England pacer Brydon Carse has revealed that his team has prepared specific plans if centurion of the last game, Travis Head, decides to open again in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, starting December 4.
In the Ashes series opener at Perth Stadium, Australia surprised England by promoting Travis Head to open in the fourth innings. The South Australian thwarted all of England’s plans against him en route to a match-winning century. Head will return to the Gabba, a venue where he scored a hundred last summer against India.
Carse, who was on the receiving end of Head’s onslaught in Perth, is confident of executing his plans better in Brisbane.
“I think that was a phenomenal knock by a high-quality player… If he does open the batting again, we’ve got set plans we’ll look to use,” Carse told reporters on 1 December. “But again, I don’t think anything changes from a mindset perspective. He had an incredible day out that afternoon. Whatever we’re presented with, we’ll stick to our plans.
Mark Wood is reportedly set to miss the upcoming Test. The right-arm quick missed training on Saturday amid concerns over his left knee. Carse has volunteered to take on additional responsibility if needed.
“I’ll still be adaptable to whatever the situation brings,” the 30-year-old said. “Obviously, there are different challenges this week, where we could be bowling under lights at different times. But I think, as a bowling group, we’re quite settled on where we’re going to bowl and what our role is in the side.”
England will look to level the series in Brisbane after their defeat in Perth.
