Only another Steve Smith masterclass saved Australia from obliteration last night, as Jofra Archer and Sam Curran ran amok on day two of the fifth Ashes Test.
Australia started the day brightly by swiftly killing off England’s first innings, which ended on 294. That looked to be a below-par total on a nice deck for batting until the tourists subsided against some quality pace bowling.
David Warner (5), Marcus Harris (3), Matt Wade (19), Mitch Marsh (17) and Tim Paine (1) all had little to no impact.
Smith once more made batting appear elementary in spite of the laboured efforts of all his top seven colleagues bar Marnus Labuschagne. The disparity in this series between the returns of that pair and the remainder of Australia’s batting unit has been gobsmacking.
Labuschagne, increasingly, seems to be copying Smith’s approach. Most noticeable is the way in which he is trying to coax bowlers to feed his pet shot – the flick off his pads through the on side.
The Queenslander, in this series, has made a point of getting across his stumps, although not as far as does Smith. In doing so he clearly feels that anything outside the line of his body will pass harmlessly by the stumps, which helps him to leave the ball, something he has done expertly this series.
Then when the bowlers target his off stump he is already positioned perfectly behind this line, allowing him to play it late and under his eyes, whipping it to the leg side.
At first glance it looks like a risky approach, one that would make him a regular LBW victim. But if a batsman is well balanced, and is strong enough through the on side, then it could be argued it is less dangerous than staying leg side of the ball and attempting to drive such deliveries through the off side, as many textbook-reliant batsmen do.
Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, two of the stars of Test cricket, are similarly prolific in the way they works balls from the off stump through the leg side.
While piling up 339 runs at 56 in this Ashes, Labuschagne has scored almost half of his runs in front of square on the leg side. In a sign of his ability to learn and adapt, Labuschagne began his Test career poorly while relying heavily on drives through the off side.
This series he has been sparing in his use of those strokes, while concentrating on scoring off his pads. Although it brought about his downfall yesterday, when Jofra Archer had him LBW, this
strategy has been a resounding success for Labuschagne.
Earlier, Australia’s openers failed miserably yet again, continuing Australia’s remarkable run of failures at the top of the order in this series.
After making seven single-digit scores in his first eight innings in this Ashes, things hardly seemed as if they could get darker for David Warner. In truth, they could and they did. There was a play and a miss, an edge for four past third slip and then a cross bat thrash at a wide, short ball from Archer.
England appealed for caught behind from that last stroke but the umpire shook his head. Replays seemed to show clear air between bat and ball but the third umpire overturned the on-field decision based on a spike on snicko. Right now, Warner has no idea where to locate some luck.
Then his opening partner Marcus Harris was worked over by Archer. The young Englishman continued his stunning debut Test series last night, operating with a rare and potent mix of pace, intimidation, accuracy and lateral movement.
He has been far too good for Harris in this series and so it was again last night. Harris was squared up, pushed at the ball with stiff wrists and nicked to Ben Stokes at second slip.
While Warner appears certain to be retained for Australia’s next Test due to his awesome home record, Harris likely has one innings left to avoid being axed for the second time in his brief international career. Granted, he has encountered elite new ball bowling in this series. Not to mention that every other opener, bar England’s Rory Burns, has also flopped.
But right now Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns both are shaping as better options to partner Warner in the home Tests against Pakistan in just over two months’ time. Australia’s brittle batting line-up is ripe for change. It is being held together by just two batsmen, the same story that was told last night.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Being on the right end of the substitution rule was a big help. Other than that an intriguing series with both sides experiencing dramatic melt downs.
Nick
Roar Guru
I’m not making personal Ben. You did the moment I challenged you on your statements. “Let’s just say I was counting on the law of averages to come to my aid in the 4th and 5th test” Ok…fine. The disagreement lay in the *fact* that the law of averages *clearly* proved that wouldn’t be true. His England record is abysmal (And now much much worse) His overseas record is ordinary (And now worse). His 2-3 year record in totality isnt much better (again, now worse. A 3 run drop in average). You got progressively more agitated when challenged by it, and then denied saying it. I called you a dumbassss as a direct retort to being called a flog. I accept not a good look on my part, but certainly nowhere near the colour of your language. Apology accepted. It’s not personal I promise. It’s an opinion site, yes, but accept your opinions will be challenged if you can’t provide evidence to back it up, or if the evidence is clearly flimsy. It is my polite belief your evidence cited was bad and I challenged you on it. Maybe I came off a tad strong. Ok?
