When Australia won 5-0 in 2006/07 it was a fitting tribute to the departing Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer, a result that you couldn't begrudge a team full of legends of the game. Ricky Ponting leading in style, Brett Lee charging in, Andrew Symonds finding his place, Damien Martyn finishing his career mid series, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist in their final Ashes series, Michael Hussey grabbing his chance. You cannot argue with the quality of any of the Australian players in that series, including Michael Clarke and Stuart Clark.
When Australia won 5-0 in 2013/14, it was a decent Australian side but in my opinion none of the players other than Mitchell Johnson should be remembered as legends, and even then if you look at Mitchell Johnson's Ashes career it was only this one series that stands out at all. In all of his other series, he maybe fired for one game. 2013/14 was a mediocre Australian side that all hit their peak at the same time as England fully imploded. Careers were effectively ended as a result of that series, immediately in the case of Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen, not long after for Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott and others who haven't been seen since such as Michael Carberry, Scott Borthwick and Boyd Rankin. No-one can question the quality of Australia's cricket in that series, particularly Johnson, however as good as Australia were, England were at least equally bad if not worse.
Back to this series, this game, and this day. England escaped the most bowler friendly period with last night's rain delay but still contrived to lose James Vince and Joe Root before the first drinks break with Alastair Cook following shortly after having looked fairly assured beforehand with moments of alarm. England's hopes were pinned on Cook and Root, so unless Ali, Bairstow and the newbies could provide some resistance, England were staring at a requirement to pull out what would be considered the greatest of Ashes comebacks.
Moeen Ali couldn't provide that resistance, brilliantly caught and bowled one handed by a diving Nathan Lyon. Avoiding the follow-on now looked a long way away at 132-6, still 310 behind. Johnny Bairstow was unfortunate to be caught and bowled by Mitchell Starc whose flailing hand knocked the ball up in just the right place to grab it at the second attempt. Debutant Craig Overton joined Chris Woakes for a partnership of 66, mixing controlled aggression with watchful batting. Perhaps the Australians underestimated Overton. For Devon League opponents, Craig was the Overton who could bat. So he proved at Adelaide, finishing unbeaten on 41 while everything else around him fell like dominoes to deny him a debut fifty, at this attempt anyway. England all out for 227, a deficit of 215.
Almost expected was Australia's decision not to enforce the follow-on, such is the modern method of grinding your opponent into the dirt and giving them a target they cannot possibly chase. In a day/night Test approaching the twilight and evening session, perhaps the better thing to do would have been to make England bat again and face the barrage from Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins in the bowler friendly conditions. England capitalised, Anderson in particular finally finding the movement he is renowned for in home conditions even if he still bowled too short.
Bancroft departed early to Anderson's skill, in almost identical fashion to the way Broad dismissed him at The Gabba. Broad himself started with a wide and struggled to make Warner or Khawaja play regularly. That said, he produced a few unplayable deliveries while Anderson grew in class and confidence. Coming around the wicket he produced the perfect away swinger to Khawaja to pin him lbw. Next over, Chris Woakes squared up Warner who could only edge to Joe Root at second slip, and England were in the ascendancy. Steve Smith is a huge wicket, discussion on how unorthodox his technique is goes without saying anymore. To England's credit they came up with an unorthodox plan; Anderson staying around the wicket and swinging the ball into him. It worked third ball, as Anderson trapped Smith plumb in front. Smith called for the review and the closest of close calls worked in the Australian captain's favour, the ball pitching less than 2cm outside leg stump to see the decision overturned.
When Smith clipped an almost identical delivery for four shortly after you could have been forgiven for thinking England may have missed their chance. Anderson was all over him, then Chris Woakes from over the wicket nipped the ball just enough to beat the bat; another big appeal, again the finger was raised! Again, Smith reviewed. For once the DRS worked in England's favour and four huge wickets for England mean this Test match may not be over just yet!
Without a doubt, this has been Australia's day but England are fighting, as they must. Ashes cricket isn't a matter of life and death, it is much more than that. A colleague of mine was not happy with Australia's decision not to enforce the follow-on, fearing that Australia could be bowled out for 120. How England will hope that prediction is correct. After all, Australia were dismissed for 60 in the last series, and while that is not likely to happen here England MUST come out firing, a competitive series depends on their ability to do just that. What a massive day we have in store on Day 4.
Moeen Ali couldn't provide that resistance, brilliantly caught and bowled one handed by a diving Nathan Lyon. Avoiding the follow-on now looked a long way away at 132-6, still 310 behind. Johnny Bairstow was unfortunate to be caught and bowled by Mitchell Starc whose flailing hand knocked the ball up in just the right place to grab it at the second attempt. Debutant Craig Overton joined Chris Woakes for a partnership of 66, mixing controlled aggression with watchful batting. Perhaps the Australians underestimated Overton. For Devon League opponents, Craig was the Overton who could bat. So he proved at Adelaide, finishing unbeaten on 41 while everything else around him fell like dominoes to deny him a debut fifty, at this attempt anyway. England all out for 227, a deficit of 215.
Almost expected was Australia's decision not to enforce the follow-on, such is the modern method of grinding your opponent into the dirt and giving them a target they cannot possibly chase. In a day/night Test approaching the twilight and evening session, perhaps the better thing to do would have been to make England bat again and face the barrage from Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins in the bowler friendly conditions. England capitalised, Anderson in particular finally finding the movement he is renowned for in home conditions even if he still bowled too short.
Bancroft departed early to Anderson's skill, in almost identical fashion to the way Broad dismissed him at The Gabba. Broad himself started with a wide and struggled to make Warner or Khawaja play regularly. That said, he produced a few unplayable deliveries while Anderson grew in class and confidence. Coming around the wicket he produced the perfect away swinger to Khawaja to pin him lbw. Next over, Chris Woakes squared up Warner who could only edge to Joe Root at second slip, and England were in the ascendancy. Steve Smith is a huge wicket, discussion on how unorthodox his technique is goes without saying anymore. To England's credit they came up with an unorthodox plan; Anderson staying around the wicket and swinging the ball into him. It worked third ball, as Anderson trapped Smith plumb in front. Smith called for the review and the closest of close calls worked in the Australian captain's favour, the ball pitching less than 2cm outside leg stump to see the decision overturned.
When Smith clipped an almost identical delivery for four shortly after you could have been forgiven for thinking England may have missed their chance. Anderson was all over him, then Chris Woakes from over the wicket nipped the ball just enough to beat the bat; another big appeal, again the finger was raised! Again, Smith reviewed. For once the DRS worked in England's favour and four huge wickets for England mean this Test match may not be over just yet!
Without a doubt, this has been Australia's day but England are fighting, as they must. Ashes cricket isn't a matter of life and death, it is much more than that. A colleague of mine was not happy with Australia's decision not to enforce the follow-on, fearing that Australia could be bowled out for 120. How England will hope that prediction is correct. After all, Australia were dismissed for 60 in the last series, and while that is not likely to happen here England MUST come out firing, a competitive series depends on their ability to do just that. What a massive day we have in store on Day 4.
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