The Ashes: Analysis by a 10 Year Old

Hello! I am a 10 year old budding sports writer who is going to tell about what’s going on in the Ashes.

In the last four tests, England has dominated. In the first test, they won a nail biter.  Australia’s batting wasn’t too impressive. England should have bowled better but they allowed Australia to have a last wicket partnership of 65 runs. They almost blew it after Australia was 231-9.

In the second test, England was up 1-0 in the series. Australia’s batting failed in the match as they were behind by 233 runs. They lost the test later on. England did very good bowling at Lord’s.

In the third test, England was a step away from retaining the Ashes, but Australia spoiled that by making 527-7 in the 1^st innings. England responded with 368. Australia packed on the lead with a fast knock from David Warner. They made 172-7. But bad light came and finished the day. Australia declared the next day straight away and set a target of 331. England started poorly. They were 37-3 at lunch. But rain fell and abandoned the day. 

And England retained the ashes. 

In the fourth test, England started well, but collapsed to 238 all out. Australia started poorly at 76-4, but made their way to 270. England set a target of 299 by making 330. Australia was coasting, but Stuart Broad sparked a comeback which made England win the series.

I think in the next test England will win. They have been playing good. They still need to work on their batting. Australia will have some tough time winning. I think Harris and Lyon will be key because they’ve been bowling well. England’s key players are Bell and Swann. Bell has saved England in the series. Swann is also taking a lot of wickets. This might be another close match.

In the next series, Australia might win. Their batting will be very important in the series to deliver. England’s batting will also be key. Australia’s fielding and bowling is good. England has good batting and bowling. This will be a tough Ashes. Australia has the capability of doing this.

Our 10 year old guest writer has been an avid cricket fan for the last 2-3 years. During the India v South Africa 2011 World Cup game, he came in to watch the game on TV with the rest of us; with India cruising at 260 odd for 1 with 11-12 overs still remaining. After a couple of balls, ignoring Ravi Shastri and projected scores, he said "India...290 odd all out". India finished with 296. He knows something, that we don't. The next generation usually does. 

Why is 'Stand Your Ground' acceptable behavior?

It is considered acceptable behavior, in the modern game, for batsman to stay their ground even when they are clearly out.

The umpires are there to make the call. Let them do their jobs....Is the reasoning behind it. Some also go to the extent to suggest that overruling the umpire and "walking" amounts to "undermining the authority of the umpire"

Call me old fashioned, but I am increasingly uncomfortable with this line of thinking

Today, as one of the most intriguing of Tests unfolds at Nottingham, Stuart Broad stood his ground, almost embarrassed, as he edged a ball to slips and let the umpire figure out the multiple deflections.

If a fielder is reprimanded for claiming a catch that is on the bump, I think batsmen should be held to the same 'code of conduct'. To me there appears to be two differing codes that batsmen and bowlers are expected to adhere to

Cricket is increasingly moving towards an attitude that encourages "testing the umpire" by making their jobs more and more difficult. Even the DRS is not emerging to be an aid to the umpire, rather its becoming a tool that is often used to judge the performance of the on field umpire.

It is my belief that the biggest impact in correct decisions being delivered in a game of cricket will happen when players stop depending on the umpires to give them a life.

That however will require a strong departure from how things have evolved. It shouldn't be acceptable for the batsmen to stay their ground for obvious nicks.

It is as good as cheating. Just like claiming a bump catch is considered cheating.

It would be unfortunate if this classic Test match is remembered more for Broad's standing of his ground, than for the twists and turns that it has provided.

Its been one of the most absorbing Test matches I have watched in a long time.

Epimetheus Speaks...

(For those that are not aware, Epimetheus is the greek God of excuses and second-guessing.)

India managed a comfortable draw, demonstrating that the mental strength acquired over the last several years is real. They proved that it's not simply a Laxman rearguard that is responsible for their famous chases and saves. The evolution of the Indian side into a team is complete.

Since the transition that can be traced back to 2001, began in earnest, fans have wanted India to dominate. Unfortunately, India couldn't find that fast bowler or the metronome that would have made the team complete. Zaheer has out-performed his physical abilities and given India the solution to it's fast bowling quandry. But it was clear that India missed the Steyn and Lee kind of bowler in the third innings of this test match.

