It was the best type of boring cricket. The run rate was trickling but, more importantly, the wicket column was static as Australia belatedly batted in Test fashion in the final Ashes match overnight.
At Trent Bridge, amid one of the most frenetic batting displays in Test history, Australia were rolled for 60 as their batsmen played at everything, thrusting their blade at the ball with hard hands.
Last night, their top order remembered that succeeding in English conditions is all about the subtleties of batsmanship – judgment, patience and allowing the ball to come to you.
Retiring opener Chris Rogers has set an example over the first four Tests, leaving the ball impressively and meeting deliveries under his eyes. Unfortunately, none of his teammates took any notice and the Ashes were handed back in meek fashion.
Belatedly, the Australians found that a dash of circumspection often reaps dividends on English surfaces.
The Oval pitch looked so inviting for bowling that Australian skipper Michael Clarke appeared rueful when he lost the toss and was sent in.
Where at Trent Bridge every delivery seemed to kiss an Australian edge, here Rogers and David Warner shouldered arms at regular intervals. In between they showcased a sturdy defence, with Warner in particular far more unhurried than in previous innings.
Neither batsman was perturbed by clusters of dot balls. Warner loves to dictate the pace of a Test when he’s at the crease, yet in the first hour he was happy to be subjugated by some accurate but not overly threatening England bowling.
At drinks, Australia had dawdled to 0-19 from 14 overs. Rarely in his career, if ever, has Warner been restricted to just 14 runs from his first 42 balls. It was encouraging to see that he did not look unsettled by this slow progression.
Such grafting work often pays off for top order batsman as the game inevitably opens up for them and the run rate flourishes. So it was after drinks as Australia scored 63 runs from the next 13 overs leading up to lunch.
Having deprived England of any early momentum the Aussies were in a prime position to begin to dictate terms. First drop Steve Smith followed suit after coming to the crease in accommodating circumstances with the score at 1-110.
While he was not as assured in defence as either Warner or Rogers, Smith appeared similarly intent on protecting his wicket early on.
With only four runs to his name after 20 balls he may have been tempted to try to break the shackles. Instead he waited until the bowlers eventually strayed into his scoring zones.
What the Australians displayed was basic Test match batting – leave as many balls as possible, look for ones and twos, get used to the nature of the wicket and then unfurl more expansive strokes once well set.
Again, had the Australians been taking notes when Rogers was batting earlier in the series they may well have avoided the embarrassment of the past two Tests.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
I disagree. while both are better bowlers i doubt agar or zampa could average over 35 with the bat in test cricket. I like agar and zampa but both have a long way to go to be considered a test standard allrounder.
Don Freo
Guest
Agar and Zampa are both better spinning all rounders. Maxi bats better but his bowling limitations are greater than Agar and Zampa's batting limitations.
The Prize_Man
Roar Pro
I Only said he should be considered, if it's a raging turner you would pick a frontline spinner that turns it the other way. But as you said horses for courses, surely there will be times where a spinning allrounder is called for and he is the best we have.
Steve
Guest
Just because they didnt play in the same team doesnt mean they arent mates, tubby and heals were really only one generation from swampy anyway, add to that the fact that he was close to the team after his playing career.
Birdy
Guest
What's that word beginning with 'W' that Aussie fans laughably accuse poms of, Jameswm, I've forgotten?
Birdy
Guest
Could you explain to me Rob JM how a pitch is unplayable between 11.00 and 12.41 but then a flat track from 12.41 onwards? I'm struggling to remember any comparable example in the history of test cricket. In the absence of any plausible explanation I'd be forced to the conclusion that your argument is, how can I put this nicely, unpersuasive. The ball swung a little (nothing to do with the pitch obviously) and moved a little off the pitch, but not that much and certainly nothing remotely out of the ordinary for England. I'm afraid this constant moaning about the pitch is starting to confirm many stereotypes about Aussie fans and cricketing media.
Don Freo
Guest
What kind of support do you think he should have given Mitch during his 8 balls, Artie? You tried to be an ABC reporter once. If you asked Steve Smith a question about himself and he answered about something else, you'd criticize him. Of course, if a question is about him, he'll answer the question. He's delightfully humble but he is focused and sets goals. Why snip at the poppy, Art?
