Struggling visitors face whitewash
3 Jan 2014 6:20 AM IST
Alastair Cook’s team, coming off a dispiriting eight-wicket loss in the fourth Test in Melbourne, face becoming only the third English side to lose an Ashes series 5-0 to their oldest rivals.
England have so far used 15 players and are expected to make more changes for the Sydney Test with Gary Ballance, Scott Borthwick and Steven Finn being mentioned as possible candidates. In contrast, Australia have been unchanged in all four Tests. Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes the tourists will be unable to stop the Mitchell Johnson-led Aussie juggernaut in Sydney with the same team that succumbed in Melbourne in four days.
‘It is not easy for them. England will not do this with the same XI. There is too much baggage, there are too many scars,’ he wrote in an English newspaper. Cook, who dropped two catches on the final day in Melbourne, has called on his fellow senior players to pull out something special for England to avoid the anguish of an Ashes whitewash.
Australia, who have made a stunning turnaround since their 3-0 Ashes defeat in England just months ago, have injury concerns over allrounder Shane Watson (groin) and paceman Ryan Harris (knee). Allrounder James Faulkner is in line to come into the team while fellow Tasmanian Alex Doolan has been included as injury cover.
England have so far used 15 players and are expected to make more changes for the Sydney Test with Gary Ballance, Scott Borthwick and Steven Finn being mentioned as possible candidates. In contrast, Australia have been unchanged in all four Tests. Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes the tourists will be unable to stop the Mitchell Johnson-led Aussie juggernaut in Sydney with the same team that succumbed in Melbourne in four days.
‘It is not easy for them. England will not do this with the same XI. There is too much baggage, there are too many scars,’ he wrote in an English newspaper. Cook, who dropped two catches on the final day in Melbourne, has called on his fellow senior players to pull out something special for England to avoid the anguish of an Ashes whitewash.
Australia, who have made a stunning turnaround since their 3-0 Ashes defeat in England just months ago, have injury concerns over allrounder Shane Watson (groin) and paceman Ryan Harris (knee). Allrounder James Faulkner is in line to come into the team while fellow Tasmanian Alex Doolan has been included as injury cover.
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