Kallis had to play a superb innings to rescue South Africa from what looked a sure defeat. Harbhajan bowled his best spell abroad, but without Zaheer or Sreesanth contributing from the other end, it came to nought. Let this rekindle the debate about Swann vs Harbhajan. The Swann honeymoon appears to be over, just like the Ajantha Mendis one was done as well as Harbhajan's own after the 2001 epic series. Swann is a good bowler and he will re-invent himself, but he still has to earn his place in the hall of fame.

For India, the highlight is the manner in which Gambhir and Tendulkar overcame Dale Steyn. We were very lucky to have witnessed fast bowling of such class. I have not had as much pleasure watching opposition bowlers since I saw Marshall and Holding in 1983 and Wasim Akram in 1999. It takes very special talent and discipline to overcome such ferocity. The Indian teams prior to 2001 would have simply crumbled under such onslaught. Several instances come to mind, chief among them being Barbados in 1997.

South Africa's safety first approach also demonstrated the respect they had for India's batting might. India rightfully retain their ranking.

In another country, England smashed Australia and it appears that Australia will take a while to recover from this. Australian cricket is resilient enough to be reborn in future. But a Bobby Simpson-Allan Border story is unlikely. What shape the new story will take would be interesting to watch. But Michael Clarke doesn't appear to be the one who can lead this outfit out of the darkness. They may go through what England went through with Atherton first and Hussain later before finally coming up with a team capable of giving the good teams a run for money.

England have a complete outfit too. When Broad returns they will have an embarrassment of riches. Given how their batting might has evolved, they may have enough time to groom a good replacement for Collingwood. Bell will obviously move up the order and that's probably a good place for him to be. Alistair Cook has arrived big time and has set the pace to pass Tendulkar's record of test centuries. Comparisons are odious but he delivers consistently. He may not match Tendulkar's poetry in motion while batting, but he is a huge pleasure to watch.

In AB DeVilliers and Cook we have two greats in the wings to take over when Kallis, Dravid, Tendulkar and Ponting call it a day.

Ashes 5.2: England Looking For Trouble

It is safe to conclude that Jimmy Anderson is Ian Bell's personal nightwatchman.

For the second time after Perth he is doing his duty protecting Mr. Bell. I know Collingwood bats higher than Bell, but by his own admission he is a dead man walking and at an average of 14 at #5, in this series, clearly he does not even qualify to be a nightwatchman. Even his own.

It is quite surprising that Australia are still in the series. Just how long should the list of blunders be for Australia to lose comfortably?

Or may be its just that England are too soft to finish off the Australians.

They allowed Mitch Johnson to score runs. They say he uses the runs with the bat to fuel his bowling.

I think England are in trouble. There are more Mitchell wickets to come. A 2-2 tie is what they deserve; especially if its going to drill some reality into people like Darren Gough.

England have never looked so good. Australia so bad. And yet 2-2 is a distinct reality. England will still celebrate.

Something is wrong with the whole Ashes business.

Ashes 5.1: Usmaan Khwaja Disappoints

The series; not the Ashes; is still alive. However the Sydney Test has a feel of a good movie gone bad due to a long drawn out, irrelevant and predictable climax.

The only song and dance is being provided by Usman Khwaja.

He disappointed.

I, like many, wanted him to succeed. May be score a century on debut. But he saw a spinner and had a Sehwag moment.

Until then he was assured in defense and leaving the ball and slightly Ganguly-like in his off side play.

I wanted him to succeed like I have wanted no other Australian batsman to

I wanted him to succeed like I have wanted no other Pakistani-born batsman to.

It must be something to do with the unprecedented combination.

When he plays India these best wishes will quickly dry up and every run he scores against India will hurt doubly.

When he plays against Pakistan in Pakistan.... I hope it happens early in his career.

Stage being set for Aus thrashing at SCG

Australia are hell bent on losing the last test. A captain that's struggling for runs and a debut spinner with six first class matches behind him on a traditionally spin friendly track. Australia appear to have run out of options and are running out the clock on this series to re-rebuild next year.

Usman Khawaja appears to be the lone hope to salvage some dignity for the Aussies that were roundly thrashed at Melbourne. The persistence with Shane Watson at opener is more of a face-saver than anything else. Given that Phil Hughes hasn't lit up the grounds, Australia are resigned to select a risk-free option with Watson. But it seems silly to try to use such a fig-leaf instead of grooming someone new in earnest. India experimented heavily with openers until they found the right combination. Shane Watson appears to be a Sanjay Bangar-like choice with obviously more flash.

