As the mind games began ahead of the Ashes, it was clear which aspect of the Australian team would immediately be brought into sharp focus.
The Australians have been so good at cricket and so used to collecting trophies, the fact that they have been doing it for many years became a talking point in itself. ‘Dad’s Army’ was run-of-the-mill stuff. ‘Saggy Greens’ was a first.
It is true Australia enter the five-match series with one of the oldest squads in recent cricket. Opener Usman Khawaja is 38, stand-in captain Steve Smith is 36, spinner Nathan Lyon is 37, new-ball bowler Scot Boland is 36 and pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is 35.
The next rung is also more than 30 years of age. In fact, only one player – Cameron Green – is in his 20s. They tried to make a Test cricketer out of 20-year-old Sam Konstas but have kept that experiment to the side for now.
That means not a single youngster is being brought in or possibly even coming up the ranks. Maybe it is the pressure of the Ashes which is not allowing Australia’s selectors to throw a novice in at the deep end; still one would think a team needs fresh legs in a five-Test series.
England captain Ben Stokes, right, and Australia skipper Steve
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