In 1995, the West Indies captain Richie Richardson wore a helmet batting in a Test for the first time. This was taken by Australia, who they were playing, to be a sign of weakness.
A retrograde step and a symbolic indication that the region of the notorious, predatory fast bowler was no longer so sure of itself.
Following the controversy surrounding how the first Ashes Test ended, Andy Flower asked his opposite number for a sit down to discuss sledging between the teams.
Unsurprisingly, Darren Lehmann refused. There was nothing for Australia to gain by acquiescing to would-be adopted guidelines. His team were in the ascendant.
In having asked, however, Flower might have inadvertently made a gesture like Richardson. Australia went on to win that series, defeating the West Indies at home for the first time since 1973.
As had been hoped, an Australian win in Brisbane has set up an exciting series. However, following the scale of the 381-run loss, England’s prospects have been seriously dented.
All of a sudden they have it all to do to retain the Ashes, having won them at home only three months ago.
For England, there is very little good to be taken away from their performance at the Gabba, where the gulf between the teams was an innings in itself.
The only player to rise to the challenge, occasion and hostility – of the crowds and local press as much as the opposition – was Stuart Broad. Only his 8 for 136 in the Test could be said to have gone to plan.
His 11 percent of England’s overall runs with 32 and 4, however, revealed the extent to which everything else had not.
Whereas Australia did what they had been saying they were going to do and did it really well, exploiting the conditions with short, fast bowling, England didn’t have an answer.
They batted short, not giving sufficient respite to their bowlers, who then lacked penetration. After both first innings, it would have taken an individual performance of herculean and historical brilliance to wrest the initiative back.
After Brisbane, England went on to Alice Springs for a meaningless though worrying two-day game in which they failed to take a step towards identifying who the third seamer after Anderson and Broad should be, or score notable runs. Only batting hopeful Gary Ballance scored a 50.
Alice Springs did not provide England the jump out of Brisbane they needed, though they will be happy Graeme Swann took 4 for 56. He was well out-spun by Nathan Lyon in Queensland, 2 for 215 (and a 2nd innings economy rate of 5) played 4 for 63 (and at an economy of just over 2 for the match).
With Root able to provide a second spinning option if required it is unlikely Panesar will play at Adelaide, though much for England depends on a resurgence of Swann in friendlier conditions.
With the England Performance Programme, however, Tim Bresnan has taken wickets (4 for 31), proving his fitness since the end of the first Test. This will almost certainly guarantee his inclusion in the starting XI at Adelaide, probably at Chris Tremlett’s expense.
Since the first Test at Trent Bridge in July, Australia have sought to target England’s third seamer. Stephen Finn was dropped following that game (having taken 2 for 117) and it looks like Tremlett will suffer a similar fate here.
At Brisbane, he had looked the shadow of his 2010-2011 self, jerkier and less penetrative. His four wickets came at 30 apiece and his economy rate in the second innings, when the cat was out of the bag, was over four an over.
Jonathan Trott having departed, Joe Root will almost certainly move up to first drop in the hope of trying to guarantee some older-ball plundering for Bell. Following their lack of runs in the first Test, England will probably replace Trott with another batsman instead of moving the out-of-form Prior up to number six.
It could be Jonny Bairstow or Ballance, but in the case of the latter bringing new players in for must-win games signals desperation and gives the opposition another weakness to exploit. You’re saying to the newcomers they have to make the difference because the previous XI wasn’t able to.
Australia’s weaknesses are fewer and are at the moment compensated for by the collective performance.
The second Test in Adelaide is a must-win for England, or at least is one they cannot afford to lose. To seek a draw is to relinquish victory and, one might say, hope.
Going by the form of the 2010-2011 series, in which England were superlative, Adelaide offers them the best chance of winning a Test this side of Christmas. Perth is also a threat.
In Adelaide in 2010 they won the first of their three victories by an innings, whereas despite that aplomb they were still howitzered by Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hussey at the WACA.
If Australia are two Tests up after Adelaide with Perth coming only four days later, England will be in dire straits.
In the surroundings of the new-look Adelaide Oval, the onus is absolutely on them to transform into a team that not only scores runs, but can also prevent Australia doing so by taking wickets.
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