The Roar
The Roar

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It's not a crime to slow it down

Mitchell Johnson (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Expert
14th July, 2015
18

One of the two protagonists entered the first Ashes Test as justifiable favourites.

They had comfortably won the previous series between the sides, their line-up was settled, a bowling attack that was more established, they possessed a nicely balanced top order, their warm-up form had been good and everything pointed to the continuation of their decent run of results.

That was England in Brisbane, November 2013. But for then read Australia in Cardiff, July 2015.

A 5-0 win last time out, a shorter price with every bookmaker, a team that more or less could pick itself, a dynamic seam attack, the premier spinner, a strong top six and two convincing wins over the counties.

There was a strong sense that if everything played out as expected then the trip down the M4 to Lord’s would be made with a 1-0 series lead in the bag.

That the above isn’t the case can be out down to two surprises: England playing so well and Australia playing so poorly.

The majority, well those who looked beyond the hyperbole, predicted a closely-fought five Tests, and that isn’t going to change over the next few weeks, but not a single preview entertained the possibility of a home win of such a convincing manner.

How will England take 20 wickets and can they withstand the opposing pace attack given their previous experiences were the two main obstacles being placed in front of Alastair Cook and his XI in their bid to regain the urn.

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Fair enough really with two of the seam quartet – Ben Stokes and Mark Wood – relatively inexperienced and the batting rarely subjected to the kind of speeds generated by Mitchell Johnson and his left-arm partner in crime.

But while previous occurrences can provide a useful guide, a definitive answer is more difficult to come by. That was 18 months ago and with alterations in personnel and a fresh opponent without four drubbings behind them, the consensus wasn’t a given.

Despite all of this, Australia will have been well within their rights to expect better but, and not for the first time, the 22 yards of turf got the better of them.

Had this game, with all other factors constant, been played at the Gabba or Waca, I wouldn’t have given England a cat in hell’s chance of coming out on top.

Yet think back to Trent Bridge and Lord’s in 2013, the four Tests in India prior to that, Port Elizabeth in 2014 and the UAE later that year and spot the trend. Take the pace away – I made this point after the second Test in South Africa a year or so ago – and Australia are a far tamer animal.

The events in Cardiff bear this out. Johnson, without the threat of causing physical harm, isn’t anywhere near as penetrative and the top order don’t seem to want to book in for the long haul.

Test cricket has moved on in pace but that doesn’t mean you have to sit in the fast lane for the duration. Show some respect for what’s in front of you and reap the rewards, fail to do so and get bitten on the backside.

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This isn’t down to complacency or taking England lightly as some have suggested, it’s simply a mindset that needs to be altered a touch.

England, like it or not, have just shown the way to go about it on slower surfaces. Attack with the bat in a more selective manner and stick to a plan with the ball.

The way the hosts bowled to each individual – slightly wide of off-stump to Steve Smith, straight to Adam Voges and Shane Watson, across David Warner – showed that homework had been done and, more importantly, was then adhered to. Australia were unable to maintain any pressure for any length of time and the difference was all too apparent.

All of that being said, the talk of crisis in the camp is a bit premature. Manchester United lose three on the bounce and they’re in a mess – they aren’t – and the same is true in this case.

One defeat won’t, or shouldn’t, result in the walls coming tumbling down and a side, after a hearty wake-up call, with renewed vigour should be expected in north London.

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