Anderson expects England to pick same side for 2nd Ashes Test, Cummins set to play in Brisbane

England are unlikely to tinker with their side for the second Ashes Test against Australia starting in Brisbane next week despite being thumped in the opening match, their former fast bowler James Anderson said.

England deployed a pace heavy attack in Perth and bowled out the hosts for 132 in their first innings, with skipper Ben Stokes picking up five wickets, but they went on lose the extraordinary clash inside two days.

A Travis Head knock in the second innings took the sting out of the tourists’ bowling unit with the Australia opener scoring the only century of the match to script an eight-wicket win.

“The all-pace attack 100% worked in the first innings. We landed a few blows,” England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker Anderson said on the BBC’s Tailenders podcast.

“I think that will be in their heads and I would not be surprised at all if we went with the same side.

“I just wonder whether we lack a nuance with a bit of something different and a change of pace, whether that is a spinner or a slightly different pacer.”

Australia’s pacemen tore through England’s batting order twice to set up a modest chase of 205, which they completed late on day two, and Anderson said the bowling unit became more predictable as the match progressed.

“Head knew they were bowling short, so he just sat on the back foot and hit his areas,” the 43-year-old added.

“There was no frontline spinner to just bowl four overs and change the pace of the game and make it slightly different for Head and give him something else to think about.”

England have won only three series in Australia in the last 50 years, the last in 2010-11. They have not won a single Test match Down Under since.

Cummins boost for Australia: Pat Cummins is set to be included in Australia’s squad for the second Ashes Test, providing another significant boost following their victory in Perth.

Reports earlier indicated that it has not yet been confirmed if the team’s captain will play in the game at the Gabba starting Dec.4. However, The West Australian confirmed that Cummins will be named in the squad that will be announced on Friday.

No further players are anticipated to join Australia’s squad, leaving the team’s top-order uncertain following Usman Khawaja’s back problems and Travis Head’s impressive fourth-innings century in the first Test.

Initially, there were concerns that Cummins might miss the entire blockbuster series due to a bone stress flare-up in his back revealed in September. However, he has since been able to complete bowling sessions at full intensity, including high-intensity sessions at Perth before and after the Ashes opener.

On Thursday, Brendan Dodgett expressed uncertainty about his participation in the second Test, with Cummins recovering well and on schedule.

However, he stated that he was mentally prepared to rise up to the occasion if needed in case Cummins was to miss out.

“Pat is looking pretty good in the nets now so we will see where that lands. I am going to control what I can control, keep ticking the legs over and keep bowling and trying to improve in every session and game. If I get called on in that second Test I feel like I am ready to go again,” Doggett was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Asked if he had heard anything from the selectors regarding the second Test, Doggett added, “We are soaking in the win and letting everyone get back to their families. We arrive in Brisbane on Sunday, so I assume conversations will start there about what the line-up looks like for the second Test.”

Agencies