For almost all my life Britain has been in awe of Australian sports men and women. As a school boy the Australians had stars with Tennis players Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall. In Rugby Union while the Australians were regarded as second to the New Zealand All Blacks, they both dominated Internationally along with South Africa. In the associated game of Rugby League with 10 wins against the UK 3, all prior tom 1975. In swimming there was Dawn Frazer, Ian Thorpe and Shane Gould. This dominance in international sports, especially in contests involving the UK has been no better expressed than in Cricket where the Ashes commenced 100 years ago and where out of the first dozen series of contest commencing in 1882, Australian won once, at home, in 1892 and did not win in England until 1899.
Over the past 25 years The English cricket team lost 8 successive series and then after winning narrowly by 2 games to 1 out of a 5 match series in England in 2005 there were immediately thrashed 5.0 the following Winter. Thus although they won by another 2.1 with 2 games drawn margin this Summer, everyone waited to see what happened this time in Australia before over enthusiastic celebrations.
As with much in life our view of things changes in retrospect from how the experience is viewed at the time. Before the series of five matches commenced the general view among cricket commentators was that the series would be closely fought but with England having the edge because of their preparation and mixture of experienced and inexperience players whereas the Australians are yet to adjust to the retirement of some of their world class players such as Shane Warne and Glen McGragh.
England won the first toss at the Gabba and decided to bat, potentially a mistake which was not repeated. A feature of the series was the way the playing surface was prepared to nullify the likely impact of the English spin bowler Graham Swan by leaving a little grass on the surface and making the first morning of play challenging for the batsmen. England were all out for 260 with Peter Siddle taking 6 wickets for 54 including hat trick, Australia appeared to have similar problems with the score reaching only 143/5 when Michael Hussey was joined by Brad Haddin and they added 307 runs before the next wicket making an innings total of 481. England was therefore required to get over 200 runs before making Australia bat again. Captain Andrew Straus made 110 and Alistair Cook 235 breaking Don Bradman’s highest score at this ground and the first time in his career he scored a double century. The opening partnership if 188 was also the best at this ground for England. Then Jonathan Trott also scored a century and participating in a 329 run partnership before the team declared at 517/1. This offered Australia the opportunity to get the required 297 from 41 overs, unlikely, and at 107/1 the game was drawn with the Australian Captain making 51. A feature of this game was the size of the British support attending as well as the noise made from those crammed into one area known affectionately as the Barmy Army for their singing and shouting as well as consumption of alcohol. Steven Finn, the England bowler took 6 wickets for 125.
The opening day of the second Test proved one of the wondrous of what was to come as Australia electing to bat lost three wickets for 2 runs. Captain Ricky Ponting was out first ball without scoring. Only 93 from Michael Hussey prevented an embarrassing low score as the home side were all out in one day for 265. James Anderson took four wickets for 65 runs.
England then went on to score over 500 runs for the second innings succession and to declare at 620/5. Kevin Petersen who had not had a great summer applied himself to the team cause making another double century with 235 runs and Mr Cook continued as he had in the previous innings with 148 runs before getting out. Over his first two innings he was at the wicket for 1022 minutes making 371. His official average at that point. Australia needed a massive 375 to bat again. Australia looked as if they were capable of defending their position but when Michael Clark was dismissed for 80 from the bowling of Kevin Petersen on the last ball of the fourth day there was a sense that England was heading for victory. They were all out for 301 runs before the end of the morning’s play on the fifth day. Graham Swann achieved 5 wickets for the first time in a Test against Australia.
With England ascendant there was great expectation for the Third Test at Perth in Western Australia which involved 2.30 am starts here in the UK time but also meant the game was still being played until 10 am the following mornings. England won the toss and put Australia into bat and Chris Tremlett who is 6ft 8ins in height replaced the injured Nott’s player Chris Broad who returned home. He immediately justified his inclusion by taking 3 early wickets as Australia’s openers again collapsed to 69 for 5. Once again there was a late rally with this time a partnership between Michael Hussey who scored his second century while wicket keeper Bard Haddin and bowler Mitchell Johnson making half centuries. Mitchell had been rested for the first second test after his disappointing first Test performance in which he appeared unable to direct the ball close to the wicket, provoking the Barmy Army to coin a song about his tendency to spray the ball either side. Australia concluded their innings at a respectable 268 runs after their unpromising start.
