Normal service resumed and The Ashes retained

After the sobering defeat at Perth, normal service was resumed in the Boxing Day test match at the MCG. England beat Australia comprehensively just like they did in the 2nd test at Adelaide. Andrew Strauss will go down in history as one of England’s all time greatest captains after skippering the side to a successful Ashes defence in Australia.

England has an embarrassment of riches in the bowling department at present. The performances of Tremlett and Bresnan when called upon are testimony to that fact. Australia could be forgiven for casting envious glances towards the English second string.

Australia’s inability to select their strongest team has not done them many favours but that is not an English problem. Furthermore, it probably would not have changed the outcome of the series anyway. After being whitewashed 5-0 on the last trip, it is hard to get too sympathetic about their current plight.

Now that The Ashes have been retained, it would round things off nicely if England can win the final test and the series by a 3-1 score line. That scenario is more likely given that Ricky Ponting will be absent due to his broken finger.

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Too much Mr Nice Guy

After the euphoria of the 2nd test, England has been brought back down to earth with a bump. It is not the fact they have lost the 3rd test at Perth but the manner in which they surrendered. Fair play to the Australians, they have gone back to what they are good at. That is playing aggressive, hostile cricket with plenty to say to the opposition. England simply wilted under the pressure and that has to be a cause for concern with 2 tests remaining.

The Perth wicket suited Mitchell Johnson perfectly but offered nothing for Graeme Swann. Of course, Australia will be keen to replicate those conditions for Melbourne and Sydney. If they can produce similar conditions then Swann is taken out of the equation. This would leave England with a virtual 3 man attack and you are always going to struggle with limited bowling options.

For England, Bell needs to move up the order to number 5 considering his performances so far. This is because Collingwood seems to have reverted to ‘rabbit in the headlights’ mode once again. There is simply no point leaving Bell stranded with the tail, it makes no sense. There are rumours about Bresnan or Shahzad replacing Finn for the next test but further changes will depend on the wicket.

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Desperate times for Australia

Before the start of the series, England were definitely the stronger outfit when looking at the teams on paper. However, after the first 2 test matches it appears there is quite a gulf in class between the two sides. England does look stronger in every department and should be a certainty from here to retain the urn.

Australia have not done themselves too many favours in terms of selection. Nathan Hauritz is no Shane Warne but he is by far the best spin bowler at their disposal. For some strange reason, they seem reluctant to choose him. Instead they are throwing rookies like Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer in at the deep end. If that was not bad enough, there has even been a campaign to bring back Shane Warne.

As well as the absence of a quality spinner, the Aussies have problems with their main strike bowler. Mitchell Johnson has gone from cricketer of the year to the embarrassment of being dropped after a wicket less test match. He is a shadow of the bowler who was a force to be reckoned with against the South Africans last year.

Because of the aforementioned issues, it is hard to see where Australia will take 20 wickets to win a test match. They would probably need the helping hand of the conditions to bowl England out twice. Whichever way you look at it, the Ricky Ponting era seems to be drawing to a close.

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Ashes 2010/2011 Preview

It is a long time since the England cricket team headed for Australia confident of winning an Ashes series. It was usually a case of England being comprehensively beaten. However, sport often runs in cycles and this is a good period for England but not so good for Australia.

There is a stark contrast between the last series in Australia and this one. Players like Warne, McGrath, Hayden, Langer and Gilchrist have long gone. The Australian team is no longer invincible and continues to slip down the test rankings. That said, it will still be a hard-fought series. The conditions and the kookaburra ball will suit the Aussies more than England.

Many people believe England will win emphatically but a 2-1 series win in our favour is more likely. As the current holders, England only needs to draw the series to retain the urn. Even the most ardent Australian appears resigned to an unsuccessful Ashes campaign.

The surviving members of the 5-0 whitewash in 2006/2007 will be keen to turn the tables. Ian Bell was often the target of Australian jokes but now looks a more mature batsman. If England perseveres with 4 bowlers, Graeme Swann will be expected to take plenty of wickets.

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