England vs. Australia the Ashes 2013: Players at Risk After Ruthless Culling

If anyone was in doubt over the Ashes’ importance, they won’t be now after England and Australia ruthlessly axed players ahead of the Second Test at Lords.

Steven Finn endured a torrid first Test and was offered no chance of a reprieve at his home ground, with Tim Bresnan stepping in to the firing line.

Alastair Cook and the England selectors realise they are fortunate to be 1-0 up and know Finn’s bowling—conceding 24 runs off two overs at one point—and nervous display in the field cannot be repeated.

It leaves Finn in an odd predicament. On one hand he will desperately want England to win, but on the other his Ashes future depends on the bowling attack being so blunt Cook and co. have no choice but to recall him.

Michael Clarke and his selecting team were similarly ruthless, dispatching of Ed Cowan and Mitchell Starc for Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris. While the former decision is understandable, Cowan was out for a golden duck in the first innings and could only add 14 next time around, the dropping of Starc is more surprising.

Starc took five wickets across the first Test, and although he only added a solitary single with the bat, his exit has taken many by surprise including Daily Mail cricket correspondent Paul Newman.

Sam Sheringham of the BBC believes the Aussies have simply rotated their fast bowlers, but it seems a slightly strange decision given his impressive first Test second innings display, where he dismissed Cook and Joe Root before ending century hero Ian Bell’s stand.

For the English and Aussies, the Ashes is the pinnacle of the cricket calendar. With the margins so tight this time around, every player’s contribution comes under intense scrutiny.

It’s not enough to put in one good performance. Everyone must deliver in every single innings or face the prospect of being dropped for the eager replacements on the sidelines.

Some players have greater leeway for a shocking innings—it’s unlikely James Anderson and Ashton Agar will be shunned if they have a stinker—but anyone who costs their team a Test will likely be shifted out into the cricketing wilderness.