Ashes 2015: England can respond, says Bob Willis
Friday 17 July 2015 12:27, UK
Bob Willis thinks England's win in the first Investec Ashes Test at Cardiff will give them confidence when they come to bat in the second Test.
Rogers and Smith will return to the crease on 158 and 129 respectively hoping to pile on further runs but, according to Willis, England will be in confident mood of replicating Australia's batting heroics when they get their chance with the bat.
"You hope England will get early wickets and stop the scoring rate," Willis told Sky Sports News HQ.
"The more likely scenario is that Australia will go on to get probably 550. I don't think Michael Clarke is in the business of getting ridiculously high scores of 600 and beyond.
"Although the pitch is very flat, once the opposition have got 550 on the board there is scoreboard pressure."
He added: "The wicket may be playing quite easily and the pace may blunt Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc but they are still canny bowlers. If there's any movement to be had, they'll get it.
The more likely scenario is that Australia will go on to get probably 550. I don't think Michael Clarke is in the business of getting ridiculously high scores of 600 and beyond.
"There's a long road ahead for England but if Australia can bat that well on this pitch, the confidence that Cardiff gave England means there's no reason they can't do the same thing."
While it will be important for England's batsmen to go big when they get their chance out in the middle at some point on day two, Willis thinks Moeen Ali's off-spin is an area of real concern for Alastair Cook as the series goes on.
The Worcestershire all-rounder was the only England bowler to grab a wicket on day one, picking up David Warner for 38 before lunch but Willis thinks his lack of control is a problem for England.
He added: "Although he's already picked up six wickets in the series , the real area of concern for England is Moeen Ali.
"It's difficult to compare him to Graeme Swann but Swann on this pitch would have kept one end really tight.
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"The Australians really fancy getting after Moeen, scoring four to five runs an over off him, and that's what happened today.
"David Warner took things a little bit too far. He should have been satisfied to of hit 10 off the spinner's first over but he wanted more and that was the only wicket of the day.
"It's a struggle for Alastair Cook to keep control with the bowlers once Anderson and Broad are having a rest."
Meanwhile, former Australian batsman Marcus North is hoping the excellent Lord's pitch will deteriorate enough for Australia to have any chance of levelling the series at 1-1.
He told The Verdict: "Australia had an excellent scoring rate, ticking over at just under four an over. If they have a good first hour tomorrow and get themselves back in, they'll look to up the ante. They will make sure the game is moving quickly.
"Hopefully for Australia, the wicket deteriorates a little bit. There's going to be nice warm weather. There are some strong winds over the next couple of days and that will really dry it out.
"Hopefully, that will bring Nathan Lyon into the game and some reverse swing if it becomes abrasive enough."
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