England must play positively in Fourth Ashes Test

 
Alec Swann Roar Pro

By , 7 Aug 2009 Alec Swann is a Roar Pro

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England's Andrew Flintoff, on his knees, is congratulated by teammates after bowling the wicket of Australia's Peter Siddle. AAP Images

England's Andrew Flintoff, on his knees, is congratulated by teammates after bowling the wicket of Australia's Peter Siddle. AAP Images

Momentum plays a big role in sport, at any level, but it’s difficult to see where it lies as the Ashes reaches it’s fourth installment at Headingley. After the draw at Edgbaston, both Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting stated that they would be taking the positives from their respective team’s performances.

Strauss for the fact that England put themselves in a position to force victory and Ponting for his side’s strong rearguard that denied England from taking a stranglehold on the series.

But given that it is the modern trend in interviews for captains and managers to take the positives out of even the heaviest beatings, not too much store should be what Strauss and Ponting had to say.

They fulfilled their post-match obligations and that was it.

As for the momentum, if I was in Strauss’ shoes I would be slightly concerned. England responded strongly to their Cardiff escape and there must be a worry that Australia will do the same in Leeds.

Surviving the final day in Birmingham might not have been quite the achievement of Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar managing to block out the last 11 overs, but it was a good effort nevertheless.

England’s bowling has been criticised for its impotence, but I don’t feel that gives enough credit to the Australian batsmen.

The ever-maturing Michale Clarke showed just how good a player he has become, Marcus North continued his impressive start to Test cricket, Michael Hussey showed glimpses of his old self and Shane Watson justified the decision to favour him instead of Phil Hughes.

The wickets of Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting on the Sunday evening heightened expectations to a degree that Monday was a bit of an anti-climax.

England’s problem was that when the wickets don’t arrive, you start searching for them and patience is often the first thing to go out of the window.

However, if you can’t win, you don’t want to lose, and from that persective, both sides will have been fairly content.

At Headingley, it will again be the respective bowling attacks that come under the microscope.

Change looks almost inevitable on the Australian side and if Andrew Flintoff is struggling, on the home side as well.

Australia didn’t bowl particularly poorly at Edgbaston, but they seem to be stuck between the need to attack and the need to keep things tight.

Ponting often doesn’t seem to know which way to turn – stop boundaries or go on the offensive – and the way the England tail wagged was evidence of that.

A semblance of control would enable him to do that and surely Stuart Clark will come into the reckoning this time, possibly for Peter Siddle.

For England, if Flintoff is unable to drag his frame through another five days, there is every chance they will play a sixth batsman and four bowlers instead of picking a bowling replacement.

That would be the negative of the two options and one they should avoid. 1-0 up with a strong chance of wrapping up the series should be all the incentive they need to go for the jugular.

To merely try and defend a lead is asking for trouble and would betray a nervousness that Australia could easily pounce on.

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