Anderson and Broad key to Ashes glory, says Harmison

Veteran pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad hold the key to England’s bid to reclaim the Ashes this summer, according to their former team-mate Steve Harmison.

Test cricket’s oldest battle resumes at Edgbaston on Thursday, with Joe Root’s side aiming to maintain the feel-good factor in English Cricket after World Cup glory.

But Harmison, who won the 2005 Ashes on home soil and played alongside Broad and Anderson during the 2009 series win over Australia, said England had the trump cards with their two experienced bowlers.

“The two pace attacks are different in dynamics, out-and-out pace against experience,” Harmison told Britain’s Press Association at an event organised by Ashes sponsors Specsavers.

“Australia have bowlers who can blast you away -- Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood.

“But if they don’t get it quite right they can go at six an over. Broad and Anderson will very rarely go at six an over.

“They’ll be down on pace compared to the opposition, but they’ll have total control of what they’re doing.”

Harmison added: “Broad and Anderson are still the first two names on the teamsheet for me, because in English conditions it’s still better to have their experience than any 90-miles-per-hour bowler.”

Anderson, England’s leading Test wicket-taker with 575 scalps, missed the 143-run victory over Ireland with a calf strain but is expected to play against Australia.

Jofra Archer was also named in the squad after a side strain and should provide the raw pace to supplement Broad and Anderson.

England’s batting is a concern after Ireland bowled them out for 85 in their first innings at Lord’s but Australia also have batting frailties and few of their players looked in good touch during an inter-squad warm-up match.

“David Warner and Steve Smith coming back (from suspension) helps Australia, but there are question marks over their middle order,” said Harmison.

“That’s what makes this series so interesting, and England’s middle order could make that 70-80 run difference.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a series of high quality as the two teams are not as good as their white-ball sides.

“But sometimes that lack of quality can make for a better series. England are slight favourites with the home advantage, but I see it a lot closer than people think. I take England to win by the odd game.”

Meanwhile, coach Trevor Bayliss admitted Sunday he had a “stern chat” with England’s players after they rallied to avoid an embarrassing Test defeat to Ireland.

England were bundled out for 85 in the first session of their inaugural Test against Ireland at Lord’s but eventually won by 143 runs after dismissing the visitors for just 38 in their second innings.

Nightwatchman Jack Leach was England’s top-scorer in the match with 92 and although he was left out of the 14-man Ashes squad, Bayliss praised the left-arm spinner’s approach.

“We had a fairly stern chat after the game,” Bayliss told BBC Radio.

“It’s good to be able to deliver those messages when you have actually won a game,” he said.

“I thought the example Jack Leach showed was the example a lot of the other batters need to learn from. He was very focused on what he wanted to do and was very clear in his own mind how he was going to go about it.

“We speak about that a lot, having a plan for any situation you find yourself in and being clear with your thoughts -- don’t try and just bluff your way through it.”

England begin their Ashes Test preparations with an optional training session on Monday at Edgbaston, where the fitness of paceman Jofra Archer will be assessed following the side strain he suffered during the victorious World Cup campaign.

“We don’t want to necessarily risk him,” Bayliss said.

“He played for Sussex in a T20 match and came through that well. Test match Cricket, five days, longer spells, is a little bit of a different beast so we’ll have to see where he’s at and take a little bit from the medical people as well.

“We have to weigh up, do you pick him for the first one, it’s a bit early, he gets injured and then is unavailable for selection?

“We’ve got a good strong group of bowlers who we think can do the job over the five Tests.”

Agence France-Presse