Could England continue with another large score and with over 75 runs on the board without a loss? It appeared this would be so. There was then a collapse as Mitchell Johnson found his form and only a half century from Strauss and the Bell prevented a worse total for England all out at 187. It was game on for Australia who made 309 runs in their second innings with Hussey 11 and Chris Tremlett five wickets for 87. England needed 391 for victory and had all the time in the world with over two days to get them. By the end of the third day England were 81 for 5 and all out the following morning for 123. Mitchell having taken 6 for 38 in the first innings could not repeat his performance in second. His colleague Ryan Harris did with 6 for 47.
The series was squared with one win each side and the Australian Pres commenced to crow that the visitors would lose the next two tests and Australia regain the Ashes as they had done the previous cycle of away and home Tests. The Australian media which is now turned on its team saying the worst ever should be made to recite their previous words decrying England and praising their men.
Captain Strauss won the toss and unlike the decision in the first Test asked Australia to bat. This proved to be the great decision of the series because Australia collapsed, all out for only 98 runs before tea. All ten wickets were taken from catches behind the stumps with the wicket keeper taking 6. England were showing that after years of criticism about their fielding with dropped catches and failed run outs, the hours of practice and fitness preparation was paying dividends. Anderson and Tremlett took four wickets each with Yorkshire‘s Tim Bresnan brought in for the rest Finn.
Strauss and Cook then demonstrated that it had been effective bowling and poor batting rather than the wicket which caused Australia’s humiliation as they achieved 157 runs before close of play without loss. The prospect of an England win was therefore good. The following morning Australia took advantage of the green tinge to the wicket and both openers were dismissed early on and then came the controversy which showed what bad losers Australians had become.
Ricky Ponting who had injured a finger in the previous Test but declared himself fit for play disgraced his fine record as a batsman and as a Captain by losing his temper when the fourth umpire overturned the decision to dismiss Kevin Petersen caught behind. The ability to challenge the umpire’s decision has been introduced into Test Cricket by the International Cricket Board with a fourth umpire able to use some of the latest technology. This will show what is described as a hot spot, a white spot appears on the bat or glove where the ball has hit. This alone is not the only consideration although there is no use of a sound wave device. In this instance although there was a white spot it was at different height and side to where the ball had travelled between bat and pad.
A captain has the right to seek explanation from the on field umpires about such a reversal of a decision made, but Ponting went onto argue and argue, then approached Petersen and then spoke to the other umpire. Had he not been the Captain with such a fine record I suspect he would have been fined more than 40% of his match fee and perhaps barred from the rest of the game. I doubt if he will ever captain a Test side again. He did not play in the fifth Test with official reason that he needed an operation on his damaged finger. This proved a good way to end his Test Captaincy although Australia now has a problem to find a replacement. Petersen was out for 51.
The England batsman who helped his side to again score over 500 runs in an innings was Jonathan Trott with 168. Peter Siddle had another 6 wicket haul and brought in fast bowler Ryan Harris fractured his ankle and took no further part in the match. Australia needed 415 runs to avoid an innings defeats therefore ensure that England would retain the Ashes because even if they won the final Test in the series, a drawn series 2.2 meant the Ashes remained with the previous winning Team. England.
During the England innings Matt Prior the wicket keeper was caught behind the wicket but the umpire did not immediately give him out asking the fourth umpire to check if the bowler had over stepped the batting crease and therefore the ball was invalid, a no ball. The rule is that one part of the front foot has to be on or behind the batting crease line. The video replay clearly showed that this was not so and therefore the batsman was not out. It is interesting that the umpire called for the review in this instance and while no link with the Ponting protest will be admitted, I believe the umpires would continue to demonstrate that challenging their rulings as Ponting did will not be tolerated.
It was a hopeless cause for Australia and amidst growing abuse from the home media they were only able to make 258 and for the first time Australia lost two games in a home Test series by an innings.
