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David Schout is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist covering (mostly) cricket. He has reported for The Guardian, the ICC, IPL, Yorkshire CCC and others. You can follow him on Twitter at @david_schout.
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It’s no coincidence the two best Ashes series this century were both played in England.
Among the numerous interviews and press conferences with Australian players and staff in the aftermath of their Ashes sealing win in Manchester, few gave better insight into Australia’s success than captain Tim Paine.
An abrasive Old Trafford surface offers Nathan Lyon the opportunity to retain the Ashes for Australia for the first time in 18 years.
Tim Paine had a forgettable last hour of the third Ashes test. This we know.
For the pragmatist, England’s performance at Lord’s, while impressive, was fruitless and earned them nothing. Australia retained its 1-0 lead, and are one win away from retaining the Ashes.
Rain prevented any play on day one of the second Test, but despite the persistent downpours the Lord’s wicket appears to be fairly dry. And that may just be music to the ears of Tim Paine and Justin Langer.
While England dissect their loss in the first Ashes Test, the spotlight may fall on skipper Joe Root, who was tactically outdone on several occasions in Birmingham.
If England is a nation of glass-half-empty sports fans, then Australia is the more hopeful alternative.
Modern cricket is increasingly a data-driven domain. Right now, England and Australia’s analysts are pouring over dossiers that will help it exploit the other ahead of the upcoming Ashes.
After an already-taxing period of cricket, it appears half the battle for the impending Ashes could be keeping players on the park.
Has the dust settled yet on the World Cup final? Or is it still swirling around Lord’s since Martin Guptill’s fruitless final ball dive unsettled the sloped earth?
Battered by a buoyant England side riding seemingly unstoppable momentum, Australia trudged off Edgbaston with tails firmly between legs after a semi-final hammering overnight.
When England opener Jason Roy pads up for the biggest innings of his career, he’s likely to go one of two ways.
Let’s fast forward to tonight and indulge this hypothetical for a moment.
While Australia have already qualified for the World Cup semi-finals, two points against South Africa on Saturday night looms as a huge incentive.
While the cricket world pondered flat tracks, run-fests and the breaching of 500 in the lead up to the World Cup, one man predicted the low-scoring tournament we would come to see.
After losing to Sri Lanka on Friday, a frustrated Eoin Morgan was curt in his response to press questions.
Could Mitchell Starc be the first ever player to win multiple man-of-the-tournament awards at a World Cup? His current form suggests the question is a half-volley. Yes, of course he can, and his numbers back it up.
There was always the danger that the ICC’s shambolic scheduling for the 2019 World Cup would come back to bite it on the backside.
Just over 12 months ago, more than 50 per cent of the Australian public wanted David Warner out of the national team for good.
James, can you be my manager? I’ll give you 20% cut
On a dry Manchester pitch, Lyon holds key to Australia retaining the Ashes
As much as I hope you’re right, let’s not forget that Australia is historically terrible at extracting reverse swing. Hence the whole bring sandpaper onto the field tactic
On a dry Manchester pitch, Lyon holds key to Australia retaining the Ashes
Cheers Pete!
On a dry Manchester pitch, Lyon holds key to Australia retaining the Ashes
Agreed re: Labuschagne. Perhaps the biggest gem unearthed from this Ashes is that Australia now has a long-term no.3
On a dry Manchester pitch, Lyon holds key to Australia retaining the Ashes
I can’t predict the future, but I can very much predict that Archer’s bouncers will never, ever be ‘mid height balloons that are carted to the boundary’
England gathering steam, and not just via Archer
Not an insult Paul, value your input. Just think we should appreciate good cricketers either side of the fence
England gathering steam, and not just via Archer
Just don’t understand the reluctance to give Stokes credit. He’s a generational cricketer and to say he ‘struggles to score runs when England really need them’ sounds pretty silly given what he’s done in the last couple of months.
England gathering steam, and not just via Archer
I think you’ve somewhat missed my point, Paul. All I raised was that England’s best chance at success is likely with surfaces conducive to seam movement. I’m not suggesting they’ll force curators’ hands to produce a pitch they want.
Is it green decks or bust for England in the Ashes?
I never said they were toothless, but they were wicketless and expensive. My main point was the fact Denly was obviously encouraged to pitch it up into the footmarks, but had no cover fielder. This beggars belief
Root’s puzzling tactics leave him open for criticism
3/20 off 8. Man of the match. Yes, he destroyed Australia in the WC semi-final
Root’s puzzling tactics leave him open for criticism
As I mentioned, there wasn’t a reason re: Woakes. Journos at the ground said on Twitter that they asked England staff, who said there was nothing wrong with him.
Obviously losing Anderson didn’t help, but it still left him with three frontline quicks (I’m counting Stokes, because he essentially is) and a spinner, which is exactly what Paine had.
For me, the only player who could replace him is Jos Buttler.
Root’s puzzling tactics leave him open for criticism
Ha I haven’t – apologies! He’s so part of the furniture I’ve overlooked him. Make no mistake he’ll have a huge impact this series. The only quick that is likely to play all five
Familiar optimism, but does UK Ashes success finally beckon for Australia?
I believe they used a new ball (with a less pronounced seam) at the start of this county season to make life easier for batters. But once they saw that bowlers were struggling to garner as much movement (sort of obvious, no?) they ordered a batch of the previous balls for the Ashes
Lateral movement remains Australia’s overwhelming batting hurdle
It’s actually just a return to the old ball, rather than a new one
Lateral movement remains Australia’s overwhelming batting hurdle
Haha apologies! All fair points that you’ve expanded on there, btw. As a broader point I think if both teams are struggling with the Dukes it’s bound to be a great series from a viewer perspective. Far more so than the 2017/18 series – the Melbourne and Sydney tests were drab.
Lateral movement remains Australia’s overwhelming batting hurdle
I think the point is that Australia has struggled, and continued to struggle, more than any of the other top sides. There’s a huge body of evidence that backs that up.
And as much as I agree re: patience, I think it’s slightly reductionist to say it’s a generational thing.
Lateral movement remains Australia’s overwhelming batting hurdle
If you have a listen you’ll hear I didn’t actually offer my opinion. I said selectors will likely pick him (or Labuschagne, it seems) as it gives them flexibility. They almost always pick an all-rounder
REVEALED: The XI you voted for in last week's schoolyard pick-a-team
True Paul. Root has spent some time at 3 in the last three years though
Ashes shapes as survival of the fittest
I might touch on that next week actually, would be interesting to look at the players used
Ashes shapes as survival of the fittest
That’s England’s key weakness, isn’t it. They tried countless options to partner Cook the last few years, none of which has worked, and now with him gone they’re hugely vulnerable.
Ashes shapes as survival of the fittest
Yeah, absolutely I do Paul. He’s an immense talent, which was highlighted in the World Cup. Like Bumrah, I can see him transferring his skills fairly seamlessly onto the test arena.
Ashes shapes as survival of the fittest
I knew this final was missing one thing – conspiracy theories. Thanks for bringing it to my attention
Final outrage valid, but also a veneer for the bitter
Blind Freddie knows Smith’s influence on this Ashes has been immense. More than immense. This piece is about a newly instilled philosophy of adapting abroad, shelving the ‘play your game’ mentality that has contributed to so many defeats abroad.
Egos shelved, sleeves rolled up: Langer, Paine instil blueprint for success abroad