Mistakes were made in selection as well as batting, bowling and fielding but Australia can be beaten if improvements are made
Last month Jack Leach was out for dinner in Brisbane with Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad when a local approached them. “Hey guys,” he said, “I just want to wish you the worst of luck at the Gabba.” So far, so tedious, but then the man added: “It’s going to be a green seamer.” This amused Leach, who was thinking: “I’m not sure that’s the best sledge to two of the greatest bowlers that
England have ever had”. The joke was on that gloating Aussie, until it wasn’t – because the pitch was indeed a greentop, and England somehow omitted both their old maestros. Anderson, OK: save him for Adelaide, where he has a far better record. But Broad?! He loves Brisbane, he relishes a scrap, he lives for the Ashes, and when he fills in the form for room-service breakfast, he writes “David Warner, on toast”. England had to pick Broad, had to bowl first, had to keep it simple, had to play to their strength.