The Melbourne Cricket ground is the largest in the world able to accommodate over 90000 spectators and on the first day just under 85000 were present with those supporting England between a third and half according to what I was able to assess from the TV pictures, but making great noise. Even on the second and third days 67000 and 68000 people attended but on the fourth Australians stayed away, even those with tickets and just under 20000, overwhelmingly England supports were present. This demonstrates a weakness in the nation character of Australians, a lack of genuine sportsmanship something which I accept can become a substitute for genuine competitive drive and ambition.
The Fifth Test was therefore approached with the England camp knowing the Ashes had been secured and that with a draw would give them the series 2.1, and a win 3.1.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat, a questionable decision. The Sydney Cricket ground was close to capacity with the crows divided between home and away supporting. The Australian first innings total of 260 was respectable but 100 runs short of what could have been anticipated on a flat wicket after coping with the early innings conditions. None of the opening Australian batsmen was able to get over 50 runs including the first Pakistani to play for Australia, It was left to unpredictable bowler Mitchell Johnson to get 53 and bowler Ben Hilfenhouse 34 for Australia to pass 200 runs. England then commenced an innings which was to reach 644 their highest total ever in Australia.
Alistair Cook again commenced well with Captain Strauss, who made 60 from 58 balls received before getting out while Cook scores another 150 and was approaching his second double century when he was out for 189. Cook broke a number of records including the second highest number of runs in a series in Australia, second to Wally Hammond. When Cook was 99 he appeared to have been caught however Cook stayed his ground appealing the exit. TV replays immediately revealed that the ball had cleared bounced before the player before going into his hands. The player and the wicket keep, Vice Captain Haddin must have realised what happen and should have immediately alerted their captain and other players as well as the umpire of the position or at least referred what happened to the 4th umpire for a determination. In the commentary box Ian Botham was quite clear and described the incident as cheating, a charge apparently denied by the deputising Australian Captain.
Ian Bell had also continued his excellent form to reach another century although there was a situation when he was 67 and appeared to be caught behind the wicket that he successfully appealed although the ball appeared to deviate and the sound device not part of the appeal process indicated a touch. In normal circumstances when doubt remains, the original on field umpire’s decision remains and this should have happened with Bell given out. That he was not confirms my belief that Australian paid a price for Ponting’s shameful behaviour in the previous game and the dishonest and equally shameful attempt to get Cook out. For Australia worse was to come with wicket keeper Prior also reaching 100 runs in 109 and his first against Australia, Apart from Paul Collingwood all six other batsmen scored centuries during the series.
The game was effectively over because there was no way Australia could score the run required in the time available to bowl England out for a win. All they could do was to bat well over the remaining days and end the series with creditable draw. They did their best but this fell a long way short of what was necessary. Given the easy nature of the wicket the opening pair scored quickly and then one batsman ran out the other in an amusing act of self destruction, something he has been guilty several times in his career which one suspects as a Test batsman will be limited until a replacement can be found
It looked as if the game was going into the final day with five wickets left when Tremlett produced am amazing and series clinching over. His third ball was a bouncers and because of his natural height the ball zipped up higher than the batsman anticipated and was well caught from skier. Mitchell Johnston was next in was bowled first ball thus giving Tremlett the opportunity for a hat trick. His third ball was just as perfect, an in swinging Yorker which the new batsman somehow managed to keep out. Understandably England claimed the extra half hour but good defensive play saw the day end with Australia doomed on 213 for 7. With rain forecast for the fifth and final day all was not certain however.
With entrance free spectators commenced to queue long before gates were to open and over 19000 took the opportunity to celebrate what almost everyone anticipated would be a victory. Steve Smith a newcomer in the series made a respectable quick fire 51 not out before Tremlett bowled the last man and the innings closed at 281, one more run than their first innings. The three times innings defeat because of the huge scores by the visitors compounded the Australian humiliation. We all remember Kevin Keegan’s ill fated outburst that he would love to stuff Manchester United when Newcastle held a 12 point lead at the top of the Premiership. He failed. On Friday January 7th after decades of failure and hurt England stuffed the Australians good and proper and most of the UK were thrilled and delighted as the subsequent media attention during the rest of the day demonstrated.