Thus, Khawaja, Clarke and Hussey will have to prepare to be batting within the first 15 overs of the game perhaps where the ball and bowlers are still fresh. Test batsmen must be ready for such situations, but the frequency or regularity with which it is happening to them has taken it's toll and resulted in terrible batting averages.

England should duly round off a successful tour with another one-sided victory in Sydney.

Ashes 4.4: How Good Are England?

England: 2 Australia 1


There's probably two answers to this. The English answer

and then the real answer

I am afraid, the two answers may be the same.

England look very very good. Ever since the Adelaide win. Ricky Ponting is in the ultimate state of denial when he talked about "momentum swings". He needs to be in the next season of HBO's "In Treatment".

In the real world; not inhabited by Ponting; this seems like the most lopsided 2-1 lead ever.

Of the 3 best sides in the world at the moment;

India have a game changer of an opening batsman. They lack a solid lower middle order batsman and a world class spinner.

South Africa have the best middle order batting and the best opening bowling pair. They too lack a world class spinner.

And England have Kevin Pietersen, and an all weather bowling attack. They seem to have a distaste for the numbers game.

Depending on what happens in Durban today, India may have to be struck off the list.

This will leave everyone join the English press and fans to call for a world championship bout; home and away between England and South Africa.

And no matter what the ICC rankings say, India will have to be content with being the best bullies at home. Not a bad thing of course. But it's the truth. And for all Indians it will hurt. Till we beat England in England again.


Related Posts...

1. Ashes 2.5: This Changes Everything
2. Ashes 3.4: This Doesn't Change Anything
3. Season Finale

Ashes 4.3: It Should not be about Ponting

If the Ashes were a movie, now would be a good time to walk away from the theater without losing much of the plot and getting the gist of it all.

If you are English you can sit through the remaining scenes and celebrate.

If you are Australian you can hope the plot calls for a Sydney upset. Then claim that the ending is intentionally left open to interpretation by the director

For most however the character that will capture all imagination will be the most unlikely of villians Ricky Ponting.

The winningest Test Player ever. A captain that outdid Clive Lloyd and Steve Waugh. A batsman as good as the best ever of his era. A fierce fierce competitor.

He doesn't exactly fit the role of a villian. But he is being made out to be one.

Who knows what Ricky Ponting's destiny has in store for him. I hope he weathers the storm. I hope the director has something up his sleeve and that Ponting is really one of the good guys. That there is some as yet unfathomable "greater good" in his deeds. That behind the veil of his pride, seeming arrogance and astounding and foolhardy stubbornness is a much misunderstood man.

Its tough.

His team, his skills and his leadership have underperformed consistently against a centuries old enemy. Three battles lost is three to many for most Australians.

He could well come to take the fall for what seems like a collective failure in the making. If Australia make Ricky Ponting into a symbol of their recent failures that would indeed be most unfortunate.

If the Ashes were a movie and if the script does not call for a final twist, then I would say Ricky Ponting was horribly miscast as a villian.

Related Posts...

1. Opinions On...Ricky Ponting

Ashes 4.2: The New India v Australlia

1. When this edition of the Ashes is history and you look at the score cards years from now, you would wonder. What if Hussey had not played some of the innings he has played this Australian Summer. How would the scorecards have looked? 98 All Out would probably be the vicinity of Australian scores. This really has been a Hussey v the English series and he gave them a damn good fight.
2. England are 10 wickets away from condemning Australia to a long period of introspection on how they are going to win back the Ashes. However if recent reports are to serve as indicators the outcome is bound to be something as dim witted the need to step up "sledging". 
3. So committed are Australia to sledging that when nothing else seemed to work, their top dog Ricky Ponting decided to sledge the umpires. The flawed process around the UDRS has already rendered the on field umpire as a puppet, and easy pickings for a team frustrated by mediocrity, stubborn leadership and conflicted selection processes. 
4. I admit, I haven't seen much of Trott's batting. From whatever little I have seen, I know this much...I would like to see as little of Trott's batting as possible. What makes his batting boring is that it seems he would rather be someplace else than batting in the middle. When the man himself seems so disinterested there isn't much hope for the spectators. 
5. I was hoping that this series and the one between India and South Africa, finally settle some answers on where the team stands. In stead I am now longing for a series between England and South Africa. The only 2 teams that can back themselves to win on seaming, bouncy juiced up tracks. India and Australia are clearly past their prime. In India's case one can say it was a case of a "false prime"

Ashes 3.4: This Doesn't Change Anything

England 1 : Australia 1


To describe this in cliches...


