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The Ashes have been won. A fantastic achievement by the Australian Cricket team.
They have out-thought, out-planned and out-played England.
It has been somewhat of a surprise how poor England have been.
They are a better side than they have shown this tour however they have some important decisions to make moving forward, particularly regarding line-up changes.
Matt Prior
As good a player he has been for England he simply hasn’t performed in the last 12 months and now is the perfect time for Jonny Bairstow to be afforded an opportunity. His keeping is still developing, as Prior’s was when he was given the gloves in the Test side.
He will be a very good keeper in time and his batting is very sound. At Yorkshire, I have witnessed him change the momentum of an innings on a number of occasions with his positive stroke play.
He will be ideal for England at number seven – he just needs to be given a good run in the side to help develop his all-round skills.
The top six
England need to get this sorted. They have not scored 400 runs in and innings since their trip to New Zealand in March.
The top six need to take responsibility and make the bulk of the runs. They are all under-performing.
One of the questions that needs to be answered is – Is Carberry the solution at the top of the order?
He has done ok, however at 33 years of age is he going to improve? Joe Root is seen as the long term option at the top.
There is a strong argument to allow him the opportunity to forge a strong partnership with Alastair Cook. This then opens up the debate about other positions in the order.
If Root opens then who bats three? Without Trott it would seem that Bell is the obvious choice and I believe it would be the right option.
With Pietersen at four and Stokes at six on the back of an excellent fourth innings hundred in Perth, it leaves the number five spot open. If England decide to go this way, Ballance has to play.
A good player of fast bowling and who attacks spin well, he could be another long term option in the England batting line-up.
At the end of the day the England batting group need to give their bowlers a chance. Their bowlers have only had two days this series where they have not had to field at all in a days play.
This is not good enough – it makes the bowlers job even tougher. Give them something to defend and give them a chance to freshen up.
With Tim Bresnan rounding out the bowling attack, it would make it four Yorkshiremen in England’s starting 11! That is something that all of us at Yorkshire would love to see!
Editor’s Note: This article was written before the surprise immediate retirement of English spinner Graeme Swann from Test cricket.