WHAT WENT WRONG?
Top-order turmoil
You can't be 3 for 2 on the first morning in one Test, and be all out for 98 batting first in another, and expect to win the Ashes. Yes, the conditions were a bit tough, yes England bowled exceptionally well, but that's the challenge of Test cricket. Australia's top-order failure against quality new-ball bowling set the standard for the rest of the team - and what a disappointing standard it was. Too many times men who should know better felt outside off stump and edged behind the wicket; at the MCG all ten first-innings wickets fell to catches behind the stumps.
You can't be 3 for 2 on the first morning in one Test, and be all out for 98 batting first in another, and expect to win the Ashes. Yes, the conditions were a bit tough, yes England bowled exceptionally well, but that's the challenge of Test cricket. Australia's top-order failure against quality new-ball bowling set the standard for the rest of the team - and what a disappointing standard it was. Too many times men who should know better felt outside off stump and edged behind the wicket; at the MCG all ten first-innings wickets fell to catches behind the stumps.
Leadership lapses
This is the biggest series in Australian cricket and the captain and vice-captain had to stand up - just look at England, led by Andrew Strauss (247 runs at 41.16) and Alastair Cook (577 at 115.40). For Australia, Ricky Ponting has made 113 runs at 16.14 and Michael Clarke has managed only 148 at 21.14. Ponting has been jumpy and has never looked like making a big score; Clarke has got bogged down a couple of times and apart from a second-innings 80 that failed to save the Adelaide Test, hasn't made a major contribution. It's nowhere near enough from the team's leaders and No.3 and 4 batsmen.
This is the biggest series in Australian cricket and the captain and vice-captain had to stand up - just look at England, led by Andrew Strauss (247 runs at 41.16) and Alastair Cook (577 at 115.40). For Australia, Ricky Ponting has made 113 runs at 16.14 and Michael Clarke has managed only 148 at 21.14. Ponting has been jumpy and has never looked like making a big score; Clarke has got bogged down a couple of times and apart from a second-innings 80 that failed to save the Adelaide Test, hasn't made a major contribution. It's nowhere near enough from the team's leaders and No.3 and 4 batsmen.
Filling the spin bin
After two years of grooming Nathan Hauritz, who has performed solidly in Tests, the selectors dumped him on the eve of the biggest series. Suddenly, Xavier Doherty was the surprise slow man expected to help Australia regain the urn. Two Tests later, Doherty had three wickets at 102, and the selectors went for the even stranger choice of Michael Beer, except that he didn't get to play in Perth or Melbourne, where Steven Smith didn't take a wicket in 18 overs.
After two years of grooming Nathan Hauritz, who has performed solidly in Tests, the selectors dumped him on the eve of the biggest series. Suddenly, Xavier Doherty was the surprise slow man expected to help Australia regain the urn. Two Tests later, Doherty had three wickets at 102, and the selectors went for the even stranger choice of Michael Beer, except that he didn't get to play in Perth or Melbourne, where Steven Smith didn't take a wicket in 18 overs.
No pressure, no pleasure
One of the side-effects of poor batting is that bowlers feel under the pump. Wickets are so desperately required that plans can be forgotten and every delivery is meant to be a wicket-taker. That's the trap Australia's attack fell into at times, especially in Adelaide, where Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Doherty all went at more than four an over. Andrew Strauss said after the MCG Test that he rarely felt stifled by Australia's attack, as he had in 2006-07. The batting was Australia's bigger worry, but that the bowlers took only 16 wickets in the first two Tests was a damaging byproduct.
One of the side-effects of poor batting is that bowlers feel under the pump. Wickets are so desperately required that plans can be forgotten and every delivery is meant to be a wicket-taker. That's the trap Australia's attack fell into at times, especially in Adelaide, where Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle and Doherty all went at more than four an over. Andrew Strauss said after the MCG Test that he rarely felt stifled by Australia's attack, as he had in 2006-07. The batting was Australia's bigger worry, but that the bowlers took only 16 wickets in the first two Tests was a damaging byproduct.
Ready? Set? No
England arrived four weeks before the first Test, and played three first-class matches to acclimatise and get their men in form. When England landed in Perth, Australia had only just got home from India and were about to start a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. Eight of the 11 men who lined up for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba took part in the one-dayers, while England were honing their form in the longer-format. And Australia's mistakes stretched back further; Doug Bollinger arrived in India on the eve of the first Test in October having warmed up with nothing but Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa, and promptly injured himself in the Test and hampered his Ashes preparation.