England had "hit the ground running" until they came to a screeching halt at Perth and now Australia "have the momentum" but are possibly without a captain. So we are uncertain as to who has the psychological advantage.


But we did relearn a couple of lessons. Never rule Australia out. And never really bank on England.


Its like England's batsmen had accounted for their quota of runs for the series, in the first 2 Tests and thought that those runs will carry over. Well they don't. 


Ponting will, perhaps stubbornly, give himself every chance of playing in Melbourne, but I am sure there will be many who might think of this injury to Ponting as; to use another cliche; a "blessing in disguise".Although Ponting not playing at Melbourne is as likely as Sehwag learning to respect spin bowlers. 


Swann; if fit; will likely give England an edge at Sydney; which makes Melbourne a must win for Australia 


Is this a case of a talented team on the rise, having a bad Test or just that England were never real?


Is this  a case of a team in decline willing itself to to play beyond their means or just that we were all idiots to question Australia's decline?


Or is it; to use another cliche...."Its a bit of everything"....


I say its the former in both cases. In their prime, Australia used to play with this intensity against Bangladesh Board President's XI. Now it takes the indignity of the prospect losing an Ashes series for the 2nd straight time. 


This really doesn't change anything. 


See Also...

1. Is England Real?
2. Ashes 2.5: This Changes Everything

Ashes 3.3: England Unlearn Batting

1. We've got a problem. Its wasn't just one good day for Australia. Its two in a row now. England batsmen are back to being shit. Not a very dependable lot, I tell you.
2. Tremlett came in the side for Broad who really isn't much of a bowler. Being hit for 6 sixes off an over ought to end a career. Chetan Sharma's effectively did with one. But in sum England have a better bowling side than in Adelaide. Tremlett took 8 remember. 7 more than Broad could manage in 2 Tests. The pitch too was juicer. Yet they find themselves losing to a side who pick a new spinner every time a new ball is due. What does this say about their batting. They royally screwed up.
3. Ian Bell seems to have gotten a promotion. He now has a personal Nightwatchman. 
4. Hussey has now nudged ahead of Cook for the series aggregate. They don't show it, but I think Hussey averages 80 odd if you just consider the runs scored using the pull alone. Without the UDRS he averages about a dozen or so. 
5. Touring captain scores a "statement" century in a tour opening draw at the Gabba. Tourists win at Adelaide Allow Australia to get back in the third Test...Its been done before. In time we will know, had the 2003 India in Australia series had a 5th Test, who would have won it.

Mildly related posts...

1. Ashes 2.5: This Changes Everything
2. Can Australia come back?

Ashes 3.2: Jet Lag Strikes

Indian and English fans who were feeling sorry for Australia have been made to look like fools.

Mitch the magician put up a grand show as the English batsmen choose to watch his tricks closely on television than face 2 face.

Too many questions...

Are these the last gasps of a dying man? Or are Australia for real?

What's it going to take to make Australia stay mediocre?

Were the English batsmen Jet Lagged?

Were Trott and Collingwood not paid their match fees?

Why did they come out to bat at all if they were going to be so keen to get back?

I am sure there must be many occasions where they are thankful for not being Pakistanis, but surely they must be especially thankful today. For trained Pakistani eyes this was cash motivated incompetence.

I personally think it was Jet Lag though.

Strauss has indicated that England went wrong in their preparations. They needed to pick 2 first XIs and station one of the squads in Perth at all times. To expect players to adjust in 2 different time zones is rubbish he said.

England are due to announce their squad for the Dec 2014 Perth Test at the end of the third days play.

Geoff Boycott was appointed to the "Time Zone Management Director" for the ECB.

In sum, the advantage of tour matches and year long preparations for juicy, fast pitches is 50 odd runs. No wonder the BCCI think its poor return on investment. But then we are comparing English apples to Indian Oranges...

Today Australia forced us to check and see if we said anything in the past that make us cringe or eat our opinions. Check these out...

1. History is the only thing going for Australia
2. 6 Reasons England will lose the Ashes
3. Can Australia come back?
4. Ashes 2.5: This Changes Everything

Too much is being made of....

