adminPERTH. − England arrived yesterday for a high stakes tour of Australia with Alastair Cook’s team gunning for a fourth successive Ashes cricket series win and Michael Clarke’s men desperate to avoid another embarrassing loss.
They touched down in Perth for the five-Test tour barely two months after wrapping up a 3-0 home series win over Australia, and they will once again look to capitalise on their opponent’s fragile batting.
Australia chopped and changed batsmen and their position in the order throughout the last campaign and they paid the price, with coach Darren Lehmann promising more stability this time round.
England spinner Graeme Swann said on arrival that the team was “always confident”. “If we play our good cricket, then it should be a great series. Can’t wait to get cracking,” he said But Cook denied England will be complacent after being dominant against their arch-rivals for so long, particularly with an anticipated hostile reception expected from the home fans. “Complacency — that’s not a problem,” he said before boarding the plane in London on Wednesday, minus star all-rounder Kevin Pietersen who was granted compassionate leave following the death of a friend. — AFP.
Online Reporter