As England were beaten comprehensively at the end of the first Ashes Test at Brisbane, they were faced with a burning question. The leaders of England’s pace attack – James Anderson and Stuart Broad, failed to find much support from their third and fourth seamers.
All-rounder Chris Woakes and Nottinghamshire pacer Jake Ball were largely ineffective on the Gabba surface and failed to impose any effective sort of pressure on the Aussie batsmen.
The two bowlers, especially the latter, leaked runs heavily and had only a combined tally of two wickets to show for their efforts by the time the Test was decided. With the inability to tie-down one end greatly handicapping Joe Root’s men at Brisbane, the team management will surely be thinking of a different approach when it comes to their choice of the fourth bowler for the second Test at Adelaide.
While Woakes is expected to keep his place in the side owing to his batting capabilities, it is Ball whose head will be on the chopping block come Adelaide. With all-rounder Ben Stokes not included in the Ashes touring party and his replacement in Steve Finn himself returning from Australia after picking up a knee injury, England’s pace cupboard is not really stacked up at the moment.
Here, we look at the three viable alternatives to Ball that Root has at his disposal for the Adelaide Test.
TOM CURRAN
The South Africa born pacer could be the next in line if England do eventually decide to replace Ball. The 22-year-old has been introduced to England’s limited-overs setup this year on the back of some impressive performances for County side Surrey.
Yet to be capped at the Test level, the right-armed pacer’s 171 wickets at the first-class level in just 51 could well warrant a selection at Adelaide.
Son of former Zimbabwe and Gloucestershire all-rounder Kevin Curran, Tom displayed lively pace and a good temperament in the limited-overs matches he played against the West Indies earlier this year.
Curran’s limited-overs displays for England have been promising.
MASON CRANE
The 20-year-old spinner was a surprise Ashes selection by England. The Hampshire leg-spinner has only played 29 first-class matches to date in his career but has already been capped by his country at the T20I level.
In 12 first-class matches this season, Crane picked up 52 wickets, prompting his selection for the Ashes touring party. The youngster has experience of playing in Aussie conditions after becoming the first overseas player to represent New South Wales since former Pakistan captain Imran Khan in 1984-85.
The fact that the Adelaide Test will be a day/night affair played with the pink-ball might not be the most ideal time to introduce the young wrist-spinner to Test cricket though.
The young leg-spinner has experience of playing in Aussie conditions.
MARK WOOD
The 27-year-old pacer was not included in England’s initial squad for the Ashes due to fitness concerns. He was excellent for England in the ICC Champions Trophy but played only Tests against South Africa in the four-match Test series as he wrestled with ankle problems.
The Durham bowler has been given a lifeline with regards to his Ashes hopes after he was named in the England Lions’ squad who are currently playing a three-day match against Queensland XI in Brisbane.
Blessed with raw pace, Wood will be hoping to make a mark in the three-day so as to stake a claim for a spot in Adelaide side. He will be in direct competition with Curran who has been released from the Ashes squad to take part in the game at Brisbane.
Mark Wood presents the most experienced alternative to Ball.
