Former Australia captain Greg Chappell feels that the current team can face major challenges against England qucks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood in the upcoming Ashes series. He highlighted how the Baggy Greens will be fielding the "oldest international team in over 90 years" in the red-ball assignment against England and expressed concerns over the ageing squad.
Chappell highlights the big problem in Australia's team
Chappell went on to point out how Australia's highly important players like Usman Khawaja, steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and more are well over 30 and may end up leaving the team rather soon. He further highlighted that Khawaja, aged 38, is the oldest Australian player to play a Test since Lindsay Hassett in 1953.
“So here we are in Australian cricket. The oldest international team fielded in 90-plus years will take the field in a fortnight. Thirty-five may be the new 30, but I believe that unless a handful of under 25s are going to be debuting in the next six to 12 months, we are going to have a painful regeneration problem when Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon leave," Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
“Khawaja is the oldest opener to play a Test for Australia since Lindsay Hassett did it in his final Test at The Oval, in 1953. Hassett scored 53 in the first innings of a Test that England won by eight wickets. England had Fred Trueman, who was a genuine quick, in their attack, but Alec Bedser and Trevor Bailey were medium-fast at best. Ussie turns 39 during the series, so he will be tested by a procession of fast bowlers. His potential partner is a 31-year-old debutant or a makeshift opener also in his 30s. England will take a huge advantage if they can make early inroads in the Australia batting regularly in the series," he added.
Only one Australian player is under 30
Notably, Cameron Green is the only player in Australia's squad for the first Ashes Test who is below 30 years of age. The uncapped Jake Weatherald, who has been included in the squad is also at the age of 31. It certainly may be an ageing Australian team, but their experience may help them in pulling off another series triumph over their arch-rivals.
The first Test of the Ashes will be played at the Optus stadium in Perth from November 21. Both the teams will be eyeing to make a positive start to the series so the opener will undoubtedly be very important. While Australia will be looking to continue their dominant record over the opposition, England will be hoping to finally end their 14-year drought for a Test victory Down Under.