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You would think that with just one Ashes triumph since 1989, England would have approached the first Test on red alert, DEFCON 1, and all other battle station analogies.
But they clearly walked into the first Test at Cardiff thinking that an Australian team without some of the greatest players of all time would be a fairly easy proposition for them.
After all, they had just defeated the calypso kings, the West Indies, by ten wickets in the first Test and by an innings and 83 runs in the second. The same West Indian team that is barely seventh on the Test rankings, and in complete disarray, now striking over collective pay issues.
The English also made the right noises coming into the Tests acknowledging that, despite the lack of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matt Hayden, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn among others (my god, what a collection of players!), this was still Australia: ‘we know what we are up against’, and so forth.
They also said that focus, discipline and intensity would win this series.
But they didn’t back any of this up.
There were some grave underestimations on the part of the English as well.
They forgot that Australian cricketers have long memories, and the pain of the 2005 Ashes loss, while somewhat forgotten with the 2007 whitewash, would only be erased with a statement made back on the hallowed grounds of England.
England forgot that there was still some very good players in this Australian team, thinking that with Australia’s only 300 wicket taker (they used to have two 500 plus bowlers), Brett Lee, out as well, it would be a pretty simple task.
After all, the entire Australian bowling attack had barely 40 Tests between them, with over half of them belonging to Mitchell Johnson.
They forgot that captain Ricky Ponting, for all the criticisms levelled at him about his captaincy, is still one of the finest batsmen in the game, and history will remember him as one of the greats with a blade.
Equally, while he is not recognised by many as the captain that Allan Border or Steve Waugh was, he still has the same sheer bloody mindedness evident in his predecessors.
And while it is not the swaggering front five – all with 50 plus Test averages – batting line up that haunted the world’s bowlers for years. It is still a competent Test line.
While Michael Hussey continues to be out of form (it is almost mocking to call him Mr Cricket now), the talents of vice-captain Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, and Marcus North will now surely be noted by England.
But most importantly, this was an Australian side that has had to scrap their way through toughest cricketing theatres in the last twelve months.
You could not ask for a more uncompromising preparation than India in the subcontinent, South Africa beating you on the previously unbeatable Australian soil, and having a return series against the same team.
England showed a borderline arrogance throughout this match.
No batsmen knuckled down and dominated the novice tourist attack. For every batsman to reach double figures is one thing. But for seven players to reach 30 and three to pass 50, and not score a hundred in an Ashes Test match is a cardinal sin.
It was the same with their bowling.
To not use Freddie Flintoff as an opening strike weapon, when he is your best bowler, is a terrible transgression.
Their attack was in stark contrast to Australia’s, as players who had never played in an Ashes contest bowled with the determination and spirit that wins Test matches. If Johnson can find the form of a few months ago, it will be a fearsome attack if and when Lee returns.
The most telling signal as to England’s mindset was at the end of the match.
An admittedly weaker Australia, after dominating for close to four out of five days, could not quite kill the English off, but came very close. A Test match draw.
And what does England do? Celebrate like they have won the Ashes.
If England is to win this series on home soil, they will need to pull their heads in, and very fast.
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