It’s Only 85 Sleeps Until The First Ball Of The Ashes. That Means England’s Openers Only Have To Endure 85 More Nightmares Of Starc Bowling Them First Ball Of The Series.

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Kent cricketer Zak Crawley is the leading candidate to open the batting for England in the first Test of this summer’s Ashes series, leaving the 27-year-old with just 85 more nights before he is asked to negotiate Mitchell Starc’s first ball in front of 60,000 West Australians.

The prospect has caused unease within the touring camp, with Crawley needing no reminder that Starc dismissed Rory Burns with the opening delivery of the last home Ashes at the Gabba. That dismissal, where Burns’ leg stump ended up needing to be replaced in front of a packed Brisbane crowd, remains fresh in the minds of both players and fans.

While Crawley is the frontrunner to face Starc, his position is not guaranteed. Observers note that unforeseen incidents, such as nightclub altercations similar to Ben Stokes’ 2017 arrest, or the wave of injuries that decimated England’s bowling stocks during their last visit, could yet reshuffle the order.

Cricket analysts say Starc’s tendency to swing the new Kookaburra into left-handers at pace has created one of the most intimidating assignments in Test cricket.

West Australian fans, many of whom are expected to arrive at Optus Stadium several hours before play, say they are preparing to make the atmosphere as hostile as possible.

“If he misses it, he’ll hear about it,” said former state-treasurer-turned-tourism-ambassador Troy Buswell.

“We sandgropers can sniff fear from a mile off. Actually, let me rephrase that. Please don’t publish that.”

Until then, Crawley will spend the next 85 nights preparing for the most important ball of his career.

More to come.