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
No-one wants to put down the family dog, do they?
They’ve seemingly been there all your life. Through thick and thin. They’ve greeted you when you’ve come home. They’ve consoled you when you’re miserable; celebrated with you when you’re happy. They’ve been a loyal and trusted friend.
But now their eyes are puffy. They drag their back legs. They sleep most of the day, their breath stinks and they don’t always make it through the door when they need to pee.
It’s time to put them to sleep. To save them from any more suffering.
Paul Collingwood is that dog. No-one denies he’s been a fine servant of England. No-one denies he’s still as well intentioned and hard working as ever. No-one denies he deserves an opportunity to bow out on his own terms.
But deserve, as Clint Eastwood put it, has nothing to do with it. This is top-class, professional sport. It’s one man’s career against another. There isn’t much room for sentimentality.
Collingwood’s record is good. He has, after all, played a role in three Ashes-series victories and led England to their first world trophy. He will be remembered fondly and with great respect.
But England have to move on. To regenerate. To learn from the mistakes of Australia and West Indies (and the mistake India are making at present) and ensure that they never have a situation where several senior players retire together and the whole team needs to be rebuilt.
Let’s look at the facts. Collingwood has only scored 70 runs so far this series. He’s averaging 14. That’s about 100 fewer than Cook or Trott. He’s not passed 50 in his last 10 Test innings. In 8 of them, he’s failed to pass 11. Since his century against Bangladesh in March, he’s made 192 runs in 13 Test innings at an average of 14.7.
That not just a bad run. It’s awful. It’s dreadful. It’s horrible.
It shouldn’t make much difference if he scores a century at Sydney, either. Loads of county batsmen would score the odd Test century if given enough opportunity. It’s about consistency. There are lots of decent players available to England. It’s about being one of the best. And does anyone still think that Collingwood is one of the six best batsmen in England? He may not be in the top 16.
Is Eoin Morgan the best long-term replacement? Maybe. As things stand, he has problems against the short ball and problems outside off stump. He’s outrageously talented, however, and has shown the temperament and raw skills to thrive. He could develop into a top Test player and deserves an opportunity to establish himself.
Long-term, however, James Taylor, Adam Lyth, Ravi Bopara and Moeen Ali might also push him for that position. Alexei Kervezee will come into the reckoning within a couple of years, too.
Yes, Collingwood provides more to the side than can be judged in raw stats. He catches brilliantly, he contributes with the ball (though he’s taken only two Test wickets in his last 35 Tests) and he’s Andrew Strauss’ most trusted confidant.
But couldn’t Eoin Morgan field well? Couldn’t Ravi Bopara contribute with the ball? Couldn’t Moeen Ali add the the mix with his bowling and fielding? Course they could.
The truth is, it is runs that define whether Collingwood is a success. And he’s simply not scored enough of them. Sad though it is to admit it, it’s time to move on.
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.
The margin of victory said it all.
Not since 1956 (the Test in which Jim Laker claimed 19 wickets) have England defeated Australia by such a crushing distance as they did so here at the MCG: an innings and 57-runs. Revealingly, it was the second time in three Tests, that England have won by an innings. Despite the aberration of Perth, the message is clear: England are much the better side. Not only have they retained the Ashes, they have done so with some style.
Perhaps it was fitting that Tim Bresnan should take the final wicket. Bresnan, a peripheral figure for much of this tour, has bowled beautifully in this match to claim six wickets. It not only underlined England’s strength in depth – he surely would not have played but for injury to Stuart Broad – but the excellent planning that has gone into this tour. Bresnan’s selection, like that of Tremlett, and the patience shown towards the likes of Cook, has been utterly vindicated. Andy Flower surely deserves as much praise as any member of the playing team.
England, a few crazy hours at the WACA apart, have been the better side in all departments. Through the batting of Cook and Trott, in particular, the bowling of Anderson and Tremlett, and the fielding performance led by the admirable Prior, England have been excellent.
Pleasingly, most of this side also have many years ahead of them. Perhaps only Paul Collingwood, whose excellent fielding cannot fully mask his lack of runs in this series (he’s averaging just 14), is contemplating the end of his Test career. Many of this squad can even envisage a return to Australia in four years.
Australia showed some resistance on the final day. Haddin and Siddle swung merrily in adding 86 for the eighth wicket, but it was only delaying the inevitable. Siddle heaved once too often and was caught at long-on, before Hilfenhaus edged Besnan to Prior. With Harris requiring surgery on a stress fracture of the ankle, England had clinched their first Ashes victory in Australia in 24 years. It will surely not take so long to repeat the feat.
They had some fortune. Winning the toss here was crucial and Trott enjoyed some fortune in his match-defining winning innings. But it would take a mightily partisan Australian to claim that such moments made much difference. By exceeding 500 with the bat three times in six innings and only once allowing Australia to score more than 309 in an innings, England have underlined their authority on nearly every opportunity.
For Australia, this series will probably represent something of a watershed. They’ve actually been in a rebuilding phase ever since the host of retirements that coincided with the end of the last Ashes series here in 2006-07. Only now, however, is the extent of their decline evident. It will surely be some time before they can contemplate a return to the top of the world rankings.
It’s hard to recall a period when their stock has been lower. In 1986-87, their loss was mitigated by the knowledge that they had identified a group of players – Steve Waugh et al. – who would form the nucleus of a new side. And in the last 70s, when they were thrashed by Mike Brearley’s England, it was in the knowledge that Australia still had many fine players, but they were absent due to their World Series commitments.
