These are dark days for the Australian cricket team. Since comprehensively beating Pakistan at Lord’s in July, Australia have lost their last six international matches – the Headingley test to Pakistan, two tests and one ODI in India and now a Twenty 20 and ODI to Sri Lanka on home turf.
If the amazing turnaround at Melbourne yesterday is anything to go by, the malaise is in danger of becoming a cancer. Australia has lost its ruthless streak. That can be the only conclusion following the record ninth wicket partnership of 132 in 18 overs between Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga, which saw Sri Lanka recover from 107 for eight to win.
Coming so soon after a similarly spectacular ninth wicket partnership between VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma enabled India to beat Australia in the Mohali test, it is clear that Australia has lost the art of winning. Michael Clarke, whose captaincy yesterday did not auger well for when he finally takes over from Ricky Ponting as the official captain, summed it up perfectly when he reflected “I don’t know how we lost that game. We can’t seem to turn the corner at the moment."
Australia now only have two further ODIs with a buoyant Sri Lanka to come before the Ashes starts on 25th November. Even when you take into account all the things in Australia’s favour – home pitches, home crowds, the kookaburra and the inexperience of England’s bowlers of Australian conditions – England are starting to look like strong favourites.
Andrew Strauss’ men kick off their tour in earnest with a three day game against Western Australia, which starts on Saturday. Strauss and coach Andy Flower will know that an impressive performance will give them vital early momentum and further undermine the fragile confidence of the Australians. Whilst England are settled, confident and resilient, Australia have a batting line-up out of form and prone to collapse, have no spinner to speak of – despite Xavier Doherty’s impressive debut at Melbourne he has a first-class bowling average of 50 - and question marks over the fitness of a number of its seamers.
So, whisper it quietly, but this is England’s best opportunity of winning an Ashes series down under for an eon. Indeed, one probably has to go back to 1978/79 when England were such hot favourites - and that eventual 5-1 win was secured against an Australian side heavily weakened by the defection of its best players to World Series Cricket.
However, before we all get carried away - like Michael Vaughan who this week hilariously described the Ashes as a warm up before England host India next summer - a word of caution is necessary. In 1958-59, Peter May’s England side were also heavily backed to beat an Australian side that they had beaten in the three previous series stretching back to 1953. But, amidst claims of throwing against some of the home bowlers, Richie Benaud and Alan Davidson came of age and England were outplayed and routed 4-0.
As Kevin Pietersen ineloquently put it earlier this week “They (Australia) are a wounded animal at the moment and, when animals are wounded, they can turn into fearsome predators.”
True. Australia won’t go down without a fight, but England have their best opportunity for a generation. Roll on November 25th.
Where next?
England Ashes Squad: Player Profiles
Australia Ashes Squad: Player Profiles
Read Kevin Pietersen's Ashes Diary exclusively here at The Reverse Sweep
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