Former Australian pacer Peter Siddle believes England would gain little from playing a day-night tour match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, as the surface at Manuka Oval is entirely different from the one they will encounter in Brisbane for the second Ashes Test.
On Monday, November 24, England confirmed that none of the players who featured in the Ashes opener in Perth would take part in the two-day pink-ball match against the PM XI. Instead, they will head straight to Brisbane to prepare
for the pink-ball Test, a format in which they have yet to register a win on Australian soil. England have also not won a Test at the Gabba since 1986. The decision sparked significant criticism and surprise from former England greats Michael Vaughan, Michael Atherton, and Alastair Cook.
“It is a hard one, I know what it is like being on tour for a long time. I know it is only the first Test just gone, but they just came from New Zealand (from a white-ball series), most of that squad so they have played a lot of cricket,” said Siddle on Fox Sports.
“The first Test did not go to plan for them, but it’s such different conditions, Manuka Oval compared to the Gabba, two totally different surfaces. There is not going to be a lot they can get out of it, other than maybe seeing a pink ball under lights, that is probably the only benefit they are going to get. They are going about it their own way, each to their own,” he added.
Siddle also pointed out that England’s aggressive, hard-hitting approach with the bat is taking a toll on their fast bowlers, who are not getting enough time to rest or recover properly between innings. England managed to bat for only 67.3 overs across both innings, being dismissed for 172 and 164, respectively. Their short stays at the crease left the bowlers with minimal recovery time, and they were further punished by a Travis Head masterclass on day two, as he nearly single-handedly chased down 205 runs in under 30 overs.
“That is huge. The fast bowling coaches used to always talk about it. The more time you get to spend with your feet up resting, the better you are. If you can get a couple of nights’ sleep before you go again, it is a huge bonus. Their fast approach can be exciting and entertaining, but it is definitely not helping their fast bowlers,” said Siddle.
“When you want them to bowl at high intensity and fast, they need that rest. Obviously, in Perth, it showed that (with) little rest and that quick turnaround, it can be hard to crank it up as they did in the first innings,” he concluded.
