When the
Aussies amass 649-7 and then dismiss the opposition for 180, it’s a pretty
conclusive result. I commented a few weeks ago that there wasn’t a huge
difference between the teams but those words look woefully misjudged today!
Steve Smith’s run glut obviously caught the eye but his four-man attack of
Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and indefatigable spinner Nathan Lyon each captured
more than 20 wickets. England managed to take only 58 in the whole series.
Both Marsh
brothers reached three figures at the SCG while Cook, Bairstow and Malan were
England’s only centurions of the series amidst generally pitifully low scoring.
Anderson was the only English bowler to average under 35 and also led the
wicket table on 17. Moeen Ali, Jake Ball and young Mason Crane each ended with
bowling averages in three figures, and the Hampshire leggie was considered to
have bowled well! Never mind; 25 years ago, Shane Warne was tonked on his
debut, too, and I believe he went on to have quite a useful Test career.
So, in terms
of Test cricket, what can Bayliss, Strauss and Root do to stop the rot? First of
all – and this might seem perverse - they should forget the Ashes debacle Down
Under. 4-0 looks – and was – humiliating but I don’t think any country would
have beaten the Aussies this winter. England won at home last time and will
probably do the same in 2019, with the likes of Anderson (if fit), Broad, Overton,
Roland-Jones and Porter leading the attack.
Short-term,
there are Tests to play in New Zealand. Conditions there will be more conducive
to Root’s less pacey but perhaps more skilful seam and swing merchants, and the
Black Caps don’t have Steve Smith in their line-up. I suggest that England don’t
make wholesale changes. Give Ball, Crane and Overton another go but not sure
about Tom Curran. He was only picked because of his Surrey connections anyway;
certainly not on 2017 county form.
In addition
to Moeen, James Vince was perhaps the most disappointing. His one-day batting
seems to have matured as his first-class performances have declined. He wasn’t a
complete disaster. After all, had Alastair Cook not produced that Melbourne
masterclass, his series average would also have loitered in the low 20s at
best. Malan and Stoneman must stay, but perhaps Ballance could have another
chance to walk to the middle holding a bat instead of drinks tray.
At least
England can say they pushed the Aussies into a fifth day every time, a modern
rarity. The same can’t be said for India in Cape Town. Kohli’s world leaders
played their part but, in the event, they were undone by South Africa’s fast
bowlers, led by Vernon Philander. Only 760 runs were scored, not many more than
Smith et al compiled in their single Sydney innings. However, unless you held
unused tickets for the fifth day, it made for a good contest. Kohli’s men must
be strangers to defeat but, on foreign soil, South Africa will surely look to
reduce the ranking points difference between the two nations. AB de Villiers
and Dale Steyn are back, and that can only be good for cricket, too.
