Australia Target Joe Root As The England Batter To ‘take Down’ On Eve Of Ashes

Scott Boland has flagged Joe Root arsenic nan England batter to “take down” this Ashes bid arsenic Pat Cummins stepped up his return from a backmost wounded pinch an encouraging nett convention astatine Perth Stadium.

While England were handed a time disconnected connected Monday aft their warm-up fixture astatine Lilac Hill, Australia’s players began their preparations aft flying successful 24 hours earlier. A green-tinged transportation was being watered retired successful nan mediate arsenic temperatures deed 33C wrong nan ground.

Boland, scourge of England connected their erstwhile circuit present 4 years ago, was already nan seamer chosen to switch Cummins successful nan Australian XI, pinch a further hamstring wounded to Josh Hazlewood apt to spot South Australia’s Brendan Doggett handed a debut this week.

Asked astir nan tourer he was targeting, nan soft-spoken Boland, 36, plumped for nan evident answer. “Hopefully we tin support Joe Root and nan guys successful nan middle-order beautiful quiet,” he replied.

“You ever want to return down nan champion players. In nan past erstwhile Joe Root has been skipper you want to effort to make judge he has arsenic small effect arsenic you can.”

Boland burst done successful 2021-22, taking 18 wickets astatine conscionable 9 runs apiece – including a singular six for 7 connected debut astatine nan MCG – successful a 4-0 hammering. The 2023 bid successful England was a different story, however, Boland taking 2 wickets astatine 115 crossed 2 outings arsenic a acold much fierce England broadside took him on.

“I learned a lot,” Boland said. “I’ve reflected connected that circuit a adjacent bit. There will beryllium tweaks to my gameplan for what I want to do, but I don’t deliberation I request to alteration excessively much. I conscionable request to execute a spot better.”

Pat Cummins bowls successful nan nets during an Australia nets convention astatine Perth Stadium. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Cummins was later seen charging successful astatine Australia’s nett convention for almost an hour, approaching afloat speed, aft a “hotspot” successful his little backmost – nan early signs of a accent fracture – was detected soon aft nan circuit of West Indies successful July.

A return successful nan day-night 2nd Test successful Brisbane that starts connected 4 December is nan 32-year-old’s existent target, pinch Steve Smith stepping up arsenic skipper for nan opener successful Perth this week.