Gooch wants to see England's will to succeed

Cricket365
December 2, 2013

Batting coach Graham Gooch has demanded England put in a decidedly stronger performance in the second Ashes Test, which will get underway at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

The tourists were entirely outgunned in the series opener, as centuries from captain Michael Clarke and opener David Warner – and a nine-wicket haul from Man of the Match Mitchell Johnson – carried Australia to a 381-run win inside four days in Brisbane.

"We have to show better will than we did in the last game. To get dismissed twice for under 200 is very disappointing. You're not going to win any games of cricket if you do that," said Gooch.

"We know we didn't perform anywhere near the standard required, or what this team is capable of. We're going to work hard to put that right. It's quite simple. Mitchell had a great game at Brisbane, and I take my hat off him.

"He took nine wickets, and you'd be lauding any bowler on any side who took nine in a Test – so congratulations to him. He caused a lot of problems for some of our players. Since we've been here, we've prepared for left-arm – we did three years ago – by bringing left-arm bowlers in for our practice and generally focusing on that line of attack."

The visitors, meanwhile, are pondering an adequate replacement for batsman Jonathan Trott, who left the tour due to a stress-related illness last week.

While all-rounders Tim Bresnan and Ben Stokes, the left-handed Gary Ballance and the inexperienced Jonny Bairstow are jostling for position in the team, the in-form Ian Bell or fellow right-hander Joe Root are likely to arrive at the crease at first-drop.

"We had the plan of Root batting six with Michael Carberry opening, which has been disrupted through no fault of his own," added Gooch.

"So Joe is going to have to stand up if he's asked to bat three. You have to adapt. You'd like to map out the pathway for someone as best you can. But sometimes these situations arise, and you have to handle them.

"Sport doesn't always turn out as you hope it's going to, and whoever bats three will stand up for England. That's their job – and that's what I expect them to do."