The major question facing the Australians in the upcoming Ashes is not only whether they can turn around a hefty defeat from a mere three months ago, but how they will achieve this in such a short space of time.
This revolves around their batting line-up – a line-up that has been a virtual anchor around the team’s neck for too long – becoming credible in Australia.
With their frequent inexplicable collapses and an inability to show the temperament or technique needed for Test cricket, one could view the top six in India as Australia’s worst ever.
That was a mere six months ago, making thoughts of a miraculous turnaround to the point of being competitive in this Ashes fanciful. Changes since and the promising signs seen have raised hopes that it’s possible.
Replacing the namby pamby types in the line-up with more traditional ones possessing temperament has been key.
Chris Rogers’ inclusion in England has been central in this shift, with him representing a Simon Katich rock-like presence to the top of the order. He’s the perfect accompaniment to the cavalier nature of his opening partner Dave Warner.
Rogers’ stonewalling dexterity has been like a tick in bowlers’ ears that they find impossible to dig out, all while driving them to distraction. This sets up a perfect situation for Warner’s destructive and game-changing potential to impact with less focus on him.
The possible success of this union, as hinted at in a 109 run partnership on a difficult Chester-le-Street pitch in the last Ashes, is compelling as we look forward.
Rogers and Warner set up the possibility of transforming the team’s top three from a craven weakness to strength overnight, laying the platform for middle order success.
Just think of the havoc batting maestro Michael Clarke could wreak walking in with the score at 3/240.
The omission of others has had the same compelling effect – notably, the axing of Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja in England was a decision that had to be made.
One can respect the potential of both, but the gaping weaknesses in their current games were too easy for oppositions to exploit, making the batting unit resemble a six-cylinder engine with only four cylinders functioning.
Fans of both will ridicule the inclusion of George Bailey, but he is a risk that can be justified. The leadership he brings to the group supports his selection, as well as the fact that he’s one of the best players of spin in the country.
This last point cannot be underplayed when one reverts to the ogre-like presence that English off spinner Graeme Swann had over the last series.
It sets up a situation where the Aussies could very well turn the tables on Swann with the bunnies against spin gone, and the line-up now consisting of players adept against it. Factor in the accepted fact that Australian conditions are a known graveyard for finger spinners and one can see the possibility of Swann being neutralised.
Crucially, the batsmen need to respect the English bowling unit as a whole, and not obsess over Swann’s possible effect.
On this point, one cannot underestimate the effect that Tim Bresnan’s absence from it might have. He is the team’s defensive bowler who can keep things tight while possessing a golden arm in claiming crucial wickets.
With him out, England are likely to bring in an attack-minded bowler, which goes away from the certainty of Bresnan and falls in the high risk, high reward category. This could represent a weakness in the English attack to exploit.
Ultimately, the effect on proceedings that English bowling spearheads James Anderson and Stuart Broad have in comparison to how the batsmen deal with them will be the decisive factor.
With both having average records in Australian conditions, one could be forgiven for harbouring a semblance of belief in the Aussie batting rising.
