Ashes 2017/18 - Perth Day 4 & 5 - Australia Smash England In Another Ashes Romp

They say that lightning doesn't strike twice, and that's proven untrue. Lightning striking three times, nearly unheard of. But England have found themselves 3-0 down after three matches in four of the last five Ashes Series to be played in Australia. 2002/03, led by Steve Waugh was 3-0 after Perth and indeed 4-0 after Melbourne, England rallying to a consolation victory in Sydney but losing 4-1. 2006/07, Ricky Ponting's men defeated Andrew Flintoff's depleted side 5-0. 2010/11 was England's only victory in an Australian Ashes series since the 1980's, Michael Clarke's average side plus Mitchell Johnson beat Alastair Cook's men 5-0 in 2013/14. Steve Smith is on his way to replicating that.

Day 4 at the WACA began with England taking some quick wickets, but Australia powered on to make 662-9dec. In truth, England were facing a battle to even make Australia bat again. Alastair Cook looks to be in the kind of form where he'll call it quits at the end of the tour, although he may well just take a break from cricket in January and come back in the English summer ready to conquer to world one last time. You can never tell with the former England Captain, but Nathan Lyon's pre-series talk about ending careers may well turn out to be spot on.

Cook failed again, just 17 this time but Stoneman had already departed by that point. Joe Root played an inexplicable airy-fairy drive at Lyon's first ball, by this time the whole cricketing world knew it was all over bar the shouting. Before the penultimate day ended, we witnessed a magic delivery. It has already been described as the Ball of the 21st Century, however I would give that title to another Australian. At the WACA Starc was indebted to the cracks in the Perth surface which moved a delivery to James Vince which was destined to go down the leg side onto the off stump. Vince's reaction was akin to Mike Gatting after Shane Warne's infamous introduction to Ashes cricket in 1993, and indeed it was an unbelievable delivery. A deflection of 3.5º on a delivery measured at 143kmh (89mph) gives a batsman no chance to react to the deviation.

For mine, the Ball Of The 21st Century came at the MCG in 2014. Mitchell Johnson had set up India's Cheteshwar Pujara with some fearsome bowling, striking his helmet, forcing him back and really testing the Indian. Then he pulled out a magnificent cutter which deviated 4.2º, but the reason the Johnson delivery gets my vote is because it was all of Johnson's skill that produced it. It was a purposeful act to roll his fingers down the ball and cause the deviation, whereas Starc's was aimed at cracks which could just as easily deviated the other way and gone for four byes/wides. That it hit the stumps was miraculous, and certainly spectacular, and deserving a place in Classic Ashes highlights for years to come. Well bowled, young man. England got a rain break in Perth, another unusual event, and the Barmy Army dared to dream of another Great Escape. On the 5th morning, the miracle England needed looked to have come in farcical circumstances.

With such heavy rain and windy conditions making life difficult for the groundsmen the pitch had been left wet on an area of the pitch that could be considered dangerous to the safety of the players. Quite when this occurred exactly is anyone's guess, however images of the tarpaulin being launched by the wind and pole-axing a poor groundsman did little to inspire Australian confidence, and much for England's pipe-dream of keeping the series alive going into Melbourne. We were treated to the sight of multiple leaf blowers being used in an attempt to dry out the pitch, in between squally showers when the covers had to be replaced. This palaver continued for the entire morning forcing an early lunch, play not commencing until 1pm.

With his first delivery on Day 5, Josh Hazlewood removed Jonny Bairstow. Any lingering hopes of England saving the test were squashed by the skill of Hazlewood, who removed Malan and Overton to finish with 5-48. Moeen Ali's tour refuses to improve, and pinning the batting hopes on England's tail is futile at best. Stuart Broad was out for a duck, James Anderson will take no pleasure in being 1 not out and Chris Woakes showed a little spirit before becoming the final wicket to fall as Australia regained the Ashes in style. Australia have, to quote the Grade Cricketer, completely "Alpha'd" the hapless Poms. Quite honestly, the surrender was so meek that Australia could have playing the French military for all we knew.

