The Reverse Sweep

Dear Santa...

 
With Christmas only two days away, we’d been wondering what some of cricket’s big names have asked Santa for.

Thanks to a renegade Elf in Santa's inner sanctum, all can now be revealed:

Shane Watson – the man who Carly Simon once wrote a song about has asked for his bedroom to be covered wall to wall and floor to ceiling with mirrors. He has also asked for a year’s supply of Kleenex. No, not for that! But in anticipation of more tears when he next gets out in the nervous nineties

Michael Clarke– a lifelike Lara Bingle rubber doll and a backbone

Jonathan Trott and Doug Bollinger – appointments with Jacques Kallis’ new hair consultant

Ricky Ponting – the hottest curry sauce of all – anything that means he can get amongst the runs again, but on no account does he want any Beer to go with it

Andrew Strauss- an exclusive membership of the club of Middlesex captains that have won an Ashes series down under. To date, Mike Gatting, Mike Brearley and Pelham Warner are the only members

Steve Smith– Being young he wants to learn, so he has asked Santa for  ‘The Marcus North Tutorial of Batting at Six’ and ‘The Idiots Guide to Leg-Spin by Chris Schofield'

Steve Finn– he had wanted clothes, but after being so expensive at the WACA he managed to bag a sponsorship deal with Prada, so the tall paceman now wants the same radar that Mitchell Johnson used in Perth

Matt Prior & Peter Siddle and Ian Botham & Ian Chappell – a pair of boxing gloves each so that they can take their respective war of words into the ring

Michael Hussey– some more kryptonite to ensure that he can reprise his Superman heroics at Melbourne and Sydney

Kamran Akmal  - A new set of wicketkeeper gloves made entirely out of velcro

Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif  - A damn good lawyer

Nathan Hauritz – Having got rid of his Australian kit at a recent garage sale, the discarded spinner now wants a fresh new kit from Santa in time to make a comeback in Sydney

MS Dhoni– some cotton wool in which to wrap up Zaheer Khan prior to every test match and particularly for the upcoming tours of England and Australia

Tim Bresnan and Jesse Ryder - a KFC Bargain Bucket per day for life

Ijaz Butt  - World War III

Harbhajan Singh– a set of Matthew Hayden’s cook books so that he can prepare a meal for his good friends Hayden and Andrew Symonds when he tours Australia later this year

Daniel Vettori - the Prime Ministership of New Zealand - well he does everything else. Either that or to wake up on Christmas Day as an Australian - there seems to be a vacancy for a spinner

Ian Bell – a DVD of the Famous Five, so he can prepare for his promotion up the batting order

Paul Collingwood – a guide to the best retirement homes in the North East of England

Mitchell Johnson – Kevin Pietersen’s phone number

Kevin Pietersen - A romantic dinner for two with Mitch

Where next?

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes featuring Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz amongst others

Historic India-Pakistan peace summit flounders on cricket diplomacy

Read KP's Ashes Diary exclusively at the Reverse Sweep

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

3rd Test - Perth: Australia marks out of 10

 
The worst Australian side for 25 years? Maybe not. The batting of Michael Hussey and Shane Watson and the bowling of Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris inspired Australia to bounce back from heavy defeat in Adelaide to dish out some of the same medicine to England in Perth.

With momentum now with them, can Australia continue their stunning revival to wrest the Ashes back? We shall see. For now, here's how they rated in Perth (see how England rated here): 

Shane Watson – 8: No-one does the nervous nineties like Watson and it was no surprise that he fell short of three figures again. But his partnership with Hussey took the game away from England and he was particularly harsh on Finn – just like he said he would be before the series started.

Phil Hughes – 3: Has had a poor season for New South Wales and had a poor match here. May not be as susceptible to the short ball as many suggest, but at the moment there is a multitude of other ways to get him out.

Ricky Ponting – 6: His nightmare with the bat continued, but he fought for a four-man pace attack with the selectors and having got his wish, Ponting duly fired them up and rotated them to thrilling effect - hence the inflated score of 6. He may have a broken digit, but one suspects that Ponting would want to play at the MCG with a broken leg now that the momentum has shifted so dramatically.

Michael Clarke – 3: Two more failures and two more dreadful shots. If Ponting is ruled out for Melbourne, is Clarke in the right state of mind to lead the side?

Michael Hussey – 10: Hussey’s second coming continued. He knew the WACA pitch better than any of the other batters, and boy did it show. Hussey, as much as Johnson, was the difference between the sides.

Steve Smith – 5: His second innings 38 may have made him the luckiest Australian since Liz Hurley invited Shane Warne in for a nightcap, but Smith deserves credit for showing plenty of ticker. Patently not a test number six – a weakness that England will seek to exploit to better effect in Melbourne.

Brad Haddin – 7: Another fifty to continue his rich vein of form with the bat, a running battle with the Barmy Army and for once a pretty much faultless display with the gloves. Really gets under the skin of some England players.

Mitchell Johnson – 10: The most dramatic rise from the dead in circa 2000 years. Johnson’s spell of four for seven in the 1^st innings changed the course of this test and potentially the Ashes too. Also showed that he can be dangerous with the bat by top-scoring in the 1^st innings. From a 0/10 at Brisbane to 10/10 at Perth – and they say that football is a funny old game.

Ryan Harris – 9: As hopeless as he would appear to be with the bat, Harris has proved to be extremely effective with the ball. He bowled well in Adelaide with little reward or support, but he got both here and nine wickets to boot.

Peter Siddle – 6: Only played a bit–part role here, but what he did, he did well. Got a priceless unbeaten 35 with the bat and then bowled bodyline to first unsettle and then dismiss Prior. Our money’s on Siddle if he takes up Prior’s offer of a re-match in the boxing ring.

Ben Hilfenhaus – 6: Finally got his first wicket since the first over of the series by getting KP to edge to slip in the second innings. Bowled better than his figures suggested and provided the control that enabled others to get the rewards. Why was he dropped for Adelaide again?

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

1st Test: England marks out of 10, 1st Test: Australia marks out of 10

2nd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The Boundary View: Hussey & bowlers put England to the sword - Perth, Day Three

 
Hussey serves up more humble pie

Before the Ashes we suggested that Michael Hussey was shot as a test cricketer - we even wrote this: Zeroes - Mike Hussey. We now feel like turning the gun on ourselves as once again Mr Cricket proved that we couldn't have been more wrong if we had said on the night of the Election that Nick Clegg was a man of his word. Hussey is now the leading runscorer in the series and has hit six consecutive scores of 50 or above in an Ashes innings - a record. Now, where did we store that humble pie?

Test Cricket? It's a funny old game

Perhaps like no other sport, test cricket is a game of highs and lows. Mitchell Johnson's rise from the dead in this game is arguably the type of resurrection not seen for circa 2,000 years - especially given how low he sunk in Brisbane. Kevin Pietersen has gone in the opposite direction. After a test best 227 in Adelaide, he followed his first innings duck here with a dreadful shot to give Ben Hilfenhaus his first wicket since the first over of the series.

Not so elementary my dear Watson

We're not big fans of Shane Watson in the Reverse Sweep household (see Zeroes - Shane Watson), but to be fair he does provide plenty of hilarity. No one does the nervous nineties quite like him and it seemed inevitable that he would yet again fall short of the magical three figures. Sure enough, Chris Tremlett caught him in front for 95 and despite a desperate call for the review and a near flood of tears when the decision was upheld, Watson had to depart for his fourth ninety in test cricket. His conversion rate is worse than the ugliest of geeks with only two hundreds from 16 scores of 50 or more - only 12.5%.

Court Jester Smith rides his luck

Steve Smith is patently not a test number six, but he obviously picked the right fortune cookie last night if his innings today was anything to go by. He survived more appeals and reviews than Wikileaks head honcho Julian Assange, was nearly run out, hooked just short of fine-leg and even survived leaving his bat in the air while ducking a Tremlett bouncer and a top edge looped over the keeper and slips. When Smith said he was going to bring a bit of fun to the side, no-one realised that this would amount to playing the court jester in the middle too. The luckiest Australian since Liz Hurley invited Shane Warne in for a nightcap?

Time for the Review System to be reviewed?