This time there is some doubt over the quality emerging talent. Steve Smith, Phillip Hughes and co. have raw ability, but they look some way off the quality required for consistent success at Test level. The absence of a quality spinner is also painful and, perhaps the most pressing problem of all, there remains no obvious candidate to succeed Ricky Ponting as captain.
Ponting’s future remains unclear. He insisted, after the game, that he had no intention of resigning but, after earning the dubious distinction of leading Australia to three Ashes-series defeats, his place is in some doubt. His diminishing returns as a batsman can hardly have helped.
There’s still a bit to play for in Sydney. Not only can Australia still level the series – though it would take a remarkable change in fortunes – but there are Test Championship ranking points to consider, too. England, with series against Sri Lanka and India next summer, can begin to dream of a time when they are rated the best Test team in the world. For a side beaten 5-0 here on their last tour, that represents a remarkable recovery.
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.
Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes with a torn abdominal muscle. Broad will return to the UK tonight to begin rehabilitation, missing the remaining three Test and the limited-overs series that follows.
Broad’s loss is a substantial blow for England. He has bowled far better than his return of two wickets suggests, conceding only 2.3 an over and ensuring his captain some control in the field. His replacement for Perth, a pitch which might well have suited Broad ideally, will be one of Tremlett, Shahzad and Bresnan.
“Playing for England in an Ashes series in Australia has been something I’ve dreamed of for a long time” Broad said. “So to have that cut short by injury is devastating.
“So far the series has been everything I had anticipated and knowing I’ll play no further part is quite hard to take. Given the way we had started the series I was looking forward to playing a leading role in England retaining the Ashes but that’s not to be.
“Injuries happen and there’s nothing I can do about it other than make sure I get stuck into rehabilitation and come back stronger in time for the World Cup next year. This winter is a big one for the England team so my focus will have to shift to preparing for the World Cup.”
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.
It is testament to England’s dominance in this Test that the first substantial obstacle to their progress has come, not from an Australian player, but from the weather.
Heavy rain that arrived at tea and prevented any further play was the home nation’s only response to another day of dominant batting from England.
It will encourage the hosts to know that more rain is forecast over the remaining days of this Test. England already lead by 306 and the pitch is providing increasing assistance to bowlers of all types. It’s unthinkable that the likes of Swann and Anderson will not use that assistance better than the likes of Doherty and Bollinger.
For the first time in many months, it was Kevin Pietersen who led the way for England. Pietersen has endured a tough time since being sacked as England captain: he’s suffered serious injury, gone 20-months – and 27 Test innings – without a century and suffered the indignity of being left out of both his county and country’s side.
But here he gave a powerful reminder of his substantial talents with a double-century of rare class and dominance. This was a great player at his magnificent best. He drove with power and skill and whipped perfectly respectable deliveries through mid-wicket with a style that perhaps only Viv Richards could hope to match. Pietersen became the fifth Englishman to score an Ashes’s double-century in Australia and his treatment of Doherty, the spinner who increasingly seems destined to be playing his only Test, almost amounted to bullying.
His celebration upon reaching three-figures spoke volumes. This was an innings that meant much to Pietersen.
“I do love big occasions, and to challenge myself against the biggest players in the world,” Pietersen said. “It’s been pretty tough the last 18 months, but I love the fact that it’s all going so well for me. I have high standards, so to get 80/90/99, it does my head in.The state of the game was one where I needed to play with a level head. We knew we had to bat all day today.”
Pietersen waited a long time to get back to the crease after his first innings at the Gabba, eleven hours in fact. “I have never waited so long to bat before,” he said, “and it showed when I came out. I think I was trying to get 50 in 5 balls! But it has been brilliant to watch and see, long may it continue. It was more tiring waiting the other day to bat than it was to bat all day today.”
“The Ashes has not been a particular target for me to get back to form,” he continued. “But you get up in the morning as an England player and you think ‘this is what it’s made of.’ It’s gets the juices flowing. I remember being at Heathrow airport to fly out here and thinking ‘this is going to be amazing’.
Pietersen won good support from each of his colleagues. Though his excellent partnership with Cook (worth 175) ended when Cook (148) was superbly caught by Haddin off an inside edge, both Collingwood and Bell looked in fine touch.
Collingwood, with his highest score in five Tests, attacked judiciously, while Bell produced a series of elegant drives and cuts on the way to an unbeaten 41 by the time the rain arrived. The sense remains that, given more opportunity, Bell’s form would see him pulverise this Australian attack. It bodes well for England that he has hardly been required as yet.
Australia, inevitably really, wilted in the field. Harris and Siddle charged in, but did nothing to dispel the suspicion that they are honest, rather than inspired seamers, while Bollinger lacks the fitness, accuracy or skill to flourish at this level. Doherty, sad to say, is simply out of his depth. He’s the ninth spinner Australia have turned to since the retirement of Shane Warne and, clearly, he’s not the answer.
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who picked up the wicket of Collingwood, admitted that a great challenge lies ahead for Australia.
“We are going to have to bat unbelievably well over the next two days to save the game,” he said. “But we only have ourselves to blame. We have been totally outplayed.
“It hurts to be in this position,” he continued, “whether on our home turf or anywhere in the world. What we’ve been doing hasn’t been good enough. We haven’t taken enough wickets and we haven’t made enough runs. It’s as simple as that.”
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