The
final day collapse and consequent drubbing should not come as a complete surprise.
At Headingley thirty years ago, the Aussies arrived without a strong reputation,
yet bowled out David Gower’s men on the last day for a 211-run victory which
laid the foundation not only for a series win but also a whole decade of world
domination. Two years ago in Brisbane, the then-captain Steve Smith scored 141
not out in the first innings en route to a ten-wicket victory. Six months later
he was cast into the wilderness for his role in the sandpaper controversy in
Cape Town, the last time he played first-class cricket until this week.
At
112-8 last Thursday, Australia looked dead and buried. However, despite the
chorus of boos and predictable beer-fuelled taunts with sandpaper and
Smith-in-tears masks, the restored Smith was resolute. Peter Siddle and Nathan
Lyon kept him company through the afternoon as their side more than doubled
their score. Until he was bowled by Broad, Smith had demonstrated the art of a
Test batsman to perfection. And yet 284 all out was hardly a match-winning
score.
At
stumps on day two, it was Rory Burns soaking up the adulation and some
well-meaning handshakes from the opposition after his battling maiden Test century.
Even on Saturday evening, England were still on top but Sunday was no day of
rest for England’s fielders. They were run ragged by Steve Smith (again),
fellow centurion Matthew Wade and then James Pattinson’s six-hit salvo. The
final day saw England echo Australia’s woes on the first but this time there
was no Steve Smith to salvage the situation. Roy, Denly, Buttler and Bairstow
are hardly the types to knuckle down, and Nathan Lyon was extracting formidable
turn from the pitch. Cummins’ short-pitched deliveries did the rest. Game over.
Love
him or loathe him, you have to admire Steve Smith. His batting style looked more
unorthodox than ever but he played superbly, punching cover drives to pile on
the runs or shuffle outside off stump to frustrate Ben Stokes with a nudge
behind square. In one of those freaky statistics I love about cricket, Smith
became the first man in Test history to be dismissed twice in the 140s. Yes,
England were a bowler light after Jimmy Anderson’s early breakdown but even
with a fully-fit Anderson or Jofra Archer firing them in, I’m not sure the
outcome would have been any different.
It
was an extraordinary Test match. I doubt that Tim Paine’s side will emulate Allan
Border’s Class of ‘89 nor that England will resort to picking four different
captains as they did that year. However, as with Steve Waugh three decades ago,
the home nation has to work out how to dismiss Steve Smith, and hope that
Warner, Khawaja and co don’t also find their form. Otherwise it could be a long
hot summer and the World Cup fever will feel like a distant memory.
