Captain-in-waiting Steve Smith will galvanise the baggy greens leading into the two-Test away series against Bangladesh in October.
There will never be any personal headline grabbing from the self-effacing and humble Smith, nor will he play the sympathy card and shed the odd tear when the chips are down.
He will turn a fractured side into a united unit by leading from the front with David Warner at his side as deputy.
Smith proved in his three home Tests against India, standing in for an injured Michael Clarke, that he’s right off the top shelf as a captain – adding to his standing by scoring three tons in every first dig,
As for Clarke, he made a tasteless retirement announcement on the ground at Trent Bridge to take away the headlines from England’s comprehensive Ashes victory. That proved Clarke has lost the plot.
It proved it was time for Clarke to go.
He has one last appearance Test at The Oval to improve on his ordinary batting average of 16 in this Ashes series.
A career average of 50 is universally regarded as an elite Test batsman, Clarke has slipped out of that illustrious category with 49.30.
There are nine Australians whose career averages are above 50.
Don Bradman 99.94.
Steve Smith 54.66.
Greg Chappell 53.86.
Ricky Ponting 51.85.
Jack Ryder 51.62.
Mike Hussey 51.52.
Steve Waugh 51.06.
Matt Hayden 50.73
And Allan Border’s 50.56.
So where did it all go so wrong?
Rod Marsh, the chairman of selectors, rated Australia’s batting as “deplorable”.
Darren Lehmann, the Australian coach and selector, added, “We have been poor, we have been outplayed by a superior opponent, and we must accept the blame as coaching staff, players, and selectors for our losses at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge”.
In blanketing the coaching staff, Lehmann didn’t mention the batting coach Michael DiVenuto by name, nor bowling coach Craig McDermott or fielding coach Greg Blewett.
But all three have plenty to answer for when a review is conducted at tour’s end.
So too Pat Howard, the high performance manager at Cricket Australia since 2011.
The former Wallaby admitted he knew precious little about cricket when he was appointed to the new position.
By scheduling back to back series in the Caribbean and England with the same squad, he proved he has learnt precious little in those four years.
Are the Ashes stats more revealing?
In the four Tests England has lost 62 wickets for 1948 runs, Australia 70 for 2084.
England’s average per wicket is 31.42, Australia’s 29.77.
There’s a vastly differenrt story comparing the top three.
England’s top three Alastair Cook (223 runs at 31.15), Adam Lyth (86 at 12.28), and the combination of Gary Ballance and Ian Bell at first drop (217 at 36.16) are way behind Chris Rogers (437 at 62.42), Warner (333 at 41.62), and Smith’s 365 at 45.62.
England’s top three have averaged 26.3, Australia’s 49.34.
But the pecking order’s reversed for the rest of the line-up with England’s 56 wickets and 1422 runs compared to Australia’s 47 wickets and 949.
England’s average 25.39 per wicket, Australia 20.19.
Interestingly, Australia has used only five bowlers in four Tests, England seven.
The leading wicket-takers:
Stuart Broad – 21 at 18.09.
Mitchell Starc – 18 at 25.75.
Josh Hazlewood – 16 at 27.27.
Nathan Lyon – 12 at 29.91.
Mitchell Johnson – 11 at 39.81.
And Jimmy Anderson – 10 at 27.50.
Four Australians, and just two Englishmen.
But the English attack has been far more accurate and dangerous with line and length, showing the Australians the way.
Why the Australians didn’t follow their successful pattern begs belief?
The difference would be even more stark if there was a new stat among the bowlers.
Dot balls should be broken into two categories – those where bat was on ball and no runs, the other a delivery that passed aimlessly by well wide of the stumps either side and no shot was played.
Had those two breakdown stats been available, the Australians have bowled so many rubbish balls that the aimless deliveries would go close to the bat on ball with no runs.
That’s inexcusable for a Test attack. You would be very annoyed if you were the captain of a fourth grade club side and your attack bowled like that.
So the final rites on this Ashes series will be delivered at The Oval, starting a week today.
Then there will be two T20s against Ireland and England, and five ODIs against England with Steve Smith at the helm.
Long may he reign in all three formats, as a breath of fresh air for Australian cricket.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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