Ashes 2019: 3 Changes Australia should make to get back to winning ways

Lack of experience in their batting order and also Tim Paine’s captaincy along with the unavailability of a fifth bowler were the major reasons for Australia’s heart-breaking loss in the third Test at Leeds. They also had to be at the receiving end of Ben Stokes and his brilliance.

Australia need to re-look at their strategies and personnel post the performance at Leeds where after dismissing the hosts for 67 in the first innings, they allowed them to dominate them in the second innings where they couldn’t dismiss the last pair of Ben Stokes and Jack Leach when 78 runs were still required to win.

They had to endure Jofra Archer and his brand of vicious fast bowling where he got the ball to jump out of nowhere. That ensured the visitors batting mainstay Steve Smith had to sit out of the Leeds Test and his replacement Marnus Labuschagne impressed one and all with his batting and grit (213 runs in 3 innings at an average of 71).

Heading into the next Test match at Old Trafford, Manchester Australia should be looking at making some team changes to strengthen the balance of their team and get back to winning ways.

1. Steve Smith for Marcus Harris

It would be stating the obvious when one points out the fact that Australia missed Steve Smith in the Leeds Test. The world class batsman on his return to Test cricket after serving one year ban has dominated and controlled England. After scores of 144 and 142 in the first Test, all the talk in the English media was how to get Steve Smith out.

Well, one of the methods as shown by speed sensation Jofra Archer was to bounce him out. The fiery dual between Archer and Smith led to rather unfortunate circumstances as Smith had to miss the remainder of the game due to concussion and Labuschagne became the first concussion substitute in the 142-year history of Test cricket.

With the visitors looking to get back to winning ways, they will be boosted by the inclusion of the former skipper into the playing XI for the fourth game. Marcus Harris had an uneventful return to the side at Leeds. He would have to make way to allow Usman Khawaja to open the innings with David Warner followed by Smith.