There is a reason that Test cricket is so called. With an hour to go at Cardiff Australians looked to have an all important first Test victory in the bag and had England crumbled then, who knows how the last few days may have panned out. However, that denial ensured that after dominating 90% of the game, the momentum was arguably with England.
The announcement by Flintoff before a ball had been bowled that this would be his last five day series resulted in speculation that England may be distracted, and that their last ditch efforts to save the first Test might be in some way compromised and again, so it may have been. To my mind it would come down to who won the first session: if Australia dominated then their suggestion that Freddie had distracted his team mates would seem to have come true, but if England dominated then surely it would be Freddie's perfect goodbye to HQ.
It proved to be the latter, as Strauss and Cook put on a consummate batting display, taking apart a hapless Mitchell Johnson and posting over 120 at lunch on the first morning. From that moment on it felt like it was England's game to lose. In the first innings Freddie played second fiddle to impressive displays from Anderson and latterly Onions before the decision to not enforce the follow on was announced.
With hindsight it could have been a disaster. Had Ponting run out Pieterson and caught Bopara in just the space of two overs then England would have been just 90 for 4 and in severe trouble. Instead, Prior was able to nail home England's advantage before fate had her say on the last two days.
Much will no doubt be made of what could have happened if Flintoff had been no-balled when he dismissed Katich, if Umpire Doctrove had referred Strauss's catch to the third umpire as he had done Hauritz's or indeed if Hussey had rightly been given not out off Swann but whatever is said of these events and the effect they had on the ending this Test match will be Flintoff's forever.
The aggression, the passion and the sheer force of will were all there, written in fire on that wonderfully expressive face which hurt as hard in '07 as it had smiled in '05. They were in every ball and ultimately every celebration as Freddie hauled his team over the finish line in his own unique style. Even for Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin whose brave knocks threatened momentarily to hand Australia an unlikely victory it must have been terrifying to look down the other end and see a man willing to literally destroy his own body purely to take your wicket.
There were other positives that will have been buried under the red top salute to England's one man army and they too were key in this victory. Strauss's opening knock was one to savour, while Cook's aggressive 95 reminded me briefly of how Trescothick used to bully the opening bowling, although to fall once again to a simple straight delivery will have been frustrating. Prior and Collingwood both came back well from first innings disappointments to bat Australia almost out of the game while Swann's four wicket haul will have done wonders to restore his confidence.
Obviously there will be concerns that Flintoff's body may be unable to repeat these heroics in each of the next three games, but I would be amazed if he wasn't at the very least fit for the final match of the series. Other lingering doubts hang over Onions and Pieterson who looks as though he may well have played his last game of the series as his troublesome Achilles effects not only his form but also his state of mind. However, whoever is selected at Edgbaston now is a time to celebrate and recall one of the greatest performances seen at Lord's, as well as remember that no matter how much England dominated the last five days, in the Ashes momentum can change against you as well as for you.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Monday 13 July 2009
England Steal back Gifts to deny Australia
For the last two weeks everyone has relived the glory of 2005. While the memories of the 5-0 whitewash a year later are banished forever, lifelong fans and '05 converts have sat together and reminisced about where they were when Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath survived the last over at Old Trafford, when Simon Jones knocked back Michael Clarke's off stump with phenomenal reverse swing and when Harmison rattled the top order greats on that first morning at Lord's. So many great moments, such great drama, surely it couldn't happen again?
The finish yesterday rivaled almost anything that was thrown up four years ago but as the performance as a whole is assessed, there can be no doubt that England got away with a result that was ultimately earned, but not deserved.
In every aspect of the game the Australians were better. In the first innings England had seven scores of 30 or more but failed to convert any of these starts into three figures. Even more frustrating was the manner in which these foundations crumbled, as so many batsmen gifted their wickets away after working so hard to wrest the initiative from Australia. A loose shot from Cook, Strauss's failure to lower his gloves and Pieterson's arrogant sweep. Bopara had already had a narrow escape from a Johnson slower ball before falling victim to a second, Flintoff yet again chopped on playing away from his body and Prior attempted an expansive drive when he needed to ensure he was there at the start of play on day 2.
By contrast, Australia converted four centuries, while Michael Clark fell only 17 runs short. They were exemplified to my mind by Simon Katich, a man who endured a torrid time on his last Ashes tour but has converted himself into a quality opening batsman, never being lured into playing outside of his limits. There were no gifts from these batsmen until quick runs were needed to hasten the declaration. Each innings was distinct from the others, ranging from the finesse of Ponting to Haddin's brute force. It was the perfect example of how this great game is one for the individual as well as the team.
