Put the house on Australia in this fascinating Ashes series
Roar Pro By Alec Swann, 13 Aug 2009 Alec Swann is a Roar Pro
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- Australian Cricket, Cricket, english cricket, The Ashes
Australia's Mitchell Johnson, right, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of England's Alastair Cook on the second day of the fourth cricket test match between England and Australia, at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)
If I had cash to burn, I know where mine would be, and unfortunately, it wouldn’t be on my countrymen. Before Headingley, England were in pole position to get their hands on what they crave the most. But after two days of having their faces rubbed in the soil, they’re back on the grid with the wrong choice of tyres.
Australia, on the other hand, gave a decent imitation of the all-conquering machine that thay were under the stewardship of Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and in the initial stages of Ricky Ponting’s reign.
Efficient, calculated bowling and ruthless batting was in stark contrast to what the hosts dished up, namely, ill-directed, thoughtless bowling and, save for a brief period on day three, spineless, rabbit in the headlines batting.
The fact that England weren’t just beaten but annihilated – a bad reminder of England teams of recent past – should be the main concern for Andrew Strauss.
There is playing poorly and there is virtually failing to turn up. It was as if the realisation of the position they were in suddenly hit home and resulted in paralysis.
The first innings, as well as Australia bowled, was bordering on the inexcusable and while the Oval promises a run-filled surface, it doesn’t legislate for anyone’s mental state.
With a middle order that looks woefully short of form, something may have to give, although to whom the selectors would turn is anyone’s guess. There is talk of Mark Ramprakash and Marcus Trescothick, but that smacks of panic and if I was Ponting, I wouldn’t mind it at all.
What will have to change is the number three position.
Ravi Bopara looks shot at the minute (Michael Vaughan, how’s your knee?) and is a walking wicket and Ian Bell has got Mitchell Johnson all over him like a cheap suit.
On the bowling front, Andrew Flintoff should be made to play even if he has to be dragged on to the field and Ryan Sidebotttom may come in for consideration. But for all the talk of change, simply pitching the ball up would probably result in a dramatic improvement.
As for Australia, they couldn’t have hit form at a better time. Outplayed at Lord’s, slightly improved at Edgbaston and close to top gear at Leeds.
They got their selection spot on, picking Stuart Clark and persevering with Johnson being their best moves, and the swagger that had been conspicuous by it’s absence was back in spades.
There could still be a twist in the tale given what has gone before, but I know whose shoes I would rather be in at this moment in time.
If I was the England captain, I would be spending the next few days praying that Ponting calls incorrectly in South London come Thursday week.
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August 13th 2009 @ 7:21am
mactheblack said | August 13th 2009 @ 7:21am | Report comment
England’s downfall in the fourth Test was down to the injuries of Flintoff and KP. What more evidence do we need that England’s fortunes are heavily built around these two kingpins. They’re as soft as putty without this pair. Maybe they should have them play even on one leg. Ok, jokes aside then, assuming Flintoff ain’t fit maybe it’s time to solidfy the middle-order by bringing in Jonathan Trott. Talk of Ramprakash and Trescothick making Test comebacks smacks of a knee-jerk reaction. So can I ask: How about Mark Butcher then? Now there’s a lad with some fight in him. Yeah, England ought to be a worried cricketing nation when they have to call all on the ‘old guard’ so to speak. Is it a fair reflection of the state of county cricket, that there are no youngsters good enough in the selectors’ eyes to fill the breach .. okay it’s an Ashes series, but do we want the ‘ole folks’ flopping and riding into the sunset with nothing to show for it? C’mon England selectors get the youngsters in there. The top and middle order are falling over like ninepins … and it’s always embarrassing when the lower order has to come out to show up their illustrious teammates at the top, whose job it is to pile on the runs, like Messrs Swann and Broad did in the fourth Test. Look at England’s fourth Test team on paper .. really, did the selectors think that they had a team that would do the job for them against an Australian team hellbent on revenge? The alarm bells are ringing for England ahead of their journey to South Africa later this year. Even with a fit KP or not. After giving them a good once over in England last year, the South Africans who have depth and talent at their disposal, won’t be shaking in their cricket boots at the prospect of facing a toothless bulldog. KP is the answer in respect of captaincy and not Strauss, who is just too conservative in his approach. Anyway back to the Ashes, I wouldn’t put my home on an Australian win, as you never know with games of this kind of magnitude. But if the selectors get it wrong again, they certainly won’t be doing England any favours.
August 13th 2009 @ 9:47am
Brett McKay said | August 13th 2009 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Alec, you know we smell a rat when English writers start backing Australia, don’t you?!?!
Must agree though, the talk of Threscothick and Ramprakash being brought in is veeeery amusing…
August 13th 2009 @ 11:05am
FIsher Price said | August 13th 2009 @ 11:05am | Report comment
Ramps should be picked.
