Cricket legend's massive Ashes call after 'green' pitch reveal
Aussie cricket legend Ian Healy has gone against common cricket rule and said new captain Pat Cummins should potentially bowl first if he wins the toss in the first Test of the Ashes.
On Monday, images emerged of the pitch at the Gabba and fans were quick to notice a rather green surface ahead of the first Test.
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And former Queensland star and Aussie wicket-keeper Healy has urged either captain to go against their natural instinct and bowl first on a 'green' pitch.
The last time an England captain chose to bowl first at the Gabba, Nasser Hussain in 2003, resulted in Australia posting 492 and winning the series 5-0.
While this is Australia's first Test match since April, and England are without lead bowler Jimmy Anderson, Healy still feels the wet and overcast conditions will be more favourable for bowlers.
“It’s green … I think this might be a bowl first (pitch),” Healy told SEN.
“It goes against a lot in our cricket mythology.
“It’s been overcast, heavy rain last week, there was a big storm again on Saturday night.”
With rain expected in the afternoon on Day 1 and Day 2 at least, the conditions could help England's bowlers who are more accustom to swing.
Jimmy Anderson left out of England Text XI
Despite the conditions, England's all-time leading wicket-taker Anderson was left out of the team.
While initial reports speculated injury, footage emerged of Anderson ripping in during a nets session on Tuesday morning.
This fuelled suggestions England are simply keeping the veteran star fresh for the second Test at the Adelaide Oval, which was later confirmed.
Anderson's record at the Gabba is horrendous considering he is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history.
He has just seven wickets in four matches in Brisbane at a woeful average at 75.14.
However he is deadly with the pink ball under lights and terrorised Australia's batsman during the day-night Test in Adelaide in 2017.
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