It would be an understatement to say that the crown of best Test team has passed from India to England.
The crown didn’t pass, it was seized. And England didn’t just seize it. They seized it and then used it to beat India to a bloodied pulp. Then they stood over the carcass and took photos while wearing their new crown at a jaunty angle.
The margin of defeat – an innings and 242 runs – does not deceive. India were murdered in this game. And not just murdered. England murdered them and danced round their grave singing comic songs in a raucous voice.
A dispirited India, ground into the blameless Edgbaston turf by the relentless glacier that is Alastair Cook, were torn apart by the skill of James Anderson. Anderson, gaining life and movement that had been absent when India bowled, claimed the first four wickets to fall in the final innings and has now overtaken both Andrew Caddick and Sir Alec Bedser in list of England bowlers with the most Test wickets.
Where do India go from here? As a Test team, their future is bleak. Most of their best players are far nearer the end than the start of their careers and the priority of the BCCI remains the money-spinning limited-overs game.
It seems the BBCI are emerging as the villains of the piece, but that may not be fair. After all, the IPL was set-up partially to negate the ‘rebel’ ICL. All the Indian board have done is try to meet the insatiable desire for players to earn more. The ECB fell victim to a similar problem with the Stanford event.
In the long-term, Indian players will need to work hard to have any hope of retaining their No. 1 status. They’ll have to be fitter and stronger. They’ll have to play county cricket to experience differing conditions and they’ll have to accept that many of them are hopeless against the short ball. While they remain in denial, they’ll never improve.
They’d be fools to hide behind an injury to Zaheer Khan. England were missing Chris Tremlett, too. These things happen. Instead, they should examine why Zaheer reported for a tour so out of shape and they should reflect on why their bowling resources are so limited.
That Praveen Kumar has been their best player so far tells as much about his tremendous heart as it does about the underachievement of the rest of the team. Kumar is a worthy but limited cricketer making the best of himself; his colleagues – Dravid excepted – are complacent superstars who have become too posh to push. Literally and metaphorically they have grown fat on their success. It remains to be seen whether they have the hunger to regain the top spot.
It’s worth remembering, too, that the first two World Test Championships are to be played in England. It’s hard to see how India can win.
Is there a better bowler than Anderson in world cricket? Probably not. Where once Anderson was a bully in helpful conditions and a liability in others, he’s now a superb on any surface. The ability to move the ball both ways in the air and off the pitch is precious in itself, but allied to Anderson’s accuracy and control and England have a special bowler.
Certainly Gambhir, who prodded Anderson’s first ball of the day to slip, and Laxman, who edged a beauty that left him, were the victim of a fine deliveries.
But perhaps India were also unfortunate. Sachin Tendulkar, batting with an ease that none of his colleagues could match, was run out backing up as Graeme Swann, in his follow through, got just a finger on MS Dhoni’s firm, straight drive. Then Dravid was victim of a poor umpiring decision. He was adjudged caught behind, though replays suggest he hit only his shoelaces. India’s failure to request a review, however, was inexplicable.
Dhoni and Kumar showed some belated heart with a furious counter-attack, but the game was long-since over as a contest. The pair thrashed 75 in seven-and-a-half overs – Swann was slogged for 55 from his last four overs – but even that came at a cost. Kumar sustained a horrid blow to the thumb off Anderson and must be rated as doubtful for the final Test. Sreesanth also sustained a blow to the hand.
The manner in which victory was sealed spoke volumes. Sreesanth, jerking out of the way of a short ball, fenced a catch off the shoulder of the bat to gully. India, battered, bruised and embarrassed had been blown away.
There are, of course, other hurdles to clear before England can claim to categorically be the best Test team in the world. They need to defeat India in India and they need to defeat a South Africa side that, with Imran Tahir involved, at last look to have strength and balance. Both opportunities present themselves in the next year.
England have already proved themselves an excellent side however. People may mutter about the strength of the opposition but that’s not totally fair. Australia had never been beaten by an innings margin three times in a series until the last Ashes series and India – with one of the strongest Test top fives in history – have not lost a series since 2008. England have made both sides look ordinary. It’s not coincidence. England really are very good.
Alastair Cook 10/10
766 runs at 127.66
A magnificent series. By the end of last summer, Cook was clinging on to his place in the England side and, by his own admission, “couldn’t hit a beach ball.” He averaged just 26 in previous Ashes encounters and his troubles outside the off-stump had the Australian bowlers salivating in anticipation. His career appeared to be in the balance.
It’s not any more. Cook batted for more than 36 hours in the series – no Englishman has ever spent longer at the crease in a Test series – and scored an eye-watering 766 runs. Only Wally Hammond and Don Bradman have scored more in an Ashes series. He fully deserved his man of the series award.
How did he do it? He left the ball outside the off stump and waited for the bowlers to stray into his areas. Then he cut, pulled and flicked to his heart’s content. And, as his confidence grew, he even unveiled a surprisingly elegant cover drives. Aged just 26, he’s already scored over 5,000 Test runs and recorded 16 Test centuries: he’s going to break every English Test batting record in existence.
Credit, too, for the selectors who stuck with him and the coaches who worked with him. Their judgement and faith has been fully vindicated.
Andrew Strauss 8/10
307 runs at 43.85
A sound, if unspectacular, series with the bat. Bouncing back from his first over dismissal at Brisbane, he settled England’s nerves with their first century of the series in the second innings. He passed 50 three more times in the series, often helping his side steal the initiative, but failing to go on.
His greatest contribution, however, remains the captaincy. While he’s somewhat conservative on the pitch, his admirable calm head ans sensible disposition helped England regroup after a shaky start at Brisbane and the debacle of Perth. He’s now one of just three man (Hutton and Brearley are the others) to have led England to Ashes success home and away. There’s little reason to think he can’t go further and lead England to World Cup success and the top of the Test rankings.
Jonathan Trott 9/10
445 runs at 89
You have to go back a long, long time to find a better England No. 3 than Trott. His sound technique, calm head and relentless hunger for runs have created a wonderfully consistent Test batsman who is equally proficient coming in at 0-1 or 200-1. And he seems to love batting against Australia: before his duck in Sydney he averaged more than 100 in the Ashes. Don’t forget that run-out of Katich at Adelaide, either. Trott was superb and has now answered every question about his technique and temperament.
Kevin Pietersen 7/10
360 runs at 60
1 wicket at 16
A somewhat perplexing series. Magnificent at Adelaide – he scored a match-winning double-century and took a crucial wicket – he only passed 50 once more in the series. For a player with as much talent as Pietersen, that’s slightly disappointing. Some of his off-field comments – such as the swipe at Peter Moores – hardly helped team unity, either. Even if there was more than a grain of truth in them.
