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.
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
Prior is a class player just in bad form.it has been england's problem this series as very good players like cook, kp and prior and jimmy are not performing.
Prosenjit majumdar
Guest
Yup swann's gone off the boil a bit, seems to have past his prime and outbowled by lyon.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Yep, he has been unlucky this series too
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I like Cranberry, he works hard at least
Statistic Skeptic
Guest
Prior is a strange one this year - average for the last four series: England in NZ: 311 runs at 103.66 (Drawn series - if not for Prior, England would have lost the series) NZ in England: 43 runs at 14.33 (England series win) Aus in England: 133 runs at 19.00 (England series win) England in Aus: 107 runs at 17.83 (Australia series win) Memories of the first series are likely helping to carry him through his current extended lean spell.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
No way Finn should play, he is horrible. Tremlett should be given another go if you want to add a pacemen, his stats are pretty good in Oz.
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
No way would I drop Prior for Bairstow. As stated above Bairstow isn't a specialist Keeper, plus I think Prior will improve now that the pressure is off and he deserves a chance to turn it around. They really can't make any changes because they don't have better options to come in. I'd probably drop Swann for Boxind day test as I know that touring off-spinners don't do well in Oz but I'd prob select him for a turning SCG wicket. So for Melbourne go with 4 paceman, plus stokes and the occasional part time spin of Root if you want a little variety.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
The only way england will avoid defeat is if someone takes 6 for not many and our blokes are shot out for 150. Is Broad actually ok to play? I think they will be too chicken to abandon Prior and Swann but they probably are living in false hope. Graham Onions must be having a bitter laugh. Might not have changed the result but the lack of a third seamer at the top of his game really let Australia off the hook all three first innings.
Statistic Skeptic
Guest
Root is a strange one - he's a bit Watson-ian in my opinion. As in he shows an occasional glance of what he's capable of... but doesn't do it often enough. In England he scored 339 runs at 37.66 ... but 180 of those were in a single innings. In Australia so far he's on 153 runs at 30.60 ... but 87 of those were in one innings.
johnb747b
Guest
Back to the drawing board for the Poms. They lack strategic leadership. It's hard to discern pattern in their play. Their captaincy is wimpish, lacking imagination. Pietersen seems to have lost incentive, even interest in test cricket. He'd be the first one I'd drop. He's a sucker for a sucker ball. Swann is over-rated. Broad? I'd be happy to put on the pads against him & I'm 70! The Poms were let off the hook last time we were over there. Reality has now dawned on them. They're far from a great team.
jameswm
Guest
As I understand it, Bairstow is not a specialist keeper. If so, how will dropping Prior improve England's performance behind the stumps?
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
No way they will drop prior for bairstow- the latter has hardly been bashing down the selectors door and prior is their vice captain who is hinting at a return to form. Why on earth would they send him home and have him return for the one day series? Would you ever consider a two week holiday to England if you were an Aussie? You'd just be getting over your jetlag by the time your return flight rolled around... As for panesar replacing swann. There is little point- australian conditions are unresponsive to finger spinners and it would be like CA substituting Gatorade for Powerade,
formeropenside
Guest
Carberry to me has never looked like he has the temperament to go on and score a hundred. Mind you, he has a first class 300*, so I guess he must, I just think he is one of those guys who might be good, but wont be great.
matt dunbar
Roar Rookie
I don't get why Root is touted as the next big thing in English cricket. Carberry has had a much better tour, looking promising and solid in the Australian conditions. Root on the other hand seems to get flustered and sure, he has had an unlucky time with the DRS, but looks like a petulant school boy throwing his gear around the changerooms. Hard to argue with Kiwi Stokes. He has looked the goods with bat and ball , probably the only light in a dark test series for England. As for changes for the last two tests, they'll bring in the Irishman Rankin to replace Broad for one test. No other changes will be made
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
I feel England made a mistake with the original squad selection (which I said at the time), they are now reduced to shuffling the order again and again - just like Aust has been doing for a couple of years to no avail. Should have had a second option in the top 3 (Nick Compton scored back to back 100s 3 test before the last ashes series, but was jettisoned for some reason) and James Taylor, who come fire and rain, seemed next in line as a middle order batsmen for the last year, but somehow missed the squad. As an aussie, love to see the Poms back to the good old days of picking the wrong guys at the wrong time. Btw, don't think they will drop Swann, seems a real "boys club" with England at the moment, so not likely to drop a mate, even though they should.