60 Daily Express Tuesday, July 30, 2019 CRICKET: ASHES COUNTDOWN
DX1STgo, but Australia will need to adapt to
the right lengths here,” he said.
“They didn’t adapt in 2015 and
that was a big difference between the
two teams. Hopefully they’ve learnt
from that.
“If they’re making the same
mistakes this time around, that will
be disappointing.
“If they get off to a good start,
happy days. If they get off to a bad
start, those old memories can come
back and haunt you.”
Another haunting memory could
be that of Jofra Archer knocking off
Alex Carey’s helmet in the World Cup
semi-final earlier this month.
Carey is not in Australia’s Test
squad, but Archer could make his
debut in the five-day format at
Edgbaston if he is passed fit after a
side strain.
Asked whether Archer can become
England’s bowling leader, McGrath
replied: “I think he can, he seems to
have a really good temperament.
“He’s got a very natural, very easy
action – just runs in, can generate
good pace, good control and good
bounce.
“He’s got a massive future in front
of him and, if he’s 100 per cent fit,
they should play him.”
●GLENN McGRATH is working
with online trading broker
ThinkMarkets to encourage more
young people to get into sport
through the Think2020initiative.
For more information please
visit http://www.thinkmarkets.com.SAYS GLENN McGRATH
Life will go
on without
Holbrook
EAMONN McMANUS insists Justin
Holbrook’s exit will not derail
St Helens.
Holbrook is expected to be
confirmed as the coach of Gold Coast
Titans in Australia today.
But fears that Holbrook would quit
Saints immediately look to have
been allayed, with the 43-year-old
Aussie likely to leave at the end of
the year.
And Saints owner and chairman
McManus is confident the Super
League leaders are strong enough
to cope with the loss.
“We have not been sitting idly
by,” he said. “We have got a
shortlist of alternatives and are
happy with our contingency plans.
“Our preference is that Justin
stays, and there is a deal on the
table, but it is his choice. We have a
great young team which is going to
get better.”
Holbrook is understood to have
promised Saints he will see out the
remaining few months of his contract.
McManus added: “He is absolutely
committed to winning trophies with
us at the end of the year. We gaveJustin until the end of this month to
make his mind up, so we’ll find out
shortly.
“We can’t stop him being
interviewed because he’s off contract
at the end of the season. But if he
goes, it will be at the end of the year.”
Saints fans have been chanting
“we want you to stay” in recent
matches. But the chance to take his
first head coach’s job in the NRL has
proved irresistible.
Dave Furner, sacked by Leeds in
May, is expected to be Holbrook’s
assistant Down Under.
Holbrook was an assistant at
Sydney Roosters and coached the
Junior Kangaroos, but was unproven
when he took over at Saints in 2017.
Saints were runaway winners of
the League Leaders Shield last year
and reached the semi-finals of both
the Challenge Cup and the play-offs.
This season they have again
dominated in the league, and on
Saturday booked their place in next
month’s Challenge Cup final.
The Wembley clash against
Warrington will be their first cup
final since they won it in 2008.
McManus said: “Had someone told
me in 2008 we would have to wait 11
years for our next visit to Wembley,
I would not have believed it.
“It is phenomenal to be going
back but the semi-final win will be
irrelevant if we don’t lift the trophy.”SPORT
By Julie StottI bowled at
Test titans
like Hussain
& Atherton..
current crop
are not in the
same league
HOLBROOK: Will be big lossTHAT WAS GLENN
...THIS IS NOWOLD GUARD
Michael Atherton
Matches 115
Innings 212
Runs 7,728
Average 37.69
100s 16
50s 46
Nasser Hussain
Matches 96
Innings 171
Runs 5,764
Average 37.18
100s 14
50s 33
Michael Vaughan
Matches 82
Innings 147
Runs 5,719
Average 41.44
100s 18
50s 18
Marcus Trescothick
Matches 76
Innings 143
Runs 5,825
Average 43.79
100s 14
50s 29
Alec Stewart
Matches 133
Innings 235
Runs 8.463
Average 39.54
100s 15
50s 45
CLASS OF 2019
Rory Burns
Matches 7
Innings 14
Runs 312
Average 22.28
100s 0
50s 2
Joe Denly
Matches 3
Innings 6
Runs 145
Average 24.16
100s 0
50s 1
Joe Root
Matches 81
Innings 149
Runs 6,718
Average 49.03
100s 16
50s 41
Jason Roy
Matches 1
Innings 2
Runs 77
Average 38.5
100s 0
50s 1
Jos Buttler
Matches 31
Innings 54
Runs 1,722
Average 35.87
100s 1
50s 14ON A HIGH: Glenn McGrath
removing Atherton, above,
was England’s scourge,
but says Australia must
adapt to the conditionsMcGrath reckons
the batsmen he
faced in the Ashes
were better and
more experienced
than the current
England team.. but
do the statistics
back him up?GLENN McGRATH has ramped up By Joshua Peck
the Ashes war of words by admitting
he would love to have a crack at
England’s top order himself.
With two days to go until the first
Test at Edgbaston, Australia legend
McGrath believes England’s batsmen
are there for the taking.
World Cup winner Jason Roy is set
to open the batting alongside Surrey
team-mate Rory Burns, who averages
just over 22 and is yet to hit a ton.
And although captain Joe Root has
decided to move up the order to No3,
McGrath thinks the Aussie bowlers
will be desperate to let rip at England.
“In the past I bowled at players like
Michael Atherton, Alec Stewart,
Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and
Marcus Trescothick,” said McGrath,
who took 157 Ashes wickets and only
ended up on the losing side in a Test
series against England in 2005.
“But England do not currently have
a top order that has been successful
Test after Test, series after series.
“I’d be champing at the bit to get
the first Test started, hoping to begin
well, because that can be 75 per cent
of the battle.”
Holders Australia are aiming to win
a series in England for the first time
since 2001.
England were beaten 4-0 in the last
series Down Under, but the Aussies
have tasted victory just three times in
the past 19 Tests on these shores.
The last series in England four
years ago ended 3-2 to the home side,
and former paceman McGrath hopes
his team have learnt their lesson. “I’m
looking forward to seeing how theyEngland do
not have a
successful
top order
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