England arrived four weeks before the first Test, and played three first-class matches to acclimatise and get their men in form. When England landed in Perth, Australia had only just got home from India and were about to start a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. Eight of the 11 men who lined up for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba took part in the one-dayers, while England were honing their form in the longer-format. And Australia's mistakes stretched back further; Doug Bollinger arrived in India on the eve of the first Test in October having warmed up with nothing but Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa, and promptly injured himself in the Test and hampered his Ashes preparation.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Learn how to leave
Quality swing bowling will undo batsmen all over the world, but there are ways to minimise the risk. Australia's top-order men need to learn how to leave the ball more often, as did Cook, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen during their big centuries. Feeling outside off stump when the ball is moving is a recipe for disaster. Justin Langer is the batting coach and he has much work to do.
Quality swing bowling will undo batsmen all over the world, but there are ways to minimise the risk. Australia's top-order men need to learn how to leave the ball more often, as did Cook, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen during their big centuries. Feeling outside off stump when the ball is moving is a recipe for disaster. Justin Langer is the batting coach and he has much work to do.
Push Ponting down the order
Ricky Ponting has decisions to make. Does he play on or retire? If he plays on, does he give up the captaincy? Does he move down the order? For the sake of Australia's batting, that last question must be addressed if Ponting does stay in the team. At 36, he is no longer the force he once was, but he would still be a worry for opposition teams if he strolled out to the crease at No. 5 or No. 6, when the ball is moving less. Usman Khawaja is a player of the future and could be groomed at No. 3, or one of the trio of openers - Shane Watson, Simon Katich or Phillip Hughes - could do the job in the short-term while a longer-term solution is found.
Ricky Ponting has decisions to make. Does he play on or retire? If he plays on, does he give up the captaincy? Does he move down the order? For the sake of Australia's batting, that last question must be addressed if Ponting does stay in the team. At 36, he is no longer the force he once was, but he would still be a worry for opposition teams if he strolled out to the crease at No. 5 or No. 6, when the ball is moving less. Usman Khawaja is a player of the future and could be groomed at No. 3, or one of the trio of openers - Shane Watson, Simon Katich or Phillip Hughes - could do the job in the short-term while a longer-term solution is found.
Trust Hauritz
Hauritz might not have been a matchwinner had he played in the Ashes, but he could have tied down an end while the fast men attacked at the other. His record of 63 Test wickets at 34.98 is solid, and a disappointing tour of India, where even Shane Warne struggled over the years, should not have been held against him. The selectors seem to have decided that they want someone who turns the ball away from the right-handers, but Doherty was not the answer, Smith is not ready as a Test bowler and Beer is unlikely to be the magic solution. Until a better slow man comes through the ranks of state cricket, Hauritz remains Australia's most sensible spin option.
Hauritz might not have been a matchwinner had he played in the Ashes, but he could have tied down an end while the fast men attacked at the other. His record of 63 Test wickets at 34.98 is solid, and a disappointing tour of India, where even Shane Warne struggled over the years, should not have been held against him. The selectors seem to have decided that they want someone who turns the ball away from the right-handers, but Doherty was not the answer, Smith is not ready as a Test bowler and Beer is unlikely to be the magic solution. Until a better slow man comes through the ranks of state cricket, Hauritz remains Australia's most sensible spin option.
Plan for pressure
Twice this year, Australia have been bowled out on the first day of a Test for under 100. The bowlers should prepare for the fact that such collapses might happen again, and if they do, it will be up to them to rescue the side. That means always bowling to their plans, choking the runs and forcing mistakes from the batsmen with prolonged dry periods. Keep the opposition to a lead of 100-150 and it's game on; let them get 300 in front and it's game over.
Twice this year, Australia have been bowled out on the first day of a Test for under 100. The bowlers should prepare for the fact that such collapses might happen again, and if they do, it will be up to them to rescue the side. That means always bowling to their plans, choking the runs and forcing mistakes from the batsmen with prolonged dry periods. Keep the opposition to a lead of 100-150 and it's game on; let them get 300 in front and it's game over.
Ease the squeeze
Ponting has repeatedly said there was nothing that could be done about the schedule, which is locked in well in advance. But somebody, somewhere inside Cricket Australia makes these decisions, and having a Test and ODI tour of India, then one-dayers against Sri Lanka, followed by a rushed preparation for the Ashes, was a poor choice. In future, a big series like the Ashes needs to be treated with more respect, and that means focusing solely on that first Test at least a month in advance.
Ponting has repeatedly said there was nothing that could be done about the schedule, which is locked in well in advance. But somebody, somewhere inside Cricket Australia makes these decisions, and having a Test and ODI tour of India, then one-dayers against Sri Lanka, followed by a rushed preparation for the Ashes, was a poor choice. In future, a big series like the Ashes needs to be treated with more respect, and that means focusing solely on that first Test at least a month in advance.
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