India's batting performance at SuperSport park. This reminds me more of the India-Pakistan Karachi test than any other test. Of course, it was Pakistan at the receiving end then. India however, ended up losing the match.

I could watch only the first 20 overs before having to leave. In those twenty overs it was clear to me that the conditions played more of a hand than anything else. As the day went by, I was sure the wicket would ease a little. Tomorrow, it might play even nicer in the second and third sessions. Unfortunately, no one is around to hang with Dhoni besides Unadkat.

The second day wicket might be reasonable enough for Dhoni to eke out enough runs to take India past 200. Provided Unadkat hangs on like Panesar or Ishant in the recent past. Good news is that unlike South Africa at Durban last time, India were not bowled out for less than 100. Looking at the score card, it looks like Dhoni is fighting the conditions.

The worst news of the day is probably Raina. He probably has one more chance to redeem himself before Pujara will be ushered into the side. I am a Raina believer, but it appears that my faith is misplaced. Now many better batsmen did worse, but that's not the point ever, is it?

The key question is whether Sreesanth, Ishant and Unadkat have it within them to get enough wickets. And also whether Tendulkar and co. can fight out a draw from this situation. Regardless, it's a fantastic start to the series.

On the other hand, I caught more Ashes action and Australia were at a somewhat identical 24/3, just like India. While with India there is hope of salvaging a draw due to their batting as well as weather, Australia are probably staring at another pasting. Ponting's head would have been on the line, except that Clarke's failure may save him. Go figure. Clarke's dismissal reminded me of the likes of Vikram Rathore hanging out their bats in the past. The low confidence showed and Clarke seriously needs a rethink.

Hussey busily got some runs and in the end 268 was more runs than I thought Australia would muster. Harbhajan..oops Johnson got some runs. Now let's hope he gets some wickets to prevent this from being a one-sided steamroll.

Ashes 3.1: Change for the Worse

1. In my mind, Australia are just not trying enough permutations and combinations. Sure, all the changes they have brought on so far have made them look progressively worse. But...reversing the batting order was the most logical thing to be tried at Perth. They didn't. The result is the same as in the previous Test. How can they keep doing the same thing and expect a different result? Next time, reverse it, Mr Ponting. Its amazing how many ways there are to experience the mediocrity that has plagued your team.
2. All 3 batting greats of this generation, now have experienced what it is to play on weak teams. Lara, obviously spent his entire career doing that. Sachin most of his and now Ponting. Only difference is, in a score of 268 Sachin and Lara would have accounted for a 100. For Ponting, falling 88 short of a 100 is probably the reason behind the low scores. Whereas India and the West Indies managed these scores in spite of non-failures from their great batsmen.
3. The WACA pitch off late has lost its character. Its more likely to sleep with the enemy than be loyal to the Aussies. There is no one in the Australian side that seems to excite her. I don't blame her at all...many of cast that make up the Australian team are better suited to act in soap operas on Indian television. A few more sessions of whipping by the English team and these guys will learn to shed tears as well.
4. Last time Australia scored less than 300 in the first innings at Perth. They ended up winning that match by 206 runs. Flintoff was leading the opposition. Nothing of that sort is going to happen this time though. 
5. Ponting's brief all-boundries knock reminded me of Vinod Kambli's 40 against the West Indies in 1994. Just like Kambli that day, Ponting looked like getting out any time. Didn't seem to have the stomach to grind his way to runs. The prolonged dip in form is making Ponting impatient and now he looks like he is settling for short cuts.

Related Posts...

1. Can Australia come back?
2. This Changes Everything
3. England On Top

Can Australia come back?

It has increasingly become hard to figure out if Australia has a bowling problem or a batting problem. Of course, they have both. But teams often rely on the strength of one to negate the weakness of the other.

For example, India have a reasonable bowling attack, but a fantastic batting line-up. Sometimes the cookie does crumble, but more often than the batting line up is able to pile enough runs to put pressure on the opposing team. The bowling unit does a reasonable enough job to wriggle out 20 opposing batsmen with some time to spare. As a strategy, this has served India well.

England too seem to be pursuing a similar strategy where batters are applying themselves more diligently and talking about contributions and partnerships. Graeme Swann who was handled reasonably well in Brisbane became a force when Australia were staring at a mountain of runs. My opinion is that Pragyan Ojha could have run through Australia with the friendly pitch and all.

