Statistics
may be hard to believe but never difficult to verify. The Aussies broke their
own record. In a place where they were invincible for the last seven and half decades,
there was an indication how they went to display the unappealing happening but
this time on the wrong side. In a venue, where they lost to England by a mammoth
347 runs is the index of how badly the Australian cricketing standards have
fallen in the last couple of years. The kind of loss that the Poms inflicted on
the Kangaroos was a measure of sharp contrast of their style of play and how
England have come so far. This was Australia"s sixth test defeat in a row
and on the other side, England's 4th
consecutive win.
If
Australia believed that just by changing the head coach would work wonders for
them, then that strategy was the final nail in the coffin. Ridiculous team selections
did not justify the coaching pedagogy of
Mickey Arthur. To add to the woes, David
Warner was surprisingly sent to South Africa to get some match practice. Batting
order was not that decent either. To keep the likes of Watson waiting till
number 6 is like inviting your opposition to rip through your batting line-up apart almost effortlessly.
 |
| Shane Watson needs to fire big time with his willow. |
This
was one of the highest moments in English history though.At a time when England stepped
into the field with the slightest of slightest ambition to settle for a draw
against the mighty Aussies, they now seek to conquer them. This change did not
happen all of a sudden. Years of efforts put in by investing in A tours
followed by a domestic structure revamp,tough decisions and most importantly
the realization after suffering big losses in the hands of the opponents that
things had to change. Luck hardly played a role in their transformation.
Sticking to the then interim coach in Andy Flower,who 1st saw his team being
bowled out for a modest 51, and anointing Graham Gooch as the batting coach
helped in taking the Poms to the number 1 in Test Cricket."Its not just
about technique but its all about the mental toughness,attitude coupled with
technique and more importantly, the ability to bat for long periods by applying
yourself in is what requires to excel in Test cricket"said Gooch. At a
time when Aussies believed to have a upper edge,reeling England at 28/3, Joe
Root played the innings of his life. England, unlike other teams now, don’t look
to survive only in the 1st hour of
the play-whether batting or bowling."That’s not the way Andy Flower works
and that’s not the way this English side works" said an ambitious,yet down to
earth, Alastair Cook.
 |
| With his career best 180, Joe Root played the innings of his life |
What
remains now to be seen is how Australia bounce back at Old Trafford. "Number
9,10 and the jack are certainly better than the top 3," said Border. Clarke
and Co. need to pull up their socks to achieve a win from here. Its high time that they
rectify the batting order and look for logical selections. A loss at the
Manchester will make life more difficult and increase their critic's list. England,
on the other hand, should not take their foot off the gas now. Nothing more
than a miracle will be needed to topple them.A win at Old Trafford will allow them to test their bench strength in the later half of the series.