Paul Collingwood 3.5/10
82 runs at 13.83
2 wickets at 36.50
He took several wonderful catches and a couple of useful wickets but, from a personal perspective, this was a bitterly disappointing series from Collingwood. He rarely looked comfortable at the crease and, while all his colleagues flourished, often looked as if he were struggling to cope with the pace of the Australian bowlers. His retirement was inevitable. It was the right decision, too. For all his determination and all his positive contributions behind the scenes, it’s runs that define a batsman’s worth and Collingwood simply hasn’t scored enough.
Ian Bell 8/10
329 runs at 65.80
If there were still doubters before this series, they are surely silenced now. No-one on either side timed the ball as sweetly as Bell and his century at Sydney, an innings that ensured his side of a series win, was the coming of age of a man who has promised much for a long time. Batting at least one place too low, he was often obliged to sacrifice his wicket in the search for quick runs and the feeling persists that, with more opportunity, Bell might have gained many of the plaudits that have gone to Cook. It is surely telling that, in the first innings at Brisbane and Perth, with all his colleagues struggling, Bell top scored. The next few years promise much.
Matt Prior 7/10
252 runs at 50.40
23 catches
A much improved ‘keeper, Prior was very good against the fast bowlers and, the odd indiscretion apart, reliable against the spinners. His six catches in an innings at Melbourne equalled an Ashes record and he finished with an admirable 23 victims. With the bat, he improved after a shaky start (he was part of Siddle’s hat-trick in Brisbane) and scored a maiden Ashes century at Sydney. To underline the selfless nature of his play, it was the fastest Ashes century by an Englishman since Ian Botham in 1981.
Stuart Broad 3/10
0 runs at 0
2 wickets at 80.50
A bitterly disappointing series. A muscle tear forced Broad out of the series after the second Test, by which time he’d claimed just two wickets and suffered a first ball dismissal. He had bowled somewhat better than the figures suggested, however, conceding just 2.3 runs an over and ensuring his captain a measure of control in the field. The pitch at Perth would surely have suited him ideally bit, with Tremlett, Finn and Bresnan now all pressing for inclusion, Broad can no longer consider himself an automatic selection.
Graeme Swann 6/10
88 runs at 22
15 wickets at 39.80
It was presumed before the series that if England were to win, Swann would need to enjoy a big series. It didn’t turn out that way. Swann failed to find much help from the Australian pitches and found Hussey one of the toughest opponents of his Test career to date. Swann didn’t always look comfortable against Australia’s quick bowling, either. Still, when conditions suited, at Adelaide, he played his part with a five-wicket haul that helped his side to victory, while his excellent bowling at Melbourne went largely unrewarded. He remained cheerful on and off the pitch, too, and certainly contributed to the relaxed and happy mood in the England camp.
Chris Tremlett 9/10
19 runs at 6.33
17 wickets at 23.35
A breakthrough series. Seemingly in the cricketing wilderness just 12-months ago, Tremlett build on his excellent season in county cricket with a performance that announced him as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in world cricket. Casting off his reputation as injury prone and small hearted, Tremlett bowled with pace, bounce, hostility and skill. In such form, he is as fearsome as fast bowler as any in the world.
Tim Bresnan 8/10
39 runs at 19.50
11 wickets at 19.54
Called into the side for the final two Tests, Bresnan responded with two highly impressive performances. Maintaining an excellent, nagging line and length, Bresnan gained movement in the air and off the pitch and generated surprising pace. While the highlight may have been the superb spell in Melbourne that accounted for Ponting, Hussey and Watson within 18 balls at the cost of just two runs, his batting at Sydney will also have reminded the selectors of his all-round ability.
James Anderson 9/10
22 runs at 4.40
26 wickets at 26.04
The series that established Anderson’s reputation as one of England’s finest post-war bowlers. Answering all the questions, Anderson swung the new ball conventionally, reversed the old ball, gained movement off the seam and, throughout, maintained excellent control and a wonderfully probing line and length. There are very few better fast bowlers in world cricket.
Steve Finn 7/10
3 runs at 3
14 wickets at 33.14
Started the series well, with six wickets in an innings at Brisbane and a brave performance in Adelaide. But he seemed to tire in Perth and paid the price for conceding more than four an over by losing his place for the final two Tests. It was a brave decision from the selectors, however, as, at the time, Finn was England’s leading wicket-taker in the series. Aged only 21, Finn remains one for the future.
Tags: Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, chris tremlett, George Dobell, Graeme Swann, ian bell, James Anderson, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, matt prior, paul collingwood, SPIN cricket magazine, steve finn, Stuart Broad, The Ashes, Tim Bresnan
Kevin Pietersen
Clearly his double-century at Adelaide was crucial. As was the timely wicket of Michael Clarke.
But that’s not the point.
Perhaps KP’s biggest contribution was his part in the removal of Peter Moores as England coach a couple of years ago. Yes, it cost both men their jobs and saw Pietersen cast – quite unfairly – as a scheming, treacherous villain in some quarters.
But, had he not informed the ECB about his concerns, would England have just won the Ashes? Moores would have stayed in place (for another six months or so, anyway) and the Flower-Strauss era may never have come to be.
It’s worth reiterating what happened after the India tour at the end of 2008. After India beat England 5-0 in the ODIs and 1-0 in the Test series, Pietersen was asked to report his thoughts about Moores as coach. Pietersen consequently outlined his concerns and replied that he felt he couldn’t take the team any further with Moores at the helm. That was taken – not necessarily accurately – as an ultimatum, and both men were removed from office. Flower and Strauss were the right men in the right place at the right time to step in and replace them. The ECB may pretend it was wonderful planning, but it’s not so: there was a great deal of luck involved in the appointment of this captain and coach.
Take Pietersen’s own comments on the subject with a pinch of salt, though. He had no intention of resigning the captaincy; he was sacked. He wasn’t too keen on Andy Flower at the time, either. And the feeling was mutual.
Moores’ record is far from awful. He appointed the fielding coach Richard Halsall, recalled Graeme Swann and helped James Anderson rediscover his best form. Andy Flower would be the first to credit Moores for the foundations he built.
But, had Pietersen not rebelled, England would have perservered with a failing regime and might never have stumbled upon the excellent combination they now enjoy. England owe KP and his habit of not settling for second best is a quality to be savoured.
County cricket
Had England lost, you can be quite sure that county cricket would have taken the blame. ‘There’s too much of it,’ the critics would bleat. Or, ‘the standard is too low.’
So how about remembering its contribution now that England have won? After all, where did Chris Tremlett learn his trade? Or Graeme Swann? Or Jonathan Trott? Or Tim Bresnan?
The truth is, ever since the advent of the four day, two division county championship, English domestic cricket has been played in a very tough, competitive manner that renders it an ideal learning environment. Justin Langer remarked that is was as competitive as any domestic cricket he had played and Shane Warne also credited it as part of the reason for England’s success.