For the most part, the dreaded UDRS has worked reasonably well in this series - whatever Aggers may say, but there is still room for significant improvement. A case in point was when Erasmus turned down a leg before decision against Smith when he had made 28. England sent for the review and it showed that the ball would have hit leg stump, but it was adjudged 'Umpire's Call' and the decision was upheld. If the technology is there why not use it to ensure that the right decision is given for every referral, especially when England lost one of its two reviews as a result?

Player of the day

Michael Hussey - certainly Australia's player of the series to date and now that he is the leading run scorer on both sides arguably the player of the series so far too. But Chris Tremlett deserves a mention too for his first test five for and eight wickets on his test comeback.

Zero of the day

Graeme Swann didn't have a good day. Ignored for the whole morning session by Strauss, he proved expensive when he finally came on and then dropped Peter Siddle before tea, thus allowing Australia to further extend their lead.  

What happens next?

It's over already thanks to Hussey and more poor batting from England - it will be 1-1 going into Melbourne.

Where next?

Perth: Day 1 - Tremlett's Sinatraesque Comeback

Perth: Day 2 - Johnson's rendition of I Am the Resurrection reduces England to rubble

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

Perth Heroes & Zeroes: Adam Gilchrist,  Alex Tudor and Chris Broad

Exclusive: Read KP's 2010 Ashes Diary

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The Boundary View: Tremlett's Sinatraesque Comeback - Perth, Day One

 
Brave call at toss pays off for Strauss

Andrew Strauss' brave call at the toss to insert Australia paid off in spades as England dominated again on the first day at the WACA. And it could have been worse too for Australia as had to recover from 69/5 before posting 268 all out. The recalled Chris Tremlett was the standout man in the attack, but all the bowlers chipped in with wickets even if James Anderson and Steve Finn were not at their best. Graeme Swann typically chipped in with a couple of wickets to emphasise once again his value to the side and provide further evidence why he should win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday.

Tremlett's Sinatraesque Comeback

 We've been saying for ages at the Reverse Sweep that Tremlett deserved another chance at Test cricket after regaining form, confidence and fitness in his first season with Surrey. The way he set up Phil Hughes with a succession of short balls before bowling him with a fuller one in his first over demonstrated that he has the skill and nous to flourish at the highest level. Shane Warne has said that Tremlett could be the best bowler in the World if he puts his mind to it and on this showing...  

To play, or not to play?

That is the question at Perth where the extra bounce means that batsmen have to adapt in deciding which balls to leave. Australia's Captain and Vice-Captain both got it wrong by playing needlessly at balls outside off-stump to depart early. That said, Paul Collingwood's spectacular diving one-handed catch at third slip to dismiss Ponting was simply stunning. Those that question his place in the side forget the package he offers - an average over 40 and runs invariably in tight situations, a useful occasional bowler, trusted lieutenant in the field and England's best fielder.

Ponting gets something right

Back in July when Steve Smith scored a counterattacking 80 against Pakistan at Headingley, Ponting was adamant that Smith was not a test number six. Ponting hasn't got much right in this series, but the evidence of today suggests he was spot on. How Smith - at best a test number seven or eight that can bowl a few overs of leg-spin - could come in ahead of Brad Haddin is beyond belief.

Deja vu as Hussey and Haddin star again

Once again in this series Australia were indebted to Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin. Indeed, the contribution of the two has been extraordinary. At Brisbane, where the pair added 307, Hussey and Haddin accounted for 69% of Australia's first-innings of 481. At Adelaide it was 61% and today it was 43%. It would have been higher, but for Mitchell Johnson - proving that once he gets in he is a dangerous performer with the bat - and Peter Siddle ensuring that the Australian tail wagged.

Player of the day

We suggested yesterday that Chris Tremlett could put in a man of the match performance if he was picked for his first Test in over three years. Well, he's certainly made a good start mixing up his length well to take 3/63 on a pitch that was always going to suit him.

Zero of the day

With Hughes and Ponting back in the hutch early, Michael Clarke needed to put in a strong performance as vice-captain. So dangling your bat half-heartedly at one well outside off-stump was not what the doctor ordered. Clarke just doesn't look like captain material to us.

What happens next?

If England have another good day tomorrow then the prospect of retaining the Ashes by Christmas will be tantalisingly close. Australia went for broke with a four-man pace attack, but will it be a gamble that fails dismally? The pitch looks much better for batting than a total of 268 suggests.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

Can England wrap up the urn by Christmas?

Exclusive: Read KP's 2010 Ashes Diary

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

3rd Test: Perth - Preview: Can England wrap up the urn by Christmas?

 
Australia has confirmed its overwhelming cricketing superiority over its former colonial masters in the last two Ashes Tests at Perth, winning at a canter in 2002 and 2006 to gain an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

But this time is different, and having survived the Gabbatoir and then extinguished the horrors of Adelaide in 2006, England know a win at the WACA - where they have only won once - would see them retain the Ashes before Christmas.

They may never get a better chance. Australia would appear to be in complete disarray with the selectors doing a passable impersonation of England in the 1990's. Simon Katich's injury means that Phil Hughes comes in to open the innings and Steve Smith replaces the discarded Marcus North in the lower middle order. The seamers may be juggled again, but the biggest surprise of all is the pick of left arm spinner Michael Beer - a man with just six first-class matches to his name.

England have no such problems and James Anderson will hope to make a similarly impressive contribution as Kevin Pietersen when he popped back to England for the birth of his son in the World T20 - even if Bob Willis may not be amused. England have dominated the last seven days of the series and if they can repeat the trick at the WACA then the urn will be theirs and Australia may just capitulate completely.

Likely line-ups

The only selection debate for England is whether to go with Tremlett, Bresnan or Shahzad to replace the injured Broad. Otherwise they will be unchanged.

Australia are pondering over a three or four man seam attack, with Beer making his debut if it is the latter and either Siddle or Hilfenhaus missing out if it is the former. 

Look out for…

Chris Tremlett has not been confirmed as Broad’s replacement yet, but if he plays his fourth test and his first since 2007, he should enjoy the bouncy WACA wicket and a man of the match performance is not out of the question.

It will be a surprise if Mitchell Johnson doesn’t come back into the Australian line-up, with Ponting and his selectors fully aware that the misfiring Johnson is their most likely match-winner on his home ground. He took 8 for 61 on this ground against South Africa in 2008-09, so England’s batsmen may finally be about to find what all the fuss is about.

The Pitch – It would seem that the WACA pitch could return to the lively track of old if curator Cameron Sutherland is to be believed: "We're going to aim for a fair bit of grass on top this year. Certainly, we want a result and we're confident that we'll have a pitch that will produce a result." Could this play into England’s hands given they would appear to have the most settled and potent attack?

Previously at Perth

A look back at the record books shows that England have an abysmal record at Perth, winning only one out of 11 Tests. Australia have won seven and England have been on the receiving end of some fearsome beatings in the last five WACA contests.

2006 – Australia won by 206 runs – Monty Panesar made a belated entry into the series and took five for 92 on day one as Australia were bowled out for 244. England were unable to take advantage though and folded for 215 before Australia racked up the runs second time around with Hussey, Clarke and Gilchrist all making hundreds – the latter off only 57 balls. Cook made a hundred, but England could only reach 350 and the Ashes were gone.

2002 – Australia won by an innings and 48 - England and in particular Alex Tudor were terrorised on a quick Perth wicket by Brett Lee. England could only make 185 and 223 as the game finished on the 3^rd day, which meant that Australia had secured the Ashes again on just the 11^th day of the series

1998 – Australia won by 7 wickets – Another dreadful Perth experience for England as they were shot out for just 112 on the opening day in just 39 overs. Tudor had a better WACA experience than he would have four years later and took four for 89 on debut. Again, England were only able to take the game into the third day.

1978 – England won by 166 runs - England’s only Test win at the WACA came against an Australian team ravaged by World Series Cricket defections. David Gower scored 102 and Rodney Hogg took 10 wickets as Australia fell well short of their victory target of 328.    

Prediction

Despite the curator's promise of a green and bouncy wicket, the WACA has lost much of its hostile reputation in recent years, so England's top six could be set to cash in again. This Englishman may regret his bravado, but we go for England to break their Perth hoodoo to give Strauss the best of early Christmas presents.

