(Info4now, January 4, 2022)– England 3-0 down and it’s not enough to frustrate them. They have two more matches to play here in Australia and they need to keep their nerves okay. But all of a sudden, a general companion in the form of the virus Covid-19, starts to catch them also. Coach Silverwood is infected with the virus already and fails to make the camp in Sidney. Graham Thorpe is stand-in to keep an eye on the feeble batting line of the side. As they move to AUS vs ENG 4th Test, England badly in need of the reaffirmation of Haseeb Hameed and Jack Crawley.
For Australia, the virus is never partial. Cummins missed the second Test being close to an infected one and now Travis Head is found positive for the disease. But what doesn’t affect them is the pressure of the next game. Already 3-0 up in the series and playing as a team beautifully.
Preview: AUS vs ENG 4th Test, Ashes 2021/22
Here on this ground, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin denied Australia with their fantastic unbeaten knocks on Day 5 and Australia will never forget that. Exactly one year later they to face off against a tested England. This time they look much more settled, but things still need to get better. Except Labuschagne, the batting is just better than England. Usman Khawaja is a good replacement for Travis Head. He is experienced and a fantastic player of spin bowling.
Cameron Green needs to score a little bit more. With the ball he has an excellent arm. He is playing the role of a fifth bowler beautifully, but falls short of being an all-rounder. Hazlewood is still unfit and might take one more week probably. So the player of the match of the last game Scott Boland remains in the side.
Ollie Robinson is out of the playing XI of England on account of being injured. Stuart Broad returns to the side and will be hoping to get some help off the wicket. They have no enough options for spin. So Jack Leach continues to make the team. At SCG, Jack Leach should bowl more than he did in the last two venues.
Two openers must be back with more determination. They practiced a lot under the supervision of Joe Root and Graham Thorpe. If the openers get back to rhythm, Joe Root and David Malan will earn some room to take their pressure off. Johnny Bairstow, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are fine technicians in the middle. They all need to be positive and should get to the pitches of the ball.
To Conclude
For England, it’s time to bowl first. For Australia, it doesn’t matter. It’s an overcast condition. There are chances of movement on Day 1. But with the progress of the play it’ll be flat. And the spinners might have a fair amount of assistance. With better spinner in their possession, Australia are a little bit ahead of the opposition in the AUS vs ENG 4th Test in Sidney.
Playing XI: AUS vs ENG 4th Test, England tour of Australia 2021/22
Australia (Declared): Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Pat Cummins and Michell Starc.
England (Declared): Haseeb Hameed, Jack Crawley, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Johnny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, Jack Leach and James Anderson.