Revisionism
Big word that... Not entirely sure what it means.
Still, the Australians would have had us believe that the momentum was with them after they'd managed to save the last Test. Did they really believe it? Could they? It would have taken a leap of faith, one which Flanders Buchanan may have been able to make, but I'm not convinced that the rest of the team were able to.
In fact (and here comes the revisionist bit), I'm now wondering whether England's failure to win the last test wasn't actually a good thing. Okey dokeley? Well, maybe not a good thing, but not such a bad thing anyway, because if England had won, they would have been 2-1 up, but the Australians would have been stung and would have come out fighting at Trent Bridge. As it is, they were able (just about) to dismiss Old Trafford as an aberration, to convince themselves that the situation wasn't too serious, and crucially, to allow themselves to think that if the series scoreline remains as it is, then they would end up retaining the Ashes. They stuck with four bowlers. They were very quick to go on the defensive in England's first innings. Yesterday, the field was spread for Flintoff and Jones almost from the off. No pressure was applied, when one wicket then would have meant that they were on top. It was as if the Australians were already playing for a draw.
Still, I doubt whether this defensive mentality had anything to do with Australia's top order being blown away, once again. England's bowling attack has become pretty special. Simon Jones has developed control to compliment his swing, and Hoggard, in conditions which suited him, finally, backed himself, stepped up to the plate, held his hand up and came to the party (still on a plate, arm raised, moonwalking). The Australian lower order are going to have to bat pretty well to get out of this one. Here's hoping that they're blown away this morning, England enforce the follow on and wrap it up by the end of the day. The one thing England have lacked so far is the killer instinct. Oddly, this may have worked in their favour up until this point, but now it's time to put the boot in.
Still, the Australians would have had us believe that the momentum was with them after they'd managed to save the last Test. Did they really believe it? Could they? It would have taken a leap of faith, one which Flanders Buchanan may have been able to make, but I'm not convinced that the rest of the team were able to.
In fact (and here comes the revisionist bit), I'm now wondering whether England's failure to win the last test wasn't actually a good thing. Okey dokeley? Well, maybe not a good thing, but not such a bad thing anyway, because if England had won, they would have been 2-1 up, but the Australians would have been stung and would have come out fighting at Trent Bridge. As it is, they were able (just about) to dismiss Old Trafford as an aberration, to convince themselves that the situation wasn't too serious, and crucially, to allow themselves to think that if the series scoreline remains as it is, then they would end up retaining the Ashes. They stuck with four bowlers. They were very quick to go on the defensive in England's first innings. Yesterday, the field was spread for Flintoff and Jones almost from the off. No pressure was applied, when one wicket then would have meant that they were on top. It was as if the Australians were already playing for a draw.
Still, I doubt whether this defensive mentality had anything to do with Australia's top order being blown away, once again. England's bowling attack has become pretty special. Simon Jones has developed control to compliment his swing, and Hoggard, in conditions which suited him, finally, backed himself, stepped up to the plate, held his hand up and came to the party (still on a plate, arm raised, moonwalking). The Australian lower order are going to have to bat pretty well to get out of this one. Here's hoping that they're blown away this morning, England enforce the follow on and wrap it up by the end of the day. The one thing England have lacked so far is the killer instinct. Oddly, this may have worked in their favour up until this point, but now it's time to put the boot in.
posted by djbrd at 9:28 am
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