Where next?

Michael Beer's shock selection for the WACA explained

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Where do demoralised Australia go from here?

 
In the end Australia left Adelaide with barely a whimper and long before the arrival of the thunderstorm that must have being praying on English minds overnight. 
 
In truth the only storm that counts is the one that is now engulfing Ricky Ponting and the Australian selectors as they try to find an XI that can compete with England and somehow win two and draw one of the three remaining tests in the series. Otherwise, Ponting is in danger of having his legacy as the best Australian batsman since Bradman besmirched. Instead, he will forever be known as the captain that lost three Ashes series.
 
As an honest Ponting admitted, Australia were “out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded” by a rampant England team. And as he and the selectors pick through the wreckage, the temptation will be to make wholesale changes to the side that takes the field at the WACA next week.
 
There will be at least one change, with Simon Katich’s achilles problem ruling him out of the rest of the series and given his years will perhaps curtail his test career for good. Phil Hughes is likely to return at the top of the order. Elsewhere, Marcus North’s position at number six will come under scrutiny and then there are the bowlers. Of the four who played in Adelaide, only Ryan Harris comes out with any credit with the other three all in danger of losing their place.
 
Aside form Andrew Strauss’ injudicious leave, Doug Bollinger looked was simply dreadful - he wasn't quick enough, leaked too many runs and his body language was terrible. He certainly lacked the fizz that his name would otherwise imply. As such Mitchell Johnson’s exile may only last for one match.
 
Peter Siddle has experienced the highs and lows of test cricket in just a week - six wickets and a birthday hat-trick on day one of the series and 54 wicketless overs since. Whilst he continued to run in and give it everything, Siddle looked like what he is – a bowler returning from a long-time injury. It is likely to come down to a borderline decision between him and Ben Hilfenhaus – who was inexplicably left out at Adelaide.
 
Both may play if the selectors opt for four seamers – as Xavier Doherty’s brief sojourn in test cricket will surely be put out of its misery. The gamble simply hasn’t worked – hardly surprising given his first-class record. However, having dispensed with Nathan Hauritz before the series, are the Australian selectors prepared to look a bit foolish by going back to him cap in hand now? Or do they turn instead to the rookie Steve Smith, who could take North’s place and provide support to a four-seam attack? If so, Mark Cameron of New South Wales is a good outside bet to join Harris, Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus in the squad.
 
If Hauritz gets the nod and Australia retain the four bowler policy with Shane Watson as back-up seamer, North could survive for his home test. Cameron White - a possible alternative to Clarke as next captain, Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson are all contenders for North's spot if the selectors press the eject button.
 
For what it’s worth our squad would be as follows, with the XI highlighted in bold: Watson, Hughes, Clarke, Hussey, Ponting, White, Haddin, Johnson, Hauritz, Harris, Hilfenhaus, Siddle and Smith. We've been calling for Ponting to drop down the order for a while. It will allow him to compartmentalise the captaincy and give him a better chance of getting back to his imperious best with the bat.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

1st Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

2nd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test - Adelaide: Australia marks out of 10

 
Ricky Ponting will know that from the fourth ball of the Test, his team were given an absolute hammering by England in Adelaide. His selectors now have some open heart surgery to conduct before naming the squad for the WACA. Katich is out injured and North, Doherty and Bollinger could all be dropped. A third series loss as captain is looking inevitable at the moment for Ponting.

Here's how the Aussies rated in Adelaide:

Shane Watson – 6: Scored two fifties and again looked in good touch, but he really needs to start converting some of these fifties into hundreds. Bowled tidily. Needs to improve his calling and running between the wickets.

Simon Katich – 4: His dreadful run out for a diamond duck started Australia's slide but he fought hard with the bat second time around. With his achilles ruling him out of the series, has he played his last Test?

Ricky Ponting – 2: A dreadful match for the skipper. A golden duck was followed by a real struggle against Swann in the 2nd innings. This all-time great deserves better than the insipid bowling attack he has at his disposal.

Michael Clarke – 6: Poor run continued in the 1st innings but showed real character in the 2nd even if he rode his luck at times. His dismissal to KP must have hurt nearly as much as Lara Bingle's infidelity.

Michael Hussey - 8: Mr Cricket's renaissance continued as he was out in the nervous nineties for the second Adelaide Ashes Test in a row. Fifty in the second innings gave Australia hope, but will be disappointed with his dismissal on the final morning.

Marcus North - 4: The notorious poor starter got to 20 in both innings, but was unable to press on and he will do well to survive for Perth. Was again Australia's best spinner in the match, but he didn't exactly have much competition.

Brad Haddin - 6: Looked a million dollars with the bat in the 1st innings, but Anderson got him with a beauty second time around. Continues to look fallible with the gloves although he took a wonderful diving catch to finally get Cook out. 

Ryan Harris – 6: Was Australia’s best bowler in the Test by a country mile - not difficult admittedly - and bowled with real heart and fire. Not a number eight after his king pair and doubtless not a fan of the Review System either.

Xavier Doherty – 1: Did what he was brought into do by taking Pietersen's wicket. The trouble being that KP had 227 by then and he returned figures of 1/158 from 27 impotent overs. No control, no flight, no guile and no chance of playing Test cricket again. Lucky to get 1.

Peter Siddle – 4: The highs and lows of Test cricket. Six wickets in the 1st innings at Brisbane and 0/211 since. Bowled with his usual heart but looked tired and lacking in quality.

Doug Bollinger – 1: No improvement on Mitchell Johnson. Went at nearly five an over, showed dreadful body language and would have gone wicketless but for Strauss’ misjudgement. The champagne over his recall has gone flat already. Come back Mitchell, all is forgiven.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

1st Test: England marks out of 10

1st Test: Australia marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The Boundary View: Two out of Three Ain't bad for England - Adelaide, Day Four

 
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Meatloaf's signature tune proved prophetic for England as they snared two of Australia's big three by the close of Day 4. If rain doesn't save Australia, the home side needed one of their three big guns to score a massive hundred to escape to Perth with a 0-0 scoreline. But first Graeme Swann ensured that Ricky Ponting wouldn't repeat his brilliant 156 to save the Old Trafford Test of 2005, by inducing an edge to Paul Collingwood at slip. Then with the final ball of the day, Kevin Pietersen staked an unlikely claim as a golden arm with the wicket of Michael Clarke for a classy 80. Australia's hopes now rest on rain and the last of their big three Michael Hussey - who continued his renaissance with an unbeaten 44. 

Shades of Edgbaston 2005?

In that monumental Edgbaston Test of 2005, Steve Harmison looked to have secured victory for England with a majestic slower ball to get Clarke just before close on the fourth day. Pietersen isn't in Harmison's class as a bowler, but his ball to the Australian vice-captain was just as good turning sharply from outside off-stump to get an edge to Cook via Clarke's thigh pad. He hung around like a condemned man for the review but Clarke, whose 103 not out got Australia out of a hole at Edgbaston in 2009, knew he was a goner.

And then there were three

The risk of playing just four frontline bowlers was highlighted with the stomach strain suffered by Stuart Broad - who had looked the best of the England seamers today. This means that Swann will bowl even more overs in this innings, but luckily for England he looks to have recovered from his Brisbane blip. Elsewhere James Anderson couldn't repeat his inspirational new ball spell of day one and Steve Finn leaked too many boundaries in his first spell before bouncing back to get Watson and bowl much more impressively with the old ball.   

Fifty and out

He may be a prize galah, but in every way but one Shane Watson has done surprisingly well as a Test match opener and averages over 50since coming in to replace Philip Hughes at the top of the order at Edgbaston in 2009.  The one area where he has been found lacking though is in converting his frequent good starts into big scores - he has reached 50 14 times as an opener but only got to three figures twice. Maybe with Watson you can take the boy out of the lower middle order, but not the lower middle order out of the boy.

Records and more records for England

England added 69 quick runs in the morning and more records came: Kevin Pietersen's highest Test score of 227, four  hundred partnerships in an innings for the first time for England since The Oval in 1938 and England's second highest score ever in tests in Australia. Four players: Pietersen (135), Cook (225), Trott (121) and Bell - who looked sublime again - (144) now average over 100 in the series. But the only statistic that really counts is making it 1-0 in the series come tomorrow.

