There was, in the reaction from Australia, a little mirth: just one batter with an average north of 35; just one bowler capable of touching 90mph; 10 first-time tourists; and so on.
What, though, were we expecting? England are not a great Test side, and much of their spark is unavailable. They are without their talismanic, side-balancing all-rounder, Ben Stokes. They are missing another all-rounder, Sam Curran, through injury, and a third, Moeen Ali, because he has just retired. And they are missing two of their three fastest bowlers, Jofra Archer and Olly Stone, to long-term injuries.
It is a squad that provides emphatic reminders that Test cricket, alas, is not a beast easily tameable through planning. Coach Chris Silverwood and captain Joe Root have spoken endlessly in their two years at the helm about building a “blueprint” to win in Australia. It was hardly atom-splitting genius: score big first-innings runs, bowl fast, but their vision was admirable.
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