England’s potential lack of Ashes intensity a ‘worry’ ahead of Perth opener for Ryan Sidebottom

England’s return to Australia for another crack at reclaiming the Ashes has reignited old debates about how to prepare for the toughest tour in Test cricket.

Ben Stokes’ men have opted for just one three-day warm-up against the England Lions at Lilac Hill near Perth – a far cry from the rigorous schedule that preceded their 2010/11 triumph, the last time England won Down Under.

That decision has drawn criticism from some corners, and former England seamer Ryan Sidebottom, speaking exclusively to The Cricket Paper via BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest cricket betting odds, believes the minimalist build-up leaves a key question unanswered: can England find the intensity required to win in Australia?

“It’s catch 22, isn’t it? There’s been a lot of talk about England and their preparation going into the Ashes series,” Sidebottom said.

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Intensity

“Now, is the intensity going to be where it should be for an Ashes series?

“But then you look at all the guys from Australia who are playing in the Sheffield Shield, getting prepped and ready, where the intensity is obviously there. They want to do well.

“They’re under scrutiny, ready for the Ashes. So it’s kind of difficult, isn’t it? What do you do?”

The 47-year-old, who was named in the fourth Test squad for England’s 2009 Ashes triumph and has taken 79 Test wickets for his nation in Test cricket, says the England camp risks going in cold compared to Australia’s battle-hardened bowling attack.

“I just worry not about Australia, but about England, the preparation,” he added. “I don’t care what you say, but if you’re playing England Lions, is it there? Is the adrenaline rush there? Is that intensity there?

“I’ve played in these kinds of fixtures and as much as you’re preparing for an Ashes series, it’s not quite the intensity that it should be when you’re playing a Test match.

“So that’s one little worry for me on the England side, about the intensity leading up to the first Test.”

Nothing to fear

Sidebottom believes facing local state teams would have been the better route to replicate the heat and hostility England will face in the five-Test battle.

“You look back at history where England teams have gone and they played the President XI, for example, they played a state select team where you’re playing against good Australian cricketers,” he said.

“It’s hard cricket. They’re desperate to win. Australia doesn’t like us, and vice versa. 

“I think the intensity would be there in a game like that.”

Despite his concerns, the former Yorkshire quick insists there is no reason for England to fear the hosts this time around: “I think this is a great opportunity for England.

“This Australian side isn’t as good as it used to be, and you’ve got a lot of senior players in the Australian team.

“There’s been a lot of ins and outs and players out of form. Steve Smith hasn’t been outstanding.

“Marnus Labuschagne’s come back to the side after a number of hundreds. I don’t think it’s the strongest Australian team. We have nothing to fear.”

Great opportunity

Perth’s fast and bouncy conditions, he says, should suit England’s pace options – though he warns that the attack needs to work collectively to make an impact: “I think we want to keep our bowlers fresh, don’t we?

“Perth is renowned for being fast and bouncy. England should see this as a great opportunity in the first Test to grab a stranglehold on the Australian team with that immense firepower that we have.

“But we still have to perform as a unit and as a bowling team – one bowler can’t bowl well and the rest don’t bowl as well as they can.”

While much of the attention centres on the fitness of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, Sidebottom believes two quieter names could hold the key to England’s chances.

”There are all these talks about Mark Wood,” he explained. ”Is he going to be fit enough? Is he going to bowl?

”But for me, I think Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue have gone slightly under the radar. And Brydon Carse had a brilliant time in Pakistan on flat wickets.

”He can get the ball to reverse. He’s tall. He gets bounce, he can swing the ball, he can seam the ball – he’s probably the number one bowler for me.”

As the Ashes countdown ticks down ever faster, England’s gamble on freshness over familiarity will soon be tested.

For Sidebottom, success may come down to whether this squad can rediscover that hard-edged, full-throttle competitiveness that once defined England’s greatest Ashes triumphs.

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