Yet the ECB are, even now, are looking at ways to reduce the English schedule that include cutting the amount of championship cricket. Add to that schemes designed to promote the number of young players (and therefore cut the number of experienced ones) and reduce the amount of non-England qualified cricketers. All such schemes risk compromising the standard of the championship. We meddle with it at our peril.
Motivation
Humiliation and revenge are powerful motivational devices. England really wanted this. Years of losses – not least the embarrassing whitewash of 2006-07 – had filled the whole of English cricket with a ravenous hunger for success. Not only were the players fully motivated, the ECB were happy to fund the central contracts, the support staff, the modern coaching devices and training camps that all contributed to this success. English cricket, stung by years of hurt, has been overhauled in recent years and is much the better for it. This success has been a long time coming.
Australia aren’t very good
Would the England side of 2010-11 have beaten the Australian side of 2007-08? Maybe, but it would have been substantially harder. For all the improvements that England have made, the crucial difference in this series was still the absence of Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Martyn, Langer and Hayden. Their replacements are simply not in the same class. Indeed, it’s hard to recall a weaker era of Australian cricket. If Xavier Doherty is their best spinner in first-class cricket, they really are in trouble.
Australia are not awful, though. They retain a decent fast bowling line-up – Siddle and Harris both hurried England with their pace, while Johnson showed he remains, on his day, a dangerous customer – while the likes of Watson, Ponting, Clarke and Hussey remain high-class batsmen. England played very well, but it would be disingenuous to pretend the quality was as high as previous series.
Andy Flower (and the rest of the coaching staff)
What a record Flower has! He’s now overseen Ashes wins at home and abroad, the World T20 success and has a decent chance of leading England to the top of the world Test rankings. Bearing in mind how awful they were only a couple of years ago (they lost a Test series in the Caribbean, remember) and that’s an astonishing record.
How has he done it? He’s an excellent combination of demanding, professional and calm. He’s immensely competitive, has a prodigious work ethic and, crucially, knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. He was, remember, rated the best Test batsman in the world not so long ago.
But he also knows that you don’t create a happy dressing room by hectoring or bullying. So Flower has created an environment where players not only feel motivated and determined, but where they also feel confident and secure. It’s not an easy balancing act and a few players – Shah, for example – have been weeded out along the way for not fully buying into the ethos. Flower deserves immense credit for achieving it.
Don’t forget the support staff, either. Remember Trott’s run out of Katich at Adelaide? Richard Halsall, the fielding coach, must take some credit for that. And for the fact that England, for the first time in many, many years, were the better fielding side. And how about Matt Prior’s vastly improved keeping? Bruce French, the wicketkeeping coach, is partially responsible. And then there’s Graham Gooch, who deserves great praise for his role in the vastly improved form of Alastair Cook. It’s been a team performance, on and off the pitch.
Andrew Strauss
He hasn’t always looked at his most fluent with the bat this series, but Andrew Strauss remains the key man in the England dressing room. Remember that line about treating triumph and disaster just the same? Well, Strauss does that to perfection. His calm, common sense has helped England bounce back from some crushing defeats and cope with some unexpected success. He’s respected as a player and as man by his colleagues and seems able to keep in cool in any situation. He’s played a huge part in creating the
Selection
Do you remember those grim years when the England selectors changed the team so often that even they couldn’t remember all the names? Ted Dexter calling Devon Malcolm, Malcolm Devon springs to mind. But, whereas England used 29 players during the drubbing of 1989 and 24 in 1993, they’ve only used 13 players. And that’s despite an injury to Stuart Broad.
That policy of continuity of selection has allowed players to play with confidence and to relax in the knowledge that they are not always fighting to save their careers. It’s played a huge role in England’s resurgence. If only Hick and Ramprakash had enjoyed such treatment.
The selectors have done well to identify many of the better players in county cricket, too. Many had given up on Chris Tremlett but the selectors noted his improved form last summer and have been fully vindicated in recalling him. The patience – remarkable patience – afforded to the likes of Cook has also been fully rewarded.
Highlight of the year:
England’s success in the World T20.
Until May, England held an unwanted record in limited-overs cricket. Of all the ever-present Test-playing nations over the last 25 years, England were the only side not to have won a global tournament. West Indies, India, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand all had better records.
All that changed in May. Stung by a series of embarrassing reverses, England coach Andy Flower resolved to adopt a bold, new approach. As Paul Collingwood, England’s T20- captain put it: “It got to the point, last year, when the two Andys [Flower and Strauss] said, ‘Look, we’ve got to do things differently. If we continue to do the same old things, we’ll continue to get the same old results.’ England have never really done very well in one-day cricket. I remember in my early days Duncan Fletcher used to tell us, “Just bat though the 50 overs in a one-day international, because we kept getting bowled out in 40 overs. Our aim was just to bat 50 overs!”
So England selected a new-look side. In it were the likes of Michael Lumb, Michael Yardy, Ryan Sidebottom and Craig Kieswetter – all of whom might be considered T20 specialists – and all of whom combined to form a far more positive, athletic and fearless team than England ever before fielded.
Kevin Pietersen batted brilliantly, Graeme Swann bowled superbly and all their colleagues chipped in with bat, ball and in the field. There was nothing lucky about England’s success: the best team won.
Lowlight of the year
The match-fixing scandal.
It was surely fitting that the news broke during an epic Test at Lord’s – the home of cricket – that should have captivated spectators.
An outrageously talented, young fast bowler – Mohammad Amir – was doing battle with England’s golden boy – Stuart Broad – in a wonderfully entertaining game.
But then ‘those’ pictures were published. Pictures that proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that Pakistan players were taking money in exchange for match-fixing. Amir was right in the thick of it, but the episode has raised serious questions about many of his team-mates and Pakistan cricket in general. It’s no exaggeration to say that the integrity of the sport has never been so badly compromised.
There is a bright side. Such has been the furore around the story that the ICC have finally been forced to confront a cancer that has eaten away at the game for years. Several players face lengthy bans, though it is hard to see how the game can really be clean while Pakistan cricket – rotten to its core – is allowed to compete at world level. Just as it is sometimes necessary to cut off a limb to save a body, so Pakistan cricket requires a substantial period in isolation before we can be assured it will not poison the rest of world cricket.
Comeback of the year:
Worcestershire.
Few gave Worcestershire much hope of success in 2010. After a horrid 2009 saw them relegated after going through the whole Championship season without a win, they then lost five senior players (Kabir Ali, Steve Davies, Stephen Moore, Gareth Batty and Simon Jones) to other counties and had to cut their cricket budget by £300,000.
Yet, thanks to a strong team spirit, some astute recruiting – Alan Richardson and Shakib-Al-Hasan in particular – and some encouraging performances from young players such as Moeen Ali and Alexei Kervezee, Worcestershire achieved an unlikely but thoroughly deserved promotion.
