Brydon Carse interview: I am well up for a fight in Australia

Telegraph

5 days ago

For Brydon Carse to admit England have been 'too nice' in the past sends one clear message to the Australians: they will not be this winter.
England have had their issues in the face of Australian aggression Down Under. They have not won a Test match in Australia since 2010-11, and in the 21st century have only won four out of 25 - yet an Ashes series in Australia is still the yardstick by which any national side is judged.
When Ollie Robinson said he wanted to emulate Andrew Flintoff and get under the Australians' skin four years ago, he ended up on the wrong side of history with his fitness publicly questioned. This time, Carse's promise of taking the fight to the opposition is being echoed by those around him, and it might have Australia concerned.
'I think a couple of England sides can sometimes come across as too nice and we actually spoke about that as a group,' Carse told Telegraph Sport during the eight-day break between a fiery Test against India at Lord's and the fourth one at Old Trafford.
'There's a lot of times when you play against sides as an opposition and they get stuck into us and we kind of sit back and don't get involved too much.
'So I think - and again going back to [Lord's] and to the latter part of that game - moving forwards it will certainly be something that we remember as a group going into an away Ashes tour where no doubt there will be some tough moments out there.
'But we will definitely not take a backwards step to the Aussies.'
The words of battle are far too readily reached for when it comes to Ashes cricket, but in 2017 Nathan Lyon expressed his hope that Australia would 'end the careers' of some of the English players. 'Bazball' England have not said anything as dramatic, but there is a pack mentality they could harness.
'One thing we spoke about was when you're out there fielding and bowling at the opposition, there's 11 of us out there and there's two of them,' Carse, a brand ambassador for Step One, explained.
'Sometimes I think most sides around the world, you have a chance to create a presence as a full team out there, so why would you not create that atmosphere of 'you're taking on not just one bowler but 11 guys on that field'.'
Carse is a key part of the side, and one for whom a laid-back nature off the field does not necessarily have to translate to one on it.
'I think it's just that competitive edge that I have when I get out there, I wouldn't really call it red mist, ' he said. 'Wanting to win the battle of whatever situation I'm in at the time, and I know I've got the full support of the 10 other blokes on the field with me.'
Against India at Lord's, England had to show a nasty streak to take the series lead, including send-offs and a tangle between Carse and Ravindra Jadeja, but all while maintaining respect.
'I enjoy the battle, I'm always up for it,' Carse explained.
'I'm never going to take a backwards step and I think it showed in the second part of this game when us as a side all come together and back each other up. It's a pretty cool atmosphere to play in and to be around.'
One of the things England will need to be competitive in Australia is one of their biggest problems, the fitness of their fast-bowling contingent.
While Jofra Archer has had elbow and hand problems, Mark Wood a knee issue, and Gus Atkinson a hamstring injury, for Carse his biggest problem is his feet.
An intense winter that started with the rock-hard pitches of Pakistan and then a three-Test series against New Zealand caused severe cuts on the second toe of Carse's foot which then became infected. He was ruled out for months and even considered amputation, before reconsidering given the effect it could have on his balance.
The boots at the time were an issue, but Carse is not alone in fast bowlers for having to cut two holes in his left landing boot - Derek Pringle also made holes in his spikes and it is a remedy that has been employed for decades.
Now, equipped with new boots and new insoles, Carse is in a much better place.
'My toes are okay, they're good,' he said with a chuckle. 'I enjoy the battle, I'm always up for it. I'm never going to take a backwards step and I think it showed in the second part of this game when us as a side all come together and back each other up. It's a pretty cool atmosphere to play in and to be around.'
Flying through boots though if anything, is an understatement.
'I was pretty good this game [Lord's],' he said. 'I started this game with two new pairs and I finished the game with the same two new pairs.
'But the first couple of games I think I went through six or seven pairs of boots over two weeks, so it wasn't ideal.'
A bowler puts eight times their bodyweight through their front leg and foot every time they bowl at full pace, something that cannot easily be replicated. But England will have to hope that for their fast-bowling contingent to be at full strength, Carse's foot holds up - even if he might need to take five pairs to every Test venue.