Ashes 2021-22: After Australia defeated England by 275-run in the second Ashes 2021-22 Test in Adelaide, Shane Warne has suggested four changes in the Joe Root-led squad for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Follow Ashes 2021-22 Live on InsideSport.IN.
Ashes 2021-22: Shane Warne lauds Australia on Adelaide win, suggests 4 changes in England squad for Boxing Day Test
Shane Warne congratulated Australia for taking a 2-0 lead before asserting that England “must start picking the correct team”. The Australia legend advised Joe Root to take play Jack Leach, and add Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood to the playing eleven. The 52-year-old wants Michael Neser to make way for captain Pat Cummins in the Australia squad. Notably, Pat Cummins was ruled out of the second Test after he was identified as the close contact of a Covid-19 positive person in a restaurant.
“Congrats to the Aussies on a hard fought win. England have a lot to do heading to Melbourne as they are now 2-0 down. They must start by picking the correct team including a spinner for the conditions. Crawley, Wood, Bairstow & Leach would make my team. For Oz Cummins for Neser,” Shane Warne tweeted on Monday.
Congrats to the Aussies on a hard fought win. England have a lot to do heading to Melbourne as they are now 2-0 down. They must start by picking the correct team including a spinner for the conditions. Crawley, Wood, Bairstow & Leach would make my team. For Oz Cummins for Neeser
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 20, 2021
While Mark Wood and Jack Leach were part of the first Test which England lost by 9 wickets, Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow are yet to get a game. The duo might replace out-of-form Rory Burns and Ollie Pope in the third Test in Melbourne.
Leach was in England’s 12-man squad for the Adelaide Test but was not included in the eleven later after Joe Root opted to play with four specialist pacers. The Adelaide Oval pitch curator, ahead of the match, had declared that England would commit a massive mistake if they don’t play a specialist spinner.
While Australia’s Nathan Lyon picked 5 wickets in the match, England struggled due to lack of options. Joe Root bowled 26 overs of spin without taking any wicket, while pacer Ollie Robinson also tried luck with three overs of off-spin bowling.
Ashes 2021-22: Shane Warne lauds Australia on Adelaide win, suggests 4 changes in England squad for Boxing Day Test
