The urn has returned down under for the first time since being taken by England in 2009. Now is the time for the Poms to shake things up for the rest of this series and the next series back in England.
At three-nil down there is very little to gain from this series but England must get what they can before returning home with their tails between their legs and a nation on their back.
The English fans and media will take little satisfaction from England grabbing a couple of dead rubbers and losing the series 3-1 or 3-2 because it’s all about that little urn.
In a woeful series, England have been outplayed in every facet of the game. The batsmen aren’t backing themselves to stay in for a long stint and the bowlers have copped a pasting from almost every Australian batsman.
Amazingly Australia have scored nine centuries to England’s one, with only Chris Rogers and George Bailey of the recognised batsmen yet to notch triple figures.
England have already uncovered two gems in the muck and the mire of this series, Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
Root was already a part of this England team before the series but his innings in Adelaide may just have been the turning point when the young man became a true Test cricketer.
He was so unlucky to be given out in the first innings in Perth as the DRS system did him no favours.
His move to number three due to the unfortunate departure of Jonathan Trott was grabbed with both hands and with Trott’s immediate future in doubt it could be a position he makes his own.
At only 22 years of age Root could be the man around which England’s next winning Ashes squad is built.
Stokes was also a benefactor of Trott’s departure, although I’m sure he would’ve liked to make his Test debut under different circumstances.
After a rough start in Adelaide he’s come into his own in Perth. The left-handed bat, right-arm bowler from Durham showed maturity and grit on his way to his first Test century in his second dig at the WACA after picking up a few handy wickets in Australia’s innings too.
His technique is solid and his drives in particular sure pack a punch.
Two youngsters that England have found already, how many more could there be?
We don’t know the full extent of Stuart Broad’s injury but if it’s anything that’s going to prevent him from being 100 percent he should be sent back to England immediately for treatment and rehabilitation.
That will open the door for Steve Finn to be recalled for the Boxing Day Test.
England will more than likely play both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar on the spin friendly Sydney wicket so it might be the only opportunity to see what Finn can do on the bouncier Aussie wickets.
Matt Prior couldn’t catch nor hit a beach ball at the moment so what’s the harm in giving Johnny Bairstow the gloves for the remaining two Tests?
Send Prior home, freshen him up and bring him back for the one-day series.
Australia battled against Graeme Swann in the last series in England where he enjoyed turning the ball away from the Aussie left handers.
Now with only three left handers in the line-up and only two as recognised batsmen Swann is ineffective against Australia. It’s time to give Monty Panesar a chance in Melbourne to establish himself as the number-one spinner.
He might just be able to disrupt the heavily right-handed Australian middle order.
The batting line-up doesn’t need a major overhaul with Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen all world class batsmen simply out of touch at the moment.
Youngsters Root and Stokes must stay as the future of the team which only leaves Michael Carberry. The 33-year-old hasn’t had the best series but he hasn’t been the worst and has been electric in the field, despite that howler in Adelaide.
If Carberry was to be dropped it would mean a debut for youngster Gary Ballance at number five with Root opening alongside Cook and Bell batting at three.
This of course would mean a third positional change for Joe Root which could disrupt the team more than it would benefit them.
Nothing to lose now for England. The Ashes is gone. Time to look toward the 2015 series in England.
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