What a paradoxical end to a roller coaster series! Did you notice the expressions on the faces of the rival teams at the award presentation on Sunday?
Australia, who won the final Test at The Oval by an innings, looked glum while England appeared ecstatic.
Not surprising, as they had regained the Ashes 3-2 after losing it 0-5 only 19 months ago.
I’m no Somerset Maugham, so cannot describe the human emotions involved in this incredible series, but can give some humanised stats.
The series was supposed to last 25 days but was done in under 17, with momentum swinging more than that extracted from the pitch by quickies Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson and Steven Finn for England and the three Mitchells – Starc, Johnson and Marsh – for Australia.
If only Peter Siddle was picked in earlier Tests. If only Ryan Harris was fit. If only Anderson could play in the final two Tests.
So many ifs.
But I am pleased Siddle proved Shane Warne – who had been very critical of Siddle’s selection on the first day of The Oval Test – wrong.
Although bowlers were behind all the wins – especially Broad, who pulverised Australia in the Nottingham Test with his 8/15, seeing them all out 60 – batsmen Joe Root and Chris Rogers were voted players of the series. I would have gone for Broad, who captured 21 wickets at 20.90.
Steve Smith was named best player of the final Test. He and Root were the pillars of the series; when they failed their countries lost by huge margins, but when they fired their side triumphed.
England was victorious when Root scored 134 and 60 at Cardiff, 63 and 38 not out at Birmingham, and 130 at Nottingham; a total of 425 runs at 106.25 in the winning Tests.
England lost when Root failed with 1 and 17 at Lord’s, and 6 and 11 at The Oval; a meagre 35 runs at 8.75.
Australia lost when Smith was dismissed for 33 and 33 at Cardiff, 7 and 8 at Birmingham, and 6 and 5 at Nottingham; a disastrous total of 92 runs at 15.33.
Australia won convincingly when Smith amassed 215 and 58 at Lord’s, and 143 at The Oval; a fantastic 416 runs at 138.66 in victorious Tests.
Eminent Indian statistician Rajesh Kumar informs me that Smith is the ninth highest among 10 players in the history of Test cricket to average 55.00 before reaching the age of 27 (qualification of 2000 runs).
In 33 Tests so far the 26-year-old has scored 3095 runs at 56.25 in 33 Tests.
The eight above him are: Don Bradman, averaging 98.69 in 28 Tests, Everton Weekes (West Indies) 61.11 in 23, Graeme Pollock (South Africa) 60.97 in 23, Wally Hammond (England) 59.80 in 27, Viv Richards (WI) 58.89 in 31, Garry Sobers (WI) 58.54 in 47, Sachin Tendulkar (India) 56.94 in 82, Greg Chappell (Australia) 56.82 in 40.
So Smith is in a distinguished ‘youth’ group.
The only other batsman to average over 55 with the bat is left-hander Neil Harvey, now the oldest living Australian Test cricketer, who had 55.81 in 44 Tests before he turned 27.
Root, now 24, should join these elite batsmen soon. In 32 Tests he has averaged 54.66 and like Oliver Twist is hungry for more!
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