Australia’s lacklustre display against England in their opening match of the Champions Trophy was as much due to tactical blunders as a lack of talent and application.
While many will argue that Australia simply are not as good as England (and there is much merit to such a claim), the men in gold gave themselves no chance thanks to three pivotal strategic errors:
1. The persistence with an out-of-sorts Mitchell Starc
From his opening over, the left arm quick clearly lacked rhythm. His pace was down and he was not completing his action. Starc was simply ‘putting the ball there’ rather than hitting the surface with vigour.
Legendary former Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie recently noted in a column for The Roar that Starc needed to eradicate such bowling, which he described as “floaty.”
So why did skipper George Bailey get a patently struggling Starc to contribute 10 overs when he had other, better options?
Bailey bizarrely overlooked on-song pair Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson, who bowled just 15 overs between them.
Starc returned to the bowling crease at the death and his concession of 25 runs from his final two overs wounded Australia and handed England some much-needed momentum.
He finished with the woeful figures of 1 for 75.
2. The non-selection of a spinner
Australia had plenty of good options with the ball against England – the only problem was that they were all quick bowlers.
George Bailey, who conceded post-match that not selecting a spinner was a mistake, was forced to resort to bowling rank part-time tweaker Adam Voges.
The Western Australian batsman, who rarely bowls even for his state, was tidy in his three overs, conceding just 13 runs.
This only served to highlight how valuable fellow left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty would have been on the dry surface.
Doherty will almost certainly play in Australia’s next Champions Trophy outing against New Zealand on Wednesday at the expense of one of the quicks.
Given the impressive efforts of James Faulkner, Clint McKay and Johnson yesterday, Starc may be the man to make way for Doherty.
3. The failure to attack England’s weaker bowlers
English pacemen James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan were on fire yesterday. They gave the Aussie batsmen nothing to hit and posed a constant threat.
But England was without gun spinner Graeme Swann and did not have a reputable fifth bowler.
The key for Australia to overhaul England’s total of 269 was to attack fill-in spinner James Tredwell and cash in when part timers Joe Root and Ravi Bopara took the ball.
Inexplicably, Root was allowed to bowl five overs for just 20 runs as neither Bailey nor Hughes made any attempt to disrupt the youngster’s line and length.
Similarly, the Aussie batsmen treated Tredwell with a level of respect typically reserved for heart surgeons.
As a result, the required run rate ballooned and later-order batsmen were faced with the frightful task of scoring at breakneck speed against the rampant Anderson, Broad and Bresnan.
Colin N
Guest
Fair play. Root's received praise but I don't think it's been over the top, although that just might be my ignorance!
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Clarke's back has been bad for a long, long time. In every innings I saw him play last year he was constantly stretching/grimacing in breaks between slaughtering attacks. It would take a Sherman tank to stop him from playing every Ashes test. I can't agree with you on Khawaja...he would never have been selected in the squad if they didn't want him to play. My feeling is that as long as he plays well for Aus A and in the Aus tour matches he will get a gig in the First Test ahead of Hughes or Warner. He has made his name as a player who has a tight technique and score runs in tough conditions, whereas Hughes and Warner clearly have issues in that regard. He is far more suited to the circumstances than either of that pair.
MervUK
Guest
I think clarke's back may be worse than the Aussies are letting on, I think they'll bring bailey in as a like for like cover for clarke, and then pick him in the side even if clarke is fit. Assuming he continues in reasonable form that is. I don't think khawaja will get a look in unfortunately for he khawarmy, the selectors/Clarke obviously don't like him, even Darren Lehman said he had to work at his game, presumably he was talking about other things than batting technique.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Aakash...Silk has only played three 50-over games for Tas so I think he has a long way to go before he'll be considered for the ODI side. Burns had a poor Ryobi Cup season for QLD, although he did play well in the Aus A games vs the English lions. David Hussey's time seems to be over as far as the selectors are concerned. Doolan wouldn't be any sort of chance I wouldn't think given he scored just 83 runs in the Ryobi Cup last season and has a career average of 26 in List A matches.
