be slow, and I tell you what, we’re going to play 45 minutes instead of 90’.
“What would happen?
“It’s like if Tiger Woods goes to The Masters and says he’s prepared by going on the crazy golf and got a couple of shots through the windmill and I’m ready. It is similar.
“I just don’t think England have given themselves the best chance. They’ve had two days of Test match cricket and have three days off which they didn’t put in the budget.
“The next Test is a pink-ball game where Australia have only ever lost one pink ball Test.”
England’s collective average speed on day one of the first Test was over 140km/h but it dropped to the 130s on day two as Travis Head blasted their seamers to all parts of Optus Stadium.
Their batters didn’t give their bowling unit much of a break, lasting little more than 30 overs each innings.
“I bat and I bowl. You can always do with more time off your feet than getting back out there,” Stokes said.
“When things like that transpire you don’t moan. You don’t complain. That is part of the job, being fit.
“If you have bowled and end up being out there sooner than what you thought, you put your boots back on and get out there and try and win a game for your country.”
Stokes believes spin will be a factor in the pink-ball Test after only choosing quick bowlers at Optus Stadium.
“Coming here, knowing the first two games were going to be in Perth and the day-night game here at the Gabba, you try and leave yourself as much time as you can to think about different angles,” Stokes said.
“We tried to look at how we thought spin was going to be used.
“There was a bit of a tactical element to it. And obviously Jacksy’s ability with the bat, to have that down the order for us is useful as well.”
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