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During my month long tour of London, seven countries in Europe and Mumbai, one thing I missed was writing for The Roar.
In fact, I was in London for the final day of The Oval Test when bad light helped Australia to draw the match, losing the Ashes 0-3 instead of 0-4. But that was probably the only good luck that came the way of the touring Aussies.
I am not making excuses but look at the facts:
• Australia lost the first Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham by 14 runs. It could have gone either way.
• Geoff ‘Henry’ Lawson has written this many times (yes, I occasionally did read The Roar overseas!), but Stuart Broad being given not out when he was definitely out in the second innings of the first Test, made a significant difference in a match which was won and lost by only14 runs.
• England were lucky to save the third Test at Manchester due to bad weather conditions. To recall, Australia had declared at 7 for 527 (Michael Clarke 187) and led by 159 runs in the first innings.
They declared again at 7 for 172, setting England 332 to win. The home team had lost three of their best batsmen for 37 when weather conditions came to their rescue. Funny things happen in cricket, but the chance of Australia winning was much higher than the home team. So with luck, Australia could have tied the series 2-2.
• Australia took first innings lead in four of the five Tests; leading by 65 runs in the first Test at Nottingham, by a huge 159 in the third Test at Manchester, by 32 runs in the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street and by 115 runs in the final Test at The Oval.
• The visitors suffered more from umpiring and DRS decisions than the home team. No ifs and buts about it.
There were many negatives for the Australian team but there were positives as well:
• Ryan Harris captured 24 wickets at 19.58 in four Tests, his best being 7 for 117 in the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street. His bowling average and spell of 7 for 117 were the best from both sides in this series. He was the worthy Man of the Series along with England’s consistent batsman Ian Bell.
• Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers and Steven Smith scored centuries; Clarke’s 187 was the highest in the series from both teams.
• Surprise package Smith hit five sixes in the series. No one else from either team could manage three sixes.
Despite all the statistics, England deserved to win because they combined well and performed at their peak at the right time. Broad and Bell were outstanding.
However, there were definite plusses for Michael Clarke’s men on the tour. On home conditions, Australia can surprise Alastair Cook’s men in the Ashes down under this summer.