Outplayed with bat, ball and in the field in the series-opening Ashes Test, England have little time to regroup before the second day-night clash starts at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
Changes loom after pace stalwarts James Anderson and Stuart Broad were rested for the Gabba, a ploy that backfired as spinner Jack Leach was hit out of the attack and back-up seamers Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes were largely ineffective. Fixing England’s batting in four days ahead of a second Australian pace onslaught is another task altogether, with captain Joe Root again left wanting for support in Brisbane.
Root’s decision to bat first on a grassy wicket after winning the toss in muggy, overcast weather did his batsmen few favours after they were left with virtually no practice due to poor weather.
Being skittled for 147 in the first innings was evidence of a lack of preparation for the Gabba’s bounce.
“Managing the bounce on this wicket is something that we didn’t do well enough,” said Root. “We nicked balls not because of lateral movements on occasions but because of extra bounce, playing slightly away from ourselves. Whereas, in our own conditions we don’t face that.”
England’s opening combination remains a worry, with Rory Burns bowled for a duck with the first ball of the series and managing 13 in the second innings.
His opening partner, Haseeb Hameed, squandered both his starts to be dismissed in the 20s, putting pressure on Root to carry the side’s batting, a role he has been saddled with throughout the year.
The fitness of Ben Stokes is under the microscope after he went wicketless for the match and failed with the bat after a knee strain on day two.
England will not head to Adelaide bereft of positives, though, with pacemen Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood bowling with vigour and menace in Brisbane.
Selectors will likely drop Leach for Adelaide after he leaked nearly eight runs an over at the Gabba.
They may hope Anderson and Broad can prove the difference with the swinging pink ball but even their return may not be enough to stop a team that have won all eight of their day-night tests since the format’s debut in 2015.
Australia’s record after winning Ashes Tests in Brisbane may also deflate optimistic England fans. The last time the hosts lost an Ashes after winning in Brisbane was the 1954/55 series.
Meanwhile Broad said he was disappointed not to play in the opening Test despite being fit, but understood the need to stay fresh for the matches ahead. Broad and fellow pace stalwart Anderson share 1,156 Test wickets between them but the duo were rested for the Gabba Test.
“Over the past 12 months, Anderson and I tried to ensure we were as fit as could be in the current Covid climate, ready to go and available for all five tests in Australia. I think we ticked that box,” Broad wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“But England selection isn’t in the hands of players. It’s in those of people who have to make choices based on conditions and the balance of the team and our job now, with four matches to go, is to be ready for the next of the series in Adelaide.
“I’ve been left out on numerous occasions and sometimes it comes as a real surprise. This was less of a surprise, maybe because I wasn’t in the team for the previous series against India due to a calf injury.” Broad, 35, said he could have made a difference in bowler-friendly conditions in Brisbane.
“Of course, I was disappointed not to play but I realise this series is a marathon and not a sprint,” Broad said. “Never have five Test matches been as bunched up as this and it will be exhausting, so realistically I don’t think any seamer will play all five. Do I want to be on the field at Hobart in the fifth Test with the opportunity to do something special? Of course. And if I’m not needed before then, we will have done bloody well.”