The Urn may be gone but the series is still to be decided, as the final Ashes Test gets underway at the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground today. England will need to jolt themselves out of their Melbourne hangovers, but for them there will be no greater motivation than history itself.
Back in 1986/87, Mike Gatting also led his men to Ashes victory in the Fourth Test in Melbourne, but promptly allowed Australia to save some face by losing the Fifth Test in Sydney.
Andrew Strauss has already spoken of not wanting to hold the Ashes by virtue of a drawn series, but by actually winning them.
A loss in this last Test, for England, is simply unacceptable. What’s more, a 2-2 series result would completely flatter Australia while at the same time robbing the history books of a true measure on who the dominant team has been in the 2010/11 Ashes series.
Of their playing group, questions really only remain over the form of Paul Collingwood, who has had a quiet series with the bat when compared to his well-tallied colleagues, and likewise, the less than expected return of spinner Graeme Swann.
The Barmy Army have been singing all summer “Swann, Swann will tear you apart…”, but it hasn’t quite gone that way. He’s certainly played his part, no question, and the innings wins in Adelaide and Melbourne were certainly secured due to Swann’s efforts on the final mornings.
However, the truth is Swann hasn’t had to tear Australia apart because the English quicks – or indeed, the Australian bats themselves – have largely done the job before Swann got a chance.
Regardless, we’ve still seen enough of Swann to know that he is going to be a handful here in Sydney, especially as the Test goes on and the pitch starts wearing. If Australia plays Mitch Johnson AND Dougie Bollinger, Swann could become a very daunting prospect aiming into their footmarks as the Test goes on.
So while England will almost certainly go into Sydney unchanged, Australia will be making changes for the third time in four Tests. While this time around at least the changes are both injury-forced, it still highlights the gulf between the two sides in terms of selection stability.
Usman Khawaja has come into the side for Ricky Ponting, which will make many a Roarer happy, even if the promotion has an air of temporariness about it. Injury to the captain aside, Khawaja’s promotion has another refreshing element to it, in that it’s a just reward for performances over a prolonged period. As the cliché dictates, he has the runs on the board.
And in another move that will keep a good percentage of The Roar happy, the Test team for the final Ashes encounter takes on even more of a blue tinge, with seven New South Wales players in the XII, and all but Mike Hussey in the top seven.
While these local players will obviously be keen to do well regardless of where they play, the fact that this Test will be played in front of friends and family at their home ground adds just that little bit of extra pressure.
Shane Watson, admittedly a Bluebagger by lifestyle choice rather than birth or recruitment, is yet again one of Australia’s best performers this summer, but will do well to be slightly more circumspect when it comes to his run calling. His suicidal calling disposed of Simon Katich in Adelaide, and Phillip Hughes in Melbourne, and in Katich’s case the early and unnecessary wicket was the first of several in a top-order collapse.
If there’s hesitation at the other end, Shane, just say ‘no’. Please.
Hughes himself needs a big score in this Test to remind all and sundry that he can cut it at this level. Just as he looked set in both innings in Melbourne, he picked out Kevin Pietersen in the gully in the first innings, and was left stranded by Watson in the second.
The second innings was probably the more painful of the two MCG dismissals, as he’d looked more stable and less “hoppy” than in any previous innings in the series.
The same can be said for Steven Smith. He showed a lot of promise amidst a touch of the unorthodox in the second dig in Melbourne, and while there’s probably merit in him swapping places with Brad Haddin in the batting order for the next few Tests, he is certainly a player worth persevering with for the immediate future.
Khawaja, of course, has an opportunity to show his wares on the biggest stage, a glimpse to the post-Ponting future whenever that may be. I’m looking forward to observing his technique for I’ve not seen a whole lot of him so far. What I’ve heard and read excites me though, and I’ll be happy to see it for myself this week.
The most pressure though, is on the stand-in Captain. With Ponting out for the next month at least, Michael Clarke takes to the top job with a public opinion even less than NSW Premier Kristina Keneally held when she first rose (or was dragged) to power.
Personally, I don’t get this rush to condemn Clarke as a Test Captain before he even takes the field. His few stints as captain of the one-day side have shown him to be an innovative captain with a decent read on the game, and of course, he took the Twenty20 side to the World T20 Final despite being seemingly ill suited to that format of the game himself.
But apparently we don’t rate him, or so 85% of Daily Telegraph readers tell us.