There were still some poor days – remember that loss against the Unicorns? – that suggest Worcestershire remain a work in progress but, with results showing a marked resurgence once Daryl Mitchell assumed the captaincy (they won four CB40 games in and four of their last six Championship games) they may shock a few in 2011, too.
Chris Tremlett also deserves a mention in this category. At the end of 2009, Tremlett was unwanted by Hampshire and in danger of drifting out of the game as a massively unfulfilled talent. Barely 12-months later, however, he has developed into the world-class fast bowler his talent always suggested he could become and is an automatic selection in the England side.
Man of the year
Zulqarnain Haider
He may never have made a huge impression as a player – he played only one Test, after all – but the world of cricket may yet come to be most grateful for Zulqarnain Haider’s contribution.
Haider, a wicket-keeper batsman on the fringes of the Pakistan side, not only declined the overtures of those wanting to lure him into match-fixing, but blew the whistle on their entire operation.
It was a brave move. Not only did it end Haider’s hopes of a career in international cricket, but it may well have jeopardised his safety and the safety of his family. If, as suspected, the roots of match-fixing spread into the worlds of terrorism and organised crime, then Haider has made some powerful enemies. He recently sought asylum in the UK and may require protection for the rest of his life.
The reaction of many involved in cricket in Pakistan spoke volumes. Instead of offering Haider support, he was ridiculed. The reason? His information promises to bring down many players and officials who have made vast sums from match-fixing. It was also telling that Haider reported his concerns not to the cricketing authorities, but to the media. It suggests, surely, how much confidence he had in the game’s governing body to deal with such a serious situation. Remember, it was the media – not the much-vaunted Anti-Corruption Unit – that uncovered the Pakistan match-fixing story in the first place.
Batsman of the year:
Alastair Cook.
Within an ace of being dropped late into the English summer, Cook has responded with a run of form so purple that it threatens records only Don Bradman could reach. Cook has produced match-turning innings in four of his last six Tests and, after 695 runs at an average of 116 a time (with power to add) is fully vindicating the England selectors’ admirable faith in him.
Bowler of the year:
Graeme Swan
Most people thought off-spin was a dying art. Particularly if the spinner didn’t have the ability to bowl the ‘doosra’; a delivery that many feel is impossible without being chucked in any case.
But then Swann came along. With the old-fashioned virtues of flight, control, variation and turn, Swann has claimed 62 Test wickets at 26 apiece this year (with power to add) and played a key role in England’s World T20 triumph. He rose to second in the world Test ratings, third in the ODI ratings and proved that hard work, intelligence and perseverance are qualities that never lose their value at any level of the game.
Near miss of the year:
Somerset.
Runners-up in all three domestic competitions, it was hard not to feel sorry for Somerset in 2010. They remain one of the few counties never to have won the county championship but, having strengthened once again this winter, may well break their duck in 2011.
Tags: Alastair Cook, Andy Flower, chris tremlett, George Dobell, Graeme Swann, haider, hasan, ICC World Twenty20, Mohammad Amir, shakib-al, somerset, Stuart Broad, worcestershire
No-one ever remembers the first half of The Titanic’s voyage, do they? The punctual departure; the excellent catering or the smooth progress.
All anyone talks about is that unfortunate incident with the iceberg.
It could prove the same for England in Australia. While the first few weeks of the tour could scarcely have gone much better for England, all that will count for nothing if they are unable to retain the Ashes.
England hit their iceberg on the second day at the WACA. It appeared in the unlikely form of Mitchell Johnson who produced an incisive spell of fast, swing bowling to precipitate a spectacular batting collapse.
Steaming along merrily at 78 without loss, Johnson persuaded Cook into a loose drive and sliced a catch to gully. From there, England proceeded to lose all ten wickets for just 109 runs, leaving Australia with a first innings lead of 81.
Perhaps it seems harsh to criticise Cook. He has enjoyed a prolific series, after all, and must be excused the odd moment of fallibility.
But his dismissal, somewhat self-inflicted as it was, should serve as a reminder of the danger of complacency. England had an opportunity to build a substantial lead, but Cook’s departure gave Australia – and Johnson in particular – fresh heart and exposed the middle-order to the swinging ball. It could prove to be the turning point of the series.
Johnson’s part in the carnage was six wickets for 38 runs. Bowling with pace, hostility and, most crucially of all, swing, Johnson ripped through England’s top-order with worrying ease, turning this series on its head in the process.
This was quite a different Johnson to the confused trundler witnessed in Brisbane. Running in straighter and with more purpose, he found the swing that has eluded him for so long and, as a consequence, had England’s batsmen, so dominant in Adelaide, suddenly appearing all at sea. Whatever remedial work Troy Cooley and co have applied in recent weeks, it appears to have done the trick.
Johnson gained good support from his pace colleagues. Siddle and Harris bowled with excellent pace and hostility, while Hilfenhaus bowled without luck but ensured the pressure was maintained at both ends.
England’s batsmen looked mightily uncomfortable against the barrage. Though Strauss and Cook set a decent platform,it was not without some fortune. Strauss was missed, for example, on just 16 when Haddin inexplicably failed to attempt to catch a regulation outside edge.
When the damn was broken, the water poured through. Trott, unsettled by a fast bouncer, was then trapped by the next delivery, a full ball that swung in fractionally, before, three balls later, Kevin Pietersen was punished for playing across an inswinger.
Collingwood, whose form is now causing some concern, was also beaten by one that swung in and could really do with a sizable contribution in the second innings if speculation over his place in the side is not to return.
Strauss finally departed to an outside edge, before Prior was bowled off the body as Siddle peppered him with short deliveries. Perhaps Prior can count himself somewhat unfortunate: a seagull flew right in front of him at the moment of delivery and cannot have helped his concentration.
Swann, unsettled by the bounce, fell to a timid outside edge, before the tail – longer than is comfortable in the absence of Broad – were swept away with ease.
Only Bell emerged with much credit. Timing the ball beautifully, he dealt with the short ball – and there were many – with more comfort than anyone and also produced a number of sumptuous drives and pulls. His dismissal, attempting to force the pace with only the tail for company, underlined the impression that he is wasted batting as low as six. A swap with Collingwood is surely overdue.
England had an opportunity to hit back in the last session. Phillips fell to an indeterminate prod, Ponting was unfortunate to be caught off the glove down the leg side and Clarke mis-judged Tremlett’s bounce and played-on.
But, despite those three relatively early wickets, Watson and Hussey combined to snuff out any English fightback. Watson, with an immaculate forward defensive, also put away the poor ball – and there were several – with power, while Hussey ran swiftly, found the gaps well and deals with Swann with dispiriting confidence.
