by Dan Lonergan
Since 1998, every Ashes series in Australia, except for 2010/11, has resulted in the Australians winning it before Christmas and the blockbuster Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
After the first two tests of this series, I can’t see this year being any different unless England dramatically improves and wins this Adelaide Test which starts on Wednesday.
There is a problem with that though, you need to practise to improve and get better and not spend time on the beach having a break even though Noosa is a beautiful place to be.
There might have been some beach cricket and there is a decent cricket ground in Noosa I know of, where they could have taken part in a few net sessions, but oh yeah! That’s right, their coach, Brendon McCullum felt England over-prepared for the Second Test, which they lost in four days and felt they needed a break.
A break? After six days of cricket and many of them poor! The bowling, other than the first evening in Perth, has been too short and lacking penetration and enthusiasm and the batting? Well, where do I start? Outside Stokes and Jacks battling hard, too many loose shots and playing with hard hands producing embarrassing dismissals giving the Australian slips cordon, especially Steve Smith catching practice along with the sublime skills of wicket keeper, Alex Carey.
Captain, Ben Stokes after the game rightly so was critical of his team to some extent and had a crack at their character, but batting coach, Marcus Trescowthick, a good Test opener in his day, addressed the media after a day’s play at the Gabba and another disappointing display, but refused to publicly be annoyed vocally with the way most of the top order batted again. He, in my opinion, was trying to offer excuses, which didn’t cut it.
Then at the end of the Test, McCullum who just wants to exude positivity, win lose or draw used that ridiculous comment to explain the defeat, I thought we over prepared.
I keep asking questions: how could have they over prepared? Most of the squad except for Bethel, Tongue and Potts had a chance to play that day night game between Perth and Brisbane against the PM’S XI in Canberra, but didn’t.
They elected to have another mini-holiday and then apparently five days according to McCullum and Co of strenuous training in the nets in Brisbane, when match simulation to adjust to day-night cricket knowing that the best exponent of using the pink ball, Mitch Starc was waiting for them after claiming ten wickets for the match in Perth would have been a better idea.
After having a few beers and frolicking on the beach and in the surf, how do Duckett, Pope, Brook and Smith find some form and get rid of their many bad habits in just a few days in Adelaide?
The way they play won’t change, if McCullum keeps telling them to play entertaining cricket, with a smile on their face and that the result doesn’t matter.
It seems his time as coach is coming to an end and it needs to if they lose this series, which will happen in Adelaide and then another 5-0 drubbing by Australia on home soil in the Ashes is on the cards for the fourth consecutive time.
The problem with England is Pope, because he refuses to learn needs to be dropped but Jacob Bethel has just one decent score so far on tour for the English Lions and is not a number 3.
Many former English players here working for the media think Stokes would be the best option at 3, but what if Starc continues this unbelievable record of getting a wicket in his first over
Stokes is a fine player and fighter and showed that for more than three hours at the Gabba, but is he good enough technique wise to arrive at the crease in the opening over?
As you can there are plenty of unanswered questions.
Jamie Smith has struggled with bat and gloves, but there is not a reserve keeper on tour, although Pope has kept before, but as already outlined I would be putting a line through his name in Adelaide.
In regard to their bowling, Mark Wood’s body keeps letting him down, Archer needs to forget about bringing his pillow to the Adelaide Oval and bring effort and his wheels to try and bowl regularly around 150 Ks an hour, which he did in Australia’s small run chase in the second innings, when he bounced Steve Smith, who sledged him beautifully, rightly so saying you do that, when nothing is happening, Champion!
Gus Atkinson has bowled without luck, just three wickets in the series and Carse has picked up wickets, but has been way too short and doesn’t look like a Test bowler.
The tall off spinner, Bashir needs to play probably for Carse and should bowl in tandem with Jacks one of the few positives to come out of the Gabba for the tourists.
Talking of spinners, Nathan Lyon furious to miss out on playing at the Gabba and you would hope if he had his time again, he wouldn’t criticize publicly his omission during a Test match should play.
Pat Cummins will be back and spells more Trouble with a capital T and will replace Doggett, so who does Lyon come in for?
Michael Neser, who is yet to play two Tests in a row took his first five wicket haul after being a shock inclusion at the Gabba is the favourite to be replaced by Lyon, even though Boland has so far only had one decent spell in my opinion in each Test, although they were excellent.
Test cricket is full of hard luck stories of players performing well only to lose their spot for no other reason than team balance as would be the case here with a spinner usually part of an Adelaide test line-up for Australia or an injury to a key player as is the case with Cummins.
There has been talk of Khawaja at almost 39 years old returning after his back injury in Brisbane, but why? I think Usman after a fine career has run his race and Head and Weatherald, even though it’s a small sample look assured as Australia’s new opening combination.
Webster could replace Inglis giving Australia two batting all rounders, with Cam Green, who hopefully has watched his horrible dismissal in Brisbane when set when he tried a low percentage one day or T20 shot when set for a big innings, but Inglis deserves another chance.
Even though it’s close to Christmas, the Adelaide Oval is a magnificent venue and will draw its usual big crowd especially with Australia a massive chance to wrap up the Ashes.
Unless, England improve dramatically and I don’t think yet another holiday will help eradicate the many flaws this team has shown in the first two Tests, Australia will celebrate an early Christmas present in the City of Churches in another Test match that I am sure won’t go the full distance of five days.
Read more cricket writing from various Almanac contributors, including reports of each day’s play across the Ashes Series HERE.
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Agree re Khawaja – time’s up, champ. Not sure about the opening combo, although I reckon they should both be in the team. You have pointed out the poor Pom bowling, so how does that put a sensible value on the openers? I love what they have done and would certainly keep Weatherald, but there does seem to be a bit of a shortage of openers around the place. Bancroft?
Overall, another hilarious English tour, marked by too much talk and not enough results. Hoowoodathunkit eh, when you get a Kiwi born Captain and Coach and their team does not put up a fight…
Main issue is that dreadful barmy army mob who seem to have a right to sledge Australian players, yet we cannot say boo to any of theirs.