Ashes 2023: "There Were Some Clear Strategies From Both Sides, Whether It Was Attack Or Defense" - Tim Paine Says After First Ashes Test

Former Australia captain Tim Paine stated that the two teams played according to their strategies in the recently concluded first Test of the Ashes 2023 series. Tim Paine pointed out that there were some double standards in the narratives about both sides’ approaches in the Test contest.

England were aggressive with both bat and ball at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The Ben Stokes-led team declared their first innings for 393 runs despite well-set batter Joe Root being at the crease. The visitors took a 1-0 lead following their two-wicket victory in the marquee tournament.

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During an interaction on the SEN podcast ‘Whateley’, Tim Paine highlighted that both teams set fields according to their strengths.

“I thought it was pretty much as I expected to be honest. I think Australia were always going to set slightly what you can call defensive fields if you like. I think they were no different really to Ben Stokes,” Paine said.

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“Ben Stokes and England make some funky fields and all of a sudden it’s genius. Australia put a couple of people on the fence and all of a sudden it’s defensive. I think there were some clear strategies from both sides, whether it was attack or defence,” he added.

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They Can Play At Different Tempos – Tim Paine

The veteran wicketkeeper batter said that Australia have the ability to play an attacking and defensive style of play according to the situation, making them the favourites to win the Ashes in 2023.

“When a Test match goes for five days, you got to be able to do both. In a series that goes for five Test matches, you have got to do both. I think from what I have seen earlier and what I thought, I think that’s where Australia have got the advantage,” he further stated.

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“They can play at different tempos. They can play different scenarios and I think their game will stand up in different conditions. England, we know, are going to go one way, they are going to go really hard,” he concluded.

Australia will take on the Ben Stokes-led team in the second Test of the five-match series at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London starting on June 28.

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