It is said if you walk three times round the shaft of the stone cross which marks the site of the Battle of Neville’s Cross in old Durham town and then put your ear to the ground you hear the ghostly sounds of armies clashing weapons.
Just as they did on the bloody day of the fight on October 17th, 1346.
The battle was the culmination of a Scottish invasion of northern England, ending with the rout of the Scots and the capture of their king, David II of Scotland.
There was a rout of a different nature on Monday.
England won the fourth Ashes Test to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and claimed the Ashes outright.
If Old Trafford was a damp squib then Durham – or the Riverside in Chester-Le-Street to name it properly, as Durham is actually 15 minutes away, was a joyous release. If you were English.
Ian Bell is having the series of his life, and I will gladly tell my grandchildren I saw his third Ashes century of the summer.
A motivated Stuart Broad has looked unplayable at times, and even with a balding pate overwhelmed with gel, was actually an intimidating sight when he bowled in both innings.
KP is batting with a maturity borne of something that smells like team spirit – even if his leading edge was a disappointment.
And Alastair Cook, despite the nonsense that Piers Morgan spouts on his leadership, is actually a calm considered captain who despite struggling for form has still hit three half-centuries in the series.
It was also instructive to hear him praise Tim Bresnan at the end of the game for holding up an end which if he hadn’t have done, “Broady wouldn’t have been as successful”.
If I was Steven Finn I wouldn’t be holding my breath about a call for the return in Australia, certainly as Tremlett is now a serious consideration for the last Test on his home ground of The Oval.
There are also serious concerns about Usman Khawaja’s temperament and technique, certainly in English conditions at least, Shane Watson is now a dictionary definition of unfulfilled talent (see a description of a refusal or inability to learn from past mistakes also).
Jackson Bird, though full of potential failed to impress, leaving the estimable Harris to once again trouble English batsman along with the redoubtable Siddle.
It is revealing that many of the lauded Aussie quicks have failed to kick on in this series, Pattinson though hugely promising won’t take wickets on a physio’s couch, management appears to have lost faith in Starc, (see Mitchell Johnson who wasn’t even considered for the tour) and heaven help the team if Harris’s body refuses to co-operate.
As for the batsman, Cowan is not a Boof man as it were, it could be argued Hughes is enough of a consistent failure to be considered for a recall, and what on earth would happen if Clarke’s back finally gave up?
And yet.
There is a reason why Cook won’t score 766 runs this time round and it’s not simply due to poor form.
He has looked vulnerable to the ball moving away, especially with his worrying lack of footwork, which at the best of times isn’t particularly dynamic.
Joe Root is providing succour to Nick Compton supporters by appearing to lack experience in how to deal with the new ball.
Is his 180 at Lord’s which I witnessed, merely an impressive outlier at this stage of his development? If you took that score away from his aggregate, his average would be severely depleted.
Jonathan Trott has appeared forthright, engaging and dynamic in every interview he’s given this summer, mirrored by a more vibrant batting style which has entertained.
The fact he has scored far less runs through being far less adhesive is the concern.
It’s almost as if he’s having a mid-life crisis in terms of his batting style.
I know for a fact the majority of English cricket fans wish he would metaphorically ditch the Ferrari, earring and young blonde and head back to being a boring old accountant.
Matt Prior, after being given England’s player of the year trophy ahead of the summer, has had a desperately poor series with the bat and has failed to reach his normal consistency with the gloves.
Class is permanent however, so he simply needs to get over the line at The Oval, have a little rest and a chat with his mentor Bruce French to make things right in his world. Let’s hope so at any rate.
Jonny Bairstow needs a solid last Test with no more dismissals by playing too square or being bogged down in a Trott-esque style resistance (a pre-summer 2013 Trott at any rate) that is completely alien to his natural game.
And even then if Root is moved back to six he won’t be in the team for the winter – and that’s without assuming Flowers hasn’t completely written off Bopara, Morgan or Taylor.
England’s wait for a player to fully convince in that troublesome number six role continues.
