Australian Peter Siddle bowls durng a training session in Melbourne, Dec. 25, 2010. Australia plays England in the traditional Boxing Day Test in the battle for the Ashes. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Pop quiz: Your team wins a crucial match that might later be viewed as the turning point in your season, and did so on one of the fastest and bounciest tracks on the planet with four quicks.
Your team’s next match is on a pitch not so much known for favouring for the fast men, but at the same time, they’ve taken roughly four of every five wickets there this season.
Do you keep your four-string pace quartet, or do you bring in a spinner that all anyone knows about him is how to fit his name in a mildly amusing headline?
So then, if you have kept the four quicks, does the previously-little-known spinner from the west come back into calculations for Sydney, or do you jettison him back to obscurity and pick some blokes with better figures and/or longer-term viability about them, like say, a couple of locals who are in decent nick with both ball and bat?
Or, if you have given Michael Beer the ultimate Christmas present this morning, Baggy Green number 418, do you drop Ben Hilfenhaus, a man so economical in Perth that Toyota want to name their next hybrid after him, or do you deprive hometown hero Peter Siddle the opportunity that every Victorian boy desires?
Yeah, I don’t know either.
But we will find out soon enough, as the rejuvenated Australian team go into the biggest Test match on the local calendar intent on making the most of their new found momentum and looking to go 2-1 up in the Ashes Series.
The Perth Test rocked the series back to life after an ordinary few days in Brisbane and a shocking week in Adelaide. Just when we thought that Australian cricket might have reached rock bottom, Mitchell Johnson found his inswinger, Mike Hussey knocked up his squillionth run for the series, and Ryan Harris got the best possible return from his “old man’s” knee.
What’s more, England now looks like Australia did ten days ago.
So here we are in Melbourne, and it’s these key questions on everyone’s lips.
Personally speaking, I’d be hoping MCG curator Cameron Hodgkins made good use of the abundant water in south-eastern parts of the country and that the Test wicket resembled an Asian rice paddy at some point in its preparation.
I’m hoping that the only assistance Graeme Swan gets in Melbourne this week is from the doorman of the England team’s hotel.
What really surprised me over in Perth was just how well the four quicks worked in partnership, and how they were all able to benefit from shorter sharper spells. Once they got their sails up, there was no real “down” periods in the Australian attack as the bowlers rotated effectively through the crease.
So in a case of “when you’re onto a good thing, stick to it”, I’d be leaning toward keeping the four quicks in the side, giving Mitchell Johnson all the hugs he needs to know he’s still loved, and looking to exploit the sudden doubt that gripped the England side over the last two-and-a-bit days in Perth.
They claimed before the series that they had Mitchell Johnson’s measure, and that certainly looked to be the case in Brisbane. Heck, I would’ve fancied my chances against Johnson in Brisbane.
However, all the meetings, think-tanks and expensive Mitch-mimicking bowling machines in the world couldn’t have counted on his inswinger coming back with such a bang as it did in Perth. Kevin “Smart Arse” Pietersen admitted as much this week when he suggested, “We knew he could swing it but we didn’t realise he could swing it that much.”
Neither did the Bowl-a-tron 5000, I’m tipping.
Sadly, the pitch doctors might have scuppered my four-pronged pace plans though, with Hodgkins admitting mid-week that “the WACA’s worst day would still be faster and bouncier than anything we normally turn out.”
With all this leaning toward Beer on Boxing Day – as if that wasn’t going to happen one way or the other – the tall Sandgroper faces a daunting Test debut on what Stuart Clark rightly describes as “the Australian cricket equivalent of a golfer lining up his first tee shot at Augusta.” No wonder it’s called ‘Test’ cricket.
Of course, the other big talking point in Melbourne today is the captain’s little finger. Ricky Ponting trained with no reported effects on Friday, and he’s declared himself a certain starter for this Test.
That said, if his runs drought continues, the critics and haters will no doubt point to the injury as a reason for him to have sat the game out. Actually, on second thought, they probably wouldn’t need the injury as reason for omission.
Michael Clarke and Phillip Hughes both need big runs too, and a lengthy testing period in Melbourne fighting their way to a score is just what the team requires of them.
Likewise for England, questions remain over the form of Paul Collingwood and Steve Finn, the fitness of Jimmy Anderson, and indeed, how well they recover for the dramatic reversal of fortunes in Perth.
Either way, the Boxing Day Ashes Test shapes as one of the most exciting contests in recent memory. Win here, and either team gets a major momentum boost for Sydney, and one hand back on the Urn.
The series doesn’t get any more in the balance than it is this morning.
Brett McKay
Expert
Thanks for all your comments today (and tonight, I suspect), and my apologies for not replying where questions were posed, but as I was in the stands, it wasn't possible today. Sorry again. On the day's action, well.... I'll be polite and leave it at: wow
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I just submitted a Roar article. You guys probably dont know the game, but it was worse than against South Africa at Dhaka a couple of years ago. Same wafts outsdie off stump though.
Mark Raymond
Guest
Yes. Time to take the house down completely and start re-building from the ground up. It's 1980s- dark ages of Australian cricket- all over again.
Rhys
Guest
Totally agree with your sentiments Matthew. The changeover should probably be staged though over the course of the next year. By next year's Boxing Day Test I'd like to see at least 4-5 new (under 25) players forging new Test careers for Australia. But once the selectors pick the cream of the domestic crop, they must give them a fair run in the team to get settled.
