Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, right, celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Graham Onions on the third day of the fourth cricket test match between England and Australia, at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Tim Hales)
I’m always inwardly pleased when the Headingly Ashes Test finishes. It generally means I don’t have to put up with the Poms carrying on about 1981. They have a national holiday in Yorkshire (no, that’s not a contradiction in terms, the Western Australians will understand) to celebrate Sir Ian’s heroics.
At times it seems like the whole body of English cricket has THAT match as its base.
The English have learned through their folklore and storytellers that cricket matches are won by individuals performing one in a thousand heroics.
This is of course leads to the expectation that miracles will happen every Ashes series. They don’t, and even though the ghosts of Botham, Dilley and Willis were invoked yesterday as Broad and Swann swatted the bowlers to all parts, no manner of prayer or invocation were going to get England anywhere near a repeat of 1981.
England were outplayed in all departments.
The Australians have displayed some schizoid tendencies during the first three Tests but fortunately the improvement curve has been trending in the right direction since day three at Edgbaston.
Mitchell Johnson has emerged from his horror stretch of akimbo body angles and spreadeagled wicketkeepers to approach some reasonable consistency and the occasional inswinger.
He still has a way to go before restoration as the strike bowler but at least the Australians have bowled as a team unit at Headingly with no one man being outstanding.
The four seam bowlers each made a useful contribution to the victory and I believe they can do much better, and that is bad news for an ailing English batting lineup.
Marcus North has shored up the lower middle order with measured and thoughtful methods which can make extensive partnerships with batsmen either side of him.
The only worry at the moment is Mike Hussey whose rate of decline has decreased but is still trending downwards (I read that phrase on my superannuation statement and like Mr Cricket’s batting it didn’t fill me with reassurance).
Last week the big question for Australia was ‘could they get the 20 wickets for a win?’. The same now applies to England.
Without the talisman Flintoff and the luminant Pietersen, England have lacked an inspirational spark in both attack and defense.
Andrew Strauss is a solid citizen rather than a demagogue but he will have to find both actions and words to get his troops motivated for the final battle.
Firstly he must erase the memories of this debacle and then he has to lift the morale and the performance level in the manner of Mike Brearley (did I mention that I’m trying to forget 1981?).
Perhaps the miracle England are seeking is the restoration to useable health (just for one Test please, please, please) of the 21st Century Botham. Andrew Flintoff may be the most pampered and medicated man in Britain over the next ten days. And he can certainly expect hourly calls from his nervy captain.
It would indeed be a fairytale if Freddie can get fit and deliver a Test win, an Ashes recovery and career finale to match no other.
They wouldn’t bother with a Knighthood, he could move directly to Saint Freddie.
The problem for England is finding ten others who can play well enough to back him up and be inspired by him.
Australia’s main trouble will be who to leave out given the success of spinners at The Oval.
My one last note of caution is based on the most curious of notions: the form line of this series has been jagged. No straight lines on the graph for consistency in skill or failure indicates that England might bounce back as they did at Lords after a woeful performance and lucky escape at Sophia Gardens.
It doesn’t really make sense, but then again neither did the events at Headingly 1981.
sheek
Guest
Actually Henry,The form line that bothers you actually favours Australia. Aussies dominated 1st test, England 2nd & 3rd tests, therefore Aussies will dominate 4th & 5th tests - A, E, E, A, A. I think the Poms collectively have already played their best cricket, while the Aussies are only just starting to gel as a team.
Dave
Guest
I think Watson has given up on bowling much because of injury
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Rudi and Bowden are like for like IMO. What about the calamity yesterday when the umps lost count with a couple of overs. One was a 5 ball and the other was a 7 ball over ??. Holding & Warney were taking them to town in the commentary !.
JohnB
Guest
Davido - interested to try to understand in what sense Aust struggled to take 20 wickets. Sure, they went for some cheap runs yesterday (on what was still a pretty good wicket, and after the game was effectively over) and sure, they got what looked like a pretty favourable decision in each innings (as against one howler against) - but they won by an innings with more than half of the available time still to go, and only needed 96 overs to bowl the other mob out (twice). If they could struggle like that every game, they'd probably be fairly happy. Of course, it all starts at 0-0 again next game, and there's no guarantee of a repeat, so some sort of reality check doesn't go completely astray.
Jameswm
Guest
Was Rudi ruled out with a right index finger injury?
Rob
Guest
England never really recovered from the loss of both Flintoff and Koertzen. Unless both are available for the Oval I cant see them winning.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Colin N, I have been to Yorkshire and found the people friendly enough. Yes it was a small section of the crowd booing Ponting so we are only talking about a minority but still poor form none the less. I agree Murali has been treated poorly out here also. As Beefy said in the commentary when the teams were walking off " The booing of Ponting is pathetic really, they should be booing the English team ". Never a truer word was said. Sam - you are clutching at straws big time. Look at the stats Jameswm has provide re the batting for both teams. Huss is the only batsmen struggling at the moment yet still has two 50's in this series. Clark getting belted around was a nuffy. It was hit and giggle. Can Broad and Swan do that at the Oval in first innings when the pressure is really on ??.
Jameswm
Guest
Dead right Sam - we sure are cock a hoop and we didn't just win it, we humiliated England. It's a lot easier to slog a 50 when the pressure's off. That sort of thing happens all the time. Here's an interesting stat. England have one 100 for the series, and one 95. Australia have 7 hundreds plus two scores in the 90s and one in the 80s. So Australian batsmen have 10 of the top 12 scores for the series. Here's another - Flintoff has taken 7 wickets at 48 in the three tests he's played this series.
davido
Guest
The reality is we still struggled to take 20 wickets. We needed a massive head start and even then the bowlers got carted around the park for quite some time.