Alistair Cook, perhaps once day Captain Cook, hee hee was made the Man if the Match, Man of series and winner of the Miller Compton medal. The official series ceremony was another example of the Australians inability to take defeat. They forgot to make one award, provided no champagne and appeared poor sports. Ian Botham summed it up by suggesting we ought to consider all playing three match series with the Australia in the immediate future, a comment made by Australian media on the last tour. However it will be important to get back to serious preparation after a day of celebrations. We need to try and win both 20 20 games the most difficult to preplan although as World Champion Collingwood will be able to reinforce his end of tour popularity by continuing the good feeling.
He had a poor tour with the bat and limited success with the bowl although he was not required to perform frequently. He fielding remained consistently brilliant and he is one of those characters who help glue a team together. He was right to announce his retirement from the Test side, the oldest player which enables someone younger to reinforce the strength of the remaining team, He him himself no harm by his demeanour in interviews and rightly was given the honour of leading out the team on the final morning. It is also short period between the last of the 7 one day series and the world one day competition, again something which the team would like to win as they seek to progress to become the best side in the cricket world presently held by India and with South Africa following. Australia now are fifth below Sri Lanka. England will play Sri Lanka and India later this year in England and then next Christmas and New Year.
Alistair Cook scored 766 in his 7 innings at an average of 127.66 which included 1 double century and two singles. Trott’s average is 89 with 445 runs and 2 centuries. Bell’s average is 65.8 Pietersen 60 with Prior 50.4 and Captain Strauss 43.85 with everyone scoring at one century.
Mike Hussey was the only Australian to average over 50 at 63.33 with two centuries. Shane Watson averaged 48 and Haddin 45 and was the only other Australian to score a century.
In bowing while Anderson achieved 24 wickets his average of 26.04 was inferior to Tremlett’s’ 23.35 for his 17 wickets with Bresnen’s 11 at 19.54. Finn was more expensive with his 14 costing an average of 33.14 and Swann’s 15 at 39,8. Only Australian’s Harris before his injury had respectable 11 wickets for 25,54 while Siddle’s 14 cost over 34 runs each and Johnson’s 36,95, These figures explain the areas of Australian inadequacy and that Team England will need to improve if that number one spot is to be obtained.
Over the past 25 years The English cricket team lost 8 successive series and then after winning narrowly by 2 games to 1 out of a 5 match series in England in 2005 there were immediately thrashed 5.0 the following Winter. Thus although they won by another 2.1 with 2 games drawn margin this Summer, everyone waited to see what happened this time in Australia before over enthusiastic celebrations.
As with much in life our view of things changes in retrospect from how the experience is viewed at the time. Before the series of five matches commenced the general view among cricket commentators was that the series would be closely fought but with England having the edge because of their preparation and mixture of experienced and inexperience players whereas the Australians are yet to adjust to the retirement of some of their world class players such as Shane Warne and Glen McGragh.
England won the first toss at the Gabba and decided to bat, potentially a mistake which was not repeated. A feature of the series was the way the playing surface was prepared to nullify the likely impact of the English spin bowler Graham Swan by leaving a little grass on the surface and making the first morning of play challenging for the batsmen. England were all out for 260 with Peter Siddle taking 6 wickets for 54 including hat trick, Australia appeared to have similar problems with the score reaching only 143/5 when Michael Hussey was joined by Brad Haddin and they added 307 runs before the next wicket making an innings total of 481. England was therefore required to get over 200 runs before making Australia bat again. Captain Andrew Straus made 110 and Alistair Cook 235 breaking Don Bradman’s highest score at this ground and the first time in his career he scored a double century. The opening partnership if 188 was also the best at this ground for England. Then Jonathan Trott also scored a century and participating in a 329 run partnership before the team declared at 517/1. This offered Australia the opportunity to get the required 297 from 41 overs, unlikely, and at 107/1 the game was drawn with the Australian Captain making 51. A feature of this game was the size of the British support attending as well as the noise made from those crammed into one area known affectionately as the Barmy Army for their singing and shouting as well as consumption of alcohol. Steven Finn, the England bowler took 6 wickets for 125.