Of even more concern is how the mindset didn't seem to change in many as England tried to save the game. Cook, Bopara and Swann were all out LBW playing across the line and although some could argue that Bopara got a poor decision and Swann had stuck about, a straight bat would have meant there was no need for the excuses. Pieterson had already survived one close LBW shout to a Hilfenhaus inswinger before shouldering arms to a straight delivery and the captain slashed at a wide one after already losing an early fifth day wicket. It could be argued that some of these are technical issues but to my mind these are mental and no amount of net time over the next three days will change that. Strauss needs to ensure that the application matches the undoubted talent there is throughout the England batting order.
As far as the bowling is concerned it was the lack of imagination that was most upsetting, in particular from the seamers. If the ball is not swinging then you try cutters, go around the wicket, vary the pace, but very few of these options were tried and certainly rarely stuck with. These are international players who seemed to think that the pitch and the conditions owed them something. In truth, you have to make the pitch work for you and that was forgotten as England wandered listlessly through the Australian innings.
However, although England were undoubtedly at fault for the position that Collingwood, and the bottom order dug them out of it was impossible to not be impressed by the Australians. As a team they were clearly well prepared with seperate plans for each English batsman but it was two individuals who really caught my eye. Both Brad Haddin and Nathan Hauritz were heavily questioned in many parts of the media before a ball had been bowled but they both delivered. Hauritz took as many wickets on his own as the entire England attack, comfortably outbowling both Panesar and Swann and Haddin delievered a blistering assault to take the game well out of England's hands. Both these men may not be as good as the men they replaced, but Gilchrist and Warne would arguably both walk into an All Time World XI. There are a lot of players who are not as those two, but this doesn't make them bad players or weak links and England will have received a rude awakening.
The finish yesterday rivaled almost anything that was thrown up four years ago but as the performance as a whole is assessed, there can be no doubt that England got away with a result that was ultimately earned, but not deserved.
In every aspect of the game the Australians were better. In the first innings England had seven scores of 30 or more but failed to convert any of these starts into three figures. Even more frustrating was the manner in which these foundations crumbled, as so many batsmen gifted their wickets away after working so hard to wrest the initiative from Australia. A loose shot from Cook, Strauss's failure to lower his gloves and Pieterson's arrogant sweep. Bopara had already had a narrow escape from a Johnson slower ball before falling victim to a second, Flintoff yet again chopped on playing away from his body and Prior attempted an expansive drive when he needed to ensure he was there at the start of play on day 2.
By contrast, Australia converted four centuries, while Michael Clark fell only 17 runs short. They were exemplified to my mind by Simon Katich, a man who endured a torrid time on his last Ashes tour but has converted himself into a quality opening batsman, never being lured into playing outside of his limits. There were no gifts from these batsmen until quick runs were needed to hasten the declaration. Each innings was distinct from the others, ranging from the finesse of Ponting to Haddin's brute force. It was the perfect example of how this great game is one for the individual as well as the team.
Of even more concern is how the mindset didn't seem to change in many as England tried to save the game. Cook, Bopara and Swann were all out LBW playing across the line and although some could argue that Bopara got a poor decision and Swann had stuck about, a straight bat would have meant there was no need for the excuses. Pieterson had already survived one close LBW shout to a Hilfenhaus inswinger before shouldering arms to a straight delivery and the captain slashed at a wide one after already losing an early fifth day wicket. It could be argued that some of these are technical issues but to my mind these are mental and no amount of net time over the next three days will change that. Strauss needs to ensure that the application matches the undoubted talent there is throughout the England batting order.
As far as the bowling is concerned it was the lack of imagination that was most upsetting, in particular from the seamers. If the ball is not swinging then you try cutters, go around the wicket, vary the pace, but very few of these options were tried and certainly rarely stuck with. These are international players who seemed to think that the pitch and the conditions owed them something. In truth, you have to make the pitch work for you and that was forgotten as England wandered listlessly through the Australian innings.
However, although England were undoubtedly at fault for the position that Collingwood, and the bottom order dug them out of it was impossible to not be impressed by the Australians. As a team they were clearly well prepared with seperate plans for each English batsman but it was two individuals who really caught my eye. Both Brad Haddin and Nathan Hauritz were heavily questioned in many parts of the media before a ball had been bowled but they both delivered. Hauritz took as many wickets on his own as the entire England attack, comfortably outbowling both Panesar and Swann and Haddin delievered a blistering assault to take the game well out of England's hands. Both these men may not be as good as the men they replaced, but Gilchrist and Warne would arguably both walk into an All Time World XI. There are a lot of players who are not as those two, but this doesn't make them bad players or weak links and England will have received a rude awakening.
Ultimately then it was the English characteristics of grit, determination and sheer bloody-mindedness that saved the game, but there will be some searching questions asked before the squad is announced later today. I would expect Panesar to drop out with Harmison rivalling Onions for the 4th seamer slot. I hope they stick with Onions, the man in posession. Although Harmison has taken wickets against Yorkshire this week, Onions was only denied that chance in virtue of being in the Cardiff squad. He also took wickets for the Lions and should be the man to replace the second seamer and I hope England back him, select and give him some confidence on a ground which already holds fond memories for him.
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