Adelaide may be over a thousand kilometers to the west of Bondi, yet the sense of pain in the city has been equally intense for the geographical separation. People are in shock here, attempting to process the atrocities that occurred on that fateful Sunday.
“No words I can offer right now is going to ease the pain.”
As the initial major national gathering being held in Australia in the wake of the incident, the pivotal third Test match that starts here on Wednesday will unfold against a sombre atmosphere. The flags at Adelaide Oval will fly at half-mast, a minute’s silence will be held before the toss, and players are likely to wear black armbands throughout.
A Trivial Pursuit?
It goes without saying, the sporting contest feels pretty trivial at this moment. But, it can play a role in bringing people together at a moment of such profound grief: a reminder of shared values and kinship. The fierce Ashes rivalry has been running hot all series, but ultimately, this stands apart from the real world, where the two nations stand shoulder to shoulder.
The Uphill Battle for England
For the touring side, the situation in the series is acute, down 2-0 after two costly losses. Captain Ben Stokes has echoed the sentiments of coach Brendon McCullum, insisting that now is an inappropriate moment to consider positions being under threat. “Both of us dedicate everything that we possibly can towards the team,” he said. “It will always be like that as long as we are both in these roles.”
Historical Precedent
Records from the Association of Cricket Statisticians & Historians, only three teams in the last century of Ashes cricket have won the third Test after going 2-0 down. The good news for England is that this current side – altered somewhat – sits among them, having mounted a fightback at Headingley in 2023.
Australia's Returning Veterans
Two of Australia's notable absentees now return this week, bringing a total 871 Test wickets of vast experience. Skipper Pat Cummins will take the helm for the first time in the series. Meanwhile, veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon is back at the ground that launched his career.
Confirmed and Possible Line-ups
- England (confirmed): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer.
- Australia (possible): Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon.
Tactical Decisions Under Scrutiny
England, in contrast, have replaced Gus Atkinson with Josh Tongue but have for the most part stuck with their current players. This means no place for spinner Shoaib Bashir, with Will Jacks still preferred. This decision perhaps represents the first admission that a two-year plan has simply not worked out.
Regardless, and for all the discussion of poor preparation, England have little justification not to be acclimatised to the demands of playing in Australia by now. The team should feel well-rested following a break on the Sunshine Coast, which Harry Brook called “a belting time.”
Reasons for English Hope
And England have cause for hope: the pitch at Adelaide Oval should feel closer to home conditions than the steep bounce at the previous two venues. Furthermore, the square boundaries are 13m tighter on either side. The bigger question is how they take 20 wickets, not least given a forecast heatwave spanning the first two days.
Josh Tongue’s awkward angle and ability to generate late movement should pose new problems for Australia’s batters. The retention of Brydon Carse, ahead of the more economical Gus Atkinson, may well signal the inner “dog” – that aggressive mentality – that Stokes now deems a non-negotiable.