England weren’t at their best in the field. Swann bowled uncharacteristically short, while Finn also struggled to maintain a consistent length.
So, at the end of the second day, Australia lead by exactly 200. It’s worth remembering that South Africa scored 414-4 to win in the fourth innings here just a couple of
years ago, but this pitch bears little resemblance. England will do very well to score 400 in the fourth innings.
All of a sudden, a series that seemed to be heading England’s way is wide open again.
Tags: Alastair Cook, George Dobell, Graeme Swann, ian bell, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Michael Hussey, mitchell johnson, peter siddle, shane watson, SPIN, The Ashes
When Chris Tremlett was released by Hampshire at the end of 2009, it appeared a career that promised so much might be sliding towards an early, unfulfilled finish.
Tremlett was 28 at the time and had taken just 14 wickets in the previous first-class season. For one so talented, it was a pitiful return. Capable of pace, hostility and menace, he had instead earned a reputation as diffident, work-shy and injury prone.
It was largely unfair. In truth, Tremlett suffered from some bad luck (on one occasion he suffered a punctured lung when an acupuncture session went wrong while on another he damaged ligaments on his hand when he cut himself washing up), from some misconception (his England record was actually pretty decent even before today; remember how close he was to a hat-trick on ODI debut or his three-wicket burst against India?) and from some poor handling (recall how he was named in England’s 12-man Test squad in 2008 only to be discarded for Darren Pattinson or how he was asked to fulfil role of strike and stock bowler for Hampshire on some featherbed wickets?).
A fresh start seems to have worked wonders. Relocating to The Oval, Tremlett has become fitter than ever before and, just as importantly, found acceptance and understanding of his role. As Surrey’s strike bowler, he claimed 48 first-class wickets in 2010 – his best season return – and thoroughly earned this second chance with England.
Doubters remained, of course. They questioned his stamina and, more damagingly, his pluck. But, on the biggest of stages, under the most intense spotlight, he delivered today. He answered all the questions. Let there be no more nonsense about him lacking heart. He outbowled his colleagues and gave a performance to suggest he could be in the side for some time.
Perhaps we should suspend judgement. Well though Tremlett bowled, he will surely come up against more testing opposition on less helpful surfaces. Phillip Hughes, for example, departed in Tremlett’s first over. He immediately looked uncomfortable against the short ball and, when confronted with a full delivery, simply played across it in a manner that casts doubts over his ability to ever succeed as a Test opener. Michael Clarke also played a large part in his own downfall, prodding horribly at one he should have left, while Steve Smith was drawn into prodding outside off stump with hard hands.
Still, this was a fine performance from Tremlett. He maintained a probing line and length and, by virtue of his height (six feet, seven inches), generated enough bounce to unsettle all the Australian batsmen.
“When i woke up this morning I was very nervous,” Tremlett said afterwards.
“But actually when I got into my stride and bowled my first over and got the wicket I felt at ease and just tried to enjoy the experience. It’s been a very exciting and enjoyable day.
“I moved to Surrey last year and enjoyed things there. Obviously the aspiration was to get back to playing for England and it’s great for me that I’ve had the opportunity to do it again. It was something I decided myself I wanted to do, get away from the comforts of Hampshire. A new county a new pitch a new place. Straight away I felt very welcome at Surrey, I enjoyed the whole season and felt I bowled pretty well.
“I’ve grown up a bit. I’m more experienced as a cricketer. I know my game a lot more. I just think I’m a better bowler than I was three years ago.
“My plan was to go in there and show people that I can be consistent, bowl my areas, and do what I’ve been going for Surrey. I try to ignore what people say’ when i get the ball in my hand I try to be aggressive and be positive.
“I would have been desperate to play in any Test, but the opportunity has come about to play in Perth. I think it showed that this wicket has bounce, and hopefully it has proved to be the right selection,. I thought I bowled the right way on this wicket and I was the right man to pick.”
“I always wanted to play for England, but it’s taken a bit of time to get back to where I wanted to be. Now the hard work has paid off.
“At the moment I feel fitter than ever stronger than ever and I am very happy with my action. It is as repetitive as it ever been and a it’s more consistent that its ever been. That was the most special game I’ve played in so far it was an amazing atmosphere and a very special day.”
It was a puzzling performance from Australia. Often their batsmen seemed to be the ones struggling to adapt to Perth’s bouncy, but hardly lightening fast, pitch. Ponting, for example, was again punished for pushing hard outside the off-stump (and was superbly caught by Collingwood in the slips), while Watson simply missed a yorker and Haddin and Johnson undid much of their good work with gormless dismissals: Haddin edging a wild drive and Johnson pulling obligingly to the man placed for the shot.
It could have been even better for England. Australia were reeling at 69-5 shortly after lunch and, but for some spirited resistance from Hussey, Haddin, Johnson and Siddle, might have struggled to exceed 130.
That the last five wickets added 199 tells us three things, however. Firstly that Australia’s top-order could learn much from the fortitude of their lower-order; secondly that this pitch holds no horrors and thirdly that utilising the new ball is crucial. England should be aiming for a total in excess of 400.
Hussey was typically impressive, leaving the ball well and finding the gaps cunningly, while Haddin drove beautifully and Johnson slashed with abandon that never hinted at permanency.
But when Swann produced a beauty, drifting in and turning away sharply, to dismiss Hussey, Australia’s last real chance of a substantial total had gone. A total of 268 might be better than they feared at lunch but, make no mistake, it’s inadequate.
Australia should have struck back in the evening. Hussey, at gully, was unable to lay a hand on a chance – routine at this level – offered by Strauss (on 7) off Johnson. England survived, however, and though they may endure some torrid moments early on day two, the Australia attack – with Steve Smith as the premier spinner – may appear very one paced later in the day.
Australia’s only crumb of comfort is the pace with which Johnson bowled and the hint of swing he managed. He is certainly fired-up – as a late broo-ha-ha with Cook illustrated – and retains the ability to turn such games.
There are a couple of clouds on England’s horizon, too. Kevin Pietersen spent some time off the field with a hamstring injury, while Steve Finn, whose failure to maintain the correct length was punished for nearly six an over, also received treatment for a calf problem.
Still, England should be delighted with their first day performance. It was a brave decision from Strauss to insert Australia but it has been fully vindicated. England now have an excellent opportunity to bat the hosts out of the game. The Ashes could be secured by Monday.
Tags: Andrew Strauss, chris tremlett, cricket, George Dobell, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Michael Hussey, perth, Ricky Ponting, SPIN, The Ashes
It was, perhaps, fitting that Adelaide should be the location for England’s most crushing win over Australia in a quarter of a century.
For it was here, in Adelaide, four years ago, that England suffered the crushing defeat that destroyed their hopes of competing in the last Ashes series to be contested in Australia. The manner of that loss, from a position of apparent impregnability (having scored 551-6 in their first innings), so shocked England, that their confidence vanished and they subsided to an embarrassing five-nil series reverse.
