The Ashes have been won. A fantastic achievement by the Australian Cricket team.
They have out-thought, out-planned and out-played England.
It has been somewhat of a surprise how poor England have been.
They are a better side than they have shown this tour however they have some important decisions to make moving forward, particularly regarding line-up changes.
Matt Prior
As good a player he has been for England he simply hasn’t performed in the last 12 months and now is the perfect time for Jonny Bairstow to be afforded an opportunity. His keeping is still developing, as Prior’s was when he was given the gloves in the Test side.
He will be a very good keeper in time and his batting is very sound. At Yorkshire, I have witnessed him change the momentum of an innings on a number of occasions with his positive stroke play.
He will be ideal for England at number seven – he just needs to be given a good run in the side to help develop his all-round skills.
The top six
England need to get this sorted. They have not scored 400 runs in and innings since their trip to New Zealand in March.
The top six need to take responsibility and make the bulk of the runs. They are all under-performing.
One of the questions that needs to be answered is – Is Carberry the solution at the top of the order?
He has done ok, however at 33 years of age is he going to improve? Joe Root is seen as the long term option at the top.
There is a strong argument to allow him the opportunity to forge a strong partnership with Alastair Cook. This then opens up the debate about other positions in the order.
If Root opens then who bats three? Without Trott it would seem that Bell is the obvious choice and I believe it would be the right option.
With Pietersen at four and Stokes at six on the back of an excellent fourth innings hundred in Perth, it leaves the number five spot open. If England decide to go this way, Ballance has to play.
A good player of fast bowling and who attacks spin well, he could be another long term option in the England batting line-up.
At the end of the day the England batting group need to give their bowlers a chance. Their bowlers have only had two days this series where they have not had to field at all in a days play.
This is not good enough – it makes the bowlers job even tougher. Give them something to defend and give them a chance to freshen up.
With Tim Bresnan rounding out the bowling attack, it would make it four Yorkshiremen in England’s starting 11! That is something that all of us at Yorkshire would love to see!
Editor’s Note: This article was written before the surprise immediate retirement of English spinner Graeme Swann from Test cricket.
Peter
Roar Rookie
As Boycott would no doubt say, coaching England is a step down from coaching Yorkshire.
Buk
Guest
Yes I have not understood why they haven't tried one out of Finn, Tremlett or Rankin to back up Stuart Broad and James Anderson. Take a punt even if their form is not great, their height and bounce present a threat to any team. Surprising that Tremlett seems to have gone from world class in 2011 to drinks boy in 2013
Bearfax
Guest
Stop drooling Johnno. You'll make Dizzy dizzy with embarrassment.
Clavers
Guest
Ian Bell indulged in a good ol' dummy spit at England team practice yesterday. He looks like he could be the next one to crack under the strain.
Jason Gillespie
Guest
Not a bad idea that. May look to do an article after the series on fast bowling and injuries. Cheers!
Johnno
Guest
May I ask is this the real Jason Gillespie. If it is wow. One of Australia's best fast bowlers last 30 years. On a side not Dizzy, could you if you get the time one day do an article on injuries to fast bowlers, and how you come back, mentally,physically, and mayeb some of the sports science or sports medicine whatever one calls it, and the the type of trianing you have to do eg wieghts, running. And all the stuff if a fast bowler loses his pace or not when he comesback eg shortened run-ups, changing action, or at what age does the pro fats bowler lose a yard of pace etc. Be facsinating to hear about how a fast bowler comes back, and all the adjustment they have to make eg change or action, shorter run ups, not bowling flat out all the time etc. I know some fast bowlers would still be nippy but they wouldn;t go out and out every ball, there fast ball would be a real stock ball eg Waqar,Ian Bishop, Shane Bond, Flintoff, Steve Waugh even could be nippy but he didn't go out and out every ball, and many others, you maybe too. But an article on fast bowlers injuries and comebacks would be good, and how the fast bowler changes after an injury or major injuries.
mervuk
Guest
Really good player. Came into the England reckoning a couple of years ago when Andy flower took a liking to him. Played a few ODI games and done well with the lions. This year his batting has exploded, from being a decent lower order player, he moved up to no 3 for Durham and topped their averages, 42 or so with 3 hundreds, Ben stokes averaged 31 in the same team. Genuine leg spinner, not your Steve smith type. Was averaging under 30 before this year bowling on durhams green tops. I don't know if his bowling has fallen away this year with the extra responsibilty of batting at first drop. His selection was prob more a case of him being in oz playing grade cricket anyway. England really does have some super young players on the fringes
Gav
Guest
Our batting is sus. Only 50% of the top 6 performing at any given time..... Typically Warner and Clarke are 2of the 3 The others are a bit of a lottery. If it wasn't for Haddin n Johnson with the bat, the scenario thus far this summer would be quite different.
Jason Gillespie
Guest
A good decision to draft Borthwick into the squad. Scored over 1100 runs batting 3 and took over 30 wickets for Durham in their championship winning side. England need to use him as their 5th bowler- 3 frontline seamers, stokes 4th seamer. Borthwick and Root to have spin bowling duties. Base their bowling attack on fast bowling.
english twizz
Guest
jos butler will be the next keeper
JGK
Roar Guru
I see that Scott Borthwick (a leggie) has been added to the squad. I wonder if Dizzy has any intel on him?
JGK
Roar Guru
I am pretty sure those are his only Tests in Oz.
JGK
Roar Guru
He keeps well to Graeme Onions. It's a shame they haven't played a match with Sanjay Bangar.
Bearfax
Guest
Yet.....
Jason Gillespie
Guest
Not at all. It is something that does not interest me.
Buk
Guest
Totally agree Bearfax. In terms of England's record in the two immediately prior series was effectively, in terms of 'moral" and actual victories (had the tests been played out to their most likely full conclusion): squeaked in 3-2 at home vs Australia lost 2-1 away to NZ (in NZ) won 2-0 at home vs NZ Have a look at their batting in the first innings of these prior series: England vs Australia in England: 1st Test: England 215 2nd Test: England 361 3rd Test: England 368 4th Test: England 238 5th Test: England 377 England vs NZ in England: 1st Test: England 232 2nd Test: England 354 England vs NZ in NZ: 1st Test: England 167 2nd Test: England 465 3rd Test: England 204 That 465 against NZ was after the NZ pace attack was pretty much totally knackered from the previous test, after bowling on average almost 55 overs each (spread over 2 consecutive innings when England had followed on), and only a 3 day turn around between tests. A telling stat is their average 1st innings score in the 1st test of these 3 series: 205 ! Taking out that 465, their average 1st innings score in all tests for previous 3 series was 280 (its 298 if you include it). Compare that to their previous Ashes trip: 1st Test: England 260 2nd Test: England 620 for 5d 3rd Test: England 187 4th Test: England 513 5th Test: England 644 Average 1st innings total 445 - what a decline since then.
Johnno
Guest
DIzzy's one of the best young aussie coaches, got anyone better Simoc.
Simoc
Guest
-100. You're drunk again Johnno
Ted
Guest
You can only beat who you are playing , it's all good , can't predict the future.
Johnno
Guest
Dizzy next Aussy coach, could do alot worse. A good mate of Boof's too. So anytime Billy's had enough, Dizzy can step in as bowling coach too.