Momentum. It’s a key word in any sport, and perhaps none more so than in Test cricket, a game that is measured in days, not minutes.
It is a game in which the commitment to the long view is important, and patience is definitely a virtue.
At the end of the first day’s play at Durham, the momentum is surely with Australia and it is has come from their ability to remain patient and disciplined.
Australia has, as at other times during the series, played very well in patches. It has been the lapses in concentration that have hurt them and that have contributed to England retaining the Ashes.
The ability to play better for longer is creeping into their game, however, as is that ability to remain patient.
Look no further than the first day of the fourth Ashes Test.
Australia bowled accurately and with discipline and strangled England’s ability to score. Kudos must be given to Michael Clarke in the use of his bowlers.
It is clear that there are plans in place for every batsman, and the bowlers are backing up the captain by sticking to them.
At times in the recent past, Australia’s attack has been honest, but toothless. Periods of tight bowling have, when unrewarded, been followed by some ordinary deliveries that have allowed the batting side to relieve the pressure on them and get away from the Australians.
But in Durham, Australia built pressure on England from the first ball and didn’t really let up for the entirety of play.
It can be said that many of the England batsmen contributed to their own demise by playing shots that were ill-advised, but it was the stifling nature of the bowling that forced those shots in the first place.
England’s start was cautious, with only 57 runs in the first session. Clearly looking to build a platform and keep wickets intact, the steady-as-she-goes approach backfired and, when they did look to accelerate the scoring, wickets fell.
The success of the attack in this series has come on the back of the course to remain true even when England have appeared to be getting on top. There has been a knack, especially at Trent Bridge and Old Trafford, to take a wicket just when England has looked like they were beginning to get on top.
They are getting better, and were perhaps better anyway than a lot of people thought.
Having England at 9 down for 238 is testament to that.
And if we are talking about patience, no one can be more commended for his patience than Nathan Lyon. Much maligned and often the scapegoat as the lone spinner, he has shown he has the temperament to continue and work hard even when the results aren’t coming.
It is fair to say he has cashed in so far in this Test match with four wickets on the first day. While not possessing the presence and sharpness of turn of Graeme Swann, he nevertheless looked dangerous and the results finally went his way.
Most pleasing for him and those around him will be the fact that he could have been forgiven for dropping his head after being overlooked for Ashton Agar in the first two Tests, but instead came back into the team after continuing to work hard and has reaped the rewards.
We will not know the significance of his or his fellow bowlers’ performance until Australia bat of course. The top six performed extremely well at Old Trafford, but the recent propensity to collapse for sub-par scores is in the forefront of every Australian cricket fan’s mind.
Australia has improved, no doubt, but how much? We will see.
One thing is for sure – if Australia’s batsmen can show as much patience as their bowlers have and not repeat the mistakes of their England counterparts, they will continue to build that most precious commodity in professional sport – momentum.
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