England won’t be really influenced by the hot atmosphere of Gabba: Jake Ball

The Ashes 2017-18 got underway at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 23. After the first two days the game stands even stevens as neither team can say they are in an advantageous position. While Australia bowled out England for 302 in the first innings they themselves are in a delicate position with skipper Steve Smith leading the fightback having scored a half century along with Shaun Marsh. They still trail by 137 runs with 6 wickets in hand.

Though there has been no instance of a heated exchange or strategic chatter in the game yet the mind games were at prime ahead of the start of the series, players from both sides took strong stands and tried to make loud statements.

Speaking to journalists last week James Vince said “I think most of the guys are excited by the challenge. I think the occasion will help concentration-wise with what’s at stake. My game feels in pretty good order. It’s a great opportunity to stake your claim and try to become a Test regular. We know what to expect and that’s part of the reason you want to play in an away Ashes series. It’s good fun getting a bit of stick. If we can perform well and get them turning on their own team, that will be great.” Said James Vince last week.

England not intimidated

Jake Ball seemed confident supporting that England won’t be really influenced by the hot atmosphere of Gabba. “We’re not intimidated. We have lads who have played out here and know what it’s about. They have passed on what to take and what not to listen to. I’m not worried at all. But I might put some earplugs in to try to drown them out if I’m fielding on the boundary! Stuart Broad has been my room-mate. He’s had the rough end of it before. If he can come through it, we’ll all be okay.”

Contrary to that former cricket legend Geraint Jones with his recent interview with Betway Insider tried to prepare the English squad of the challenges. “Playing in Australia, you know that you are going to hear them pretty much every ball, and pretty loudly. When you’re on strike, it’s your turn to get it. Thankfully for me, being in the middle, I couldn’t actually hear a lot compared to guys fielding on the boundary. But there’s no point trying to go up against 10,000 people in the crowd near. Your best option is to show that you’ve got a personality and that you’re out there enjoying it, playing a game you love” he adds.

“You get the feeling the whole country is against you. You know it from the minute you get there. If you get a cricket fan at passport control, then there’s a good chance you’ll have a comment made to you.”

On the other side, Josh Hazelwood has revealed that Australia will try to get inside the head of England captain Joe Root by reminding him of his failure on the last Ashes tour.

“We’ll certainly bring it up,” said Hazlewood. “He’s obviously a different player now and he’s been a fantastic player for the past couple of years or longer, but we will bring that up and, hopefully, open a few scars of the guys who did tour here last time. They had a tough time of it. We only have three guys who are backing up from that series — Steve Smith, David Warner and Nathan Lyon — so those guys will remind them of what happened.

“Once we go on to that field it’s all-out attack. A few guys like a chirp so I think we’ll see that throughout the series at different times.

“But it’s up to us quicks to try to put those wickets on the board and knock them over cheaply to start us off and get that ball rolling in the same direction.”