Woke up this morning to the nightmare news (as an Aussie supporter) - I went to bed at 2-167.
I'm a traditionalist and have my concerns about the effect Twenty20 is having on Test cricket. It's not just all about technique, it's also about temperament, concentration and patience and the willingness and ability to adjust your game. All of those skills don't seem apparent in most young batsmen. Joe Shag, er, Root, is trying for England, but he goes from one extreme to the next as far as shot-making goes. The only batsmen in the Aussie team with these skills are Clarke and Rogers. While England have four in Bell, Trott, Cook and Pietersen. Although, I've got to say I see KP is letting his own ego get him out too often.
Cook and Trott are both just having a bad series and that happens, although you have to give the Aussie new-ball bowling credit where it's due and Harris in particular has been world class. Rogers has shown that he should have been playing Test cricket for at least the last five years since Langer, then Hayden, retired.
The Aussie team has been equal to England in the bowling but not in the top-six batting. England has always had someone fire when needed for a big innings – Bell especially, who just has to be player of the series, I reckon. If Bell had been playing for us then it would have been victory to Australia. He has been the major difference, along with Swann's ability to take crucial wickets when needed.
Overall, the batting in this Ashes series has been utterly @&#$! – with only three players averaging over 40 so far: Bell (71), Clarke (49) and Rogers (43). That's pretty woeful stuff and the pitches haven't been bad at all. Two Tests have produces results on the 5th day and Manchester would have been the same without rain/"bad" light. There's been a bit for seamers and spinners and, as Bell has shown, centuries for the taking if your technique and mental ability are good enough.
Bresnan's batting is masking his bowling deficiency. He's a good fourth seamer (like Watson) but not a number-three bowler. England should play Tremlett ahead of him in the fifth Test, getting ready for Australia where the Poms won't get pitches dished up for Swann. Hopefully, they'll be tailored to our fast-bowling strength! I reckon Tremlett is the man for England in Aust to pair with Anderson/possibly Finn.
If I were an English fan I'd find Broad frustratingly inconsistent. He's feast or famine – always has been. He should play as the third seamer/bowling allrounder – no room for Bresnan in the same role! Hopefully the English selectors won't agree.
A team's top-four bowlers have to live by their ability to take wickets at a good rate (at least 3.5 wickets a Test) and a below-30 average. Tremlett fits that bill big time. Bresnan doesn't and Broad just. Drop Bairstow – he isn't up to it and will not do well in Australia. Keep Root, but maybe down the order and bring in Compton.
Now, Australia! Hmm … for the next Test I'd probably swap Hughes for Khawaja, and Faulkner for Watson assuming he's out injured. Bird bowled OK without a lot of luck – give him another run. Pick and stick with Lyon, he had a good Test. This may leave a perceived batting weakness but I believe Faulkner can bat at 6 or 7 and Haddin at 6 or 7 for this last Test. Cowan is a shield/county cricketer – he's had his dash, no run for him. Starc – unlucky. Again.
Austraila have bounced back well in the last Two tests and, provided they continue in the fifth, they give us all hope that there is a base to work with. The bowling depth looks good and getting the batting selections and order right will at least help.
What would help most of all of course, is if the selectors get my son Dan over to England straight away instead of having him waste his time flaying the French for the Australia D team.
That's my two or three bob's worth.
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