Saker believes England have Ashe’s pace advantage
“To win Ashes you need a good battery of fast bowlers and that’s definitely the case with England, but the same is true for the Australians. They have a good group of fast bowlers, but playing on your home patch is always an advantage for a bowling group.”
Saker sees similarities between England’s attack on Ashes’ away win in 2010/11 and now – and not just because Anderson and Broad, who turn 41 and 37 respectively during the series, are still at it.
“It depends on which team can beat best. I think both sides know that.”
England bowling coach David Saker
“There are [similarity],” he said. “I suppose the breakaways are obviously the 150mph bowlers. Steven Finn was fast but not up to the pace. So that’s a big plus for the English. Playing in English conditions , puts her bowling group in front of Australians without a doubt in my opinion.
“It will come down to which team can beat best. I think both sides know that. Both sides have world-class bowling attacks. It’s about getting enough runs to win. England will get them quickly. And let’s see how it goes in Australia.”
Saker got his first taste of working with Archer on this trip to Bangladesh and is really looking forward to bringing that to the testing arena this summer. Archer has carefully managed expectations for the level he will play and says he would be happy to be involved in just one Test. Saker believes he is capable of more.
“I’m sure he’ll play more than one test when he’s fit, definitely,” he said. “I think it was exciting last night [in the T20 defeat to Bangladesh] that it seemed to be cranked up a little. I think the way the game was going we wanted to go 2-0 down, he turned it up and threw some really fast balls at a really slow wicket and upset the opponent.
James Anderson turns 41 during the Ashes in England.Credit:Getty Images
“That’s what these bowlers can do, they can throw a spell that can break up a game. I’m not saying Jimmy or Stuart can’t do it, but guys with pace can change a game really quickly and they’re also tremendously effective at getting the rear end out. Last night was probably the beginning as he continued to climb towards the ashes.
“I know we lost but I thought it was a fantastic bowling performance but the exciting thing in the dressing room is Jofra coming back so fast and aggressive [bowler].”
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Saker, 56, also thinks it’s “extraordinary” that Anderson is still playing, having played against him for Enfield against Burnley in 1999 when the Lancastrian was a teenager.
“I’m very close to Jimmy so it’s great to see his journey,” he said. “There’s no way I thought he’d still carry on the way he’s doing, but he’s probably going to be picked first at the moment, especially at home.”
Telegraph, London
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