Sports Thursday, August 1, 2019 13 Hosts England seek a ‘double’ as Australia eye Ashes history First Test in Archer misses out Baggy Greens captain Paine LONDON: England pace Birmingham bowler Jofra Archer has been omitted from the side for feels no pressure for his place starts today the first Ashes Test after failing to recover from injury. AFP Barbados-born Archer, who AFP BIRMINGHAM (UK) made a huge impact in Eng- BIRMINGHAM (UK) land’s triumphant World Cup ENGLAND return to ‘Fortress campaign, taking 20 wickets, AUSTRALIA captain Tim I’ve been put in this Edgbaston’ for the first Test has been suffering with a Paine says he has no fears team to captain and against Australia on Thurs- side strain and missed last about losing his place as he wicket-keep to the day looking to round off an week’s one-off test match prepares to lead his team in best of my ability and already memorable season by against Ireland at Lord’s. the first Ashes Test against completing a World Cup and Fellow paceman Olly Stone England on Thursday. I’ve said before, at 34 Ashes double. also misses out as does The wicketkeeper found years of age, if you are If the World Cup remains Sam Curran from the original himself unexpectedly thrust looking further ahead the pinnacle of the 50-over 14-man squad. into a leadership position in than the next Test game, for England and Aus- Jos Buttler and all-rounder the fall-out from last year’s match you are tralia there’s nothing quite like Ben Stokes return for Eng- ball-tampering scandal in a renewal of Test cricket’s oldest land, who struggled against South Africa. kidding yourself. rivalry. But now there’s argu- Ireland, as does 37-year-old Then-captain Steve Smith Tim Paine ably more at stake for both sides record Test wicket taker and David Warner, his deputy, than the series result. James Anderson after recov- were stripped of their posi- For England, a home season ering from a calf strain. Chris tions by Cricket Australia af- Australia captain Tim Paine speaks a press conference on the eve of billed as the most important in Woakes, who took six wickets ter the incident and both were the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Wednesday.( AFP) a generation started brilliantly in Ireland’s second innings as banned from international with their impressive run to a they were bowled out for 38, cricket for 12 months. time looking over my shoul- what’s expected of them and first men’s World Cup title. keeps his place. (Reuters) Australia’s squad for the der. I’m enjoying the job that we are role models,” added International cricket in Brit- The Team: Rory Burns, Ashes includes another wicket- I’m doing.” Paine, with Australia looking ain emerged from behind its Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), keeper in Matthew Wade, who With Cameron Bancroft, to win their first Ashes series satellite television paywall for Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben has already played 22 Tests. the man who applied sandpa- in England since 2001. the first time since the celebrat- Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moe- Wade has been in fine form per to the ball during that fate- “There’s been a quote ed 2005 Ashes so that millions en Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart with the bat during the recent ful Test in Cape Town, also set going around our changing could watch England’s nerve- Broad, James Anderson. Australia A tour of England, to be included in Australia’s rooms this week from Winston shredding Super Over win scoring three hundreds. team for the Ashes opener Churchill and that is ‘behav- against New Zealand at Lord’s England captain Joe Root (left) and Australia skipper Tim Paine hold By contrast, Paine has alongside Smith and Warner, iour doesn’t lie’. earlier this month. the urn containing the Ashes on the eve of the first Ashes Test at top order featuring novice managed just one first-class there will be a renewed focus on “We can talk all we like Building on that ground- Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday. (AFP) Surrey openers Rory Burns century in his entire career. the tourists’ on-field conduct. about how we are going to swell of support is a key part of and Jason Roy. Asked during a pre-match But the side, under the lead- play and ultimately you guys the England and Wales Cricket to feature at Edgbas- captaining English With runs expected to be press conference at Edgbas- ership of Australia one-day cap- will see how we play and judge Board’s post-tournament strat- ton, with Bancroft county side Dur- at premium while the bowlers ton on Wednesday if he felt tain Aaron Finch, conducted for yourselves,” added Paine, egy. Regaining the Ashes rep- set to hear the same ham, have recent hold sway, England will hope under pressure to justify his themselves in exemplary fash- who said the tourists had been resents an ideal chance to keep booing that greeted experience of local all-rounders such as Ben place, Paine replied: “No, I ion during the recent World made aware of the quote by as- those new followers on board, Smith and Warner conditions. Stokes, restored to the vice- do not at all. I’m 34 years old, Cup in England and Wales. sistant coach Brad Haddin, the even if none of the five Tests are during the World Cup. The way an England side captaincy, can again make I don’t really care about my Paine said they were taking former Australia wicketkeeper on free-to-air television. Australia have not won an featuring several World Cup valuable contributions with place in the side any more. their cue from Winston Church- who was renowned for ‘sledg- For Australia, an Ashes Ashes in England for 19 years, stars were dismissed for just the bat. I’m here to do a job. ill although there is doubt over ing’ or verbally abusing oppo- series win under the dignified with their batsmen struggling 85 by Ireland at Lord’s last Australia have not won at “I’ve been put in this team whether Britain’s prime min- nents during his playing days. leadership of Tim Paine would against the heavily stitched week before winning the first Edgbaston in any format since to captain and wicket-keep to ister during World War II ever Meanwhile Paine was glad help draw a line under the ball- Dukes ball on pitches that offer Test between the countries 2001, a run that includes their the best of my ability and I’ve said the words ascribed to him of the strength in depth of an tampering scandal in South Af- seam movement. tells its own story of ongoing recent World Cup semi-final said before, at 34 years of age, by the Australians. Australia fast-bowling unit rica that led to long bans for for- Yet the first Test will be top-order woes. loss to England. The hosts, by if you are looking further ahead “We are going to play com- where Pat Cummins, Mitchell mer captain Steve Smith, David Australia’s opening first-class England captain Joe Root contrast, have won their last 11 than the next Test match you petitive Test match cricket like Starc, James Pattinson, Josh Warner and Cameron Bancroft. match of the tour, although the plans to move back to num- ODIs at the raucous Birming- are kidding yourself. every other nation does,” he Hazlewood and Peter Siddle are All three batsmen are likely likes of Bancroft, who has been ber three to help shore up a ham ground. “I’m not going to waste said. “Our guys understand all vying for a place in the side. Barmy Army warming up for Aussies in Edgbaston bearpit REUTERS the sandpaper-gate scandal the line,” he said. his tormentors. LONDON which resulted in bans. “We think we can be witty Former England spinner “The one thing that really and funny without that. It’s Graeme Swann believes he IF one English ground was de- stands out for Edgbaston is always about supporting the will not be sledged over the signed to test the backbone of that it can get very loud, very England team and if we can get ball-tampering scandal by the Australian cricket team it raucous,” Ian Bell, whose under the nerves of the Aussies England’s players. is ‘fortress Edgbaston’ where home ground is Edgbaston then we sure will.” Their cur- “Listen to the crowd and the visitors will be offered a and who played in seven Ash- rent favourite song, directed the singing which will be red-hot welcome on Thursday. es series, told the Daily Tel- at Australian opener Warner aimed at Steve Smith and Da- Raucous Edgbaston is egraph. “Out of all the grounds is one sung to the tune of Pink vid Warner, it will be raucous, about as far removed from the that we have, Edgbaston can Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the but actually I predict the play- refined surrounds of Lord’s as be quite an intimidating at- Wall’ and which goes: “He still ers in the middle will barely it can get – especially the no- mosphere for away teams. needs some education He still say a word,” Swann said. torious Eric Hollies stand, the “Having spoken to some of needs some self control No “Warner is a key wicket but spiritual home of England’s the Aussies in the past, that it is England players warm up for training at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, on Wednesday.