It seems we want our Australian Captains to be devotees of VB or XXXX, instead of Bacardi Breezers. Never mind that this overlooks that Stephen Waugh was a Southern Comfort man who didn’t care much for beer, that Clarke bloke just isn’t one of us.
Phooey. How about we hold off on the judgements until after 10:30 this morning when at least he will actually have had a chance to prove his worth.
And who knows? He might even do a good job.
Brett McKay
Expert
SO am I stupid or stubborn Brendon?? Don't hold back... I've got nothing against bowling first at all, but as you've said yourself, the stats show that it's still not a bowl-first ground, unlike say, the MCG, where Victoria are having success sending the opposition in in SHIELD games. But even today, the pitch is playing lower and slower than yesterday, and it's hard to imagine it's going to get easier. I don't know I'd want to subject my batsmen to the worst conditions of a match, but maybe that's me? And how can you not look at Shield games played at the SCG this year?!? Because it doesn't suit your argument?? Come on...
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
I'm with you on this one Brendon. Our trouble all series has been taking enough wickets for little runs. Looking at the forecast the best bowling days were going to be day 1 and 2. England have been able to take wickets almost at will.....we gave them a hand up.
plugger
Guest
Wrong. Dav Whatmore played for Australia. He is Sri Lankan by birth.
Brendon
Guest
Also, Brett, whats that old definition of stupidity? Doing the exact same thing expecting different results? Again Australia looks like losing. How many times will Australia have to lose before you change your ideas?
Brendon
Guest
Dont care about sheild matches. This is test cricket. Australia bowled out for 280. England 0/73. The stats speak for themselves.
MrKistic
Guest
More experienced players than he have fallen to a Swann trap like that in the last 18 months, don't worry about that.
sittingbison
Guest
Well six of the seven are now gone for not much...
TammyS
Guest
I agree. Cricket just isnt as popular amongst Aboriginals as the footy codes are. Similar to how you never see any Pacific Islanders either playing or watching cricket despite their growing population in this country. Considering the decreasing support for cricket in this country, I think it'd be good to see Cricket Australia be more aggressive at promoting their game towards people of those backgrounds. It might get more people watching cricket that wouldnt normally watch cricket
Brett McKay
Expert
" Its easier to change the minds of radical fundementalists muslims and christians with new ideas than it is with cricket fans." Brendan, I take your point, but you don't think you might be pushing this a touch too far?? Anyway, a quick glance at the most recent Shield games in Sydney: Nov: VIC-NSW draw, after Vic set NSW 391 on the last day. Holland took two of the 6 NSW wkts to fall, and five for the match. Vic won the toss and batted. Nov: Tas beat NSW by 1 wkt inside three days, chasing 160. Krezja and Doherty took four wkts to knock NSW over, though Watson and Copeland nearly bowl NSW to an unlikely victory. NSW won the toss. Dec: NSW beat SA by 8 wkts. Smith took 4 first inn wkts to knock SA over for 188. NSW made 461 in reply, and then Smith and Hauritz took seven between them in SAs second innings to set up the win. SA won the toss and batted. So maybe it doesn't spin as much, maybe there is still some life in the old strip just yet. But I'm still not seeing a string of bowl first decisions, which tells me that our initial comments might actually hold some water still. ANd spin is still playing a big part in winning matches. I guess we'll find out if Clarke got it right by the end of the week....
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Sigh. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan or Bangladesh, thank you. Speaking of communities, its still amazing (and depressing) given the massive amount of Aboriginal talent running around AFL, rugby union, rugby league and football fields that almost none of that talent is in first class cricket in Australia.
Lolly
Guest
I think you are expecting a lot of a skipper in his first test. How many of them would bowl first? Especially with the way the attack has performed this summer?
