England are “a very poor Test side” and only stand a chance of clinching an unexpected Ashes series win if captain Joe Root matches the 2010-11 batting heroics of his predecessor, says Ed Cowan.
The former Test opener has projected “a bloodbath” for an understrength England on their tour of Australia, after gun all-rounder Ben Stokes, spearhead Jofra Archer and fast bowler Olly Stone were ruled unavailable for selection.
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Alastair Cook wasn’t England’s captain when he toured Australia for the 2010-11 Ashes – Andrew Strauss was yet to hand over the reins – but the left-handed opener was in otherworldly form with the bat, compiling 766 runs at 127.66, including a top score of 235 not out, to lead his side to a 3-1 win.
Only Australia’s Sir Donald Bradman (1930) and Steve Smith (2017-18) have averaged more runs from five Ashes Tests in the one series.
Root will need to produce an individual series with the blade of that calibre if the tourists are to win back the Ashes urn, Cowan believes.
“When you go through that list there’s maybe one batsman who you think could probably bat a day and score a hundred – and that’s their captain (Root), who has traditionally struggled in Australia,” Cowan said on The Grandstand Cricket Podcast.
“He doesn’t like the bounce of the ball, he’s a brilliant player of spin, particularly in England and (on) the sub-continent, but has struggled with the pace in Australia… it’s a massive tour for (Root).
“If he does an Alastair Cook (in the 2010-11 Ashes) and scores 600 runs or 700 runs, it’s a different series. But if he scores 250 runs, there’s probably only going to be 18 or 19 days of Test cricket.”
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While Root averages 50.15 from 109 Tests, the 30-year-old averages just 38 from nine Tests in Australia.
The highest Test series average of the right-hander yet came against Sri Lanka in January this year, when he averaged 106.5 from two matches in Galle.
Cowan pointed out that Australia had batting problems of their own.
The selectors are yet to settle on an opening partner for David Warner and, while Travis Head has begun the Australian domestic season in superb touch, he’s shown technical flaws and a propensity to fall cheaply throughout his 19 Tests.
But Cowan, who played 18 Tests for Australia between 2011 and 2013, is confident the hosts’ bowling unit will steer them to victory.
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“We’re not talking about an Australian team that is brimming with batting that can bat them out of a game. The Aussies themselves have got some questions to answer, but they’re going to be a better team than England,” Cowan said.
“There’s no doubt about that.
“Their bowling’s going to be too good, we’ve got a high-class spinner, they don’t.
“So it just feels like it’s going to be a bloodbath.”