This will surely turn out to be just such a watershed moment. Australia were not just beaten, they were thrashed and exposed for the mediocre side they now are. As Ricky Ponting put it: “England out batted, out bowled and out fielded us. They thoroughly deserve their win.” He’s quite right: the margin of victory – an innings and 71-runs – does not lie. It’s their biggest win against the old enemy since 1985 and their 100th Ashes Test win in all.
It’s the first time England have beaten Australia by an innings since December 1986, when they won by an innings and 14-runs in Melbourne. That was also the last game when England took 20 wickets in a Test in Australia when the Ashes were at stake. And they last time they won the Ashes in Australia.
So the omens are good.
Maybe we should remain somewhat cautious. We only have to look back to 2009, after all, when England responded to an innings loss at Leeds with a crushing victory at The Oval to see how quickly fortunes can change. Cricket wouldn’t be nearly so entertaining if it was predictable.
But, on the evidence of this series so far, Australia need a miracle of Biblical proportions if they are to arrest the momentum of this series and regain the Ashes.
After all, England’s last six wickets have posted 1,137 runs against this Australian attack. And England’s bowlers have just taken 20 wickets on a blameless batting track having lost the toss. And Australia have gone five Tests without a victory. It is far from impossible – hell, it even seems likely – that the Ashes will be decided in Perth. If England win the next Test, the urn is theirs. As things stand, Australia need to win two of the last three Tests. It’s very hard to to see them doing that.
Victory did not come without a cost, however. It has been confirmed that Stuart Broad will miss the rest of the tour with a torn stomach muscle. Bresnan, Shahzad and Tremlett, all of whom will play in the first-class game against Victoria this week, will compete to replace him. Tremlett, with his pace and bounce, is probably favourite bearing in mind the character of the Perth pitch.
James Anderson is also heading home. He is attending the birth of his second child and hopes to be back in time for the Perth Test.
This game will surely be remembered for the contribution of Kevin Pietersen. His double-century was an innings of the highest class and his timely wicket of Michael Clarke proved to be, in the words of Ponting, the blow that “broke the back” of Australia.
But there were other England heroes. James Anderson’s potency with in the first innings – and with the second new ball on the final day – was crucial, while Graeme Swann justified his big reputation with a performance of character, persistence and skill. His five-wicket haul – his first against Australia but his 10th in 26 Tests in all – confirmed the pre-series suspicion that he may well prove the difference between the two sides.
There were other contributors. Alastair Cook continues to bat superbly, while Bell and Trott also impressed. Trott’s superb run-out of the luckless Katich (who is likely to miss the rest of the series with an Achilles problem) stole the initiative on the first day, while Steve Finn also produced the best bowling of his England career.
It speaks volumes for Australia’s performance that their best hope of salvation lay in poor weather. Ponting insisted after the game that there had never been any talk in the Australian dressing room about the rain saving his side, but the comments from several of his team-mates suggested otherwise. The rain that descended upon Adelaide a couple of hours after the match was completed did nothing to dampen the celebrations of the England supporters.
The manner of the final Australian collapse suggested a dam had been breached. From the fall of Clarke, to the last ball of day four, Australia lost their last seven wickets for 66 runs.
The crucial wicket on the final day came when Hussey, perhaps surprised by extra bounce, mis-timed his pull shot and looped a catch to mid-on. It was, in the circumstances, a poor shot. Anderson then produced a beauty to lure Haddin into a tentative prod at one that left him and took the edge, before Harris became just the second Australian in Ashes history (Gilchrist is the other) to suffer the indignity of a ‘king pair’ when he padded up next delivery. North and the hapless Doherty were both punished for playing for turn that wasn’t there, while Siddle was bowled through the gate by a classic off-break.
Where do Australia go from here? Well, their selectors meet tonight and expect to announce another squad by the weekend. Phillip Hughes, the left-handed opener who was so ‘found out’ by Flintoff on the last tour to England is highly likely to come into the side. But Australia surely need another seamer and another spinner, too. Xavier Doherty is simply not up to it and was out-bowled not just by Swann, but by North and Pietersen, too.
The Australian media will do them few favours. They are now pouring scorn on their team who have lost a game by an innings for the first time in this country since 1993 and it is quite possible that Ponting may be in his final days as captain.
As if overcoming the Australian team isn’t hard enough, England will also have to overcome the Australian weather if they are to win the Adelaide Test. As if winning the Ashes wasn’t hard enough.
The rain that forced the sides off the field for an hour on day four is forecast to return on day five. With Australia on the ropes but battling hard, the rain perhaps provides their most realistic lifeline as they battle not to go one-down in the series.
As things stand, Australia are still 137 behind with six wickets in hand. They have quite a tail, however, and will not relish the challenge of resisting the world’s best spinner on a worn pitch offering sharp turn. If the rain relents – and the forecast is distinctly dodgy – then Australia face an uphill struggle to survive.
England may have to manage without Stuart Broad, though. He was forced off the pitch with what is thought to be a strained stomach muscle and, though he returned to field later, he did not bowl. Broad’s loss would be a substantial blow. He has bowled far better than his figures suggest so far in this series and would surely relish the bounce of the Perth pitch. He faces a fitness test before play on the fifth day with the worst case scenario – a torn muscle – ending his involvement in the series.
At least England won’t have to dismiss Michael Clarke on the last day. Clarke, who had batted beautifully, fell to the last ball of the fourth day when he edged a sharply-turning Kevin Pietersen off-break to short-leg. Though Clarke initially ‘walked’, he realised the umpire was not going to give him and returned to the crease only to be sentenced by the review system. It was a moment that did not cast a particularly flattering light on Clarke’s sportsmanship though it is likely that many professional players would have done the same. He later apologised via his twitter account, stating: “Just want to apologise for not walking off the ground tonight when I hit the ball. I was just so disappointed, my emotions got best of me.” It comes to something when an Australian apologises for not walking.
The wicket was also reward for an inventive piece of captaincy from Andrew Strauss. Swann had bowled 34 overs from the Cathedral End and, under normal circumstances, might have been expected to deliver the final two of the day. Instead, however, Strauss called Pietersen – with a Test bowling average of 143.5 – into the attack and won almost immediate reward. It really has been a wonderful game for KP.
In the context of this Test – and this series – it was a huge wicket. Clarke, using his feet to Swann and timing the ball crisply, had looked back to his best and, with Michael Hussey, had added 104 for Australia’s fourth wicket in 33 overs. The draw was beginning to look the most likely result.
