Hollioake urges England to grind down 'fragile' Australia quicks

Adam Hollioake wants to see Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the field as long as possible.

Published : Nov 22, 2017 14:41 IST

Adam Holliokae, the former England all-rounder, reckons the current Australian bowling attack is fragile and tiring out the pacers could hold the key to beating the host.
Adam Holliokae, the former England all-rounder, reckons the current Australian bowling attack is fragile and tiring out the pacers could hold the key to beating the host.
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Adam Holliokae, the former England all-rounder, reckons the current Australian bowling attack is fragile and tiring out the pacers could hold the key to beating the host.

Adam Hollioake thinks Australia's "fragile" fast bowlers could "fall apart" if the England batsmen adopt an old-school approach and grind them down during the Ashes.

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are set to form a formidable pace attack when Australia attempts to wrestle the urn back off its fierce rival.

The tourist has been warned to expect a barrage of short stuff when the five-match series starts at the Gabba on Thursday.

All three have been troubled by injuries during their careers and Hollioake wants to see their fitness put to the test with long spells in the field, with Alastair Cook and Joe Root setting the tone.

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'This Aussie bowling attack is fragile'

The former England all-rounder told Omnisport: "The Australian bowling attack is very much based around pace and, with the hot summer, Cook and Root are the key for England if they can wear them down.

"I see Cummins as the backbone of that attack, but he is very injury-prone. Starc and Hazlewood have had injury problems. They have all had injury problems and I think the side that can keep their quick bowlers fit can be the side that wins.

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"There is something to be said for keeping those boys out in the field with a traditional Test style of batting that Cook has done so many times.

"There is a lot to be said in this series for just batting time, I'd love to see Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood kept out there bowling 20-30 overs in a day.

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"Let's see how they go bowling that amount of overs in a five-match series, let's have that mentality of keeping those guys out there rather than try and win a Test in four days.

"This Aussie bowling attack is fragile and they do fall apart. I'd like to see the likes of Cook batting in the traditional Test manner rather than see run-a-ball hundreds, let's grind out a hundred and see their quicks put some miles on the clock in the heat."

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