Adam Voges Test career looks over while Michael Clarke’s continued to slide as Australia again collapsed in the third Ashes Test overnight.
Entering this series in England, Voges shaped as the man who could add some stability to an Australian middle order that had become a significant weakness.
The 35-year-old batsman was fresh from an extraordinary Sheffield Shield season and on Test debut looked like a man who had been donning the baggy green for eons.
Since that composed 130no against the West Indies in his first Test, Voges hasn’t passed 50 in six innings, making 110 runs at an average of 18.
Last night, he left the door wide open for his State teammate and batting rival Shaun Marsh as he registered his second failure of the Edgbaston Test.
Hanging his bat outside off stump, Voges edged the first ball he faced to Ian Bell in the slips and placed Steve Finn on a hat trick.
Ordinarily, a new batsman in Voges’ situation may be offered an extra Test, or two, before the selectors make a call.
However, there are three factors working against the Sandgroper. Firstly, having been granted an opportunity in Test cricket at such an advanced age, Voges was never likely to get much leeway for mistakes.
Secondly, Marsh is not only in sparkling form but also has long appeared to be a favourite of the selectors. Perhaps the most pressing reason is that Australia look set to enter the fourth Test 2-1 down in the series.
If that comes to pass then the selectors surely will want to try something to see if they can improve the middle order.
Voges and Clarke were supposed to be the old heads whose patient approaches would complement the more attacking styles of those around them in the order.
Instead, England’s attack have rolled through both of them with ease. Clarke’s form over the past 18 months has been ordinary. So ordinary that were he not captain he may not still be in the Test XI.
Since making 148 against England in Adelaide in last 2013, Clarke has made 687 runs at 30. From 28 innings during that time, only twice has he passed fifty and 11 times he has registered single-figure scores.
Of course, in this period he has also stroked two rousing centuries – a series-defining 161no while injured against South Africa in Cape Town, and a hyper-emotional 128 against India at Adelaide in his first knock after the death of Phil Hughes.
The low scores continue to pile up for Clarke though. Beyond the raw numbers, he just doesn’t look physically capable of playing close to the standard he set for himself.
His degenerative back condition is taking a severe toll. Without freedom of movement, he has become vulnerable to short pitched bowling and, as a side effect, is getting stuck on the crease more to full deliveries.
Most strikingly, he is no longer a dominant player of spin. Clarke’s assured and nimble footwork was evident from his Test debut when he gracefully mauled Indian spin legend Anil Kumble.
Late last year, as his team were floundering on parched surfaces in the UAE, Clarke was almost as flummoxed by Pakistan’s inexperienced spinners as any of his colleagues.
Playing from the crease, he looked uncomfortable. On the occasions when he did advance to the tweakers, something he did monotonously in his pomp, he looked restricted and uncertain.
Clarke is fortunate that there are no young batsmen demanding selection or his Test career would be hanging by a thread.
As it is, he will survive for a while longer yet due to his effectiveness as a tactician, together with the fact that Australia have just lost a wealth of experience in Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris, and are set to farewell veteran Chris Rogers at the end of this series.
Voges and Clarke were not alone though in faltering in this Test. Aside from Chris Rogers in the first dig and David Warner last night, there was no fight shown by the Australians.
This pitch may have offered the English quicks more assistance than the featherbed at Lord’s but nothing out of the ordinary. To subside in such a meek manner was embarrassing.
Granted, England’s quicks exploited the conditions masterfully. But they weren’t unplayable and neither was the pitch.
Australia’s capitulation handed back to England all the momentum they had earned with their monumental hiding of the home side at Lord’s.
This series has swayed violently from Test to Test and one suspects there is plenty more drama in the offing.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Yes he did and yes, you appear to. Are we conversing now Don?
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
The thing with this Ashes is that they want to win no matter what - the selectors are going to pick whoever they think is in the best eleven for each game. They showed that when they selected Nevill over Haddin, choosing the team over the claims of the individual player. If Marsh were to have another pretty average game at Trent Bridge, I could understand it if the selectors gave Watson a shot. They're keeping him on as a genuine option, so if they think he'll improve the team then they may well use him. That said, I reckon Marsh looks like he'll be a very good all-rounder if he's able to stay fit. This is, of course, what they said about Watto when he started out, so touch wood, eh?
CT
Guest
Big of you Bimbo. Sure Mitch will thank you. Drop Hazlewood. Go bag yourself. He is the series leading wicket taker. Our most economic and accurate bowler. The bloke who constantly asks questions and builds pressure. You want to drop him because he did not perform up to his best. The first time in his 8 tests to date.
Freddie
Guest
^An example of what Australians think is "banter," national cliches so worn & tired they pre-date Shane Watson getting out lbw. They think they are true because they repeat them so often.