“The wicket was a massive bonus,” Swann said. “That last session was tough going; Australia had their two best players of spin out there. In an ideal world we would have had them 8 or 9, but its not an ideal world. We were up against a very resilient Australian side. I’ve bowled worse than that and taken wickets, but I’m mature enough to know that I shouldn’t try and take a wicket with every ball. “
Hussey remains, however. While he has never quite matched Clarke for fluency, England are already well aware of his resilience and he may take some dislodging on the final day. He has already survived one flash past slip off Collingwood and was beaten a couple of times by Swann. But he is well capable of batting all day and, in North and Haddin, in particular, represents a viable survival opportunity. Particularly if he has help from the weather.
“We fought hard today,” Hussey said afterwards, “but a little bit of rain would help! If we can draw the match England will see it as a loss. But they have certainly outplayed us, no question. It’s very rewarding if you can come in and get your team through to win or save a match.”
Swann will present the greatest threat. Generating substantial turn, often from the footmarks, he found Katich’s edge with a fine ball that drifted in and turned sharply, before defeating Ponting with one that turned far less than had been anticipated. It was a clever – and intentional – piece of variation from Swann, who held the ball slightly differently for the delivery. These are conditions of which off-spinners dream. Swann really should win this Test for England.
Finn was impressive, too. Bowling at a sharp pace and gaining a little seam movement, he troubled all the batsmen and thoroughly deserved the wicket of Watson, forced to play at one on off stump that bounced a little. It was due reward for a probing spell.
Earlier, England’s batsmen maintained their domination over the Australian bowlers. By adding 69 in 9 overs, they extended their total to 620-5 (the second largest total they’ve ever made in Australia and the highest since the 636 they made at Sydney in 1928) and earned a first innings lead of 375.
Ian Bell, again timing the ball sweetly, sped to his sixth half-century in Tests in Australia, while Matt Prior batted typically selflessly. In the gluttony for runs currently embracing his colleagues it could easily be overlooked how well Bell is batting, but he really does look in the most delicious form. Sooner or later, the bowlers will pay. Pietersen, who surpassed his previous Test best (226, against the West Indies), fell in the charge to set-up the declaration, edging one that turned sharply.
So Xavier Doherty will, at least, be able to tell his grandchildren about the day he defeated Kevin Pietersen with just his second ball of the day. But it will be like Gordon Brown telling his grandchildren that he was once Prime Minister. The full story isn’t so flattering.
We should have had more faith. When Ricky Ponting won and toss and chose to bat under a burning sun, there was a sense of resignation over what was to follow: a daunting first innings appeared inevitable.
But this England team is a very different animal from the ones that have toured Australia in recent years. England, as they showed in their second innings in Brisbane, no longer subside meekly when pressure is applied. And if the script called for a dominant display of Australian batting, England hadn’t read it.
It’s not the same Australian team, either. This version has a vulnerability unseen in these parts since 1986-87. You may even have to go back a further decade – to the years when they were decimated by the Packer exodus – to find a weaker Australian side. And there’s no overwhelming evidence of emerging talent. They could be in for a few years of relative mediocrity.
Australia certainly squandered a golden opportunity on the first day here at Adelaide. Winning the toss on the sort of pitch that could reduce bowlers to nervous wrecks, they subsided to 245 all out. It’s a total at least 200 short of par and provides England with a wonderful chance to inflict a telling blow. It’s not over-stating things to say that it was a day that could define the series.
England bowled – and fielded – admirably. Crucially, James Anderson utilised the new ball expertly, with Stuart Broad mean and luckless in support.
Graeme Swann also produced his best bowling of the series so far, capturing the key wicket of Michael Hussey and proving far more consistent that he had been in Brisbane.
But Australia suffered more than a little self-inflicted damage. Two men fell to dozy run-outs and several others played shots they will regret. For only four men to make it into double figures on this pitch is a damning indictment of their cricket.
Certainly they suffered an appalling start. Just 13 balls into their innings, they stood on two for three: with Katich, Ponting and Clarke all back in the pavilion. Never, in their Test history, has an Australian team lost their first three wickets so cheaply.
Katich suffered the indignity of being dismissed before he had faced a ball. Responding sluggishly to an optimistic call for a single from Shane Watson, Katich was left stranded when Jonathan Trott swooped round to square-leg and pulled off a direct hit with only one stump at which to aim: Richard Halsall, England’s fielding coach, take a bow.
Ponting went next ball. Perhaps the harsh would chastise him for pushing at the ball too hard, but Anderson deserves much credit for a perfect outswinger, demanding a stroke, and the outside edge was well taken by Swann at second slip. Michael Clarke, also pushing with hard hands, went in similar fashion.
In Mike Hussey, however, Australia have the perfect man for a crisis. It is almost unthinkable that Australia considered dropping him ahead of the series and, first with Watson, then with North and Haddin, he averted the rout that had appeared possible. He survived a couple of nervous moment – on three Anderson missed a tough caught and bowled opportunity and on 10 he edged just short of the slip cordon – but this was another assured performance from a man who might have thought his best years were behind him.
He added 94 with Watson, 60 with North and 51 with Hussey, but can only have been frustrated at his partners’ propensity to throw their wickets away.
Because, for a time, England had appeared toothless. Once Anderson and Broad had been seen off – Hussey and Watson leaving the ball with discipline – Finn was punished for over-pitching by conceding a run-a-ball and Hussey, using his quick feet and soft hands, negated Swann’s threat.
So the wicket of Watson, pushing hard at one he could have left and slicing a catch to gully in the second over after lunch, was something of a bonus. North, too, having done the hard work, gifted his wicket with a shocking stroke: had he been aiming to provide catching practise to Prior, he could hardly have been more obliging.
Hussey, seven short of a well-deserved century, was the victim of a fine piece of bowling, however. Drawn into the drive, he was beaten by flight and turn and well caught at slip. Ryan Harris followed next ball, though as replay suggested he not only hit the ball, but that it was going to miss the stumps, he can count himself a little unlucky. The review system, used for the dismissal, remains a work in progress.
Haddin swung merrily for a while – including one outrageous heave for six off Anderson – but this Australian tail has been docked by the loss of Johnson and Hauritz and was never likely to resist for long. Doherty was punished for ball-watching and run out after some slick work from England – Halsall take a bow again – and Haddin, clearly with little faith in his partners, fell hooking in the pursuit of quick runs.
Harris, controversially preferred to Hilfenhaus, showed some pace when England began their reply, but there was no disguising the fact that was England’s day. Overwhelmingly so.
Particularly for Anderson. The series is barely underway, but already he has answered many of the questions posed before it began. While he has not always found the swing he would like, he has also proved to be far more than a one trick pony. Certainly his command of line and length – and his ability to perform under pressure – is far better than it was when he toured here previously while his new ball bowling is the most incisive of any bowler on either side. If he misses the Perth Test on paternity leave, England will miss him sorely.
