Mumbai, Dec 07:Australia’s otherwise intimidating record at Gabba – of not losing a game at the venue since 1988 – was broken only recently by India in January this year, and England wicketkeeper-bat Jos Buttler feels there’s no reason to believe England can’t repeat that if they bring out their A game.”
Any time you come and play in Australia as an England team it’s a huge challenge, history tells you that. That makes it exciting. Australia tend to play well here (Brisbane) but they obviously lost to India recently at this venue, which proves it’s not impossible to beat them here. We know to be able to do that we have to perform close to our best as a side. We focus a lot on ourselves – the opposition are a fantastic team – but we know if we bring our A game we will be there or thereabouts,” Buttlersaid.
also reiterated that resting James Anderson from the first Ashes Test, starting Wednesday at the Gabba, was indeed keeping in mind his workload and not because the pace spearhead is unfit. England left out the veteran pacer out of the 12-man shortlist for the Ashes 2021-22 curtain raiser, fuelling speculations over the match fitness of the 39-year-old.”Jimmy’s not going to play but he is fit,” Buttler told media in Brisbane on the eve of the match. “It’s obviously a very long series and we want a guy like that to be available to play as much of a part as possible. It’s just precautionary. He bowled well yesterday and again today. He’s fit but the guys are just being cautious.”Both Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes, who will be making his international comeback since taking an indefinite break from the sport earlier this year, are fit and raring to go.”He’s good to go I think,” Buttler said of Broad. “He obviously had an injury at the end of the summer in England but he’s been coming back well from that. The way the build up has been it’s been a little bit challenging in certain ways. He bowled well in the nets yesterday and looks pretty good,” Buttleradded.Stokes, who also had a finger surgery during his break from cricket, would be able to bowl the normal workload, Buttler noted. “Ben is fit to play and has been performing very nicely in the nets and that warm up game.”He looks fit, strong, he’s hitting the ball well, he’s bowling well. Massive plus for us obviously as a side with Ben being available to play.
