Sunday 12 July 2015 19:18, UK
Former England opener Marcus Trescothick paid tribute to the current side which claimed an early advantage in the Ashes on Saturday when they beat Australia by 169 runs in Cardiff in the first Investec Test.
The second Test starts at Lord’s on Thursday and the 39-year-old Somerset batsman hopes that England’s new-look side can continue their brand of attacking cricket when the teams meet again.
The whole team had a positive approach and I thought Alastair Cook has done well.
Trescothick was a member of the England side that ended 18 years of Australian rule in 2005 and he says this team’s ‘positive approach’ was an important ingredient of their victory in Wales.
“I was buzzing, delighted for them and great to watch," Trescothick told Sky Sports. "Joe Root played brilliantly and the bowling unit got to grips with the pitch. The bowling attack is similar to the 2005 side.
“It’s a four-prong attack with good pace – that’s important – and a spinner (Moeen Ali) who is doing a job too.
“So that, on the back of some very positive batting, the team looks to be in good shape. England have been very positive which I guess started with the one-day internationals against New Zealand.
“It was good to see how we played Nathan Lyon the spinner. The batsmen were positive against him.
“The whole team had a positive approach and I thought Alistair Cook (skipper) has done well.
“He read the pitch and conditions really quickly and, if England can start the second Test well and put Australia under pressure, then the opportunity will be there.”
However, Trescothick – who turns 40 on Christmas Day this year – refuses to believe that the aging Australia squad is becoming too old to perform at this level.
Six of the 11 that contested the opening Test have passed their 33rd birthday but Trescothick does not think this will be a problem in the remainder of the series.
He added: “It gets harder on the body, every day you wake up, it takes a little longer to get the body going.
“But you can still do the job, make no mistake about it. Whether you’re 25 or 35, there’s not a lot of difference.
“You can’t run around like a 20-year-old can but you do have experience.”
