After Australia wrapped up the collection in opposition to England in simply 11 days of Ashes motion, there’s little question which facet are greatest at cricket.
However what if the 2 groups determined to go head-to-head on the golf course?
Gamers from each side continuously wish to hit the fairways and, between Assessments, hitting somewhat white ball as an alternative of a barely larger pink/pink one been a well-liked exercise.
Right here, we take a look at the main golfers participating within the present Ashes collection:
England
Zak Crawley (handicap: 1)
Crawley has been one among England’s higher performers within the Ashes, amassing 214 runs (with two half-centuries) at a mean of 35.66. He’s the fourth highest scorer within the collection however, when it comes to golf, he’s proper on the prime of the charts. The 6ft 5” opener makes use of these lengthy levers to nice use and even admits he most popular golf to cricket when rising up.
Harry Brook (handicap: 1)
Brook joked in an interview with GQ journal in 2024 that being a golfer “undoubtedly needs to be in your CV to get into the Check staff.” He additionally revealed: “Formally I’m off one, however I play off scratch,” so the Yorkshireman, who took up the sport late, is likely one of the main golfers within the Ashes collection. A member at Ilkley in Yorkshire, Brooks might search solace on the course if he doesn’t enhance upon his disappointing collection up to now (averaging 28.83 with the bat).
Ben Stokes (handicap: 3.6)
England’s skipper has averaged 27.50 with the bat and brought 9 wickets at a mean of simply over 25 within the first three Assessments. As you’d anticipate from a world-class all-rounder, he’s a wonderful golfer too. Stokes has performed the distinguished pro-am within the BMW Championship at Wentworth, his handicap listed at 3.6 final time. As a participant recognized for smashing sixes, it’s no shock that he repeatedly pumps his drives properly over 300 yards.
Ollie Pope (handicap: 4.5)
Pope has had a troublesome time Down Beneath, averaging simply over 20 and dealing with loads of criticism for his lack of impression at No.3. However put a golf membership in his hand relatively than a cricket bat and he’d probably outscore everybody on the Aussie facet. The Surrey batsman has no finish of high-quality native programs to hone his expertise and he’s additionally performed the BMW PGA Championship pro-am at Wentworth.
Joe Root (handicap: 6)
The cricket-obsessed Root didn’t choose up a golf membership till his late teenagers however is now an enormous fan and a daily on the fairways. England’s main runscorer within the collection up to now (219 at a mean of 43.8 thanks primarily to his unbeaten century in Perth) has performed within the Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks pro-am in Scotland and different main occasions.
Australia
Pat Cummins (handicap: 5.6)
The skipper has solely performed one of many three Assessments up to now as a consequence of a again stress fracture though he nonetheless managed six wickets on his return to the facet. He’ll hope it received’t have an effect on his golf as Cummins has been a fast improver. A late starter, his handicap was initially reported to be round 20 however now it’s been slashed to simply 5.6.
Mitchell Starc (handicap: 7)
The left-handed paceman has been the star of the present for Australia, taking 22 wickets (eight extra dismissals than anybody else) at a fraction over 17 and, for good measure, hitting a few half-centuries too. He’s one of many Aussies’ greatest golfers too, taking part in off 7.
Nonetheless, his focus appears to have been purely on the Ashes (England, take notice!) as, in a pro-am between the second and third Assessments, he mustered solely 25 stableford factors at Kooyonga, ending 98th out of 108. Starc is married to Alyssa Healy (son of Aussie wicketkeeper Ian), who can also be a wonderful golfer.
She mentioned of her husband: “He’s really an excellent golfer however simply lets himself down somewhat bit across the greens. I reckon as soon as he will get a bit extra time at dwelling and rhythm into his golf I really feel like he’ll come down fairly shortly.”
Scott Boland (handicap: 7.1)
The fast-medium bowler, who bears a detailed resemblance to former golfer turned commentator Robert Lee, is the third highest-wicket taker up to now with 11. He’s additionally one of many Aussies’ higher golfers, with a reported handicap of seven.1. Six years in the past he posted an image of himself at Peninsula Kingswood – a Melbourne sandbelt course – celebrating a hole-in-one.
Steve Smith (handicap: 13)
So usually the scourge of England in Ashes collection, Smith likes a spherical of golf too. Nonetheless, taking part in off 13, the likes of Stokes, Root and Brooks would probably have his quantity on the golf course. Smith additionally took half within the current pro-am at Kooyonga and completed 96th out of 108. Once more, maybe he has his priorities proper as, within the two Assessments he’s performed up to now (he was ailing for the third), Smith has averaged over 50.
Marnus Labuschagne (handicap: 14)
A former No.1 within the Check batting rankings, Labuschagne hasn’t reached these heights with a golf membership in hand. He’s proven himself taking part in some main programs (Open venue Royal St. George’s) on social media and in addition admitted he “at all times performs junk” when having Steve Smith as a accomplice. He’s hit two half-centuries within the present Ashes collection.
Conclusion
Based mostly on the above handicaps, if the 2 groups locked horns on the golf course, England would probably acquire revenge for his or her Ashes defeat.
The England staff boast quite a few wonderful golfers whereas the very best Aussies – all bowlers by the way – are simply that little bit behind.
Australia’s present crop of batsmen haven’t actually excelled on the golf course however, rewind somewhat, and former captain Ricky Ponting was a wonderful golfer.
Ponting revealed in a number of interviews that he’s had seven hole-in-ones.
