England appear set to bat should they win the toss on the first day of the Adelaide Test (first ball 10.30am AEDT), with Ben Stokes giving away a big hint in the form of a sledge to a former captain.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Stokes was quizzed on the best approach to winning the third Test of the Ashes series over Australia — and he delivered a cheeky quip.
“It’s going to be pretty hot day one and two, I’m pretty sure I’ve become a meme or GIF at some point in my career,” he said.
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“I don’t want to be another Nasser Hussain.”
Stokes was referencing Hussain’s infamous decision 23 years ago, sending Australia in to bat in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane before the hosts posted a mammoth 2/364 at the end of day one.
They finished the first innings with 492, won the game by 382 runs and took that momentum forward to secure a 4-1 series victory.
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Stokes’ England side historically bowled first heading into the Ashes, but that approach has been snubbed in Australia with the tourists winning the toss and batting first twice in this series.
The 34-year-old’s comments indicate he will make that same decision if he wins the toss in Adelaide, where temperatures are set to reach 36 and 39 degrees on days one and two.
Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough told ESPN cricinfo on Monday that his wickets have struck a good balance between bat and ball, with more moisture set to be left in it this week.
“Our Shield pitches have played really well,” Hough said.
“They’ve been a really good contest. The feedback has been really good. We’re just are trying to get a contest between bat and ball.
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“The calibre of bowlers step up at international level. We know that compared to Shield level. But we’ve got some hot weather, and you would expect with hot weather that the spinners will come into it because of that hot weather.”
England have made a single change to their XI, with Gus Atkinson dropped in place of seamer Josh Tounge.
Meanwhile, Australia has made a pair of changes with Nathan Lyon and the returning Pat Cummins displacing both Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett.
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