Australia on the other hand can't seem to find a formula. The team at it's heyday scored runs at a furious pace and unleashed McGrath and Warne against their opposition. The results became a foregone conclusion. On occasions when McGrath and Warne didn't play (like against India in 2003) it became clear what the Aussies were missing. In those games too, Australia played Bichel with Lee. Good batsmen don't succumb to honest triers. And that's what I think Bichel was and so is Bollinger.

And this is where Australia's problem is. Their batsmen may find enough gumption to put up 400 plus scores perhaps, but without a bowler that can threaten to unsettle the English batsmen, they have no hope. So between Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Harris, Watson and Bollinger Australia have one and a half bowler. Siddle being three quarters of the bunch. Australia's desperate search for a spinner is misplaced. Clarke is by far their best spin bowler. So why try to find something that doesn't exist and eat up a test spot?

Unfortunately, the lack of bowling options had led Australia to rely on Shane Watson. He can at best get an honorable mention. But much like India had to dispense with wicket keepers opening the batting, so that the "best" batsmen could play, Australia should invest some faith in true openers. With Katich now out of the lineup, Australia should perhaps bring in Hughes and Shaun Marsh. The latter may not be lighting up the grounds, but in modern day cricket the team needs a Hayden, Dilshan or Sehwag/Gambhir type approach. Maybe Marsh is their answer.

The worst number 6 batsman in the world needs to be dumped and maybe Watson needs to play at that spot. Ponting, Clarke and Hussey need to rediscover their touch too, but if between them, they can manage 400 plus each time, Australia will be ok. The first step though is to ensure the top order fires.

Related Posts...

1. History is the Only Thing Going For Australia
2. Is England Real?

Ashes 2.5: This Changes Everything

England 1 : Australia 0

The signs were there for all to see. Yet collectively there was hesitation. To proclaim England as favorites.

England were serious about retaining the Ashes. In an era where teams are lucky to have a captain on tour a day in advance of a Test Match; England; old fashioned England; asked for 3 tour games. They won two of those convincingly. Yet collectively we refused to grant England its due. We always found a "but".

The decay had set in a couple of years back. Australia were on the decline. They regularly lost Test Matches. they lost to South Africa at home; lost a Test Match to Pakistan, after having almost lost to them at home; were blanked by India. They found baffling ways to lose Test Matches. They named a battalion, when the call was to name a Test Team. They sounded hollow as the usual suspects began to talk up a  0-5 blanking of England. Yet, we managed to keep a straight face. A decade and more of Aussie domination had taught us to be cautious. We knew Australia would find it almost impossible to wrest the Ashes but we did not say it loud.

Even now; all I am saying is England are favorites to win the Ashes. It would be a huge upset if Australia comeback to win this one. Botham's Ashes will have to take a back seat.

This changes everything. There are 3 teams at the top who can compete as equals. England have the best spinner in the World. England have the most dominating middle order batsman in the world. England are favorites to beat Australia home and away. England can bat for a draw or put up monumental scores. Above all England have a cricket administration that is committed to Test Cricket. England have many of the things that should be the envy of South Africa and India. England have what it takes to be first amongst equals. Or may be I am being carried away...

Related...

1. Yes We Can't
2. History is the Only Thing Going For Australia
3. 6 Reasons England Will Lose The Ashes 

Ashes 2.4: Is Draw Still UnAustralian

Will Australia learn how to play for a draw?

They have literally thrown away test matches. One of them, in the summer of 2001 in England, when Gilchrist declared @ 4 down for 170 odd and set England a target of 315 with an excess of 90 overs to play. They lost. The other match is India's come from behind win a few months earlier when Australia just did not know how to clamp down and play for time. The one time I remember they were forced to play for a draw and they did was Waugh's farewell test.

It was almost as if Australia would prefer to lose than to see Test cricket die a slow death with each avoidable draw. They seemed to have taken it upon themselves to engineer results and their commitment was total.

Unfortunately, for Australia, these days they simply have to play their natural game. The results will come.

Australia's problems seem plenty and hard to ignore. It was perplexing to see Katich hobble for every run. I can understand a Brian Lara or a Ponting or Hayden or Sachin or VVS being forced to play a Test with an injury. But Simon Katich? Isn't there an opener in Aussie land that can bat better than an injured Simon Katich? The signals Australia is showing through their selection policy indicate a complete lack in faith shown to players in State teams.

