- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The humbling defeat of Australia at the hands of England at Lords has rightly raised questions over the fragility of the Australian batting order, their lack of penetration with the ball at crucial times and two spinners who are not Test class.
But are there any hopes of an even contest in the next three Test matches? Adopting a pseudo sports psychology and a ‘glass half empty’ approach, an analysis of the England XI provides the Aussies with some hope:
Alistair Cook. Struggling with the bat and feeling the heat of captaincy in his first Ashes series. Has dominated with the bat with 12 centuries since the last Ashes, but has he drunk the well dry? Still young but has probably peaked and is due a bad series.
Joe Root. Got away from the Aussies at Lords but now the pressure is on. Comparisons to being the new Messiah (or at least the new Boycott) will not help. Looks highly talented but did have a bit of luck.
Plays all the shots (mainly on the ground) and had a mighty impressive wagon wheel, but that could be his Achilles heel. Useful off-spinner having picked a couple of crucial wickets including Clarke, but is it really Test-class spin? All said, early days for the young man and the jury is out.
Ian Trott. Looks in form but the stats don’t lie. Only averaging 26 in this series and only has the three hundreds against Australia in eight Tests. Vulnerable at slip and given Cook is out of form, is getting to see too much of the new ball. Might come good but just doesn’t look happy.
Kevin Pieterson. A spent force and past his best. Usually saves his best for the big occasions, but the pressure from the last few years is now taking its toll. Admittedly a good average against the Aussies, not far off 50, but he’s not getting any younger as the injury at Lords proves.
He will want to prove the doubters wrong and might get one of his lucky 200’s, but not sure the Aussies should hold any fear that he will save himself for the big occasion this time round.
Ian Bell. Everyone has their day in the sun and Bell’s series has peaked. Has all the shots and is lovely to watch, but Test cricket is more than that. Due some bad luck, and while he has three centuries from his last three matches against the Aussies, current form isn’t everything. Vulnerable as the series moves on.
Jonny Bairstow. A good fighting spirit but yet to score a Test century. Likely to chip in with a useful and lucky 50, but genuine questions whether he is Test class. Good in the field, reserve keeper and a long-term option. Not as good as Collingwood at the same age.
Matt Prior. In horrible form with the bat and like a few others in the team probably past his best. Mind you not a bad average of 43 for a number seven and was named England Cricketer of the Year in 2012. Keeping looks okay but has missed the odd stumping. Could surprise with one of his aggressive counter attacking hundreds, like the lucky one he got in Sydney, but just doesn’t look committed this series.
Tim Bresnan. A fill in who bowls a heavy ball. Played reasonably well in this last Test, but is he as consistent as Finn? Only managed 11 wickets in two Test matches in the last Ashes. Might rise to the occasion playing on his home ground in the next Test but more likely the pressure will tell. Finn a better nightwatchman.
Stuart Broad. Nothing but a show pony. Looks good, but is he? Useful wickets, useful runs combined with the odd big wicket haul, but that’s all you get. Not popular with the Aussies and they will continue to target him as they did at Lords. Is he still the bowler that took 6-91 at Leeds and 5-37 at the Oval in 2009, or for that matter the lucky 7-44 he recently got against the Kiwis?
Graeme Swann. The joker in the pack and good last Test, but clearly hasn’t fully recovered from his surgery as the full bunger against Rogers proves. Unlikely to get conditions to suit again and his 13 wickets in two Tests at 22 is flattering. Likely that Rogers, Khawaja, Hughes, Smith and Haddin will sort him out.
Jimmy Anderson. Only average at Lords and looks like Trent Bridge has taken its toll. Proven abilities to move the ball both ways and has overtaken Fred Trueman’s Test record. But is he as good as Fred? Is the flavour of the month with some and the go to man for England, but are 37 wickets in his last seven Tests against Australia good enough? Due an injury.
You see, there is hope Australia!
Note: The writer has lived in Australia since 1993 and is still recovering from the 20 years of hurt inflicted on the English cricket team by Australia. He understands and appreciates the pain and suffering associated with cricketing loss and dominance. He is here to help.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.