Jimmy Anderson has momentarily lost his mojo, though the thirteen overs he bowled at the death at Trent Bridge in the searing heat may be catching up with his body.
I think there will be a serious discussion over the merits of resting him, either at the Oval or for the ODI series afterwards.
England need a fully fit and firing Anderson in Australia this northern winter.
So, after four Tests of variable content, in terms of quality and entertainment, if never intensity, for that is a given in an Ashes series, it is difficult to make any predictions for the return series.
England, I feel, if you discount the Lord’s thrashing have never been completely dominant, certainly not to the extent of a 3-0 lead, especially as you could argue at 37-3 at Old Trafford the weather saved them, and were only 14 runs from a potentially series altering defeat at Trent Bridge.
Yet the Australians haven’t been consistent enough to claim that they deserve to be anywhere other than at the end of an Ashes defeat.
I have seen many great Australian Ashes sides that I will take to my grave marvelling at, not to mention still shuddering at the way they beat, nay humiliated us at times for eight series in a row: this 2013 team is not one of them.
So after spending three days at the Durham Test I failed to hear any ghostly sounds – although like Shane Watson this time around, after his fright of 2009 where he ended up so spooked he slept on Michael Clarke’s floor, I also didn’t stay at Lumley Castle; where it is said the murdered wife of the castle’s builder Lord Lumley still haunts the elegant brownstone fortress that overlooks the homely Riverside ground.
What is still ringing in my ears however is the noise of the 17,000 capacity crowd during each day of the match when England won the Ashes.
And for now – like my hangover from a long weekend spent at the Riverside in the midst of the Barmy Army (and Newcastle’s riotous Bigg Market area on Saturday night, which is a different story altogether) – that is a strangely special feeling that won’t leave me for a while.
Duncan
Guest
Great piece, Layth. I think we should have a whip round and send you Down Under with England this winter. Your tour diary would be most entertaining. Can't help thinking Australia will have seen some glaring weaknesses they can exploit on home turf. A fascinating series beckons.
nickyc
Guest
It was in the days of "the auld alliance" between France and Scotland and the Scots hoped to take advantage of Edward III and his eldest son the Black Prince's absence in France. However, William Zouche, the Archbishop of York raised an army with the help of the northern lords and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Scots at Neville's Cross in county Durham. The Scottish king was held captive for years before finally being released.
Northern Pom
Guest
They won't be dropping Root. 1.He's a back foot player and thus has struggled with the new ball as he does not easily weight transfer to drive. If, as is suspected, Aus prepare true fast and bouncy wickets for the return series, he will do very well in Aus conditions as back foot play will be more of a strength. 2. Look at Bell and the investment England made in him as they knew he would become a great player. He was sporadic, more miss than hit in his early career but now is the class act averaging over 70 in the series. 3. If England make any changes it will be bringing back Compton and dropping Bairstow, who needs more time to develop a method for the long game as he's a classic modern one-day player, as shown by his stats
Brian
Guest
Good piece Layth. Very difficult series to judge both teams on. Good tosses to lose, DRS decisions to forget, and games see sawing backwards and forwards almost daily. Bowlers seemed to enjoy the best of it making Bell's series look even more impressive. What to make of it all? Well that will be revealed more in the winter. Wouldn't want to be an England selector. Bowlers we seem to have an almost embarrassing wealth of riches, batting not so promising. I feel root has showed enough in his innings at lords to warrant holding his place. It couldn't have helped knowing we already weren't faring too well against the new ball. As for Barstow. I feel the jury is not in agreement.
Matt
Guest
Great article As an expat in oz found it a fascinating story The current result not a surprise but how we got There defies a few beliefs If you'd said endands top 3 wld have faiied so consistently before the series I'd have backed aus off the board if you ignore warne and mcgraths bluster in the english press aus actually don't know how to win (fact lost 7 of last 8 a point missed when it was 6of7 by the aforementioned and apparently only drs separated the sides ) and a failure to makeEngland follow on at old trafford However a lot to like about the aus attack I am not counting my chickens yet Boris
Chris
Guest
Taking on the French and the Scots at the same time. We still do exactly the same. It's called the Six Nations ;)
pope paul v11
Guest
1346 eh? The same year as Crecy. Those bloody English were well.....bloody.