But really the thing to look forward to tomorrow is whether Australia can learn how to enjoy being a mediocre team and play for a draw. For India it had been a strategy for decades. England recently have made it exciting.

Ashes 2.3: Ponting - I want to be able to Declare

1. Australia are on a roll. Australia matched their vastly improved performance; of taking 2 whole English wickets on Day 2; with a similar haul on Day 3. Considering that play was possible for only two-thirds of the day I am thrilled with my mates said Ponting. We have England where we wanted.
2. Asked about the dropped catches, missed run outs and numerous mis-fields; Ponting was quick to say...Well the catches only mean that my bowlers are consistently creating opportunities which can't be a bad thing. As for the other fielding issues, Ponting was of the opinion that its the media...Channel 9 in particular who are running replays of the same couple of instances. Its not like we are going so see these replays and stop our march to force a win.
3. Talking about the future of the game, Ponting said that he is leading a campaign to allow bowling sides to declare their bowling innings closed. Currently the game is heavily tilted in the batsman's favor he said. Based on Official Wiki leaks phone records of a few Australian cricket team members, an unusually large volume of calls to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, might give some clue as to how widespread the support is for this idea. Ponting denied any attempt to keep the campaign secret. 
4. Mean while in the real world...England simply must win this Test match. To put in 2 extraordinary performances with the bat in consecutive Test Matches and not have a win to show for it...might just be the jailbreak Australia needs
5. England's recent performances have been consistent and they were able to; to some extent; carry Pietersen. England with Pitersen in form starts to look like a team that can really control, dictate and win test matches on batting alone. His commitment to the pull shot makes for exciting Test Cricket
6. Just how bad is the Australian attack...It is perhaps for the first time ever that 2 different batsmen have scored 200s in consecutive test matches against Australia in the Ashes. It shows that its not a question of 1 batsman dominating Australia, everyone seems to be enjoying their bowling. (After confirmation over @ Test Match Sofa, this is the 2nd time 2 different English batsmen have scored separate double hundreds against Australia in consecutive tests. VVS Laxman and Gambhir did it in Delhi in 2008 in the same innings!)

Ashes 2.2: Learning to Enjoy Doing it Poorly

1. In a vastly improved performance, Australia claimed 2 whole English wickets in just a day's worth of cricket at the Adelaide Oval. Captain Ricky Ponting, who is ruthlessly committed to positive, attacking cricket, while happy with his bowler's output, was also quick to point out that there is still room for improvement. We doubled our productivity in terms of wickets since the Gabba, which is a good thing but we leaked a few more runs than I would have liked. 
2. When a reporter pointed out to Ricky that Australia are in a "bit of a bother"; falling way behind England on the first innings, Ricky shot back saying the scorecard he is carrying still says 0-0
3. Australian's love targeting the visiting skipper by making statements to that effect in the media. In this series however the person who was supposed to take care of the target, himself ended up being a target of contention between Ponting and the Australian selectors. Mitch or no Mitch, Ricky talked at length on the importance of this strategy especially since its been hugely successful, getting Strauss out 3 times out of 3.
4. Asked by an English reporter on how Ricky can ignore the obvious all round and total ineptitude of the Australian performance so far in the series, Ricky added "If you can't learn to do something well, learn to enjoy doing it poorly" 

England on Top

The value of good opening batsmen is perhaps known to Australia. But playing Watson and Katich demonstrates a woeful lack of decent openers in Australian cricket today. Watson is in the team more because of the strong desire to have him in the team, rather than conviction that he belongs in it. Watson is a good cricketer, but he is a decent alrounder and poor opener. If anything, he should replace Marcus North in the order and Australia should bring in a genuine batsman in his place.

Watson continues teethering between Mudassar Nazar and Manoj Prabhakar as "role models". Mudassar though was a classic opener. Dogged and unspectacular. His bowling was an asset to his team as a change option. Prabhakar was a opening bowler and batsman until Srinath sealed his spot on the team. So Prabakar was a better bowler than Watson and Mudassar was a better batsman than Watson. By better I mean more useful to the team.

I'm a fan of Watson, so I think he belongs in the team as an allrounder. So there, a non-Greg Chappellian, from the heart opinion. England have backed up their bravado in the first test with another salvo on the opening day here. It's amazing that Australia and England have virtually the same batsmen from four years ago. It's the bowling attacks that are different and how!!! We know what happened the last time England were in Australia.