CT
Guest
Spot on Jimmy. Have been posting the same thing about MM. Needs time to settle in. Get a decent run at holding down the vital #6 spot. Being and all rounder you have two disciplines to hone. Takes time. Not sure our selectors will give him quite that much time. He should be given the rest of this series and the Bangladesh series.The selectors need to be patient with him. Do not cut him off before he has a fair chance to impress. He will reward Australian cricket.
CT
Guest
Yeh because you are used to warm stuff. We prefer ours cold and frothy
CT
Guest
Good one Nudge.
CT
Guest
You have earned bragging rights. Good luck to you. The pitch and Clarke's giving Jimmy first taste with the Duke on that deck. Plus some poor execution against the moving ball by a couple of our middle order. Handed you the game on a platter.Our boys will be hurting bad.They are proud and ready for redemption.
CT
Guest
For god sake the Poms have enough momentum and confidence. Do we want to feed them more by bringing Watto back. He has had his 100 chances. Time to allow young Mitch to settle into his new position. "worst all rounder since Phil Carlson". I can not agree with that. If he is given free rein and time Mitch will be our best all rounder since Nugget Miller. His bowling has improved 50% since last summer. He has the technique to succeed. A few chicks to sort out. He is one of the finest timers of a cricket ball we have. Remember it was a double ton against an strong Indian outfit that got him into test cricket. His 90 in the UAE when everyone else struggled was full of quality. The selectors will not have forgotten that.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Yeah, same. Finn over Broad or Anderson any day. He's the least offensive bowler in the English team by a mile. A Moeen Ali 5-for would be quite funny, though ... I mean, a bit embarrassing, but funny.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Jimmy B, no way will he get that many matches. The Aussies don't pick and stick with young players who don't show match-winning stuff within the first three or four tests. Well, Starc has played 20 tests but I really think it's his one day form that has had him stuck with. I'll give that to the English selectors. They have a far more realistic view of how players need time to adjust to the step-up.
Albert
Guest
We all have our idea of heaven . Mine is trying to teach my grandson how to bowl a Googly .....he's two. I've spent a bit of time in Oz amongst other places I've travelled to on this fantastic planet. I must admit it is one of my favourite places. I found most Aussies to be alright, although you do find the odd ****(mostly on here....joke) but that is the same the world over. However I do find it a bit wearing with the default position that Australia and Aussie are some way superior to the rest of the world ( especially the Poms) in everything. You are good a lots of things but not necessarily always the best. Americans have a very similar outlook. I must admit there are some brilliant places to see and visit in Oz and your wine is second to none. However there are a couple things that would prevent me from wanting to live there permanently. The weather whilst it is nice to wake up to sunshine It gets a bit boring day after day, I quite like a bit of variety i.e. seasons Snow frost etc ....a walk in the English country side in the depths of winter is magical. But the most important thing (and this is not just Oz but everywhere else in the world) one thing that would prevent me wanting to live there is the beer .....it is absolute p*** can't get a decent pint of proper beer anywhere. So i'm off to the Bull and Bladder to get a pint of Bathams, pleased that we're one up in the series, but not complacent there is a lot of cricket left to play in this series. I apologise if I've offended anyone with my opinion of Aussie beer. Tarra a bit
Freddie
Guest
And there we are. The default position. Repeat it often enough, and you all believe it. Little capacity for critical thought.
Nudge
Guest
Gods zone
Freddie
Guest
What are you talking about then? I've told you, Australia isn't a bad place. In fact, it's full of natural beauty, but it's horribly spoiled by the locals. Nothing much to be jealous about there. A place is always the sum of its people.
Nudge
Guest
Wasnt talking about cricket mate
Freddie
Guest
Jealous of what? We're winning!
Nudge
Guest
Hahahaha gobby convicts. Jealous much? Have fun
Freddie
Guest
Yes, national stereotypes, the main staple of Australian "culture" which classes better weather as a national achievement. If it ends up 2-2 or 3-2 to Australia, I shall be here to applaud the Aussies. I have no problem with them winning if they deserve it, and I think players such as Mitch Johnson and Chris Rogers especially are fine cricketers. I do, however, have an issue with gobby convicts talking crap before the series is over, which is what happened post-Lords.
Nudge
Guest
"oh and at the moment" is probably the most important thing you said there Freddie. One thing we all do know, you wont be anywhere seen if it ends up 2-2 or 3-2 to Australia. Maybe that's why your cricket nation is regarded as massive under achievers over the journey. Run when things get tough. Or just don't show up or go home. And yeah plenty of those dangerous animals everywhere here. Saw probably around 6 snakes today and nearly even sat on one. Not sure how I've survived this far in my life. Sharks aren't so much of a problem, we take lessons while we are young on ways to fight them off when the inevitable attack happens.