Chris
Guest
Sugesting Root be removed because of Cook's struggles is utterly bizarre. He is judged by his own performances, and whilst they have been patchy, he still did score a huge hundred. Root is a kid learning his trade. England are not going to dump him when he's shown quite clearly that he's more than capable, that's an Australian approach and it doesn't work. Do we want more from Root? Yes. Has he been a failure? No.
JimmyB
Guest
Nhinza, there maybe a change to the England team but it won't be any of the batters, Tremlett may get the nod to give Jimmy a rest but even that's highly unlikely. Expect no changes.
NHINZA
Guest
The point is that England have a problem with both openers. All very noble etc etc in sticking with Root if Cook was firing. But he's not and England need to have a look at a plan B before they go to Oz. On his current form Root is going to die in Oz & if Cook isn't back on form then the home & away double will be lost as a fantasy. No better time to try a new opening pair than a dead rubber. It will also serve the dual purpose of giving Compton a boost & Root a wakeup call. The only possible downside is Aussie winning the 5th test, denying England a 4/0 record series victory & giving the Aussies a glimmer of hope for their home series. But given the state of their team, I think that's highly unlikely. I'm sure Andy Flower is astute enough to realise this & advise the selection panel accordingly.
Chris
Guest
England don't dump players based on a couple of poor innings if they believe that they have what it takes. Therein lies the difference in approach. Root will be fine, he's learning.
NHINZA
Guest
Agree on Root. he's an impostor. Dump him for the Oval & give Compton a go. Particularly with Cook in bad nick. Therein lies the "root" of Trott's poor "trot" and bar Bell, an indifferent middle order performance. (Sorry couldn't resist the awful pun). If the openers can stay alive for 25 overs for 70+ runs, they Aussies won't have a look in. The 2nd test is clear evidence of that. Whether in the UK or Oz.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Young Ian Chappell going into his 10th gest, no 100s, averaging 19...then he scored a 100. If Khawaja and Smith go the summer without a ton I'll join the baying boxheads calling for their heafs
Johnno
Guest
Good points, hookin. no opportunities given to youth.
Henry
Guest
This is a great, superb and excellent article. Thanks to the Roar for publishing. Layth I enjoy all your articles. Many thanks
JimmyB
Guest
+1
Andrew
Guest
We need to undertand that we are very, very bad.
Hansvonhealing
Guest
A piece of quality writing there Layth, well done and hope to read more from you.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Not developing youth. We used to 'drop' players like Mark Waugh, Lehmann etc to cycle through the next generation. Players rarely got to 35 before retiring. Now the parasites hang on until zimmer frames and the next gen are not developed. Cook and Bell were blooded young and persevered with (Bell had a few 'rests') even during the down times. England now have a captain less than two years older than Khawaja with 96 tests. A captain!! Plus we also have folks who have never played the game at say 1st grade or above (the comp below Shield) with no technical idea spouting poop in the media...eg Clarke didn't play a bad shot (really?) albeit it was a good ball, hardly unplayable; folks actually screaming for the cycling of players for a quick fix including the contemplation of the inclusion of Shaun Marsh, Voges (I am Western Australian - etc sends shivers down my spine), Klinger et al whose shield season was rubbish. Folks who believe that initial movements of forward are incorrect (either/or but if back and across start out of crease) ala Khawaja even though Sobers, Richards and Chappell did it and Chappell espouses it in coaching manuals; We have T20 cricket; Test players that don't play Shield; Poor spinners domestically on unfriendly decks so a foreign finger spinner looks deadly when our youngsters play them; Etc, etc
Johnno
Guest
It was truly haunting, but not hauntingly beautiful, but hauntingly bad, of what Australian cricket has become. We were so great, where did it all go wrong.