When such crushing defeats occur there is usually some kind of inquest to ensure it doesn't happen again. The preparation that England had leading into the 2010/11 series was outstanding, and led to a brilliant 3-1 victory to Andrew Strauss's men. That meticulous planning was nowhere to be seen in 2013/14 and the drubbing was inevitable. This time around, it appears England's stocks are pretty weak, which leads me to wonder about the domestic game.

In Australia, there are six State teams; New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Each state is fed by the main city's Premier Cricket competition (formerly Grade cricket); Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth respectively. There are variances in each state, but the point for me is that at the highest level of domestic cricket there are only 6 sides. This means there are approximately 66 players (call it 75-80 for squad depth) from which Cricket Australia have to pick for the national side. The talent is concentrated into the state sides.

Compare that with England, where the County Championship consists of eighteen teams over two divisions, approximately 200 players playing at the First Class level at any one time. The talent pool is much more diluted, and Steven Finn has made interesting comments this week about how the sheer amount of cricket played in such a short space of time can wear down England's quicker bowlers. We have seen the importance of pace in Test cricket, and frankly there isn't enough pace in the English game. I am not suggesting that County Cricket is abolished, far from it. But domestic cricket in England needs serious scrutiny.

The issue with altering anything in the English game is tradition. Breaking from tradition is something that many associated with the MCC would say should be listed in the Book of Revelations as a reason for the start of the Apocalypse. The County Championship is, they'll say, an institution that does not need major changes. I would argue differently, that the County Championship should be a feeder to regional sides who play at the highest level. For example, splitting the counties into regions such as Wessex, Midlands, South East, North West, etc. These should be the First Class teams, and a structure similar to the Sheffield Shield implemented to allow the best players from the counties in those regions to play against each other. By allowing such a diverse level of talent, the best players aren't being tested at domestic level to anywhere near the standards required for Test Cricket.

People will point to the likes of India and Pakistan, who have many many First Class sides, or South Africa who have fourteen First Class sides, similar to England's County game. Steve Smith, while representing New South Wales, would have got far more high class experience out of facing Mitchell Johnson charging in for WA or James Pattinson charging in for Victoria, than Joe Root will have for Yorkshire facing Tim Murtagh of Middlesex (picked a random name out, Murtagh may well rock up in international cricket and dominate for all I know about him), for example. In point of fact, Joe Root only played two games for Yorkshire in 2017 anyway.

The debate about England's domestic woes could take up an entire year of debate, so back to the original point. Australia have won the Ashes. Australia more than deserve it, they have dominated England, they have driven England into the ground, they have the desire and hunger to go out there and beat them 5-0. Going completely back on my pre-series prediction, I cannot see how England will avoid it. Alastair Cook has been involved in two whitewashes already, it's hard to see how he can combat the demons to stave off a third. I'm almost moved to put $50 on it, perhaps to tempt the cricket Gods to show me mercy. Out of 13 Ashes Tests I have been in Australia to witness, Australia have won all 13. Clearly, I'll celebrate a draw! If England do lose 5-0, I will have to book a 7 week overseas excursion for the 2021/22 series.

There is talk of a record crowd at the MCG on Boxing Day, as there always is when an Ashes summer rolls around. For the first time, I am attending. I was at Day 2 and 3 in 2006 for England's humiliation, and I was there on Boxing Day 2009 to watch Australia v Pakistan. This will be my first Ashes Boxing Day experience at "The G", one of cricket's most imposing Stadia. An enthralling contest? Probably not, but I hope that the teams give the Barmy Army something to cheer about! Obviously as a result of being in transit, I will be unable to report on Day 1, so the next entry will come on Day 2.

For those who celebrate it, have a Happy Christmas. And Congratulations to Steve Smith and the Australian cricket team for regaining the most important Christmas present of all. Onto Melbourne.