From elation to deflation

We're guessing that Peter Siddle is no great fan of the UDRS. After having had a caught behind decision for Cook overruled on appeal on Saturday, he was denied even the consolation prize of Prior, when a plumb looking leg before decision was again overturned. After the high of six wickets and a hat-trick in the 1st innings at Brisbane, the willing Siddle now has 0/211 from his last 54 overs. Talk about the highs and lows of Test cricket. 

Player of the day

Until the last ball of the day, it was going to be Michael Clarke. He was under immense pressure when he came to the crease after a dreadful run of low scores, but he played a positive knock and used his feet well to Swann. But his departure to KP means we have to go with the aforementioned Graeme Swann  - who got the breakthrough wicket of Katich and then the key prize of Ponting. It could be his day tomorrow too.   

Zero of the day

There was no obvious choice on day four, but with much expected of Ricky Ponting, it must have been demoralising for him and for the dressing room when he fell to Swann for only 9. 

What happens next? 

Putting the weather aside for one minute - and let's hope that someone in the England camp is on first name terms with the raingods - what happens with the new ball tomorrow morning holds the key to this Test match. If England get a couple of wickets early on, it could be all over by lunch. But if Hussey can marshall a rearguard with North and/or Brad Haddin, who knows?   

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

The 25 Greatest Ashes Tests of them all: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Day 3 at Adelaide dissected: Double Trouble & The Able KP

Day 2 at Adelaide dissected: Cook serves up a dish of deja vu and That won't work either, Punter...

Day 1 at Adelaide dissected: Australia capsizes to Jimmy  and Dear Jimmy...

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The Boundary View: Cook serves up a dish of deja vu for hapless Australia - Adelaide, Day Two

 
Cook serves up another helping of humble pie

Until now there was only one choice as to who was the most famous Cook to land on Australian shores - and here's a clue it wasn't Gordon Ramsey. But Alastair Cook seems to be on a one man mission to change this. He picked up where he left on in Brisbane as he continued to plunder runs from a feeble Australian bowling attack. His 15th Test century never looked in doubt and the technical faults that plagued him in the English summer seemed to have vanished into thin air. We apologised to James Anderson yesterdayfor doubting that he could succeed in Australia and we owe one to Cook too for having the temerity to question his place in the side. But for once (or is it twice?) we are happy to be proved emphatically wrong. And on Cook we weren't the only ones - were we Michael Atherton?

Deja vu for Ponting

Ricky Ponting must have thought he was caught in a nightmarish time warp during Cook and Jonathan Trott's 2nd wicket partnership of 173 - which extended their unbroken stint at the crease from The Gabba to 502 runs and nearly 10 hours before the latter was eventually out. Some of the names in his bowling attack were different, but the results were the same for Ponting as catches were dropped, the bowling was ineffectual, his left-armer quick (Bollinger this time) was expensive and had poor body language - and Cook, Trott and then KP continued on their merry way. The lowpoint must have been when a decision to give Cook caught behind off Siddle was overturned by the third umpire. As Atherton remarked, that must have been enormously dispiriting for the hapless Aussies. With England effectively 834/3 since the start of their 2nd innings in Brisbane, Jeff Thomson's assertion that the current Australian attack is the worst for 30 years is looking truer by the day.

King Trott V

Trott continued to lord it over his favourite opponents - he averages over 100 against Australia - and made a lightning start to his innings today with a flurry of flicked and driven boundaries through the off-side.  Trott has developed a regal presence at the crease and now has the 5th highest average ever for those with more than 1000 test runs - see list of best Test averages here. And there were those that doubted he should bat at three.

Strauss's brain fade

What is it with Andrew Strauss and the third ball of the day? After his misjudgement in the 1st innings at Brisbane, he repeated the trick with a cherry on top to Doug Bollinger's third delivery this morning. Choosing to leave a ball that hits the top of the stumps was a massive error for a man who otherwise hasn't put a foot wrong since he landed on Australian soil. But at least it enabled him to put his feet up in the pavilion and enjoy a feast of batting.

Come back Nathan all is forgiven

It takes a lot to make Nathan Hauritz look good, but Xavier Doherty has managed to achieve that. The pitches at Brisbane and now Adelaide may have been good, but one gets the impression that the only way hewill take wickets is if the batsmen give it away. As Shane Warne has observed the Australian selectors are now in a bit of a pickle. Having made the decision to replace Hauritz before the series, should they now go back to him? Or should they opt for the rookie Steves - Smith or O'Keefe? Whatever they do, their selection policy has been irrefutably flawed and has smacked of panic - as evidenced by dispensing with Johnson and Hilfenhaus after Brisbane. Shades of England in the 1990's? 

Player of the day

For the third time in the series it is the relentless run machine Alastair Cook. The way he is going Wally Hammond's record for an Englishman of 905 runs in an Ashes series (see Adelaide Hero - Wally Hammond) is looking within reach. He is almost halfway there  with 438 runs after only three innings - and he can make further inroads tomorrow.

Zero of the day

After only three balls it looked like Strauss had this one sown up, but as the day unfolded the out of depth Xavier Doherty claimed an unassailable grip on this dubious honour. A spinner is supposed to give you control on a good pitch when the mercury is rising and going at over four runs an over is almost a dereliction of duty. The hapless Australian Selectors share the award for their ridiculous gamble on a bowler with a first-class average of 50.

What happens next?

We predicted before the match that Kevin Pietersen looked set for a big score and having waited for what must seem a week to bat his first test hundred in 17 long months looks within reach. He certainly looked back to his fluent best today. Cook could reach another milestone if he can replicate Hammond's back to back hundreds at Sydney (251) and Melbourne (200) in the aforementioned 1928/29 series. Another day of pain awaits Australia barring rain.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Day 1 at Adelaide disected: Australia capsizes to Jimmy  and Dear Jimmy...

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test: Adelaide - Preview: Can England make psychological blows count?

 
England's fightback at Brisbane was nothing short of astounding as they turned likely defeat into a psychologically advantageous draw. Like most England fans, we were thinking "here we go again", as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook just survived to the close on the end of the 3rd day still over 200 runs behind.

But we were wrong and the 'Gabbatoir' became Australia's slaughterhouse over the next two days as first Strauss and Cook, and then Cook and Trott wrote their way into the record books. How could we ever have doubted you, England?

If a scorecard of 517/1 gave England the edge at the Gabba, then the subsequent dropping of Australia's misfiring attack leader Mitchell Johnson is another psychological blow for Ricky Ponting and his men. Whilst Johnson's performance in Brisbane was dreadful, removing him from the team after one test suggests there is panic and uncertainty in the Australian camp.

Adelaide is likely to be another paradise for batsmen to fill their boots and for bowlers to toil and if Brisbane taught as anything, it is that both teams are going to struggle to take 20 wickets on good pitches. That said, Australia were unable to make scoreboard pressure count in England's second innings at The Gabba and it will be interesting to see what happens if the roles are reversed in Adelaide.

For Australia, Marcus North has taken Michael Hussey's stool in the last chance saloon and there are question marks as to whether Doug Bollinger and/or Ryan Harris will come in. Michael Clarke also looked out of sorts in Brisbane and Xavier Doherty probably has just this match left to show that he is a better bowler than a first-class average of 50 suggests.

England look in better shape. The top three scored hundreds in Brisbane and both Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell looked in fine fettle. England's seamers looked sharper than their Australian counterparts too - Peter Siddle apart - and James Anderson showed that he is a completely different bowler from four years ago. England's only real problem centres on Swann, who had a poor Test to bring back all the question marks over the effectiveness of off-spinners on Australian wickets.

Both teams will be looking to win the toss and post a big 1st innings score and then see if they can make scoreboard pressure count.

Likely line-ups

England are likely to be unchanged barring any late injuries, although there has been some mutterings that Ajmal Shahzad, whose ability to get reverse swing should suit the Adelaide wicket, may come in for Steve Finn.

For Australia, we know that there will be at least one change with Bollinger or Harris coming in for Johnson. Both may play if the selectors decide to leave Ben Hilfenhaus out too.

Look out for...