August 13th 2009 @ 12:25pm
yeebarr said | August 13th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
In NO WAY should Ramprakash be picked for the next test! Even as an Aussie, I can admire Ramprakash’s batting skills, but cricket is such a ‘mental’ game and Ramps showed that he doesn’t have the inner steel to handle Test match situations (did anyone read Athertons diary where Ramps refused to bat at no.3? I can’t believe he’s mental strength has improved much more since then).
Even after he left Test cricket it took Ramps so long to find a way to relax and enjoy cricket again; one bad innings or terrible fielding attempt and you could imagine the internal scars would shatter the poor guy.
As an Aussie I say pick him (because he’s gonna help us win the Ashes) but as a cricket fan I say leave the poor guy alone (I imagine he must be getting ulcers over the thought of getting that “dreaded” phone call)
August 13th 2009 @ 12:25pm
davido said | August 13th 2009 @ 12:25pm | Report comment
I wouldnt write England off at all. The spirited display by Broad and co. might have won on another day.
And how many times is a team going to fold for 102 on the first day?
Having said that, the English always play badly when their press get stuck into them.
August 13th 2009 @ 12:33pm
Brett McKay said | August 13th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Davido, once more would be ideal…
August 13th 2009 @ 2:01pm
Greg Russell said | August 13th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
I know the English like to make jokes about how stupid Australians are, but come on Alec, you don’t seriously think we are going to believe that you would “Put the house on Australia in this fascinating Ashes series”. What’s next – are you going to try to make us believe that you are responsible for David Hussey’s nickname of “Little Mr Cricket”?
August 13th 2009 @ 2:19pm
Worlds Biggest said | August 13th 2009 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Yes the old ambush aint working here Alec. It happened before the 2007 Rugby World Cup Qtr Final. Everyone talked up the Wallabies and gave England no chance what so ever. Not buying it for a second, particularly when our selectors ( clowns ) are thinking of leaving out Stuey Clark. Freddie will be back for his swan song game, the Ashes are on the line and England will be a different team. I wouldn’t be too concerned about Punter calling incorrectly for the toss, he has a habit of that. It will be a fascinating game.
August 13th 2009 @ 6:54pm
Alec Swann said | August 13th 2009 @ 6:54pm | Report comment
Whether the English believe Australians to be stupid or not, if I was a betting man looking for a return my money would be on Ponting’s men and the headline isn’t mine.
I’m as supportive of my own team as you are of yours, but I know what I saw and my nationality aside, it wasn’t pretty.
All I would say is read what’s written, and not who it has been written by.
Having said that, England can’t be as poor again at the Oval.
Thay have shown that in this series that are capable of winning. All that they need to do is put a substantial first innings total on the board, which is what worries me.
And I didn’t realise David Hussey had a nickname.
August 14th 2009 @ 12:15pm
Greg Russell said | August 14th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
Alec, you played seasons of County Cricket with Australians and you aren’t aware of the great Australian pastime of taking the piss out of someone? Lighten up!
Even my wife knows of the sobriquet “Little Mr Cricket”, and she hardly follows the game at all. And you expect us to believe that you came up with “Mr Cricket”?
On a more serious note, is there any genuine chance of either team taking 20 wickets at The Oval? I heard that all of Surrey’s matches there this year have been draws, and certainly the County scores I have seen this year have been consistent with this. Does the curator there usually dish up different fare for tests?
August 13th 2009 @ 9:33pm
DannoW said | August 13th 2009 @ 9:33pm | Report comment
Shouldn’t David Hussey’s nickname be Master Cricket?
The paucity of England’s batting is demonstrated by their press calls for Ramprakash, Trescothick, and Robert Key as answers to their problems…all have displayed mental frailty or decidedly average form at test level.
If I were them I’d stick with what they’ve chosen, but put Collingwood at 3 ’cause he’s a fighter, and hope Bopara will be a better 4 or 5, he has talent, just needs to get his head sorted. Bring in Flintoff and drop Broad, who is a very average bowler, but a useful lower order hitter, and England really need to get 20 wickets.
August 14th 2009 @ 2:12am
davido said | August 14th 2009 @ 2:12am | Report comment
Newsflash… this is how badly people dont want to play for England…
Marcus Trescothick, the former England batsman, decided to rule himself out of the decisive Ashes Test after waking from a “terrible dream”.
‘In fact, that has been the case to such an extent that the other day I woke up at 6.30am from a terrible dream. There is a nightmare a lot of cricketers experience that they can’t get their pads on when they are due in to bat. My dream was a variation of that. I couldn’t get my England kit out of my bag! The other players were waiting for me on the pitch to do a team photo so I was in a right panic. I woke up in a cold sweat.
Time to call in the shrinks.