Australian cricket fable Shane Warne has declared "no-one fears Australia" portion taking purpose astatine a fig of the side's under-achieving stars.
Noting that there's "a batch of gaps" successful the Australian team, Warne said the feeling of invincibility astatine location had agelong disappeared.
Australia hasn't played a Test lucifer since a 2-1 bid nonaccomplishment to India past summer, which included decision astatine the Gabba for the archetypal clip since 1988.
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While acknowledging that Australia volition look a anemic English broadside this summer, Warne told Fox Cricket that each is not good with the nationalist side.
"When you deliberation backmost to Australia and deliberation backmost to Ashes bid successful Australia, England person been very, precise mediocre for a agelong clip erstwhile they travel to Australia. But I conscionable look astatine the Australian broadside and there's a batch of gaps," helium said.
"Our accelerated bowlers, Pat Cummins looks abbreviated of a gallop and we cognize he's going to travel bully due to the fact that he's satellite class. But Starc's nowhere, (Josh) Hazlewood's bowling well.
Victorian manager Chris Rogers confirmed yesterday that rising prima Will Pucovski is improbable to beryllium acceptable for the archetypal Test, aft his latest bout of concussion. It leaves 2 spots successful the apical 5 up successful the air, with selectors needing to find an opening batsman and a fig five.
Former Australian skipper Mark Taylor told Wide World of Sports past week that Usman Khawaja and Travis Head could capable those 2 spots, though Marcus Harris is precise overmuch successful contention to spouse Warner.
According to Warne, the apical bid is successful a authorities of flux, portion Tim Paine was singled retired for his tactical nous, thing that Taylor besides questioned pursuing the nonaccomplishment to India.
"We've got (David) Warner not making a run. Who's helium going to unfastened with?" Warne asked.
"(Marnus) Labuschagne and (Steve) Smith astatine 3 and four, but who's going to bat (at) five? (Cameron) Green is inactive a young subordinate that looks beauteous good.
"Paine, he's had a shocker the past mates of years arsenic captain, tactically he's been precise poor, mislaid the past 2 bid and can't marque a run.
"Our side's not arsenic great, this 'almighty Australia'.
"But here's the large thing: No 1 fears Australia anymore. Coming to Australia, everyone utilized to spell 'oh we're going to person to beryllium astatine our champion to adjacent compete'. Now they conscionable judge they tin bushed Australia – each side."
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