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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Barney Ronay at Sydney Cricket Ground

Conscript Potts is England’s paratrooper fighting a lonely Ashes war in Sydney

Matthew Potts cuts a dejected figure during day three of the fifth Ashes Test.
Matthew Potts cuts a dejected figure during day three of the fifth Ashes Test. Photograph: Philip Brown/Getty Images

Forty-five minutes into a quietly overcast morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Matt Potts came into the England attack from the Randwick End, and immediately began running through his variations.

His first ball was wide and smashed through cover by Travis Head. His second ball was both short and wide and hacked over gully by Travis Head. His third ball was short and straight and smashed past midwicket by Travis Head. His fourth ball was defended with a show of furrowed caution, to loud, mocking cheers from a crowd that had begun to tuck into the day. Welcome to the treadmill, Pottsy. And yes, it’s always like this around here.

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