The opening day of the second Test proved one of the wondrous of what was to come as Australia electing to bat lost three wickets for 2 runs. Captain Ricky Ponting was out first ball without scoring. Only 93 from Michael Hussey prevented an embarrassing low score as the home side were all out in one day for 265. James Anderson took four wickets for 65 runs.
England then went on to score over 500 runs for the second innings succession and to declare at 620/5. Kevin Petersen who had not had a great summer applied himself to the team cause making another double century with 235 runs and Mr Cook continued as he had in the previous innings with 148 runs before getting out. Over his first two innings he was at the wicket for 1022 minutes making 371. His official average at that point. Australia needed a massive 375 to bat again. Australia looked as if they were capable of defending their position but when Michael Clark was dismissed for 80 from the bowling of Kevin Petersen on the last ball of the fourth day there was a sense that England was heading for victory. They were all out for 301 runs before the end of the morning’s play on the fifth day. Graham Swann achieved 5 wickets for the first time in a Test against Australia.
With England ascendant there was great expectation for the Third Test at Perth in Western Australia which involved 2.30 am starts here in the UK time but also meant the game was still being played until 10 am the following mornings. England won the toss and put Australia into bat and Chris Tremlett who is 6ft 8ins in height replaced the injured Nott’s player Chris Broad who returned home. He immediately justified his inclusion by taking 3 early wickets as Australia’s openers again collapsed to 69 for 5. Once again there was a late rally with this time a partnership between Michael Hussey who scored his second century while wicket keeper Bard Haddin and bowler Mitchell Johnson making half centuries. Mitchell had been rested for the first second test after his disappointing first Test performance in which he appeared unable to direct the ball close to the wicket, provoking the Barmy Army to coin a song about his tendency to spray the ball either side. Australia concluded their innings at a respectable 268 runs after their unpromising start.
Could England continue with another large score and with over 75 runs on the board without a loss? It appeared this would be so. There was then a collapse as Mitchell Johnson found his form and only a half century from Strauss and the Bell prevented a worse total for England all out at 187. It was game on for Australia who made 309 runs in their second innings with Hussey 11 and Chris Tremlett five wickets for 87. England needed 391 for victory and had all the time in the world with over two days to get them. By the end of the third day England were 81 for 5 and all out the following morning for 123. Mitchell having taken 6 for 38 in the first innings could not repeat his performance in second. His colleague Ryan Harris did with 6 for 47.
The series was squared with one win each side and the Australian Pres commenced to crow that the visitors would lose the next two tests and Australia regain the Ashes as they had done the previous cycle of away and home Tests. The Australian media which is now turned on its team saying the worst ever should be made to recite their previous words decrying England and praising their men.
Captain Strauss won the toss and unlike the decision in the first Test asked Australia to bat. This proved to be the great decision of the series because Australia collapsed, all out for only 98 runs before tea. All ten wickets were taken from catches behind the stumps with the wicket keeper taking 6. England were showing that after years of criticism about their fielding with dropped catches and failed run outs, the hours of practice and fitness preparation was paying dividends. Anderson and Tremlett took four wickets each with Yorkshire‘s Tim Bresnan brought in for the rest Finn.
Strauss and Cook then demonstrated that it had been effective bowling and poor batting rather than the wicket which caused Australia’s humiliation as they achieved 157 runs before close of play without loss. The prospect of an England win was therefore good. The following morning Australia took advantage of the green tinge to the wicket and both openers were dismissed early on and then came the controversy which showed what bad losers Australians had become.
Ricky Ponting who had injured a finger in the previous Test but declared himself fit for play disgraced his fine record as a batsman and as a Captain by losing his temper when the fourth umpire overturned the decision to dismiss Kevin Petersen caught behind. The ability to challenge the umpire’s decision has been introduced into Test Cricket by the International Cricket Board with a fourth umpire able to use some of the latest technology. This will show what is described as a hot spot, a white spot appears on the bat or glove where the ball has hit. This alone is not the only consideration although there is no use of a sound wave device. In this instance although there was a white spot it was at different height and side to where the ball had travelled between bat and pad.