Wait so calling me a liar, and a dumbass is ok then? Don't be a hypocrite. Couldn't care less about the other stuff. As you said, it's an opinion site, I have mine, which when it comes to Warner is guided by his long term average and pretty good ability to shake off a lean patch with big hundreds, I'm not some fanboy for him, or anyone, but how could I possibly predict he'd have the most shockingly bad series from an opener in test history? Let's just say I was counting on the law of averages to come to my aid in the 4th and 5th test. And look I apologise for the above comment, but you could certainly not try and rip everyone's head off that you even remotely disagree with.
Nick
Roar Guru
Calm down, Ben. You've gone a step beyond now. 1. My claim holds true. A sub 40 average for a man with a (what was) high 40's average is a form slump...particularly when his 3 year overseas average is in the mid 20's. 2. You don't need to resort to that language. You have only dug a hole for yourself. It's just an opinion site, and in the past 3 hours you've called me a flog , a smart asssss and the c word all because a cricketer got a stack of cheap dismissals. Not to mention you accusing me of having aspergers last week - thereby insulting those who actually do. You made a significantly misguided call, and you were challenged on it and then denied it entirely. When further challenged you resorted to crass. Resorting to that language is absolutely juvenile. Come back with facts, not the c word.
Your claim was that he was in a 3 year form slump, which is an outright lie, so a bit rich to call me a liar. You're just a c*nt, full stop.
Nick
Roar Guru
"He’s averaging 38 over two years because he’s just had 3 poor games. That’s it. Take out those games and his average spikes back up to about 42-43. And remember he’s our second best player, an opener and a massively aggressive one at that. The fact that he has a career average of 47 is remarkable. Don’t worry about him, he’ll make runs this test and next test. You back your best players through their hardest times and they reward you in the long run. Warner HAS ALWAYS come good. He’s only 32, still got years left in him" That was you, last week. I mean, you are half right... he did make runs this test at least. Otherwise, that post entirely contradicts the lie you just spouted. After denying a form slump, you now claim to suggest all along he's in one? After suggesting he'd make runs, you now say you never claimed to suggest when those runs would come? You can call me a flog, but at least I'm not a liar. What is it Ben? Are you a liar or just a plain old dumbassss?
TBH this site has become pretty toxic, generally 3-4 people bagging the same players over and over with pretty limited scope or evidence why they dislike a certain player, then go on the defensive as soon as someone calls them out on it.
Langer is about nepotistic as they come, not surprising that hes in the team.
Quickfire 170 in the second innings. I never prophecised how long he'd be out of form, and I never denied how bad is form was. But you can keep being a smart a*se if you want dude, only making yourself look like a flog
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
you mean, like trying to have the best possible side, to win a series in England, that sort of agenda?
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
sadly, I think it is "was" not "is" totally unfeasible to pick him this test, makes a mockery of any reasonable selection process.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Actually the 2nd innings 30 odd Wade scored in the century stand with Smith to help Australia get to a position to declare was a valuable and crucial innings ended only (as with Smith) in looking for quick runs prior to declaring. Wade again in this test - did all the hard work, batting with Smith again......but it must be said that that spell by Sam Curran was an excellent period - he got the ball going and got Paine and Cummins first ball. His first spell had shown nothing in particular. Proof of needing to get the right bowlers on at the right times if at all possible.
jamesb
Roar Guru
With Steve Waugh, during that period before he got his first century, he was younger than Bancroft and Harris, plus he was a genuine fifth bowling option. I can understand why people want to compare Mitch Marsh with S.Waugh. Plus he did show some promise. Against the West Indies in 88/89, which featured an attack of Ambrose, Walsh, Marshall and Patterson, he averaged 41. Out of Harris and Bancroft, the one I'd persist with is Harris. Averaged 37 against India and Bumrah. Also was the leading run scorer in the SS. While with Bancroft, he looks all at sea with his technique.
Old Fallopian
Roar Rookie
A series win? Are you reporting from 24hrs in the future? Who’s top scorer tomorrow? I’ll have a flutter.
Nick
Roar Guru
I thought he’d be wanting to complain that he has to bat in conditions that aren’t 100% Australian and tailored to his narrow preferences and limitations. The injustice of it all
Nick
Roar Guru
And yet clearly wanted him in the side
Nick
Roar Guru
Warner is a home town hero You are kidding yourself if you think otherwise. His overseas record is not remotely close to world class
Josh H
Roar Rookie
That injured spinner has gotten us both our wickets, so he mustn't be too bad
badmanners
Roar Rookie
U I think we really should have won this series, we were the better team, not much better but enough. Fielding has been mediocre, some odd selections (Marsh and Siddle?) and sending England in this test (Bowlers can't have been too happy with that) and I feel we've lost focus a bit. A huge opportunity gone begging. Maybe there's a surprise in store yet!
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Maverick, Thanks for the compliment.