Kevin Pietersen looked better than he has for ages during his 43 at Brisbane and a big score cannot be that far away. He scored 158 in the last Adelaide Test and being fond of the limelight, he will be especially determined to steal away some of Cook's thunder. 

Marcus North has a habit of saving his skin just when you think he is a goner, so don't be surprised if he hits his sixth Test hundred - and his first in Australia.

The resumption of the war of words between Shane Watson and James Anderson, which threatened to boil over at times in Brisbane and which should continue to provide excellent theatre.

Previously at Adelaide

Australia have won 16 of 29 Tests against England at Adelaide, whilst the visitors have triumphed on eight occasions. Here is what happened in the last four, along with Adelaide's most famous Test of all:

2006 - Australia won by six wickets: The nadir of a dreadful series for England saw them start the final day 97 runs ahead with nine wickets left on a flat track before Shane Warne induced an almighty panic, leading to the most ignominious of defeats.

2002 - Australia won by an innings and 51: Despite a brilliant 177 from Michael Vaughan, England could only muster 342 batting first. A ruthless Australia responded with 552 for nine with Ponting hitting 154 and England then folded for 159 in their second innings.

1998 - Australia won by 205 runs: At 187/3, with Hussain and Ramprakash going well, England were looking good in response to Australia's 391, but then came the all-too familiar batting collapse as the last seven wickets fell for 40. Chasing an unlikely 443, England succumbed in their 2nd innings too - this time for 237 - and Australia had retained the Ashes again.

1995 - England won by 106 runs: England's last win in Adelaide was their only moment of joy in the 1994/95 series. Australia led by 66 on 1st innings, but a belligerent 88 off just 95 balls by Phil De Freitas enabled England to set the Aussies 263 to win. Devon Malcolm and Chris Lewis then took four wickets apiece as Australia could only make 156.

1933 - England won by 338 runs: The most infamous Test match ever? It nearly broke an Empire. With the series locked at 1-1, England slipped to 30 for four before recovering to 341. Then the real drama unfolded as first Woodfull and then Oldfield were felled by Larwood. Cables were exchanged between the ACB and MCC, mounted police kept a baying crowd from rioting and Jardine maintained his iron rule as England cantered to victory. 

Prediction:

It is difficult to see either side taking 20 wickets, so we go for a draw. However, if England win the toss and post a big first innings score, don't be surprised to see the Aussies collapse like at Lord's and The Oval in 2009.

Where next?

England's best Test performances of the noughties

Ten tips for The Ashes

Zeroes: Mitchell Johnson

The 25 Greatest Ashes Tests of them all: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

1st Test - Brisbane: Australia marks out of 10

Ricky Ponting cut a thoughtful figure after his powder-puff attack failed to get an English wicket on day five and the game petered out into a draw. Other than two Peter Siddle spells on day one and the occasional good ball from Ben Hilfenhaus, Australia's bowlers looked toothless. With Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris added to the squad for the Adelaide Test, changes could well be afoot.

Here's how the Aussies rated at Brisbane.

Shane Watson - 6: Good with the ball on the first morning but poor thereafter. Looked assured enough with the bat as England tested his propensity to get caught trapped in front. Acrimonious battle with Anderson was absorbing.

Simon Katich - 6: A solid fifty in the 1st innings before falling to Finn's brilliant return catch, but will head on to Adelaide with a sore foot and a cheap dismissal second time around against Broad on his mind.

Ricky Ponting - 5: Followed the ball too much in the field on days 4 and 5, although he must feel like a platoon leader whose men have no ammunition such is the paucity of his bowling options. Followed his leg-side dismissal in the 1st innings to come out with all guns firing in his second knock to show that at least he has some bullets of his own.

Michael Clarke - 2: A game to forget. Scratched around for a pretty desperate 9 from 50 balls after being erroneously reprieved before he had scored by the Review System and then dropped two catches.

Michael Hussey - 9: Showed real character to emerge from the last chance saloon with his place in the side intact. Rode his luck - especially against Anderson - but deserved his good fortune and could now choose his own moment to enjoy his test swansong. 

Marcus North - 4: The best spinner on display in the match, but failed with the day job once again. Will play at Adelaide, but will he stay be there come the end of the series?

Brad Haddin - 8.5: Not the best keeper - as evidenced when dropping Anderson to deny Siddle a 7th wicket, but a high quality batsman. We doubt he'll ever play a better or more restrained innings than he did here.

Mitchell Johnson - 0: No wickets. No runs. No catches. No points. Bowled absolute filth throughout and the comedy moustache just added to the joke - see Zeroes: Mitchell Johnson.

Xavier Doherty - 4: Not a pitch to make your debut on as a bowler. Bowled tidily enough but looked what he is - a spinner with a first-class average of over 50.

Peter Siddle - 8: A Jekyll and Hyde performance from Siddle. Was brilliant in the 1st innings as he took a hat-trick and six wickets on his birthday, but poor and expensive second time around.

Ben Hilfenhaus - 5: Looked unplayable in the first over of each innings - well that's how Strauss made it look anyway. But thereafter looked down on pace and was played with relative ease.

Where next?

1st Test - Brisbane: England marks out 10

All-time Australian Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin Kings

All-time England Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin King

The Boundary View: Records & filth at The Gabba - Brisbane, Day Five

 
Do you want to be a Record Breaker?

Records tumbled as Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott mercilessly ground Australia into the dust on day five at The Gabba. Cook's 235 not out is now the highest individual score in Gabba Tests beating Bradman's 226 against South Africa in 1931. The unbroken 329 stand is the highest for England in Australia and is also the highest for any wicket at The Gabba: beating Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin's effort on Saturday - doesn't that seem a long time ago now? Indeed it is only the second time that two 300+ run stands have occurred in the same test - the other was Pakistan vs India in Lahore in 2006. And Trott now has 300+ stands in successive tests following his 332 partnership with Stuart Broad against Pakistan at Lord's. Dedication indeed.

Can we play you every week?

The Barmy Army struck up this familiar refrain as the game edged towards the inevitable draw. Trott would probably concur having now hit two second innings hundreds in his two Ashes tests to date. And both have come at vital times - his 119 on debut helped England win the Oval decider in 2009 and unbeaten 135 today confirmed that England had saved the Test. Trott now averages 59 in Test cricket - we bet even he cannot believe that.

They couldn't catch a cold

If a particularly virulent form of Bird Flu had reached The Gabba in the last two days the Australian Cricket Team would have been immune as they couldn't seem to catch anything. We've never seen such a sloppy performance from an Australian side in the field. Yesterday, we saw Mitchell Johnson drop a sitter, with Peter Siddle and Michael Clarke spilling more difficult chances. Today, Clarke dropped one of the easiest slip chances you will ever see. Even the catch that stuck wasn't given when the third umpire ruled that there was too much doubt to give Cook out to catch that Ponting looked to have just got his fingers under.

Cook the usurper

Not only did Cook usurp Bradman to hit the highest ever Test score at The Gabba, but he also hit the highest individual score by an England batsman since his fellow Essex and England opener hit 333 against India in 1990. Indeed, it was the highest score by an England batsman against Australia since the late and great Ken Barrington scored 256 at Old Trafford in 1964. Cook's match aggregate of 302 runs means that he has now scored more runs in this game than he managed in the whole of the 2006/07 series when he hit just 276 runs.

What a difference four years makes

In 2006 at Adelaide, England were 97 runs ahead with nine wickets intact and still managed to lose. Here they were 88 runs ahead with nine wickets standing at the close last night but didn't even lose a wicket today. That said, the opposition didn't have Warne, McGrath or Lee this time either.

Australia's bowling in disarray

The pitch may have been like the runway at nearby Brisbane Airport, but Australia's bowling was horrendously impotent. Take away a couple of inspired spells from Siddle on the first day and what do you have? Not a lot. The only Australian bowler smiling will be Doug Bollinger, who surely must come in for the hopeless Johnson. Ponting certainly showed his frustration in the way he batted - hitting the ball as hard as he would probably like to hit Johnson et al after this showing.

Player of the day

Cook continued on his merry way to hit the giddy heights of 235 not out - the 6th highest individual score by an Englishman against Australia. So with all due respect to Trott, it's Cook for this accolade.