A captain has the right to seek explanation from the on field umpires about such a reversal of a decision made, but Ponting went onto argue and argue, then approached Petersen and then spoke to the other umpire. Had he not been the Captain with such a fine record I suspect he would have been fined more than 40% of his match fee and perhaps barred from the rest of the game. I doubt if he will ever captain a Test side again. He did not play in the fifth Test with official reason that he needed an operation on his damaged finger. This proved a good way to end his Test Captaincy although Australia now has a problem to find a replacement. Petersen was out for 51.
The England batsman who helped his side to again score over 500 runs in an innings was Jonathan Trott with 168. Peter Siddle had another 6 wicket haul and brought in fast bowler Ryan Harris fractured his ankle and took no further part in the match. Australia needed 415 runs to avoid an innings defeats therefore ensure that England would retain the Ashes because even if they won the final Test in the series, a drawn series 2.2 meant the Ashes remained with the previous winning Team. England.
During the England innings Matt Prior the wicket keeper was caught behind the wicket but the umpire did not immediately give him out asking the fourth umpire to check if the bowler had over stepped the batting crease and therefore the ball was invalid, a no ball. The rule is that one part of the front foot has to be on or behind the batting crease line. The video replay clearly showed that this was not so and therefore the batsman was not out. It is interesting that the umpire called for the review in this instance and while no link with the Ponting protest will be admitted, I believe the umpires would continue to demonstrate that challenging their rulings as Ponting did will not be tolerated.
It was a hopeless cause for Australia and amidst growing abuse from the home media they were only able to make 258 and for the first time Australia lost two games in a home Test series by an innings.
The Melbourne Cricket ground is the largest in the world able to accommodate over 90000 spectators and on the first day just under 85000 were present with those supporting England between a third and half according to what I was able to assess from the TV pictures, but making great noise. Even on the second and third days 67000 and 68000 people attended but on the fourth Australians stayed away, even those with tickets and just under 20000, overwhelmingly England supports were present. This demonstrates a weakness in the nation character of Australians, a lack of genuine sportsmanship something which I accept can become a substitute for genuine competitive drive and ambition.
The Fifth Test was therefore approached with the England camp knowing the Ashes had been secured and that with a draw would give them the series 2.1, and a win 3.1.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat, a questionable decision. The Sydney Cricket ground was close to capacity with the crows divided between home and away supporting. The Australian first innings total of 260 was respectable but 100 runs short of what could have been anticipated on a flat wicket after coping with the early innings conditions. None of the opening Australian batsmen was able to get over 50 runs including the first Pakistani to play for Australia, It was left to unpredictable bowler Mitchell Johnson to get 53 and bowler Ben Hilfenhouse 34 for Australia to pass 200 runs. England then commenced an innings which was to reach 644 their highest total ever in Australia.
Alistair Cook again commenced well with Captain Strauss, who made 60 from 58 balls received before getting out while Cook scores another 150 and was approaching his second double century when he was out for 189. Cook broke a number of records including the second highest number of runs in a series in Australia, second to Wally Hammond. When Cook was 99 he appeared to have been caught however Cook stayed his ground appealing the exit. TV replays immediately revealed that the ball had cleared bounced before the player before going into his hands. The player and the wicket keep, Vice Captain Haddin must have realised what happen and should have immediately alerted their captain and other players as well as the umpire of the position or at least referred what happened to the 4th umpire for a determination. In the commentary box Ian Botham was quite clear and described the incident as cheating, a charge apparently denied by the deputising Australian Captain.
Ian Bell had also continued his excellent form to reach another century although there was a situation when he was 67 and appeared to be caught behind the wicket that he successfully appealed although the ball appeared to deviate and the sound device not part of the appeal process indicated a touch. In normal circumstances when doubt remains, the original on field umpire’s decision remains and this should have happened with Bell given out. That he was not confirms my belief that Australian paid a price for Ponting’s shameful behaviour in the previous game and the dishonest and equally shameful attempt to get Cook out. For Australia worse was to come with wicket keeper Prior also reaching 100 runs in 109 and his first against Australia, Apart from Paul Collingwood all six other batsmen scored centuries during the series.
