CRICKET: England face Ashes reckoning in Adelaide furnace

ADELAIDE – The Ashes could very well be decided in a matter of days as England’s hopes of reclaiming the urn will either be reignited or extinguished at the scorching Adelaide Oval. A win is a must for Ben Stokes’ men, or they will join a growing list of England squads that have been eliminated after just three tests.

With the series already tilted 2-0 in Australia’s favor, following eight-wicket losses in Perth and Brisbane, Stokes' side now faces an uphill battle. Only one team in nearly 150 years of Test cricket has managed to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win the series – Don Bradman’s Australia in the 1936/37 Ashes.

England has been comprehensively outplayed in all facets of the game this series – with both bat and ball, and in the field. Now, they must dig deep and summon the resilience that Bradman’s team displayed to create their own piece of Ashes history.

Stokes, however, is unwavering in his belief that his team can turn things around. Having led them to a remarkable 2-2 draw from a similar 2-0 deficit in the 2023 Ashes, Stokes is confident his squad can pull off another rally. Despite Australia retaining the urn as holders, England’s captain insists his side has learned from the experience.

“We’re able to draw on experience, being in the situation before,” Stokes said on Tuesday. “Everyone knows what needs to happen in the coming week and after that as well. So if anything, it actually makes everything more simple, a little bit more clear for us.”

Despite the series still being alive, some pundits have already written off England’s "Bazball" approach after it failed to deliver in Brisbane and Perth. Coach Brendon "Baz" McCullum, who revolutionized England’s game with an aggressive brand of cricket after their disastrous 4-0 loss in the 2021/22 Ashes, is under genuine pressure.

The squad's lack of match preparation has also raised eyebrows. England players were seen unwinding in Noosa Heads, soaking up the sun and enjoying beers after their Brisbane defeat, a move that fans have found difficult to stomach, despite the trip being pre-arranged.

For now, England has made one change to the XI, with pace bowler Josh Tongue replacing Gus Atkinson. But selectors have stood by the remaining players, hoping they can rediscover their form with the red ball in Adelaide after struggling with the pink ball in Brisbane’s day-night match.

The toss could be crucial, with the weather forecast predicting sweltering heat. Day two, Thursday, could see temperatures soar to 39 degrees Celsius (102°F), which could lead to an exhausting fielding session on a pitch that has traditionally favored batting.

England will maintain their strategy with three quicks and spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks, while Australia has gone for a more conventional attack. Captain Pat Cummins returns to lead from the front after recovering from a back injury. This change sees veteran Nathan Lyon rejoin the attack, creating a more traditional bowling setup after the unconventional four-pronged pace attack that dominated at the Gabba.

Australia has made a couple of alterations to their lineup, with Michael Neser – the hero in Brisbane’s fourth innings – and pacer Brendan Doggett making way. Cummins and Lyon will offer more than 800 Test wickets of combined experience, compared to just 130 for England’s pace trio of Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Tongue.

The return of Australia’s heavyweights will be a major boost for home fans. However, some purists may feel the absence of Usman Khawaja’s elegant, patient batting in the middle order, as selectors have chosen to stick with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald as the opening combination.

Australia only needs a draw to retain the Ashes, which they have held since the 2017/18 series. In a tight contest, pragmatism is likely to outweigh risk if the match reaches a tense conclusion.

Adelaide Test matches are traditionally festive events, with large crowds enjoying the holiday atmosphere in the lead-up to Christmas. However, this year’s match will be marked by a somber tone, with a heavy security presence following the tragic mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday. -Reporting by Ian Ransom in Adelaide; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus/Reuters