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There could be nothing worse for Australians who are watching this Ashes, facing up to a three-nil series defeat knowing that, for a large part, they have beaten themselves.
Especially with them matching, and indeed holding sway over the English for the large periods of the play, only to be undone by frequent examples of batting madness. In essence, it has reduced the series to be based around these moments with collapses of 114/9, 128/10, 101/6, 65/5 and 115/10 looming large in the team’s three losses.
This bitter truth is indeed hard to dissect for the Aussies, but amongst the gloom of defeat, there have been glimmers of hope for the future. Key in finding credence in any embrace of hope has been the effect Darren Lehmann has had on the group.
With him putting an end to the backbiting and biter divides in the Australian team that symbolised their Indian tour. This has not only led to a much more refined performance on the field, but also the renaissance of individuals in the group.
Names such as David Warner and Shane Watson have benefited from this, and as a result, it sets up the team for better times ahead with the precocious talents of these two in harness.
Watson has all series long showed us the effectiveness of his bowling, and in the last Test reminded us all of the destructive potential of his batting. Critics will instantly point to the lack of penetration in Watson’s bowling as seen in only two wickets so far in the series.
But that mindset seems to be oblivious to the chances that he creates for his bowling mates through his miserly dexterity. As seen in the outrageous fact that of the 80 overs he has bowled, 38 have been maidens.
As the series moves to Australia, Watson could become more ogreish for the English batsmen as the conditions would suit reverse swing, for which he is a noted master of.
It would be remiss to not mention how astoundingly good the bowling unit has been; which has highlighted not only the calibre and skill of the group spearheaded by the top shelf talents and relentless desires of Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, but also the planning behind the bowling successes.
One cannot laud bowling coach Allister De Winter enough as well as noticing Lehmann’s hand in the success as well. Testimony to their astuteness is how comprehensively they have neutralised three of England’s batting King Pins as seen in their series figures:
Alastair Cook 5 Tests, 243 runs, average 27
Jonathan Trott, 5 Tests, 234 runs, average 26
Matt Prior, 5 Tests, 86 runs, average 14.33
In short, they have suffocated and starved Cook and Trott through victimising their dourness, while lending Prior enough rope to hang himself through his attacking gluttony.
Round two in Australia will be so compelling that these proud English warriors will hit back hard leaving the only question being whether the Aussie bowling unit can maintain similar standards?
The cricketing Gods will have a huge bearing over this, with them keeping Australia’s key bowlers in Watson and Harris fit. And though, the craven frailties of the batting have been the reason behind this series loss there has been signs of improvement.
The union of Warner and Chris Rogers at the top of the order has borne instant fruit, and though it is unwise to be sold on first impression, the promise of the pairing already inspires faith.
At three, Watson instantly showed his pedigree in his blistering 176 from the other day, and though there are many reasons to discredit the innings, there are also equally as many to attach hope to it; most notably, the fact that, only the truly skilled could play that innings.
Last, but certainly not least is the cricket definition of the “little Aussie battler” in Steven Smith. A player that has always had doubt attached to his name has started to raise the finger to his many doubters.
In a stirring series that has underlined his fighting qualities as well as highlighting his underrated skills as a batsman as well as being probably the best young leader in the group. The last piece to the batting puzzle is in the hands of selectors, however.
It saw many be up in arms over why the likes of Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja have not been retained under the auspices of promising youth; with them expected to struggle in the short term, but come good in the long term.
A theory that has merit, but reading between the lines, the dropping of both seems to indicate that yes, youth needs to be persisted with, but the right youth. All in all, bemoan this series loss, but expect the Aussies to strike back with a vengeance with the English come visiting.
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