The game was effectively over because there was no way Australia could score the run required in the time available to bowl England out for a win. All they could do was to bat well over the remaining days and end the series with creditable draw. They did their best but this fell a long way short of what was necessary. Given the easy nature of the wicket the opening pair scored quickly and then one batsman ran out the other in an amusing act of self destruction, something he has been guilty several times in his career which one suspects as a Test batsman will be limited until a replacement can be found
It looked as if the game was going into the final day with five wickets left when Tremlett produced am amazing and series clinching over. His third ball was a bouncers and because of his natural height the ball zipped up higher than the batsman anticipated and was well caught from skier. Mitchell Johnston was next in was bowled first ball thus giving Tremlett the opportunity for a hat trick. His third ball was just as perfect, an in swinging Yorker which the new batsman somehow managed to keep out. Understandably England claimed the extra half hour but good defensive play saw the day end with Australia doomed on 213 for 7. With rain forecast for the fifth and final day all was not certain however.
With entrance free spectators commenced to queue long before gates were to open and over 19000 took the opportunity to celebrate what almost everyone anticipated would be a victory. Steve Smith a newcomer in the series made a respectable quick fire 51 not out before Tremlett bowled the last man and the innings closed at 281, one more run than their first innings. The three times innings defeat because of the huge scores by the visitors compounded the Australian humiliation. We all remember Kevin Keegan’s ill fated outburst that he would love to stuff Manchester United when Newcastle held a 12 point lead at the top of the Premiership. He failed. On Friday January 7th after decades of failure and hurt England stuffed the Australians good and proper and most of the UK were thrilled and delighted as the subsequent media attention during the rest of the day demonstrated.
Alistair Cook, perhaps once day Captain Cook, hee hee was made the Man if the Match, Man of series and winner of the Miller Compton medal. The official series ceremony was another example of the Australians inability to take defeat. They forgot to make one award, provided no champagne and appeared poor sports. Ian Botham summed it up by suggesting we ought to consider all playing three match series with the Australia in the immediate future, a comment made by Australian media on the last tour. However it will be important to get back to serious preparation after a day of celebrations. We need to try and win both 20 20 games the most difficult to preplan although as World Champion Collingwood will be able to reinforce his end of tour popularity by continuing the good feeling.
He had a poor tour with the bat and limited success with the bowl although he was not required to perform frequently. He fielding remained consistently brilliant and he is one of those characters who help glue a team together. He was right to announce his retirement from the Test side, the oldest player which enables someone younger to reinforce the strength of the remaining team, He him himself no harm by his demeanour in interviews and rightly was given the honour of leading out the team on the final morning. It is also short period between the last of the 7 one day series and the world one day competition, again something which the team would like to win as they seek to progress to become the best side in the cricket world presently held by India and with South Africa following. Australia now are fifth below Sri Lanka. England will play Sri Lanka and India later this year in England and then next Christmas and New Year.
Alistair Cook scored 766 in his 7 innings at an average of 127.66 which included 1 double century and two singles. Trott’s average is 89 with 445 runs and 2 centuries. Bell’s average is 65.8 Pietersen 60 with Prior 50.4 and Captain Strauss 43.85 with everyone scoring at one century.
Mike Hussey was the only Australian to average over 50 at 63.33 with two centuries. Shane Watson averaged 48 and Haddin 45 and was the only other Australian to score a century.
In bowing while Anderson achieved 24 wickets his average of 26.04 was inferior to Tremlett’s’ 23.35 for his 17 wickets with Bresnen’s 11 at 19.54. Finn was more expensive with his 14 costing an average of 33.14 and Swann’s 15 at 39,8. Only Australian’s Harris before his injury had respectable 11 wickets for 25,54 while Siddle’s 14 cost over 34 runs each and Johnson’s 36,95, These figures explain the areas of Australian inadequacy and that Team England will need to improve if that number one spot is to be obtained.
