Englands pace to be a challenge for ageing Australia in Ashes, says Greg Chappell
England have announced a pace-oriented attack comprising Archer, Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue for the five-match series that begins at Perth on November 21.
New Delhi: Australia batters would be up against it when they face England quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in the Ashes series, reckons Greg Chappell.
England have announced a pace-oriented attack comprising Archer, Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue for the five-match series that begins at Perth on November 21.
In helpful conditions of the traditionally bouncy pitches, which could make Australia's ageing line-up feel hot under the collar.
"England have put nearly all their eggs in the pace basket — a septet of fast bowlers with whom to challenge what they believe to be a fragile batting line-up. They’ve prioritised the fitness of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for this series, so I expect them both to play in Perth and Brisbane, before rotating the rest of the pace squad through the remaining Tests,” Chappel wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
The former Australia skipper also pointed that no matter how good a batsman is, no one likes to face express pace and the current Aussie batters are no exception.
"If Archer and Wood are both fit for purpose, England could surprise the Australians on a surface that will favour pace. Very few people enjoy batting against real pace," he added.
"We would all rather bat against medium-pacers and spinners, but at this level, it has to be done. Normally, it is one or two really quick bowlers in the line-up and then the pace drops off.
"Very few teams in history have three or four in the ranks who get it through at over 140kph. The ageing Australian line-up might be put under the pump if the England attack clicks.”
'Painful regeneration problem'
Only one players in the Aussies squad is under 30 years, which could be a concern unless younger talent takes over the mantle in the next one year, Chappell said.
"So here we are in Australian cricket. The oldest international team fielded in 90-plus years will take the field in a fortnight. Thirty-five may be the new 30, but I believe that unless a handful of under 25s are going to be debuting in the next six to 12 months, we are going to have a painful regeneration problem when Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon leave," he said.