So it has finally come to pass, after a handful of ritual hammerings and humiliations over the last two decades England have stood up to the Aussies and retained the Ashes in Melbourne.
This is a considerable achievement considering the recent past and especially the last tour which ended in a whitewash of such epic proportions that it was surprising that Russell Crowe wasn't considered for selection as trouncing followed annihilation. England weren't just beaten they were pulverised, with nothing more painful than the Adelaide test when Flintoff (remember him) declared and we still lost by 6 wickets. This current side are not necessarily world beaters but there is no way that they would have allowed such a dominant position to slip away.
The crucial issue is whether the balance has swung England's way because of their excellence or is it down to Australian weakness. It is surely more the latter as most Australian batsmen have failed, with captain and vice-captain most culpable. Only Hussey has really made a positive contribution and his failure at Melbourne paved the way for England's big victory. The bowlers have hardly covered themselves in glory with only Siddle showing anything approaching consistency and he is not exactly Glenn McGrath.
England are a solid unit and their strength in depth showed when Broad was injured but his replacement, Tremlett was amongst the wickets and continued to make inroads into the soft underbelly of Australian batting. Also Bresnan proved to be more than up to the job when replacing the dangerous yet profligate Finn and taking crucial wickets in the fourth test.
So is this the dawning of a new era or just a temporary switch in fortune? Somehow I cannot see there being another quarter century before Australia start to dominate again, so we might as well revel in the glory before the phoenix rises from the Ashes.
Showing posts with label Ashes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ashes. Show all posts
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Monday, 20 July 2009
Ashes ignited by Flintoff's massive presence
The term colossus is generally over used in sport when describing performances but it fits Andrew Flintoff to a tee after his extraordinary bowling that wrapped up the Second Test against Australia at Lord’s. Of course the stage was set for Flintoff when he announced on the eve of the match that he was due to retire from Test cricket at the end of this series.
He was a man inspired when the tense last day unravelled and having removed both openers the day before he tore into his task without a moment’s thought for his ravaged knee and generally weakened body. He never wavered from his intention of delivering the justified victory.
From the moment he made the crucial breakthrough with his fourth ball of the morning when Haddin edged to the secure hands of Collingwood he employed an impeccable line and length, making the batsmen jump and grope. He was the only fast bowler who really disturbed the batsmen on a still docile pitch and the only concern was that he would not last long enough to spearhead the English to victory.
Afterwards he revealed that he had told Strauss that he would not relinquish the ball until the job was done and as it was Flintoff you just had to believe him. This was not false bravado, but the reaction of a sporting hero who was not to be denied on his farewell appearance at Lord’s.
Appositely he collected his first ever five wicket haul at the home of cricket and etched his name on to the treasured honours board. Naturally he won the Man of the Match and with his aura restored the Ashes moved up a gear from the dramatic rescue secured in Cardiff.
When he does retire there will be a huge hole in the England team’s armoury as his very presence lifts the spirits and the crowd. Nobody in the current set-up has that galvanising effect on the game or the ability to strike fear into an opposition as cussed and determined as the Aussies.
Yet again this match emphasised the delicious and delicate nature of test cricket at its best, and the anticipation of the next three matches is growing apace, and one can hardly say that about any one day series or tournament. We need to savour the feats of the Colossus of Preston as he will be sorely missed.
He was a man inspired when the tense last day unravelled and having removed both openers the day before he tore into his task without a moment’s thought for his ravaged knee and generally weakened body. He never wavered from his intention of delivering the justified victory.
From the moment he made the crucial breakthrough with his fourth ball of the morning when Haddin edged to the secure hands of Collingwood he employed an impeccable line and length, making the batsmen jump and grope. He was the only fast bowler who really disturbed the batsmen on a still docile pitch and the only concern was that he would not last long enough to spearhead the English to victory.
Afterwards he revealed that he had told Strauss that he would not relinquish the ball until the job was done and as it was Flintoff you just had to believe him. This was not false bravado, but the reaction of a sporting hero who was not to be denied on his farewell appearance at Lord’s.
Appositely he collected his first ever five wicket haul at the home of cricket and etched his name on to the treasured honours board. Naturally he won the Man of the Match and with his aura restored the Ashes moved up a gear from the dramatic rescue secured in Cardiff.
