IANS/London
Exiled England batsman Kevin Pietersen says Australia are favourites to win the upcoming Ashes Test cricket series, but has warned them that the hosts will not go down without a fight.
The Ashes begins on July 8 at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff and Pietersen, currently with St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), said it will be closer between Australia and England than most think, but maintained that the visitors would ultimately retain the coveted urn.
“The Ashes is going to be very close, much closer than we think. Australia have the edge in certain areas but it’s not going to be three, four or five nil,” Pietersen was quoted as saying by TalkSport radio while speaking to ex-English pacer Darren Gough on Wednesday.
The former England captain was omitted from their Ashes squad by coach Trevor Bayliss, who previously refused to be drawn into controversy surrounding his selection.
“I’ve gone for two-one to Australia but English conditions will help England and Australia will be tested. The Dukes ball is totally different from the Kookaburra,” the 35-year-old said.
A number of English players are in good form recently with young batsman Joe Root and seasoned seamer James Anderson looking to spearhead the English line-up coming into the first Test on July 8.
Despite the English team recent change in fortune, Pietersen believes that England’s stars needed to perform to their maximum ability or risk being blown away by the Australians. “England has some key players in Joe Root, James Anderson and Alastair Cook,” he said.
“They all have to have an amazing series because, if they don’t, then we’re in trouble, whereas Australia has a lot of depth in their side,” Pietersen concluded.
Finn has learnt his England lessons
England pace bowler Steven Finn has learnt his lessons after a dramatic loss of form and is ready to make “another debut” if he is selected for the first Test against Australia next week.
The 26-year-old’s last Test match was the 14-run win over Australia in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 2013, a series England went on to win 3-0.
But the Middlesex bowler struggled with his rhythm and pace and did not feature in England’s 5-0 Ashes defeat in the return series before being sent home to work on the technical aspect of his game.
Having regained his line and length, Finn, who has collected 90 wickets in 23 tests at an average of 29.4, was included in England’s 13-man squad for the first Ashes test in Cardiff starting on July 8.
“If I do play, it will feel like making another debut in test match cricket, so it’s really exciting,” Finn told reporters. “I have done a lot of learning about my cricket over the last 18 months to two years and the way I need to go about things.
“It wasn’t beneficial at the time but overall, it has been. I am now very comfortable with where I am at and with the technical side of things and it is now just about getting batsman out and putting the ball in the right area.”
Finn’s return to form has coincided with England adopting a new attacking approach that earned plaudits during the recent drawn test series against New Zealand. “The way we have built momentum over the last eight weeks or so is really exciting,” Finn said. “I have confidence in the way I am bowling and, if selected, I feel I can do myself justice.”
Kevin Pietersen