Zero of the day

Clarke ran him close for dropping such an easy chance, but for the second successive day it has to be Johnson. If anything he bowled even worse than yesterday with a terrible bouncer to Trott that went miles down the leg side for five wides being particularly damning - see also Zeroes: Mitchell Johnson.

Prospects for Adelaide

More of the same - can anyone see either of these sides taking 20 wickets on as good a batting surface as is likely to be encountered at the Adelaide Oval?

Where next?

The Empire Strikes Back - Brisbane, Day Four

The Hussey & Haddin Show - Brisbane, Day Three

Mr Cricket Thwarts England - Brisbane, Day Two

Siddle's Joy of Six - Brisbane, Day One

The Boundary View: The Empire Strikes Back - Brisbane, Day Four

 
Strauss goes from zero to hero

Andrew Strauss copped quite a bit of tap for his third ball dismissal in the first innings, so to bounce back today with a hundred - especially with his side behind the eight ball at the start of play - exemplified hisimmense mental strength and resilience. The luck was with him as evidenced by his narrow escape to the first ball of the innings and Mitchell Johnson's butter fingers, but like Michael Hussey yesterday, Strauss deserved his slices of good fortune. He became the seventh Englishman to follow a 1st innings duck with a 2nd innings Ashes hundred - following in the footsteps of Vaughan, Botham, Randall, Sheppard, Woolley and Tyldesley. The ultimate zero to hero story.

Cook's hard work pays dividends

For a man that was supposed to be the weak link in England's batting line-up, Alastair Cook has had a remarkable match. A watchful fifty in the 1st innings and now a workmanlike hundred in the second. Cook's technique looked all over the place in the English summer but time at the crease during the tour seems to have corrected most of these glitches and given Cook the requisite confidence. Perhaps the most notable beneficiary of England's approach to playing three warm-up matches prior to the series?

Better than Hobbs & Sutcliffe?

Strauss and Cook's ninth century opening stand in their 82nd test innings together took them past the Jack Hobbs-Herbert Sutcliffe union to become England's most prolific opening pair in Test cricket (see full list here). A fantastic achievement, yes. But, Hobbs and Sutcliffe - arguably the greatest opening partnership of them all - managed their 3249 runs in only 38 innings with 15 century stands and an average of 87.81 - over double that of Strauss and Cook. But given their highest opening partnership of the ill-fated 2006-07 series was 45, their 188 run stand today was quite brilliant.

Ponting's gun fires blanks

Even though the pitch suited the batters, Ricky Ponting must be worried about his misfiring attack. Johnson was hopeless and Ben Hilfenhaus has only really been dangerous in the first over of each innings. Xavier Doherty has bowled tidily but for the most part has been unthreatening and Shane Watson looked a part-time option at best. Even Peter Siddle has looked a shadow of the bowler he was in the 1st innings. With England toiling for 158 overs in Australia's 1st innings, it would seem that the attack that most quickly finds the ability to take 20 wickets in a match will win this series. 

Player of the Day

Alastair Cook - most of the attention will go to Strauss, but it was Cook that batted for the whole day and he now has just one run shy of 200 in both innings and has occupied the crease for over 10 hours in the match.

Zero of the day

Mitchell Johnson - for spraying the ball around like a sex-addicted rabbit on viagra and dropping an easy chance to reprieve Strauss. No wickets, a 19 ball duck, that drop and a comedy moustache - the joke is certainly on Johnson in this Test. Even Ponting seems to be losing the faith.

What happens next?

The draw seems the most likely result. But if England can push on, carve out a 300 run lead before tea and take a few wickets with the new ball, who knows? Just a note of caution for England fans though - in Adelaide in 2006 England were 97 runs ahead at the end of the fourth day and looked what happened then. 

Where next?

All-time Australian Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin Kings

All-time England Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin King

The Boundary View: The Hussey & Haddin Show - Brisbane, Day Three

The Boundary View: Mr Cricket Thwarts England - Brisbane, Day Two

The Boundary View: Siddle's Joy of Six - Brisbane, Day One

The Boundary View: Mr Cricket Thwarts England - Brisbane, Day Two

 
Balance tips to Australia as Hussey exits the Last Chance Saloon

We've written recently that Michael Hussey looked shot as a test batsman. Now that we've wiped the egg off our face - and in our defence he only averaged 34 in his previous 28 tests - we have to commend him on a courageous innings.  Make no mistake when Hussey came to the crease he was playing for his career and when an edge dropped just short of slip to the first ball he faced, the butterflies in his stomach must have been fluttering harder. But he made most of his good fortune and bravely attacked rather than going into his shell - hitting Swann for three boundaries and a six early in his innings and being especially quick onto the pull when the bowlers dropped short.  Hussey's positivity balanced well with an uncharacteristically patient innings from Brad Haddin as Australia recovered from a precarious 143/5 to close just 40 runs behind England's 260.

A good two days for the Australian selectors

Australia's selectors took a lot of flak when first naming a 17 man squad for this test and then for a number of contentious selections in the final XI. But Peter Siddle and Xavier Doherty repaid the faith of Chappell, Hilditch and co yesterday and Hussey did the same today. If Marcus North had done the same then the selectors would have had a full house, but three out of four isn't bad.

Swann attack

Australia's strategy against Graeme Swann is clear - they intend to attack him and hit him out of the attack. At first, the tactics were a success as the spinner's first four overs cost 34 runs. But Swann is nothing if not tough and even if it wasn't one of his better days he fought back well to have North caught at slip and concede just 25 runs from his next 16 overs. 

Resilient England

Swann's refusal to buckle was mirrored by that of his team mates. Previous England teams would have given up the ghost after being bowled out for 260 and then seeing Australia reach 78/0. But Strauss and Flower have created a culture of resilience and with all the seamers bowling well to restrict Australia to a run rate of less than three runs an over, England fought their way back into the match. Australia have the slight edge, but with a new ball available immediately tomorrow morning and his bowlers refreshed from a night's sleep, Strauss will be confident that they can bounce back again.

Anderson and Watson go toe to toe 

The battle in the first session of the day between Anderson and Watson was Test Cricket at its best with some real needle and genuine mutual animosity going on between the pair - indeed it seems clear that Watson is not popular amongst the England players: hmm we wonder why? At first the Australian held the upper hand and was batting well. He looked particularly smug when England's spurious referral to the third umpire for a leg before that was bouncing over was refused. But maybe it unsettled Watson as he edged the very next ball to Strauss at slip to give Anderson the last laugh this time. 

Finn's spectacular dive

Steve Finn's inability to stay on his feet has caused much amusement during his short test career. But he used it to good effect to take a sharp full length diving caught and bowled to dismiss Simon Katich. For once, it was Finn that was laughing as he got to his feet. It was a dive of which Cristiano Ronaldo himself would have been proud.

Player of the day

It has to be Hussey for his career saving innings, even if England were guilty of dropping it short to him too often.

Zero of the day

A close call between Ricky Ponting for getting caught down the leg side just after lunch and Michael Clarke for his strange innings of 9 from 50 balls. We go for Clarke.

What happens next?

Tomorrow is boiling up to be the crucial one in the match. If Australia can see-off the new ball then they should be able to carve out a potentially decisive 100-150 run lead. However, if England make early in-roads we are likely to be down to a one innings match.

Where next?

The Boundary View: Siddle's Joy of Six - Brisbane, Day One

Zeroes: Shane Watson

10 reasons to love Graeme Swann

The Boundary View: Siddle's Joy of Six - Brisbane, Day One

 

The joy of six for Siddle

As first days go, it wasn't quite akin to the new boy at school having his head shoved down the loo by the bigger kids - but it wasn't far off for England. And things had looked so promising just after tea with Alastair Cook and Ian Bell going well and Australia resorting to bowling outside off-stump in order to stem the flow of runs.  Enter Peter Siddle who celebrated his birthday and overwhelmingly justified his selection ahead of Doug Bollinger with only the eighth hat-trick in Ashes history. Siddle looked the most likely bowler all day and made England pay for the likes of Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Cook failing to push on to a big score after getting good starts - it was certainly nothing to do with the pitch, which makes Siddle's six wickets all the more impressive.