Arthur Pagonis
Roar Guru
When Steve Smith talks cricket it is all about his career, it is all about him. When he scores a hundred, it is all about him. The Nine Network perpetuates his star status. It’s all about Stevie!!!! When he is Captain…it can’t be about him. It has to be about the Team. He gave Mitchell Marsh very little support after Voges went this morning for a very well made 76. Same with Pete Nevill. He was so inward looking, in a panic about his hundred, that he forgot when Voges went that 500 runs was still possible. Getting caught off a no-ball from Finn immediately after Voges departed was poor for the team. Poor judgement. Unthinking batting. Reprieved, he was made to die a thousand cuts on the way to 3 figures…and it serves him right. His whole being is focused on getting a hundred…when the true team man thinks more about how the team can succeed and get to 500 via partnerships. True the team generally succeeds when he does…but personal records play far too big a part in Test Cricket. It is another old hoary chestnut. I’d rather Adam Voges was Captain of Australia than Steve Smith from the perspective that Smith can focus on his personal achievements…and team achievements….and not be burdened with leadership. Too late for that now…and another black mark against Cricket Australia’s management of this losing team. There is no settled, stable positivity. Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann and the coaches have presided over a monumental disaster because they depended wholly and solely on older players. It is their choice…and it has failed! Smith has done well in the Series, Rogers even better, Warner succeeded when it was too late… but Australia has lost. Smith scored big at Lords and here…but that was on benign wickets. He also made double figures only 3 other times. It is not his fault that Australia has lost the Series, and it is not the bowlers’ fault. The emphasis has not been on team performance in this Test Series by Australia. Batting and bowling and coaching have been far below par. The British Bulldog spirit prevailed over the Roo and the Emu who seemed to be befuddled and leaderless. No digging in and fighting at Cardiff. Then rolled on minefields at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge in the first dig…and the series was gone. Like the wind. It revealed a dispirited, panic-laden, anxious team, poorly led and coached. Watson came and went. Harris never got to the crease. Haddin, in for 1, then gone. Shaun Marsh in for 1, then gone. Mitch Marsh, in for 1, gone, now back….and we cannot keep any of the England quicks out. Clarke destroyed by the Poms and in a complete state of friction with Rod Marsh about team selection. If Mitch Marsh is Australia’s alrounder at 6 against teams with good quicks or spinners, we are in trouble, especially if Di Venuto cannot shore up his defence. And that of all batsmen. This is not good enough from Messrs Lehmann and Marsh, R. They can be interviewed and make whatever excuses they wish. It’s too late. They were given 2 bites at this cherry on 2 tours and 0-3 and i-3 looks likely. Nevill came out this morning and showed he had learned nothing from his double failure at Trent Bridge. Foot nowhere near the ball in defence. Michael Di Venuto and Craig McDermott have not been able to get their message across. They need replacing, like the Head Coach and Head Selector. The quicks have learned very little from McDermott that is visually obvious. Mentally they look fragile. Cannot create lateral movement both ways with the ball. Uncultured in England, the batters. 7/376 at Lunch and Nevill and Johnson looked suspect and went to lame shots. Their job was to stay with Smith…couldn’t do it. Not mentally or technically efficient enough for consistent support and still making the same mistakes as all Australian batsmen. This team is technically bankrupt with the bat, and oblivious to how superior technically with bat and ball England are in England. They underestimated them, and perished. Athletically equal, mentally and technically struggling are Australia. Geoff Boycott, Tom Moody and Mark Nicholas were quick to point out the team deficiencies as regards lateral movement by Aussie bowlers in England, selfish play and the instability caused by the Clarke, Watson, Haddin, Harris, Shaun Marsh sagas. It is telling that the lunch time interview with the Nine Panel was so contradictory of Lehmann that he was made to look bumbling…and dishevelled. Lovely knock from Mitch Starc who should bat above Johnson from this point on, and the rest were ordinary. Smith’s 147 was a battling innings. Far from convincing, but invaluable as usual. 481 then was a huge relief on a placid deck with the Series lost…and it occurs to me that this was the worst Aussie side we could have picked. Nathan Lyon’s position in the side after this Series should not be a given. He is slight, has the qualities of a holding spinner, is sound in the field, can play ODI cricket, can take expensive wickets at Test and ODI level, especially left handers…but struggles to hold a bat…and is holding down a spot to spite 4 spinners who are younger, bowl leg spin and attack, and are more capable with the bat. Siddle and Marsh are the same style of bowler….so why Pat Cummins hasn’t played is beyond belief. It is time to apply the blow torch. Lehmann, Marsh, Di Venuto and McDermott must go. ARTHUR PAGONIS MANAGING DIRECTOR AUSTRALIA GLOBAL TRADING PTY LTD 10 HERTZ WAY, MORLEY, W.A. 6062 AUSTRALIA PH. 61.8.9377 3833, FAX 61.8.93773877, MOBILE 61. 409918874 SKYPE: apagonis2 WEB: www.ausglobaltrading.com
Lara
Guest
Not enough to win the ashes...point of the exercise isn't. It. Hmmm
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I am actually...:) I'm just not getting carried away and thinking that all the batting fundamental problems have been sorted.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Actually Pedro it was Smith who I predicted would ton up when he was on about 6 or 7no.
VivGilchrist
Guest
For all the wraps on S.Marsh, the guy is just way to inconsistent. You just can have a batsman in your top 6 that scores 3 or under in the bulk of his innings.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Disagree Prize Man. Horses for courses. We need 2 frontline spinners in the XI in Bangladesh. I think the Aussie selectors should start taking in account the conditions when choosing a Team.... or we could just keep selecting 150+ erratic fast bowlers everywhere we go and wonder why we don't always win.
ColinP
Guest
What about the fact smith looked a mess for the most part. Changed his guard I see, hardly a ringing endorsement for his technique, which apparently is perfectly fine if you listen to some of the roar regulars
ColinP
Guest
stopped reading when you claimed Aussies had lost the toss 4 times
VivGilchrist
Guest
Firstly, Siddle is only 30. Secondly, If we have a bowler that can keep it tight (Siddle) that will build pressure, and make the strike bowlers more effective. This is called "bowling in partnerships". Please do not allow your personal bias to effect your judgement. Cummins has done nothing to warrant selection. Let's stop gifting out baggy greens and let performance be a guide to selection.
Wallaby thrasher
Guest
Ah loo, i reckon Baggy Greens are going to fall away towards end of first innings, England, who have won four out of last five Ashes series,will bat with freedom & get first innings lead of 60-80, Australia will crumple in third innings of game, and England will win Ashes 2015 4-1. What do you blokes reckon?
VivGilchrist
Guest
Siddle has played more than 8 games in 5 years, Ronan.
Andrew
Guest
Our Aussie boys put some fight in one or two tests!!! Not getting hammered like poms down under (white wash) - not got the arms/ribs broken!!! 5-0 oh cmon that's the gaffe they face henceforth if they tour down under - to cop more thunderbolts from us blokes!! That was just the way it was -the urn returns in WACA - the bloody oath, also excited to see the likes of Khawaja and agar and SOK coming in after this series. Khawaja will strengthen the batting and must be given a full series , handscombe looks good too
Don Freo
Guest
Even if they outplay England twice? Hmmm.