ChrisPerth
Guest
Great stuff as usual Tim The top 6 for once is not much I can complain about. Rogers, Warner and Smith are all in the top rungs of the Shield runs ladder. Clarke is a class act every day of the week and he has got valuable batting time. Bailey is the right choice for me. With Rogers in the side we are clearly looking at short term prospects of trying to win the Ashes and rebuild later and through Bailey we have a great in-form player. People always harp about his average last year but they forget he had 50+ averages in Shield for the 2 years before that. The revolving formats last year mixed him up contributing to a lack in Shield form My main gripe with the squad is with Twatto. Not good enough to make the side as a batsmen for me. If he doesn't bowl 15+ overs an innings he needs to go. Doolan, Maddinson, Burns are all knocking at the door and provide better options at #3 as a batsmen. I am also a big fan of looking back to Phil Hughes who just hit a double-ton. Hughes played very well for 80-odd in the 1st Ashes Test in England and had to move up to #3 to accommodate other people. Looking into the future I would not mind him with Maddinson up the top - Warner has a very short shelf life for me We need a 6 for the tour of South Africa coming up - looking towards the future
Arto
Guest
If we are basing our assumptions on the past series, then I think a couple of interesting points come to mind (at least mine!): The bowling attacks are pretty evenly matched - Eng has Anderson & Broad as it's opening bolwers, Aus has Harris & Siddle (based upon today's media reports, Johnson will bowl 1st change). Both teams have a question mark against how effective their 3rd seamer will be, whilst both spinners will play the defensive, run-stopping role. So it really comes down to the batting then... And so looking at the line-ups - Eng has Cook possibly down on form & a Test rookie in Carberry, Aus has the unstabile Warner and the patient Rogers (therefore, both opening pairs could perform like anything between heaven & hell!). At #3 we have Trott for Eng who Aus may have found out against short-pitch bowling vs. throw-my-wicket-away-once-I-get-a-start Watson (again, who knows who'll come out to bat in Brisbane). At #4, Eng have KP who is a better version of Warner vs Clarke who is a better version of Trott. At #5, we have the bane of Australia in Bell vs. the reincarnated Smith, so advantage Eng there whilst at #6 we have the slightly less of a rookie in young Root vs a 31y/o debutant in Bailey. All to be rounded out by the ageing veterans who keep wicket which possibly gives Eng another advantage (if only slight). So on paper, the Poms are favourites and as they only have to draw the series, it's probably very optimistic for us Aussie fans to think the Urn will be returned come early January. However, if I put on my rose-tinted glasses I see more potential in our bowlers being game-winners (ie: taking 20 wickets) than the Poms and therefore I'm feeling optimistic enough to see the urn being returned in Sydney. Plus, let's not forget the home advantage which will play a part in the results (eg: long-tour for Eng, Eng are overseas, Aus more used to conditions, crowd support, better batting pitches)
Richard
Guest
I agree. The english exposed Hughes technique for what it is- seriously flawed. He is not a test cricketer
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Except that thunder storms can often come and go very quickly, dump quite a bit of water, but pass very quickly. With grounds that have such good drainage we could still see only small amounts of time lost to rain.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think a lot of it is about confidence. He has been picked and dropped so many times that when he gets in against spin in a test match he becomes more worried about getting out than looking for opportunities to score. That's why I think it would be good for him to just have a year or two of first class cricket, not even considered for the test side. The selectors could even tell him that they think he just needs some time and to play the next 2 seasons of shield cricket, go play county cricket in between and just get back to enjoying batting and scoring runs and not overthinking things. If he does that I suspect he'll be the leading runscorer over those two shield seasons, probably the leading runscorer in the county cricket season, and will be a better batsman for it. Hughes has another 8,000 test runs in him yet!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Hughes is still the youngest person in test history to score a century in both innings of a test, and did that against the best pace bowling attack in the world. He has some serious class about him. The big issue I truly believe is that after getting dropped so suddenly despite such a great start in test cricket, now when he's at the crease he's afraid to play his natural game, and is constantly overthinking things, and that causes anything from freezing up against the spinners to playing wild shots against the pace bowlers. The way he's been picked and dropped and picked and dropped has left him batting like someone who's constantly looking over his shoulder saying "is that how you want me to play that ball?" If he hadn't got dropped that first Ashes series in England I believe he would have worked through his struggles like most batsmen do and by now would be a very solid opening batsman for Australia. But the selectors wrecked him. Having dropped him he now needs to be left out for long enough to be able to fully settle down and just play cricket, remember how he bats best, get confident playing against all types of bowlers, go play some county cricket, play IPL and try and smash around some spinners in Indian T20. If he has a couple of years to do this I expect he'll get his mojo back and will return to the test side age around 27 and be a rock solid opener for Australia. I don't think SA will be an issue. He'll still play half his games away from there. I think he definitely needs to try and get to England to play county cricket in winter though.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's got to be 'his' technique. I think his deficiencies were reasonably small, and instead of giving him a chance to work on them, after one test match where he was worked over a bit he got dropped and he's been second guessing himself ever since. He needs to find a few good attacking shots that he can play against the spinners, and then just get comfortable in his own technique. Batting against quality bowling you don't have the option to have a debate around what shot to play as the ball is coming down. You need to be trained to the point where your brain doesn't get in the way, you pick up what the ball is doing and play the way that comes naturally. Since Hughes was first dropped he's never been confident to trust his technique at test level and always looks like he's trying to bat how he thinks people would want him to bat rather than properly just being himself at the crease.