MervUK
Guest
Touché
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
If Bailey absolutely dominates the rest of the Champions Trophy he may be an outside chance to snare the last spot in the Ashes squad. But the selectors clearly seem to have left that spot open for the winner of the shootout between Agar and Ahmed for the second spinner role. A lot will also depend on the form of Khawaja in the remaining two Aus A matches, and Warner and Hughes in the rest of the CT. If all three of those put up solid numbers the door will shut on Bailey. But if Warner and Hughes in particular continue to bat like crabs the selectors may consider including Bailey in the Ashes squad as insurance.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Colin I'm not suggesting Root doesn't deserve the praise or in any way comparing his talent with that of Bailey. Root is a wonderful prospect Australia would love to have. But Merv said early career averages mean little so I cheekily pointed out that Root, one of his favourite players, had been given huge props from English media and fans after just a handful of games.
MervUK
Guest
The Aussies are a long way from shield cricket now though...Bailey honestly looks like he'll get more runs in the ashes tests on current form than Warner, Watson, Hughes and wade, smith etc... surely for that reason he'll get the nod, not to mention his leadership qualities in a side with a real dearth of experience. I think the Aussies will pick Cowan and Warner as openers, Rodgers at 3, Hughes/Watson at 4, clarke 5, bailey 6, haddin 7- then 3 quicks and Lyon. At least that's a batting lineup with some solidity to it, and experience of English conditions. Although the selectors do seem a bit brainless. What do the Aussie fans think the side will be? ( not what they hope it will be)
Aakash bhat
Guest
What about Jordan Silk,burns,doolan,david hussey?@Ronan
Colin N
Guest
"He’s already received neverending praise for his limited overs talents despite having scored half as many runs as Bailey." Has he? Anyway, Root's played half as many ODI matches, has a higher average in 50 over cricket than Bailey and is only, what, 22?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Bailey has scored 819 runs in ODIs so I reckon that is a fair sample size. What about your Yorkshire boy Root? He's already received neverending praise for his limited overs talents despite having scored half as many runs as Bailey.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Bailey would have been a lock for the Ashes squad if he had put up even middling numbers in the Shield last season. But he had an absolute shocker...256 runs at 18. You cannot possibly select a bloke on the back of FC form like that. It's bad enough we are picking guys who averaged just 40 in the Shield.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'd probably agree with Aakash. I'd drop Marsh because I think Voges is a far more reliable batsman at this stage and we don't really need Marsh's bowling...he's barely bowled in the 3 games (including warm ups) so far.
English Dan
Guest
I agree. Looks a decent, honest bloke and not a quitter. He didn't look the greatest batsman in the world, but then Test matches are utterly different. If he can score at 50 rp 100 balls as jameswm suggests above that's a pretty good scoring rate for an anchor type batsman.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Voges They hardly strike fear into an opponent. Bailey is very hot and cold, he'll doddle around for ages and strike at 50.
MervUK
Guest
As a caveat I should say I was impressed with baileys candour after the game, I'd have him in the test team, sure he may lack some shots, but at least he has a brain and experience. I could see him doing a better job if the aussies are 70 for 4/5 on the first day of a test than wade, smith or whoever else may get a sniff....hopefully henriques, or maxwell
MervUK
Guest
Averages in short careers mean little, Hughes also averages 50, but I can't see bailey, voges or Hughes making it into the England, India or SA teams
Aakash bhat
Guest
Probably marsh. dnt u think we have excessive bowling options
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Why don't you rate Bailey or Voges? In their short careers they have both averaged close to 50. Mitch Marsh is still an unknown but his performances at State level (batting average 40, bowling average 25) have certainly warranted selection as a batting all-rounder. Whether he can take the next step who knows but he deserves a shot. I think if you add Clarke into that middle order mix we will be far more solid. Who would you drop if Clarke came back in?
jameswm
Roar Guru
1. Our batting lineup is crap. Seriously, Bailey, Voges and Marsh is the best we can muster? No Clarke, Hussey, Ponting or Hussey makes our middle order look bloody soft.