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
26/12/2010 - The day Australian cricket died. Now let's make a new set of Ashes, and forget this whole thing ever happened.
dan mcmillan
Guest
I have gone serching for a site like this just to vent!!! Does this blog get to ACB headqaurters? I am outrgaed and embarrasssed at he hapless rubbish dished up by Ponting and his lot at the MCG today. What an appalling day of, supposedly, elite sport from our team. In saying that I pay full compliment and ackowledgement to the quality of England. Good on them and well done! No more of this pathetic excuse of a team and its aged and humiliating leader. Ponting MUST go NOW. Don't even come out for the second day , Ricky!!! Spare us the embarrassment of your presence on this sacred field. Just stay there in the sheds working on your commentating skills so you can move to the next lucrative stage of your life. Thank God, I NEVER listen or wath that crap dished up by NINE. But, Ricky, you'll fit right in ,mate. Losers the lot of them and you should join them TOMORROW.
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
Comoooon rain. It's our only hope now. What a terrible display today. It's like someone forgot to tell the team YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE. YOU LOSE, THE ASHES ARE GONESKIS. It's all we were saying before Perth, but before today, it was all about the crowd, and Ricky's finger. To me, as a spectator, I didn't see the same fire in the belly that we saw from the outset in Perth. Oh and is it not time we finally gave Phil Hughes the boot? He looks so so shaky at the crease and hasn't shown even a hint of what he had against South Africa. Just looked at his Wikipedia page - ahh the reliable, reliable knowledge it shares. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Hughes
Melanie Dinjaski
Roar Guru
But our captain-in-waiting Michael Clarke top scored....and you all wanted him dropped! ;)
Matthew Maguire
Roar Pro
Best thing that could ever happen. Seems home series losses to India & South Africa plus consecutive away Ashes losses wasnt enough to force change but a HOME ashes series loss may just finally be the catalyst for sackings, especially with innings losses in ADEL and another likely one in MELB. Its not that Ponting couldnt play on for another couple of years, likewise Katich, Hussey, North etc. They are quality (generally) and have given plenty over the years but what benefit is their continuation to Aussie cricket? After March/April, the Ashes wont be contested for another 3 years and no World Cup for 4 years. Perfect time to rebuild with youth. Remove the contracts of every bloke over 30, regardless of form and seniority. They are not the future. There's probably 8 spots available to be filled on that basis alone (Voges, Hopes, Lee, Hussey, Ponting, Haddin, Harris, Katich) let alone blokes like Tait still having contracts but only playing T20. Sign up Khawaja, Hazlewood, Maddinson, Mitch Marsh, Peter George, Mitch Starc etc and play the blokes who have contracts but dont get picked - Tim Paine, Shaun Marsh, Callum Ferguson... Shield cricket is still the best domestic comp in the world - why are we now ignoring the talent it continues to produce? Cant imagine it if we have held Ponting back til 28 before giving him a crack at Test level or played McGrath not at 23 but instead waited until he hit 30. Hopefully, this entirely predictable Ashes outcome (draw or loss) will do the trick. It makes me sick to say it but I hope the humiliation continues...then again, with no confidence in the selectors, will they actually have the guts to wield the axe? Thankfully, Andrew Hilditch's contract is up in April. I am hoping only sheer embarrassment at hefty losses will force them into change because it is not even close to doom and gloom if they just give the fresh blood opportunity to prove themselves. There will be 25+ Tests before we travel to ENG in 2013 - plenty of time for a core group of 6-8 to have cemented themselves in the team and with a decent shot at regaining the Ashes. The talent is there, just play them.
Timmypig
Guest
Cheers Gibbons I hadn't anticipated such a gap between my Ch 9 (delivered by Foxtel over cable) and my ABC (delivered by Bigpond also over cable). Ended up not mattering - the kids came home and wanted to play with the Wii that Santa delivered, so I lost the telly. Probably a good thing give what's transpired.
GibbonsmcGibbons
Guest
It's due to digital TV being a slower method of connectivity than radio waves.. The biggest downside to digital TV is having to deal with the 9 commentary.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
I'll probably write it up fully later, but the Australian batting performance reminded me of some of the Bangladesh performances. And not their good ones.
Mark Raymond
Guest
The bowlers have been ok, except for the fact of having no spinners, but our Aussie batsmen are probably the worst group I have ever seen. Completely lacking in technique, with the sole exception of Hussey. When he goes, all hope goes with him. Now it's a case of trying 2 or 3 new batsmen for Sydney with a view to the future
johnyfairplay
Guest
you must be kidding me Brett - Aus is at an all-time rock bottom. Perth used to be the fastest and bounciest track on the planet, a cakewalk today for test cricket teams. Last week it only exposed Australia and England for being numbers 4 and 5 in the world and sliding. Aus 98 all out at the MCG.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
If I didnt barrack for Bangladesh, I'd be feeling pretty pissed off around now. Roll on April.
Ranger
Guest
5 down fellas. Its all upto Mssrs. Haddin and Johnson now...
Ranger
Guest
Brett and others, I just read an article in SMH, according to which cricket is on the way to irrelevance in Australia. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/greedy-game-is-just-not-cricket-20101225-197gi.html Wonder whats your take on it ?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Well, Hughes didnt get runs, Ponting didnt get runs, Watson didnt get runs and, well, Hussey didnt get runs either. Looks like it all comes down to Mitch.
Timmypig
Guest
Brett I hope you don't mind me hijacking the thread ... but here's another 'big question' ... How come listening to Jim, Skull, Aggers et al on ABC is so out of sync with Ch 9's footage? I hate the 9 commentary, but I suspect I'll have to put up with it.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Lolly, No, the Perth wicket was great - it was quick, it had bounce, you could score runs off it ... it was a really, really good Perth wicket. It was the two paras where the author hoped that the curator fixed the pitch to nullify Swann that annoyed me. Regrettably, I think the pitch will be a lowish, slowish dropin pitch with no turn, because thats the nature of drop-in pitches. I hope Im wrong. Personally, I'd like to see the MCG get it's schitzophrenic two-paced nature back.