One of English cricket’s most legendary broadcasters is fearful of an Ashes ambush on the eve of the Second Test at Gabba.
Despite the Test schedule being agreed by Australia and England long in advance, Henry Blofeld OBE has taken to X to complain about the fairness of making England play a pink ball Test in Brisbane, in the process doing little to dispel well-worn stereotypes of ‘whinging Poms’.
“Hosting pink ball, day/night matches, especially on the Gabba pitch, gives Australia a huge and unfair advantage!” Blofeld complained from the UK.
“Is there really a need for them on Ashes tours? Their grounds are anyway sold out.”
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The general gist of the 86-year-old’s concern is that Australia is rather good at pink ball cricket—and England isn’t—logic which might also suggest the prevalence of spinning tracks on the subcontinent is unfair to visiting sides who haven’t bothered preparing for them.
“Australia have won 12 of the 13 played there so far,” Blofeld continued, no doubt tapping away over a morning cup of Earl Grey.
“Of course Mitchell Starc loves them (pink ball matches) averaging 17 in white ball against 29 in red ball Tests.
“Batting in the twilight is a nasty problem - without any worthwhile practice - as England are about to find out!”
And therein lies the issue of course, ‘without any worthwhile practice.’
Whose fault is that Blowers?
Henry Blofeld had a long and decorated broadcasting career with the BBC before officially retiring from Test Match Special in 2017.