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.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Cook Root Trott (not that he's really done much) Clarke (on reputation only) Bell Bairstow Haddin (pure stats...taken more catches, scored more runs & pretty close on missed chances.) Siddle Swann Harris Anderson
Chris
Guest
If it's based on performances, that's a hard call to swap Clarke for Pietersen. Neither have been very good so far. Toss a coin! If Clarke is at five, he's up against Bell though. Ironically, for number four you'd probably think about Hughes over Pietersen, again, on performances so far.
Chris
Guest
Well he's a ginger. Surely that's enough?
Si why
Guest
This is obviously a joke so I'm just going to read it again and have a giggle... Honestly Frankie, just because you have a chip on you shoulder about England's it doesn't mean you can't appreciate good and in some cases brilliant cricketer. No need to reply because I'm sure a debate with you would be like trying to explain evolution to an extreme Christian.
Nick
Roar Guru
Hmm, I'm not sure about Clarke in for Pietersen. Pietersen has just been a bit lazy. Clarke has had to graft for his runs at the moment under some pretty tough pressure. i agree with Siddle in for Bresnan...or maybe Harris. Either or.
Dave Richardson
Roar Guru
Thanks Chris, struggled to find an ironic angle with him
Dave Richardson
Roar Guru
Hi JGK. Good question, probably the England Team with Siddle replacing Bresnan and Clarke in for Pieterson
JGK
Roar Guru
What would a combined team look like based on performances so far?
Frankie Hughes
Guest
England have been gifted the first two Tests. Anderson, a club level bowler. We can play Steyn. We can play Philander. Yet we are giving wickets to a journeyman like Anderson. Ian Bell is a waste of space. Much is being made of his 3 Ashes hundreds. His first in Sydney, he was out caught. On review it was overturned when moments later hotspot confirmed he had edged it. Hundred at Nottingham, Haddin dropped him on 80+. So Bell's fluke a few scores. Stuart Broad has no clue what he's doing with the ball. Just hopes for the best.
Degsy
Guest
Shane Watson has recorded a new answerphone message: "Hi this is Shane, I am out at the moment......probably LBW to England"
Si why
Guest
Ok, I am going to assume this article is a joke! But I will concede that this England team do have weaknesses which is obvious and only the most hard nosed English fans will say anything even close to 'this English team is the best ever' which we all know would be a ridiculous claim. But what is devastatingly obvious is that Australia will have to play out of their skins to win one and/or England will have to fail massively which is more likely. One thing I would point out is that broad is the genuine article, in the last test match (lords) he was unlucky not to get a couple of wickets and right now I am sorry to say this considering the Australians seem to hate him for basically acting like one of their own he would walk straight in to the Australian team. He would probably be picked just after sidle who I once disliked but now totally respect him for his obvious passion and fight. ( and he could open the batting... Joking)
Andy
Guest
Nice article, reeled me in like a fish until Ian Bell when I finally twigged.
nickyc
Guest
This is in the "if you believe that you'll believe anything category", although ironically you're probably right about Bairstow. Just to take one example, ie. Tim Bresnan. His home ground is Headingley not Old Trafford! Any captain would be more than happy with a bowler who takes 11 wkts in two tests! Particularly, liked the nightwatchman claim/joke. As Mike Selvey wrote today, "Australia stand as much chance of getting back into this series now as Shane Watson has of entering into a civil partnership with his captain, Michael Clarke." They need to try and use the rest of this series to settle on their best side from the resources they have available and stick with it. Give them the chance to develop in the fire of test cricket in the hope that they will be more competetive on their home pitches.
Chris
Guest
Suart Broad averages 25 with the ball over the last two years. Of England's top seven, only Johnny Bairstow doesn't average over 40, and of the rest only Matt Prior doesn't average over 45. In the Australian top seven, only Clarke - 51 - averages over 35. Most are at or below 30.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Swann and Anderson are very good yes. But the rest aren't on the same level. The problem is Australia have to play near perfect cricket to win a game this series. I said before the Ashes a drawn series was as good as we could hope for. Now winning one game is the best hope. A drawn series at home might be possible
Chris
Guest
I think Dave will be punching the air that he's claimed a victim.
Chris
Guest
My God. We're doomed. 3-2 to Australia! Excellent work. Though I note the bit about Bairstow is actually true....
James
Guest
re reading the article it dawns on me that it could could have all been tongue in cheek and written to be sarcastic? i cant figure it out haha, half of what is said seems to be in jest but the other seems to be not so
James
Guest
this is a little biased in its conclusions. bells current form isnt everything but current form is the exact reason the article gives for dismissing cook and trott. i get that the article has the agenda of being optimistic about australias chances but still shouldnt pick and choose when current form is and is not relevant. and i dont know about the number of guys you claim are past their best. pieterson shines every now and again and has never really been that consistent so saying hes past is difficult to say cause he will be awesome then shite and has been that for at least 5 years. cook has probably peaked but thats only because he has been so imperious the last couple of years and he will stay at this peak for quite a few years yet, with the odd blip. and how can broads 'useful wickets, useful runs combined with the odd big wicket haul' be seen as a bad thing? literally the only way that could be better is if he got a big wicket haul more often than the odd time.