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Sydney, Nov.8 (ANI): The Australian cricket team’s preparations for the Ashes series against England is falling way short of what is normally expected for such a high-profile series, feels columnist Peter Roebuck.

In a syndicated column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck says that several factors are contributing to this pre-Ashes malaise.

For instance, he cites Mitchell Johnson’s lookalike, Mitchell Starc, tears the Sri Lankans apart whilst the real deal once again struggles to trouble the batsmen. Steven Smith dives around in the field and is then unable to bowl at the vital moment. David Warner scores a double century for New South Wale’s Futures League side and that night is sent off to play in an absurd six-a-side competition in Hong Kong.

Then there is the case of Australian captain Ricky Ponting missing a representative match purportedly to prepare for the next Shield contest, and New South Wales announcing their side for the local derby against Victoria without Shane Watson or Michael Clarke in it.

Not to forget, the Australians losing a Test and one-day series to India in India, and following it up with a series loss to Sri Lanka.

Next it emerges that Australia’s team for the Gabba is due to be on November 15, ten days before the Ashes series begins, and much before another round of Shield matches.

Australia is already faced with a tough job to regain the Ashes. Suffice it to say that the think tank has made the task even more difficult,” Roebuck adds. (ANI)