The opening shots of an all too familiar story

Steve Harmison's horror first ball of the 2006/07 series was memorable for all the wrong reasons, but with more focus than usual on the opening delivery of the match, Ben Hilfenhaus produced an instantly forgettable innocuous delivery that passed harmlessly past Andrew Strauss' off-stump. His third ball is the one that will be remembered though - not that it was a good one - with Strauss cutting a poor delivery straight to gully. By the end of the day, with Simon Katich hitting Graeme Swann's first two deliveries for four you could visibly see the confidence draining from England. What is it with England and starting Brisbane tests so badly?  

X-Factor or X-Rated?

Xavier Doherty's rapid rise from obscurity to Australia's test team has created a lot of interest - not least because of his first-class bowling average of 48. But he did well for someone on debut and bowled tidily getting turn, bounce and occasional drift as he went past the outside edge on more than one occasion. The battle with Pietersen was fascinating, with KP shading it this time. It's a shame for Australia that Doherty wasn't so steady in the field when failing to hold on at point when Cook was only 26. But in the end it didn't really matter and Doherty then did what a good spinner should by mopping up England's last two wickets. A promising start if not quite something for Simon Cowell to get excited about yet.

KP watch - a cure for dozing on the sofa

A Pietersen innings always borders on the frenetic rather than the calm and this one was no different as he looked to attack both seamers and Doherty alike. It certainly stopped us dozing off on the sofa and to our tired eyes KP looked in fine fettle. But with the ball going soft and the prospect of his first test hundred for an eon there for the taking, Pietersen drove lazily at a good one from Siddle. On this form however,  it can be only a matter of time before KP reaches three figures again.

Player of the day

Cook fought admirably for his 67 and Bell looked in imperious touch once again (maybe he should be moved up the order?), but there can be only one choice here. Siddle, playing his first test since January, was immense and made history. No doubt he will celebrate his six wickets and his 26th birthday with a glass or two of Bollinger (apologies to Dougie).

Zero of the day

It has to be Strauss. The captain who hadn't put a foot wrong all tour chose the most inopportune time to err. As his momentary delay on the crease showed, no-one will know more than Strauss that his dismissal handed the early initiative to the Australians.

What happens next?

For England and the match, hopefully a couple of early wickets - the bowlers could learn from Siddle who took all his wickets by bowling a full length. For Australia, they will be looking to consolidate, avoid the all-too familiar batting collapses that have haunted them of late and unlike England, the batsmen who get good starts will be looking to cash in. At the moment it is advantage Australia and England look up against it. 

Where next?

Other Ashes hat-tricks

Watch Darren Gough's hat-trick at Sydney in 1999

Australia's formidable record at the Gabba

Ashes 100-1: 7 - Should Australia go in with four quicks at the Gabba?

 
As we reach number seven in our 100 day Ashes countdown, Matthew Wood, the brains behind Balanced Sports urges Australia to think outside the box and consider a four pronged shape for their bowling unit.

By picking three spinners in a squad of seventeen, Australia has shown its hand: they’re going to play a tweaker in the first Ashes Test next week.  Hardly startling news, but it leaves the question: why not play four fast bowlers?  The ‘Gabba traditionally takes pace very well and there is a convincing argument that the best four bowlers in the country (perhaps even the best seven) are speedsters.

Of course there are plenty of very good arguments against fronting up with a four-pronged pace attack: a team needs variety, a team  needs a stock bowler unlikely to break down, the ‘Gabba was Shane Warne’s most preferred ground to bowl at outside the MCG … wasn’t it also one of the harbingers of the apocalypse?  In fact, the arguments for it are probably 90% convincing: There’s no question that a variety of arrows in the quiver of Ricky Ponting makes for a more balanced team and that Australia’s best four quicks are remarkably injury prone.  What’s curious is that no-one’s talking about it even as an option.  There are reasons as to why it isn’t a good idea so why not start looking for reasons as to why it has merit?

It comes down to only one reason.  The first involves the now-obligatory mention of the West Indian sides of the 1970s and 1980s.  The dominant Windies of that era played a pace quartet because it was their best way of taking twenty wickets whether they were at home, in Australia or in spin-friendly India.  Their best seven or eight bowlers were fast men, so they played the top four.  It was only when that top four included Cameron Cuffy and Kenny Benjamin that their reign ended – in order to work, this lineup needs four pacemen of absolute quality.

As Australia’s pace stocks appear healthy with at least six fast men of international quality, why not try it?  The best four would comprise Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle, giving you one swing bowler, two honest triers and Johnson’s loose cannon.  It may or may not work, but it is at least worth evaluating.

Most cricket boffins would probably opt for the variety that a spinner brings to an XI and that’s probably for the best.  For the four-pronged pace attack to work, the bowlers involved have to be a class above the spinners they keep out of the side and with Australia that probably isn’t the case.  Succinctly, the increase in class has to be more than the decrease in variation.  That said, the idea shouldn’t be forever consigned to the scrapheap as the Baggy Green continues its search for A-list bowlers.  Perhaps it’s time for Australia, suddenly spoiled for choice with speed-merchants, to at least consider the idea that they aren’t forced by law to play a spinner.

Ashes 100-1: 21 - Australia Ashes Squad Profiles

 
Yesterday we profiled the sixteen hungry men tasked with retaining the Ashes for England on Australian soil. Today, we look at their hosts who will be aiming to win their sixth successive home Ashes series:

Ricky Ponting – A fading force with the bat and a captain on the verge of becoming the first Australian skipper to lose three Ashes series. The next two months are likely to embellish or potentially curtail a fine career.

Michael Clarke – Was arguably the best batsman on either side in the 2009 series, but has looked out of sorts since his much publicised split with Lara Bingle. His press conferences are an unbeatable cure for insomniacs.

Shane Watson– Has proved an unlikely success as an opener - and as such is after Ponting, Australia’s key batsman - but is a walking LBW early on. Innocuous medium pace is more dangerous than it looks – just ask Pakistan’s batsmen.

Simon Katich – As difficult to dislodge as the most plucky of barnacles - until he reaches 80 or 90 that is. Not the prettiest to watch at the crease, which even the man himself acknowledged recently when he said that "I think more people get enjoyment out of watching me bowl than bat".

Michael Hussey – Only averages 34 in his last 28 tests and may be lucky to survive the series especially as Kamran Akmal will not be behind the stumps.

Marcus North – Just when you thought he was out for the count, North sprung back off the canvas (and not for the first time either) with a career saving hundred at Bangalore. That revival does not hide the fact though that North is another unlikely to last the series if Australia make a poor start.

Callum Ferguson – Has a “big chance” of making his test bow at Brisbane according to Tim Nielsen. But a first-class average in the mid-thirties will not have England quaking in their size nines.

Usman Khawaja – Immensely talented New South Wales batsman with a first-class average of 54 who could become the first Muslim to play cricket for Australia.

Phil Hughes – Tagged as the “new Bradman” when he exploded onto the test scene against South Africa in 2009 before being rapidly dispensed with. A first-class average of 60 suggests Hughes is better than his brief appearance in the 2009 series suggested.

Cameron White – Test career has been harmed by the fact that White is a blond Victorian who bowls a bit of leg-spin. An Australian middle-order with White at five would look a much tougher proposition for Strauss and co.

Brad Haddin – An exceptionally good number seven – albeit with a propensity for being over-reckless at times. Not so good with the gloves and his place must be under pressure from the impressive Paine.

Tim Paine – Impressed with bat and gloves in India and is clearly the long-term bet to cement a place in the test side. Will probably be Haddin’s understudy this time, however.

Nathan Hauritz – The nation that brought us Warne, O’Reilly and Grimmett now gives us the impotent Hauritz. In a contest between two evenly matched sides, the disparity between him and Swann could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

Steve Smith – If Australia choose to be adventurous, the young leggie could bat at seven ahead of four pacemen. But they won’t and Smith will start the series on the sidelines. A promising batsman, but significant work would appear to be needed on his bowling.

Xavier Doherty – A first-class average of 50 with the ball suggests his mention in dispatches is perhaps a ploy to wind up that habitual victim of slow-left armers – Kevin Pietersen. If he plays in the series, despite his impressive ODI bow yesterday, we will eat our collection of Wisdens.