Brendon
Guest
You could be with plugger but you would be wrong. Were conditions suited for batting? Gee, 134/4 is the right decision? Glad you think so. And what sane person thinks we were going to score 400+ in these conditions? If its raining it has to be humid and overcast. Batsmen are going to go on and off and have to get their eye in again numerous times throughout the day. Not good conditions for batting. Remind me what Clarke's score was? This is one of the reasons Australian cricket is in the state its in. Conformist who can't think for themselves. MUST ALWAYS BAT FIRST BECAUSE BRADMAN SAID SO 80 YEARS AGO. Oh, and Ponting decided to put England into bat in 2005 at Edgbaston and our bowlers bowled like crap and England won. Everyone remembers that. We also tend to forget that we batted first at the SCG last year against Pakistan and would have been thrashed if Pakistan had not thrown the match. Oh, and Ponting also decided to bat first at Headingly against Pakistan last year in overcast conditions on a green pitch against a team with a good bowling attack and the worst batting of all test level teams. I bet you thought that was a good idea at the time too? Its going to be a rainy test. Clarke knew that before the start. When its rainy the pitch isnt going to deteriorate much. If it was bright, sunny conditions then sure, bat first. We also chose to bat on the first day in Adelaide. Gee, how did that work out? England put us into bat in the 4th test. How did that work out? Australia chose to bat first today. How did that work out? And so what if its slow? Indian pitches are slow. Considering theres 4 players in the Indian team who average over 50 and Laxman who averages 49 slow pitches arent a problem, are they? And its not like our batting is strong at the moment. Why expose our weakness to England on the first day? Also, when was the last time spin won a game at the SCG? Clarke's lollipops in 2007/08 doesn't count. If our proper spinners had bowled better then we wouldnt have needed him. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/team/match_results.html?class=1;id=132;type=ground . Not for awhile. Spin has played a part like 2005 when Australia beat Pakistan with MacGill leading the way with 8/170 and Warne a whopping 5/195. 13 for 365 @ 28 per wicket. Good, but not outstanding and it was mainly our batting that won that game. The SCG just doesn't spin like it used to. But most people have their thinking stuck in the 80's and 90's. In cricket when people form an opinion its for life and nothing will ever change it. Its easier to change the minds of radical fundementalists muslims and christians with new ideas than it is with cricket fans. If some of the comments around here is any indication of the future of Australian cricket then there is no hope. We're doomed.
jamesb
Guest
I hope so Brett. It'd be great if one day an Australian side had 3 or 4 players of subcontinental background playing for Australia at any given time. When you have subcontinental players playing for Australia, those communities feel that Australia represents them as well. Those players would teach Australian cricket about the understanding of different cultures that Pakistan, Indian and Sri Lanka have to offer, which in turn would go a long way towards Australian cricket having better relationships with the subcontinental teams. You could tell Khawaja played a little different from other Australian players. Particularly when he used soft hands during his batting, he didn't go hard at the ball.
Brett McKay
Expert
And James, especially knowing the large numbers of subcontinental players in the Grade and District ranks. Maybe Khawaja is their pioneer??
jamesb
Guest
Khawaja, the first muslim player to play for Australia. The thing that has surprised me is, why we never had any players playing for Australia that have had a pakistan, indian, sri lankan background, when you consider Australia is a multi cultural society
Brett McKay
Expert
Guys, just an update on Ponting - a CA media release came through tonight: Ricky Ponting to undergo surgery Cricket Australia medical staff today confirmed Australian captain Ricky Ponting will undergo surgery tomorrow as he continues his recovery from a fractured finger on his left hand. Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: “Ricky had further x-rays today on his fractured finger which have shown that the bone fragment has further displaced and will not heal without surgery. As such Ricky will have surgery tomorrow. “He is expected to miss the Commonwealth Bank one-day international series against England and recover in time for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup on the sub-continent.”
Brett McKay
Expert
EBalls, you may well be right re the 'temporariness', and he's already today given the selectors a nice little headache for when/if Ponting comes back into the Test side. Why does he look so much more comforatable? I'd put it down to a better technique for an obvious start, but then add that he's come through the proper channels, he's had the proper grounding. He played 1st Grade in Sydney at 16, did well in the age champs, did well for NSW 2nd XI, and has been playing well in the NSW side for several years. His today was the most comfortable Test Debut in recent memory, for me. He really had that look of a big score about him...
Brett McKay
Expert
Oracle, it was disappointing, for sure, and he knew it when he got out, too. Clarke needed a big today and he couldn't not play that same shot that's plagued him this summer. It's becoming a worry..
Brett McKay
Expert
Lurchn, he's certainly shown that life after Ponting, whenever that may be, is still going to be pretty rosy. Today was the first time I'd seen Khawaja bat - ever - and it's fair to say I'm happy with what I've seen. I've got a picture of his first boundary shot, which I'll stick on the tour blog. Check out www.theroarsports.com tomorrow and it'll be up there...
Eballs
Guest
Brett... Why is it that the most inexperienced (& one of the youngest) bats in the team is the only one who looks comfortable out there? Khawaja's team-mates could learn a thing or two from him. Not so sure about your call re. 'temporariness'. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.