When he does retire there will be a huge hole in the England team’s armoury as his very presence lifts the spirits and the crowd. Nobody in the current set-up has that galvanising effect on the game or the ability to strike fear into an opposition as cussed and determined as the Aussies.
Yet again this match emphasised the delicious and delicate nature of test cricket at its best, and the anticipation of the next three matches is growing apace, and one can hardly say that about any one day series or tournament. We need to savour the feats of the Colossus of Preston as he will be sorely missed.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
First Test fluctuates around stubborn Pietersen
When will Kevin Pietersen learn? The answer is probably never and his advocates will insist that if he plays cavalier shots and dies by the sword then so be it. Pietersen himself justified the shot by saying he has been very successful with the sweep shot but that is poppycock. He will never become a truly classy test batsman if he continues to get out in the asinine way he did today.
In attempting to sweep the generally benign and toothless Hauritz from way outside the off stump he only succeeded in hitting the ball on to his helmet and deflecting a looping catch to Katich. He looked a fool and it is the fact that he is so talented yet so stubborn that makes him such an infuriating mixture.
It was an intriguing day’s cricket in Cardiff, which has happily confirmed that test cricket is still the only game in town. The subtle evolution of the first day’s affairs, where the game swung this way and that and then back again, was both entertaining and interesting.
The first session undoubtedly belonged to the Australians as the top three English batsmen got themselves out to injudicious shots. The pitch lacked any spite and the bowling was not exactly venomous, so England surrendered the advantage of batting first by some sloppy batting.
The flow then went England’s way in the middle session guided by the combination of Pietersen and Collingwood who provided grit and determination when it was most needed. Adding just over 100 and losing no wickets meant tea was taken with England in the ascendancy.
Collingwood’s lame dismissal alongside Pietersen’s shameful one handed the initiative back to the Australians in the last session, only for Prior and Flintoff to swing things back the other way with a rapid partnership which ended when the admirable Siddle got his just rewards for his indefatigable spirit when he cleaned up both of them just before the close of play.
The beauty of test cricket was encapsulated here as each team enjoyed periods of dominance, which were halted only for the initiative to be given back. Both teams will feel satisfaction mingled with disappointment, and the balance of play is such that it is not clear who eventually “won” the day.
If England fail to reach 400 then they will have missed out and given the Australians a chance which may be the crucial difference. Through all the ebb and flow of this match one thing of which we can be certain is that Pietersen will continue to be both impressive and irritating.
In attempting to sweep the generally benign and toothless Hauritz from way outside the off stump he only succeeded in hitting the ball on to his helmet and deflecting a looping catch to Katich. He looked a fool and it is the fact that he is so talented yet so stubborn that makes him such an infuriating mixture.
It was an intriguing day’s cricket in Cardiff, which has happily confirmed that test cricket is still the only game in town. The subtle evolution of the first day’s affairs, where the game swung this way and that and then back again, was both entertaining and interesting.
The first session undoubtedly belonged to the Australians as the top three English batsmen got themselves out to injudicious shots. The pitch lacked any spite and the bowling was not exactly venomous, so England surrendered the advantage of batting first by some sloppy batting.
The flow then went England’s way in the middle session guided by the combination of Pietersen and Collingwood who provided grit and determination when it was most needed. Adding just over 100 and losing no wickets meant tea was taken with England in the ascendancy.
Collingwood’s lame dismissal alongside Pietersen’s shameful one handed the initiative back to the Australians in the last session, only for Prior and Flintoff to swing things back the other way with a rapid partnership which ended when the admirable Siddle got his just rewards for his indefatigable spirit when he cleaned up both of them just before the close of play.
The beauty of test cricket was encapsulated here as each team enjoyed periods of dominance, which were halted only for the initiative to be given back. Both teams will feel satisfaction mingled with disappointment, and the balance of play is such that it is not clear who eventually “won” the day.
If England fail to reach 400 then they will have missed out and given the Australians a chance which may be the crucial difference. Through all the ebb and flow of this match one thing of which we can be certain is that Pietersen will continue to be both impressive and irritating.
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