Michael C
Guest
For the Oval - - a couple of things need to be established - is Watson able to bowl (sufficiently well) to allow a quick to be dropped, or, is North/Clarke/Katich going to bowl (sufficiently well) to allow a quick to be retained. At least for the selectors, each bowler did a job at times, do you take too much notice of the hit and giggle by Broad and Swann? The amount of shots they middled and managed to land perfectly b/w fielders and just out of reach.....that'll rarely come off and top order batsmen aren't permitted to bat in such a manner.
Sam
Guest
Look at all these Aussie supporters cock a hoop after winning one game. Reality is, Hussey is struggling badly, Clark got bashed in his spell yesterday (whose to say that may continue at The Oval with the English batsmen being more aggresive towards him) and Siddle got a 5fa, but 4 of those 5 were the tail. Its not a done deal just yet lads. From England's point of view the batting must be fixed ASAP. Bopara is rubbish, drop him for Trott/Freddie (if fit) or at least put him at 5, with the more technically sound Bell at 3 and maybe Collingwood at 4. Broad has been batting well, as has Prior, its the KPless middle order which is struggling. I would stick with the bowlers, no need to bring in Monty for Swann
Tom
Guest
If it were me i would have been booing the poms for their pathetic and soft performance.
Colin N
Guest
"I thought the northern folk were supposed to be the friendlier bunch compared to down south" Of course we are. Yorkshire's a great place. I assume you haven't been. "Some Yorkshiremen showing there true colours" I think this phrase is fantastic, the best cliche ever. What is meant by 'showing your true colours?' Is it that one is an ignorant violent thug? Or a person conforming to a typical stereotype? Yorkshire people and cricket fans (just to be PC) aren't particularly people who I consider to be ignorant. The booing of Pointing was made worse by by the media and no was worse than the English being booed onto the 'home of cricket' by the Indian fans, or the stick the Australian fans have given Murali over the years. The Oval generally has pace and bounce so if I was Australia I would keep Siddle over Clark, if you opted for Hauritz. But, what's the point when this attack has worked so well as a unit and if needed, the likes Clarke and Katich can act as part time spinners"
Phil Coorey
Guest
The booing of Punter should be (and in my opinion is ) a non issue. Seriously - who cares - it is not like the Aussie crowds treated the Poms with much respect two years ago out here. The oval - I think Siddle has to make way if they are going to include the great Nathan Hauritz. Just a hunch
Jameswm
Guest
Yes I must agree on the booing of Ponting. It was probably a minority and I did see large sections of the crowd (obviously English) standing and applauding Ponting's innings. But the booing of a world great makes the spectators look like boorish bad sports - basically what everyone criticises the Aussies of being.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Henry, as your old mate Beefy mentioned last night in the commentary, " it will have to take something very special for England to win at the Oval ". Freddie is that person to lift the team. In your opinion which team benefits more from the 10 day break before the Oval ?. Australia will be reluctant to make changes given the dominant performance. If the Oval is a turner then Hauritz will come in for a seamer but which one ?. I would take Clark over Siddle if one of them has to make way. BTW - how ordinary was the booing of Punter, pathetic really. I thought the northern folk were supposed to be the friendlier bunch compared to down south. Some Yorkshiremen showing there true colours. I don't think it would bother Punter one iota however it is poor form, he is one of the greatest batsmen in modern times and deserves respect.
sheek
Guest
Justin, Clarke bowled especially well in the first innings. However, he was the least successful of the Aussie pacemen overall. Hilfenhaus & Siddle have been our consistent best, while Johnson appears to be regaining form. So, Clarke is the one to give way. Balance is essential, especially benefitting from any spin in the pitch, so I would bring back Hauritz, who has bowled quite well. Besides, the Aussies have Watson as a 4th quickie. Agree with the Hughes/Watson/Hussey scenario - should happen but won't.
Kyle
Guest
nice post Geoff. Getting the 20 wickets does strongly suggest that day 3 in Birmingham was the turning point for this team (statistics, confidence, will, etc). I really hope Flintoff (England's best and most inspirational player) is available fort the final London Test to negate dilution of a possible OZ win in his absence (KP, too). Australia should include a specialist spinner; however, we have seen in the past that OZ selectors often have a predilection to stay with a stable of batsmen and utilize part-timers....typically to the detriment of the team!
Justin
Guest
Sheek - selections will be crucial. I wouldn't drop Clarke for anyone. Yes he was whacked about yesterday butthe match was over with no pressure on the batsmen. They could swing and bugger the consequences. I'll take someone gets top order wickets. When theatch was there to be won Clarke took the vital wickets. I would bring in Hughes and replace Hussey with Watson in the middle, but they won't do that. England have no class batsman besides Strauss, the rest are very average. Panesar is rubbish, at least Swann contributes with the bat and fielding. If Aus play well the Ashes are staying put, whether or not "I am God" is playing...
sheek
Guest
So Henry, Changes for the last test, if any? They say the Oval has turn. Australia. I would imagine a straight swap, Hauritz back in for Clarke? Does Hussey deserve to remain in the team? Has Hughes rectified his technique to the satisfaction of the selectors? England. Will Flintoff be ready for the last test? Panesar perhaps for Swann, despite his good batting? Do England have two competent middle-order replacements, for Bopara & Bell?