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I told you the sky wasn’t falling on the Australian Test team

28th December, 2021
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28th December, 2021
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There was a lot of doom and gloom last summer when Australia lost a home series to India.

The Test team was labelled, among other things, overrated and old, and were accused of having a bowling attack thoroughly undeserving of being called the best in the world.

I wasn’t buying into the hysteria and felt it was a massive overreaction.

In short, there was plenty of world-class talent in the team, and while not perfect, they should be allowed one underperforming series without reaching for the pitchforks, and sending people off into premature retirement.

Despite many thinking the sky was falling, the balanced and rational summary was that Australia simply needed to find a number five batsman, to add a fast bowler to the rotation, and have an eye on the next keeper and captain.

Well, Travis Head, Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser, Scott Boland, Alex Carey and Pat Cummins – as a collective – seem to have answered those questions, less than 12 months after they were asked.

Travis Head of Australia celebrates his test century during day two of the First Test Match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 09, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

(Photo by Matt Roberts – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

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Head’s blistering century in Brisbane set the tone for the series, with every sniff of an England advantage consistently being countered by the Aussies, aggressively and immediately.

Head looks to have matured as a batsman, and the previously vacant number five spot in the batting line-up is now his to lose.

Richardson and Neser filled in nicely in Adelaide when Josh Hazlewood and Cummins were ruled out due to injury and a COVID scare, respectively.

When they pulled up sore, it set the stage for Boland’s fairytale debut at the MCG. The performances of all three quicks provides evidence that Australia’s fast bowling stocks are deeper than many believed.

Carey has been extremely tidy behind the stumps. Two difficult missed opportunities to his right are his only blemishes with the gloves thus far.

His batting average of 19 belies his ability with the bat, yet we all know what he’s capable of, and he has managed a half-century in his first three Tests.

Alex Carey of Australia looks on during day one of the First Test Match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 08, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

(Photo by Matt Roberts – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

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Lastly, as I wrote a few weeks ago, the captaincy of Cummins has been faultless thus far, with his leadership partnership with Steve Smith undoubtedly the right call by Cricket Australia.

Unfortunately for the pessimists, it does appear as though the Australian Test team remains a very good one, with most of the concerns actually turning into positives. So you can stay where you are, sky.

It’s about now that I should pump the brakes a touch on my ungracious victory lap, because it would be remiss not to mention that the opposition was most definitely not India.

There’s no point beating around the bush, England have been terrible.

Joe Root and Jack Leach of England leave the field at the end of play during day two of the First Test Match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 09, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images) (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

A lot of things have contributed to England’s capitulation and the sad fact the series has been decided after just three Tests: a less than ideal preparation, muddled thinking, questionable selections, inconsistent plans, poor captaincy, terrible execution and bad application.

Yet the biggest reason for England’s performance is their talent, for they’re simply just not very good.

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Expecting batsmen with first-class batting averages in the mid 30s to somehow outperform their statistics against a quality attack, bowling on their home decks, in front of boisterous crowds, is the height of optimism. Or madness.

When you can’t post decent scores, it puts too much pressure on the bowling attack.

The English bowlers haven’t been without fault themselves, but are far from the biggest issue facing England, who as a nation need to decide if they value red-ball cricket or not.

The evidence overwhelmingly suggests they don’t, which is disappointing.

Rory Burns of England is clean bowled by Mitchell Starc of Australia during day one of the First Test Match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 08, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

It also means that the Australian success needs to be taken with a grain of salt, because they have very rarely been put under any pressure thus far in the series.

Bigger examinations await this Australian side, and some of the aforementioned question marks may be raised again when stiffer opposition is faced.

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However, you can also only play what’s in front of you.

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If the opposition is poor, then you need to be ruthless and demonstrate just how much better you are than them, and the Aussies – to their credit – have done just that.

The 2021-22 Ashes has been an absolute bloodbath, and the chasm that exists between the two teams has been illustrated mercilessly by Australia.

The sky is falling alright, but it’s over England.

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