England managed to win the opening test of the Ashes series 2013 by a slender margin of 14 runs but they really need to pull up their socks for the second test which is going to start on Thursday at Lord’s. Shane Warne believes that this Ashes Series is not going to be a cakewalk for the English team, especially with the young talent of Aussies peaking at the right time.
According to The DNA, the wizard of leg-spin didn’t rule out the possibility of England being favourites, but he picks out couple of areas where if Australians get hold off, they might win the second test. He said, "The first Test has given us perspective. Although England remain the favorites, as I said before the series started, I believe Australia could win 2-1. England showed Alastair Cook's mindset in terms of what he thinks of his bowlers. He does not have full confidence in Steven Finn. Australia liked facing Finn.”
Warne felt that Graeme Swann wasn’t at his best during the first test as he just managed to pick up four wickets for 165 runs. Warne was quoted by Hindustan Times saying, "Graeme Swann did not show the spark to knock over the left-handed batsmen and kept bowling the knee-high full tosses at regular intervals. Swann is a brilliant bowler and he really needs to get his act right as the series goes on. He might be feeling the pressure because of the expectation that he carries coming to this event, but the pitches which are looking on drier side this time will surely assist him to prepare the blue print of English victory.“
Warne believes that it’s good to prepare a drier wicket for quality spinner like Swann but the underplaying the skills of Stuart Broad and Steven Finn can be suicidal. He pointed out that Anderson was the only bowler who made some kind of impact and Finn was milked away quite easily by the Aussie batsmen.
The leg-spinner was quoted by The Hindu saying, "Anderson is going to have to get through a lot of overs because he looks the only fast-bowling threat that can take wickets on these surfaces. Cook showed that by bowling him for 13 overs in a row. England have be very careful of his workload. If they lose him, they lose the series. To bowl 13 overs in a spell with another Test starting a few days later was a big gamble and makes the toss on Thursday absolutely crucial. If Anderson has to go in the field for a day and a half again the little niggles, aches and pains will really hurt."
Warne emphasises on the fact that Australia should pressurize the likes of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow who are relatively new to this environment. He wants them to knock them off early so that the likes of Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell shouldn’t get much chance to free their arms against them.
"Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell are strong. Bell made a fantastic hundred, probably the best of his England career. But he might think he has done enough now and get lazy. He has done that before. If Australia had made those final few runs these would all be issues for England. A lot was covered up because England won, but they underestimated the Australian team, so did many, "he added.
Warne gave a cold shoulder to the DRS and focused more on the good performance of the youngsters like Chris Rogers and Steve Smith who played some handy knocks in the first test. He was quoted by DNA, saying, "There were enough encouraging signs for Australia. Guys like Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin added steel. Steve Smith has improved out of sight, and Phil Hughes played really well under pressure in the first innings. He was very unlucky to be given out in the second innings. I will argue until I am black and blue in the face that the ball pitched outside leg stump, there is just no way it pitched in line. But, let us not talk about that wonderful, 100 per cent accurate DRS."
Warne backed the senior members of the squad by saying, "Michael Clarke only managed 23 runs in the game and got one of the best balls of his career in the first innings. That will not happen again. Shane Watson is about to explode with a huge score, he is in too good a form. There is potential for so much more from the Australian side," he said.
Warne feels that it was the Ashton Agar’s innings which would have lifted the Aussie dressing room. "Ashton Agar's performance showed the mood has changed in the dressing room. Three months ago, 117 for nine in the first innings would have cost Australia a 100-run lead. Agar handled the situation and pressure brilliantly. It showed a happy team environment where young players feel free to express themselves."
