Smith hoping to exploit England’s inexperience

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Australia Steve Smith is hoping they can exploit the inexperience in the England team when the Ashes gets underway next month.

England last won an Ashes on Australian soil in 2010-2011 but only four players from that tour remain in the current side.

Former skipper Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn were the players involved in that victorious squad while the current tour party will see a host of rookie members.

Mark Stoneman, who is likely to open the batting with Cook, has only played in three Tests while middle-order batsmen Dawid Malan and James Vince have only 12 Test caps between them.

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Smith told BBC’s Stumped podcast: “Dawid Malan and other guys have come in and played, I’m not entirely sure what order they will go with. Mark Stoneman will probably be at the top.

“They do have inexperienced players coming to Australia – hopefully they won’t be equipped for the fast and bouncy tracks compared to England and we can exploit them a little bit.

“With regards to their batting, Alastair Cook and Joe Root are their two big players that we need to keep quiet.”

Smith also spoke about England’s experienced opening bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, saying the home team will need to keep the pair out in the field for as long as possible.

Seamer Chris Woakes is still working his way back to full fitness while former part-timer Moeen Ali continues be England’s first-choice spinner.

Smith continued: “James Anderson and Stuart Broad are experienced – they have been here a few times so they know what to expect.

“We need to get those guys bowling a lot of overs – if we do that, hopefully we’ll have some success.”

The first of five Ashes Test gets underway in Brisbane on 23 November.

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