Form
On the face of things, England go into the series as the form side. They’ve won five of their last six Test series (they drew the other) and seven of their last eight Tests. Australia, meanwhile, have not won either of their last two Test series (they drew against Pakistan and lost against India). In all cricket (Test, ODI and T20), Australia have won only two of their last 11 matches. They’ve even slipped to fifth, one place below England, in the Test rankings.
But touring Australia is notoriously tough. England have not won an Ashes series there since 1986-87 and have lost the last five series heavily. Of those 25 Tests, they’ve lost 18 and won just three.
Australia also have an awesome record at Brisbane, the venue for the first Test. They remain unbeaten at the Gabba since 1990 and have won 16 of the 20 Tests played there.
On this tour, however, England have left little to chance. They’ve enjoyed a longer – and more successful – warm-up period ahead of the Tests and do not have the injury concerns that hampered them on recent Ashes tours.
Crucially, they also know that their opponents – sans Warne, Gilchrist, McGrath, Hayden, Langer et al. – are a pale shadow of Australian teams of old.
Batting
Not since they were weakened by the Packer exodus of the late 1970s has Australia’s batting appeared more brittle. Their line-up contains three 35-year-olds (Ponting, Hussey and Katich) who appear to be on the wane, while Marcus North is also under pressure to retain his place. In the first innings of the recent round of state games, their top eight batsmen managed just 41 runs between them.
It would be unwise to under-estimate the class of Ponting and Hussey, however, while Australian lower-order, including the likes of Mitchell Johnson and, perhaps, Steve Smith, is more than capable of scoring valuable runs. On flat pitches, they will remain very hard to dislodge. It’s worth remembering that England have not taken 20 Australian wickets in a match in Australia when the Ashes have been at stake since December 1986.
England’s batsmen, meanwhile, have been in fine form. Of the top order, only Trott has failed to record a half-century in the warm-up games, with Strauss and Bell batting superbly. This series could well define Bell’s entire career: all the evidence suggests he is ready to blossom.
Questions remain, however. Strauss and Cook both struggled against Pakistan’s seam attack (they averaged 25 and 23 respectively in the summer’s Test series) while Kevin Pietersen is enduring the most prolonged spell of poor form in his career. England’s lower-order – bolstered by the likes of Swann, Broad and, perhaps, Bresnan – will have to contribute with the bat if England are to prosper. England’s lack of a reserve specialist batsman is also a concern. If injury – or poor form – strikes Cook or Struass, England will be obliged to open either with Trott or send for support. Neither option is ideal.
Fast bowlers
England’s attack has enjoyed a good year. The swing of Anderson, the probing hostility of Broad and the steadiness of Finn have combined to overwhelm all visitors during the summer of 2010, with the first two now rated among the top 10 bowlers in Test cricket.
Perhaps, however, England were flattered this summer. The Bangladesh and Pakistan batting line-ups were woefully weak, while it is unlikely England’s seamers will stumble upon conditions so favourable to them in Australia. It is unthinkable that the host batsmen will roll over so obligingly.
In particular, there are question marks over the effectiveness of James Anderson in Australia. His record in the country – five Test wickets at a cost of 82 apiece – is ugly and it remains to be seen if he can swing the Kookaburra ball. If he does not strike with the new ball, England are overly reliant on tall, hit the deck seamers and their attack will lack variation. Anderson is a much improved bowler, however, and will surely improve that grim average.
Steve Finn is very much a work in progress, too. While he is admirably accurate and gains bounce, Finn’s bowling may still lack bite and this series will demand a sharp step-up in class. Chris Tremlett, who has more pace if less consistency, may challenge for Finn’s place before the series is over.
In Stuart Broad, England have a potential player of the series. Blessed with pace, height, bounce and the ability to move the ball in the air and off the seam, Broad is a far more rounded cricketer than the last time he played Australia. The one concern is over his exact role, however. Is Broad a strike bowler or a containing bowler? Should he be aiming for the top of off stump, or the badge on the Australian helmets? If he is not clear exactly what is expected of him, it could prove costly.
The Australian fast bowling attack is decent rather than daunting. In Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson, the hosts possess two hostile left-armers, though Johnson’s inconsistency must worry Australia. He endured a poor 2009 Ashes and has claimed just 11 wickets at 43.45 in his last two Test series. Siddle, too, is honest and impressive rather than inspiring. Ben Hilfenhaus is dangerous, however. He took more wickets (22) than anyone else on either side in last year’s Ashes campaign and his late swing and sharp pace and could cause England’s top-order substantial problems.
Spin
England look stronger in this department. In Graeme Swann, England posses the bowler rated second in the world in the Test rankings and a man with 105 Test wickets in 22 Tests since January 2009. Shane Warne has recently called him “probably the best spinner in the world”. Monty Panesar, bowling better than he has for several years, remains a capable reserve.
There are a couple of reasons for concern, however. For a start, Swann did not enjoy a particularly successful Ashes series in England last year (he claimed 14 wickets at 40.5 apiece), while he yet to take a Test wicket in Australia. History is against him too: English off-spinners have tended to struggle Down Under, though a willingness by umpires to grant more LBW appeals (thanks to the influence of Hawkeye) should help him. Still, overseas spinners have taken their wickets at an average cost of 49 (the figure rises to 56 when considering only Englishmen) apiece in Australia since 2000, which must be a cause for concern.
Australia’s Nathan Hauritz is an under-rated bowler, too. Though unremarkable, he is canny and tidy and out-bowled Swann in at least two Tests last summer. Australia also have several contenders to exploit Kevin Pietersen’s apparent weakness against left-arm spin.
Still, this is an area where England should excel and Swann has the character to revel in the expectation.
Team spirit
Hewn in adversity and tested in times of triumph and disaster, England have developed an excellent team spirit over the last couple of years. When Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss took over the team management, England were in decline. Their first series ended in an embarrassing defeat in the Caribbean, but they battled back to win the Ashes in 2009 and the World T20 in 2010. England have a settled, balanced side who, generally, know their roles and what is expected of them. They also have decent strength in depth in most departments. They have proved united in adversity – just think of the Leeds debacle of 2009 or the tensions of this summer’s series against Pakistan – and have enjoyed eachothers’ success in times of victory. Such spirit will serve them well over the coming weeks.
Australia are less settled. Ponting has won more Tests – as a player and captain – than any man in the history of the game (the country has had three Prime Ministers while he has been their Test captain), but the sense is of a man coming to the end of his reign.
Such is their uncertainty over their best XI, that they named a 17-man squad ahead of the first Test. They even sacked one of their selectors – Merv Hughes – recently. They have injury worries, form worries and a fear that Ponting’s long-reign as captain may be coming to an end. While home advantage is usually a big advantage, it could also prove to be a mixed blessing if home supporters lose patience with their team.
Prediction
England to win and win handsomely.
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