Mitchell Johnson – His waywardness may make Harmison look metronomic in comparison, but he has an uncanny ability to take wickets with bad balls and is a different proposition on home pitches. England will underestimate Mummy’s Boy at their peril.

Ben Hilfenhaus – The best bowler on show on either side in the 2009 series is to some extent unproven on Australian wickets at the highest level having only played one of his 13 tests at home. That said, is a good bet to be the leading wicket taker in the series.

Doug Bollinger – The children’s TV lookalike (see Doug Bollinger's moonlighting again) is not as brave as Australian quicks of previous vintageif his absence from the final stages of the Mohali Test is anything to go by. Will test Strauss’ perceived weakness against left-arm new ball bowlers.

Peter Siddle – The man with the white lipstick is a solid if unspectacular performer and his recent injury problems mean he is likely to start the series on the sidelines.

Ryan Harris – A rag to riches tale has seen the late-blooming Harris emerge as an international bowler in the last 12 months. Another with recent injury worries.

Peter George – Innocuous on debut at Bangalore, but his height and natural bounce will be clearly more suited to home wickets should injuries give him an opportunity.

Tim Nielsen (Coach): The man who drew the short straw when taking over from Buchanan. His task of returning his charges to former glories looks a tougher one each day.

Where next?

Check out our full Ashes 100-1 countdown

England fly down under with hopes high

What can England learn from Australia's Indian woes?

 

Ashes 100-1: 23 - What does Australia's T20 defeat to Sri Lanka say about their quality?

Matthew Wood, who also writes at Balanced Sports, reacts to Australia’s T20 defeat by Sri Lanka and considers the bigger picture.

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It goes from bad to worse for Michael Clarke and the Australian one-day unit.  Their performance on the weekend against a good-but-far-from great Sri Lanka outfit offers further proof that the time is ripe for change at the top of Australian cricket.

The Australian team, to be blunt, has gotten too used to winning.  That sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it?  But perhaps not.  Because winning can promote complacency and winning absolutely promotes a fear of change.  How often have you heard the idiom “You don’t change a winning team”?  How often have you heard of sports players who have lucky rituals: goalkeepers touching each bar of their goal frame, an AFL player’s lucky underpants, a cricketer who had to have his bat taped to the ceiling to succeed in an innings?  (In case you’re wondering, those specific examples were Man City’s Shay Given, former Geelong forward Paul Brown and former South Africa batsman Neil McKenzie).

That Australia has gotten too used to winning is a bad thing when really they aren’t a good cricket side.  Only the most cursory of examinations reveals that the current Australian squad – in all forms of the game – lacks a game-breaking bowler and batsmanship of any technique.  The flaws that have plagued Ricky Ponting are still there and Michael Clarke has gone the way of Steve Waugh – paring elements from his game one by one until only the bare minimum still remains.

But still Australia has succeeded.  Perhaps swayed by their 2-1 series win in South Africa, Mitchell Johnson’s misfires are persisted with yet he’s shown no aptitude for thinking a batsman out.  That he hasn’t been able to reproduce that form ever since doesn’t necessarily prove that series a fluke, but it does cast serious doubts over his ability to be a consistent strike man.  The other fast men during that series, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle are honest but probably limited.

Their wins over the past three years don’t smack of an Australian side rebuilding but of a team trying to achieve short-term goals, much like the English side during the 1990s.  In fact, the parallels are so obvious it’s scary.  An ageing batting lineup and bowlers who tend to enter the scene with a bang but then don’t produce consistently conjures memories of Mike Gatting and Dominic Cork holding up the England middle order.  A squad made up this means means you will always win occasional matches, perhaps enough even to think that all is developing at a fair pace.  If those bowlers don’t develop however, the team risks a lack of development and this suggests a lack of any plan for the redevelopment of a nation’s cricket hopes.

(If you’re doubting the comparison of 2010 Australia to 1993 England, take a look at the following batting lineups, man-to-man:  Gooch/Katich, Atherton/Watson, R. Smith/Ponting, Maynard/North, Stewart/Clarke, Thorpe/Hussey.  Notice the similarities?  I thought so.)

Australia’s recent occasional wins – in South Africa, in last year’s Ashes, against poorer opposition – have papered over the cracks to such an extent that we’ve fooled ourselves into thinking that we are gradually rebuilding with a plan.  That’s just not true – we’re trying to build a team on the fly and that doesn’t work.  In order to build anything worthwhile, there must be some pain – just ask anyone who’s refurbished a house.  Though they cost more, the long-term decisions bring the most benefit – wallpaper can hide cracks in a foundation for a while, but the inevitably those foundation flaws devalue whatever it is you’re trying to construct.   Anything the Australian selectors build with just next year in mind is just flock wallpaper – irritating, ineffectual and saying something about the brains behind the operation.

Ashes 100-1: 28 - How did the spot-fixing controversy affect Australia's & England's Ashes preparations

 
The Ashes start four weeks today in Brisbane, but how much have Australia's and England's preparation for the big event been affected by the spot-fixing controversy? David Siddall of World Cricket Watch takes a look...

The spot fixing controversy in the lead up to this year’s Ashes is likely to have had a significant impact on both the Australian and English camp. England had to play one of the most stressful and most peculiar series ever. Australia, on the other hand, faced Pakistan twice in the year and the expose of the scandal brought up fresh questions surrounding the Sydney test in which Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle’s heroics were somewhat overshadowed by the dismal dropped catches by a certain Kamran Akmal.

In a case like this it is very easy to simply attach blame to Pakistani cricket and disregard a more holistic approach. But nevertheless it is a fruitful exercise to examine its potential effects on the game of cricket as a whole. That is exactly what happened in this insightful Australian documentary on the ABC’s Four Corners program. In a Fix aired on October 25th is required viewing for every passionate cricket fan out there.

Thanks to the good guys at the ABC they’ve put the documentary online with no location restrictions so that every cricket fan can watch. With that in mind we’d really love to hear your feedback on the whole saga and the potential remedies for addressing such horrible events.

You Can Watch “In a Fix” By Clicking this Link

Go the top left and click play.

Is Watson and Hauritz success an elaborate conspiracy?

Quite inexplicably the two stars of the recent Australian test series wins over Pakistan and West Indies have been the much derided Shane Watson and Nathan Hauritz.

Yes the same Watson who seems to always look on the verge of crying and whose injury woes make Freddie Flintoff's look miniscule in comparison. And yes the same Watson who everyone laughed at when he was drafted in as an opener in England in the summer.

And as for Hauritz, this is the same spinner who has provoked much hilarity even amongst Australian cricket fans.

On the surface they seem to have done extremely well. In six tests their stats are as follows: Watson has scored 609 runs at 60.9 and taken 13 wickets at 25.84, whilst Hauritz has taken 29 wickets at 26.82 and scored 200 runs at 33.33.

So maybe everyone except Andrew Hilditch was wrong and the two are worthy successors to Hayden and Warne. 

Or maybe not. What if the duo's success is some elaborate conspiracy dreamed up by the ECB in order that they are retained in the Australian team for the Ashes in November? There seem to be a few clues that suggest this outlandish plan could have been executed. 

Suspicion has been aroused in Hauritz's case by the illuminating comments of Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf, which seem to hint at a wider conspiracy.Yousuf speaking of his side said ""We give 18 wickets to Hauritz..."

And there has to be some other explanation for the fact that Watson has managed to take 13 wickets with some of the most innocuous two-paced bowling ever seen in test cricket.

Also, what if Watson's comical attempts to reach his maiden ton have other connotations? That despite the West Indian and Pakistani bowlers effectively allowing him to get a hundred was only spoiled by the fact that the bozo kept finding ways to get himself out? Even the one time he got to the magical three figures involved being dropped by the incompetent Abdur Rauf on 99.

It would also explain the fact that a significant proportion of the Allen Stanford cash seems to have disappeared from the ECB vaults.

As the evidence beomes more conclusive, it should be expected that the two unlikely heroes will continue their good form on the forthcoming tour to New Zealand and also when they play Pakistan again in England in the summer.

Maybe the ECB can stretch to making Marcus North and Peter Siddle look good too. Then the Ashes would all but be retained!