Australian spin legend Shane Warne on Tuesday, 6th August, said England will feel pressure for the first time in years in an Ashes series after the hosts’ massive defeat in the first Test of the five-match series at Edgbaston on Monday, 5th August.
Tim Paine and his team started their post-World Cup journey in a style, as the tourists registered a comprehensive win of 251 runs over England to take a 1- lead in the ongoing Ashes 2019 here. And Warne, who was part of Australia’s 2001 Ashes-winning squad, believes that the massive Birmingham defeat will certainly raise question and pressure on the hosts.
Warne told Sky Sports, “For the first time, I think England will start to worry about Australia. I don't think they're worried about Australia for a while. To win by over 250 runs is a comprehensive win and will do amazing things for their confidence, to start off the campaign like that and lay down a marker.”
The commentator continued, “To come around and win this Test match is as a good a win as this group of players have had for a very, very long time. Given what's happened over the last 12 months, given they haven't won (a series) here for 18 years, I think for the first time in a long time, in an Ashes series in England, all the questions are in the England camp and not in Australia's.”
Lauding Aussie bowling attack, the spin king said: “I thought the bowlers were outstanding, all of them, given the surface, and going back to day one, the selection showed courage in dropping Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.”
Meanwhile, Warne heaped praise on comeback man Steve Smith – the main Architect of Australia’s massive win over England. He scored 286 runs in his first Test match after ball-tampering scandal and Warne said it was a huge roller-coaster ride for former Australian skipper.
He added, “You think of all the things he's been through - the humiliation as Australia captain, redemption and integration back into the team, then the lonely times practicing in the nets and having an elbow operation, wondering if he could actually bat again.”
Warne signed off by saying, “That's a huge roller-coaster of an emotional ride and I thought he did pretty well to hold it together. It would have been easy for him to show that emotion. By the time he got the second hundred, he's back into Steve Smith form and I take my hat off to him. To hold his head high and play the way he does, you've got admire him as a person, as a cricketer.”
(With Sky Sports Inputs)
