So the third Test has come and gone. It has seen a dramatic improvement by Australia in a game where ultimately they have been robbed of winning thanks to old Mother Nature.
This game provided a lot of talking points.
Yet again, DRS was one of those, but I’m going to let others discuss that. I’m here to run the rule over the individual performances and name, what I believe would be the combined team of the Test.
Openers
Being the standout opener, Chris Rogers secures one of the positions. His first innings showed what he’s been doing in County Cricket in England for years. He really took the attack to the English pace bowlers, and it was only a small lapse in concentration that cost him what would’ve been a fantastic hundred.
The other position is filled by Alastair Cook.
Though the England skipper has been relatively struggling compared to his high usual standards, there were some signs in the first innings of him getting back to somewhere near his best form.
He showed great patience and his usual solid temperament in a long stay in the middle, however he would be disappointed in the way he got out, falling across his body and edging a pretty ordinary Mitchell Starc delivery down the leg side.
Middle order
Outstanding performances from Michael Clarke and Kevin Pietersen dominate the middle order.
Clarke is returning to the form Australia has seen over the last couple of years and performing to the level that is now expected from our captain.
Even though he described this effort as not his best and stated that he never really felt comfortable at any point, he was able to work his way into the innings and provide his usual array of textbook shots.
Pietersen answered some of the criticism levelled at him after what had been a relatively poor series to date. He responded with a usual KP type of innings; full of aggression and that little bit of arrogance that you see when he is in full flight.
He took particular aim at Nathan Lyon. The spinner had been bowling pretty well up to that point, but was never able to settle while the English right-hander was at the crease.
The other players to fill the middle order positions are Ian Bell and Steve Smith.
Bell continued his fantastic form with another solid innings, only being removed by an absolute ripper from Ryan Harris.
Steve Smith continues to show great improvement in his game.
Since being brought back into the Australia set up on the tour of India, he has been making the most of every opportunity. On the back of a hundred in the warm up match, he continued his good vein of form with a very well compiled innings.
It was unfortunate that Smith wasn’t able to go on and get a hundred but he continues to repay the selectors’ faith since being added to the Ashes squad.
Wicketkeeper
In an article I wrote after the Lord’s Test, I received some criticism for the inclusion of Brad Haddin in a combined XI.
It will be interesting to see whether that criticism still stands after his recently completed performance at Old Trafford.
In this particular Test, Haddin has really shown why the selectors opted for him over Matthew Wade. His performance with both the bat and gloves were a significant improvement on the first two Tests.
While Matt Prior showed improvement with the bat, he has continued to struggle behind the wicket and his performance has very much been overshadowed by the Aussie keeper’s.
Whether Haddin can put this level of performance up on a consistent basis remains to be seen. However, he’s certainly putting his best foot forward with performances like this.
Bowlers
Overall, I feel the Australian bowlers have had the better of their English counterparts in this Test.
Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris were both exceptional for Australia, and I have no doubt they would’ve led Australia to victory on the last day if rain didn’t intervene.
Harris continues to show why he’s always in the mix for the Test side when fit. With a bit of luck with injuries, Harris could have had a career not dissimilar to players like Jason Gillespie, Craig McDermott and Brett Lee.
Siddle the vegan continues to be the lion heart of the Australian attack. He is forever charging in, over after over, always probing and asking questions of the opposition.
The final pacemen spot in the team I’ve given to Mitchell Starc.
Now I know this may provide some debate, but the position is his on the provision that I feel the Australian trio completely and utterly outplayed their opponents.
Starc was the least effective of the Australian pacemen, however his second new ball spell in the first innings yielded three quick wickets that really provided the team with the chance to keep England to a modest total considering the conditions of the wicket for the batsmen.
Where I feel he let himself down was his new ball spell on the final day. He never really asked the required questions of the batsmen, in particular Joe Root who was hardly required to play in the paceman’s stint.
In the bowling department, Australia were only outmuscled in the spinner’s role, with Nathan Lyon taking the one wicket compared to Graeme Swann who took six for the match.
The Aussie offie was targeted by Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell during their partnership in the first innings. Even allowing for a few patches of good form, overall he was ineffective and would be looking to improve in the next Test.
In general, coach Darren Lehmann and captain Clarke will be feeling hard done by in the aftermath of this Test. They now need to rally the troops for the next match which starts in Durham on Friday.
Australia will be looking for Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja and David Warner to find similar form to that of Rogers, Clarke and Smith, while the bowling department will look to continue on in a similar vein but with much improvement to come from Lyon.
Whether there will be changes will be interesting to see, with Siddle and Harris both having a very heavy workload, so look for one to be rested with Jackson Bird given an opportunity to fill the spot.
Team of the Test – Chris Rogers, Alastair Cook, Michael Clarke, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Steven Smith, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Graeme Swann, Ryan Harris.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Johnny Bairstow has hit his way back into form with a 45-ball century as he steered his side to a record-breaking win, easily chasing…
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
England's chances of retaining the Twenty20 World Cup have been hit for six with the news Ben Stokes has opted out of selection for…
Bazball was developed as a strategy devised to use the resources efficiently rather than revolutionize the system.
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
India have bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 1-135 in reply to seize early control of the fifth and final…
