Why Australia leads four-zip in the Ashes

By David Lord / Expert

Let the stats tell the story:

Total runs over four Tests
Australia 57 wickets for 2587 – average 45.38 a wicket.
England 80-1837 – 22.96 a wicket.

Boundaries struck
Australia 284, England 203.

Sixes
Australia 37, England 17.

Centuries
Australia (8)
David Warner 124 and 112.
Michael Clarke 148 and 113.
Brad Haddin 118.
Chris Rogers 116.
Steve Smith 111
Shane Watson 103.

England (1)
Ben Stokes 120.

Interposed batting averages
David Warner – 491 runs at 70.14.
Brad Haddin – 390 at 65.00
Michael Clarke – 347 at 49.57.
Shane Watson – 293 at 41.85
Chris Rogers – 333 at 41,62
Mitchell Johnson – 149 at 37.25
Kevin Pietersen – 285 at 35.62.
Steve Smith – 205 at 34.16.
Ben Stokes – 200 at 33.33.
Ian Bell – 217 at 31.00
Michael Carberry – 238 at 29.75.
Alastair Cook – 232 at 29.00
Joe Root – 192 at 27.42.
George Bailey – 136 at 27.20.

Five wickets in an innings
Australia (4)
Mitchell Johnson – 7-40, 5-42, and 5-63.
Nathan Lyon – 5-50.

England (1)
Stuart Broad – 6-81

Interposed bowling averages
Mitchell Johnson – 31 wickets at 14.32.
Ryan Harris – 14 at 26.00.
Peter Siddle – 13 at 26.07.
Stuart Broad – 17 at 26,82.
Nathan Lyon – 16 a 26.93
Shane Watson – 4 at 29.25.
Chris Tremlett – 4 at 30.00.
Tim Bresnan – 5 at 41.20.
Jimmy Anderson – 11 at 45.63.
Ben Stokes 7 at 47.28.
Steve Smith – 1 at 58.00.
Graeme Swann – 7 at 80,00.
Monty Panesar – 3 at 85.66.

Comprehensive in all departments, with one to go at the SCG.

This Australian team deserves to go through the series as a unit. So unless there any serious injuries, and there doesn’t appear to be, leave the side intact.

And when the Ashes are all over next week, take a bow Darren Lehmann, Steve Rixon, and Craig McDermott. A magnificent job behind the scenes.

But there’s a tougher assignment ahead – South Africa in South Africa.

That will be the true litmus test.

The Crowd Says:

2013-12-30T18:50:44+00:00

twodogs

Guest


Johnson certainly provided the leg up for us, but he had been coming real good earlier this year anyhow. There is now some guys in the shed who are bringing new life to the team. They're getting the best out of the guys. Strewth; Ryano just couldn't have played four straight under Howard. Where is that guy anyway? Where he should be-way off centre stage.

AUTHOR

2013-12-30T18:37:36+00:00

David Lord

Expert


SB, and why is Johnson the Saviour? Thanks to the three guys hanging around in the shed. They have given Johnson the belief in himself that was lacking with the previous guys hanging around in the shed.

2013-12-30T07:03:39+00:00

Avon River

Guest


#Brett Fielding most certainly. Most apparent in Ade with Haddin snd Clarke put down early on. But even yesterday how different may it have transpired had both openers been back in the rooms for 51.

2013-12-30T05:12:59+00:00

Statistic Skeptic

Guest


Average Partnership by Wicket: England 6th: 22.88; 7th: 14.5; 8th: 11.5; 9th: 8.75; 10th: 14.5 Roughly 72 runs for the last 5 wickets Average Partnership by Wicket: Australia 6th: 64.33; 7th: 67.6 (includes one not out partnership); 8th: 14.25 (includes one not out partnership); 9th: 20.25; 10th: 41.67 (includes one not out partnership) Roughly 208 runs for the last 5 wickets Not the only reason - but it bloody well helps that our last five wickets generally outscore the English by at least 2 to 1

2013-12-30T03:35:02+00:00

Straight Ball

Guest


Take a bow 3 guys hanging around in the shed! You have got to be joking. You have produced figures to show that Johnson the Saviour may be having the greatest Test series by any player of all time and then compliment 3 non-players. Please, get real. According to the figures above, Johnson the Saviour is out-batting all those glorious English batsman that so dominated the last series. That is after crucifying them with the ball. On top of that, he fields like a demon. No, an article such as you have written is a blasphemy without mentioning the heroic efforts of Johnson the Saviour while glorifying those on their bums in the shed.

2013-12-30T02:32:09+00:00

Adam

Guest


He's too good to lose his wicket to this English comedy

2013-12-29T23:46:29+00:00

aggregated drupe

Roar Pro


Well he has to get out first to have an average.

2013-12-29T23:12:26+00:00

Elis

Guest


The batting averages are missing Lyon who's scored more than 50 runs without getting dismissed yet! Our number 11 is likely to end up with a better average than any of the English batsmen...

2013-12-29T23:05:51+00:00

Guy

Guest


David, if you go back and list the same set of statistics for the last Ashes series in the UK, you will be surprised. It's hard to see how Australia lost 3-0 when you view them.

2013-12-29T22:32:42+00:00

Tony Tea

Guest


Four-zip? Please. Four-nil.

2013-12-29T22:25:40+00:00

Australian Rules

Guest


Agree David - if there are no injuries, no changes for Sydney. All members in this team deserve to be in Sydney for the chance of a resounding whitewash finish. Then consider the balance for Sth Africa. What an outstanding series by Australia.

2013-12-29T22:17:31+00:00

Brett McKay

Expert


Add fielding guru Mike Young into that, too, Lordy - Australia's fielding this series has been outstanding...

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