AFP, Adelaide :
England head into the day- night second Ashes Test in Adelaide on Thursday under pressure and facing an ominous task against an Australian team who have won all of their eight pink- ball matches.
The tourists’ capitulation by nine wickets in the opening Test in Brisbane exposed their batting and fielding frailties, exacerbated by rain-hit preparations and lack of match practice.
It wasn’t helped by poor decision-making — notably captain Joe Root choosing to bat after winning the toss on a juicy Gabba pitch and the widely criticised omission of pace veterans Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Root knows his team must find a way to improve, and fast, to stand a chance at a ground where Australia have hosted five of their eight Test wins under lights.
“We have got to be better in the field and with the bat,” he said, but added: “We’re game-hardened now, we’re in the series.”
Seamers Broad and Anderson are tipped to return given the extra movement found with a pink ball, something coach Chris Silverwood hinted at this week.
“Jimmy will be fit and ready to go for the second Test, as will Stuart,” he told British media.
“We have talent and we still have two of the best (bowlers) up our sleeve as well.”
That would likely mean one of Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood or Chris Woakes missing out, and England must also decide what to do with spinner Jack Leach, who was hammered for 1-102 off 13 overs at the Gabba.
While losing by nine wickets was bad enough, they were also fined all of their match fees and docked Test Championship points for a slow over rate.
