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Will England drop the Ball for Adelaide Ashes?

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has called for the tourists to swing the axe, saying paceman Jake Ball is simply not up to Ashes standard.

Nov 28, 2017, updated Nov 28, 2017
WINNERS GRINNING: Cameron Bancroft kept Steve Smith amused after yesterday's win, but the skipper says Australia's selection decisions were vindicated. Photo: Darren England / AAP

WINNERS GRINNING: Cameron Bancroft kept Steve Smith amused after yesterday's win, but the skipper says Australia's selection decisions were vindicated. Photo: Darren England / AAP

Pietersen was unimpressed with Ball’s efforts at the Gabba, where Australia were challenged early but eventually cruised to a 10-wicket win in the series opener.

The retired batsman believes uncapped legspinner Mason Crane should debut in the day-night Test that starts in Adelaide on Saturday, especially given Moeen Ali’s spinning finger is injured.

“I wouldn’t play Ball in the next Test match, absolutely not. Absolutely no chance,” Pietersen told BT Sport.

“Is Jake Ball any good? I don’t think so. Not at this level. Not in Australia, from what I’ve just seen.

“Mason Crane I’d play. I know it’s under lights but it gives that variation of a legspin bowler. One spinning away, one spinning in.

“Moeen Ali, we’ve got an issue with his finger. Do you want Joe Root bowling all the overs? No.”

Crane, the 20-year-old who played a game for NSW in 2016-17 after dominating Sydney grade cricket, is being mentored by Stuart MacGill.

The tweaker is highly rated by coach Trevor Bayliss so it would not be a complete shock if he is given a chance to shine at some point of the tour.

“I wouldn’t have any problems at all playing Crane in the Test,” Bayliss said earlier this month.

“He’s young, but he’s feisty and likes to get into the contest.

“He’s inexperienced and still has a fair bit to learn. 

“He’s got to start somewhere and if it’s here during the Ashes then so be it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdKkmSqzxFM

Former skipper Michael Atherton sensed the visitors would ponder dropping Ball, who injured his ankle earlier this month and played the first Test after passing a last-minute fitness test.

“What options are open to England in Adelaide? Not many. None of the players who missed the Gabba would have made any difference,” Atherton wrote in The Times.

“Jake Ball, ineffective throughout, may lose his place to Craig Overton, but that is the only change England will consider.”

While England lick their selection wounds, Steve Smith has given Tim Paine his tick of approval after the recalled wicketkeeper conjured two wickets out of nothing in Brisbane.

Paine put down a catch on day one of the Ashes opener but bounced back with a couple of clutch moments on day four, helping usher Australia towards a 10-wicket win.

The Tasmanian completed a sharp stumping of Moeen Ali, who scored 40 and looked well set when he drifted out of his crease by perhaps a millimetre.

Paine also played a critical role in the second-innings dismissal of Stuart Broad, who departed when Smith opted to review a caught-behind shout that was initially judged not out.

“He got that review of Broady. I had no idea he hit it, I don’t think Broady did as well,” Smith said in the post-match presentation at the Gabba.

“He did a terrific job in the comeback Test.

“He kept really well.”

Paine was recalled despite the fact he didn’t keep for Tasmania in any of the first three Sheffield Shield rounds, and struggled to get a game for the state in 2016-17.

Smith was also impressed with Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft, who both posted half-centuries after being called up by selectors.

“He looked right at home, batted beautifully,” Smith said of debutant Bancroft.

“Cam was obviously disappointed first innings to miss out but the way he came out in the second innings (was impressive).

“He had really good plans, left really well, played nice and straight and put the loose ball away.”

The selections of Paine and Marsh generated plenty of public debate but Smith noted “there was never any negativity from our side of things”.

“This team has the potential to do some really good things,” Smith said.

-AAP 

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