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There is little doubt that Australia was victorious at Edgbaston, even though the match ended in a draw. Victory came in another sense, and as a result, a terrible demon has been slayed.
What the blazes are you raving about, you say?
Well, in my humble opinion, the only weakness the Australian batting has shown in the last two years is its inability to play out a draw.
Often we have, for the want of a better phrase, folded under the pressure. This demon has nipped at Australia’s heels recently and blighted otherwise fine batting performances.
The second innings by Australia at Edgbaston means that in a batting sense we are back. We ground the life out of the English bowling.
Despite a good bowling pitch, Australia made the pitch look tame, the bowlers weary. Over after over, Australia’s batsmen resisted temptation and displayed an inordinate amount of patience.
And finally, the Bopara moment came, that moment when the English captain Strauss lost the will to bowl and decided not to put his bowlers through any more punishment.
The spirit to win drained out of the English players and the Edgbaston crowd like it has so many times before.
It must have felt to Strauss that he lost an opportunity, probably the best opportunity of the series.
How should we judge the English?
Well, at the critical moment, England lacked the killer instinct, that Viv Richards ability to hammer home an advantage.
As an addendum, it’s important to note the dignity with which team Australia dealt with the Rub of the Pitch and the Rub of Rudi. Faced with an at times dodgy pitch and at times dodgy umpiring, the team was stoic and dignified.
They took their punishment and walked on with their heads held high.
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