abigail
Guest
If thundersorms are predicted for Brisbane then that should favour Faulkners's selection. I can't see the pitch wearing enough for a spinner to be a threat.
MervUK
Guest
They're not the same type of bowler by any stretch. I think you guys are a little guilty of listening to the press a bit about onions without seeing him bowl. Unfortunately for bunny if there is little in the pitch or air then he will get carted around in oz with the flat pitches and old ball. He's also a new ball bowler only really, hoggardesque, and dropped down to 80 mph now. Bressy is a hit the deck bowler, who bowls a heavy ball and an expert in reverse swing, perfect first change bowler
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I think england definitely erred by not selecting Onions, for there only reserves are attack minded bowlers
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Though i agree that Khawaja will never make it, i cannot understand why you put a line thru his name, and not Hughes. A player, that bar RSA a million years ago has been exposed in so many ways. but, strangely people keep believing in him-WHY??????? He has also made a mistake in his career too from an improvement point of view by moving to SA. For his deficiencies will be concealed by the batting friendly confines there meaning he will look great, but once he gets on a deck that is fair for all he will be found out again.
Nudge
Guest
Chris, you say they wouldn't pick onions in the same side as Anderson. But as soon as Bresnan is fit they will throw him straight in the same side as Anderson. Onions and Bresnan are similar, and also similar to Anderson. All around the same pace and all bowl stump to stump.
twodogs
Guest
Good points there CK. I get the feeling UK is 'lost at test level even though he is a sound batsman. Mental thing maybe. On Hughes though, lots of SS games to shore up his technique would be great for him but I ask - working on 'his' technique or the textbook technique? I feel for a time someone had gotten into his head about changing it.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Agree Richard, but this line up is in my mind the best possible. So though it does not imbibe belief, at least, it lets you harbour some hope. But, you are right, the English would have dissected it, and might run through it as easily as a hot knife thru butter
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Thanks for the feedback Arto Firstly, the comparison between Cowan/Rogers is valid in style. But where they differ in my mind is that Cowan always seemed to lack belief, whereas Rogers is assured. As well as being far more experienced than Cowan, so he is a great partner in a calming role to antsy types like Warner As for my spin point, yes I was referring to Hughes/Khawaja, both who looked all at sea against Swann, and with them both in the team offered the English easy passage into the Aussie middle order through them struggling mightily and exerting pressure on others or doing the same by getting out. The Bresnan point- simple, England do not have another defensive bowler in their ranks. With all of Finn, tremlett and Rankin being attacking types
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I agree Sheek, but this line up at least gives a glimmer of hope. But, if I was offering a tote for their success against England's attack, I would have them 15/1
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Agree on Cowan, he was the first they tried, to try to fill the gaping hole Katich left. Toughness is what they need, too many of them when the going gets tough dont have the plumbs to stand firm, take some blows, and do whatever it takes to survive. Only Steve Smith has displayed that
ChrisUK
Guest
If that happened in the first two Tests Australia will be in the position of needing to win at Perth to avoid equalling their worst ever run without a win.
richard
Guest
Its an interesting situation. Apart from Clarke everyone else has the potential to be out the door by the end of this series,. I'm not making any predictions about who is better placed to perform. The Poms will have done their homework on rogers and smith,Lets just hope as a group enough of them fire to win this series. BRING IT ON!
ChrisUK
Guest
No, there's no one really like Bresnan around. They wouldn't have picked Onions though, not in the same side as Anderson.