Confident and flying – Australia take an ominous 2-0 lead
The Ashes series, 2017/18 – Second Test at The Adelaide Oval, Australia – Australia 402-8 dec, & 138, England 227 & 223: Australia win by 120 runs
Australia turned the screw massively on England in this Ashes series with a convincing win in the second Test. It wasn’t pretty – unless you’re Australian. Rather worryingly, England Head Coach Trevor Bayliss is already talking about taking the positives out of the situation – always a concern to hear that one trotted out, especially when he’ll need to look pretty hard to find any.
Dear me, where to start? Joe Root won the toss and elected to field. That could have been seen as a questionable decision in itself. The wicket looked good and true, and once again Australia had a batsman who made the most of it and scored heavily. Shaun Marsh hit a superb 126 not out, England’s bowlers toiled, and Aussie skipper Steve Smith declared their first innings on 442 for 8.
England’s bowling was not particularly impressive, although debutant Craig Overton looked confident and unfazed in his first Test, finishing with 3 wickets, albeit at a cost of 105 runs. England’s bowlers seemed reluctant to pitch the ball full enough to pose any serious questions of the Australian batsmen.
There was plenty of chirp and chat as usual, and things got rather heated at times – England skipper Joe Root jabbing his bat in the direction of Australia’s Tim Paine on one occasion, whilst a frank exchange of views was in full swing.
With 400-plus on the board, it already looked tough for England, The Australian batsmen had shown everyone how good the wicket was – could England’s batsmen apply themselves similarly? In a word – no, unfortunately.
England were swiftly reduced to 142 for 7 before a fightback began. The Aussie fast bowlers were at it and up for it – they were flying in and relishing bowling at this fragile group in front of them. When the quicks weren’t bossing England, spinner Nathan Lyon was.
Thankfully, Chris Woakes and Craig Overton dug in and proved far more resilient and focused than those higher up the order. They dragged England to 227 all out, with Overton hitting a very creditable 41 not out, and Woakes a precious 36. James Vince and Joe Root competed for who could lose their wicket to the worst shot at the worst time, and the prize was probably Vince’s – just.
It was shoddy batting – playing shots that didn’t need to be played, reeking of nerves and a disturbing lack of confidence. The fact that Overton was England’s top scorer says it all.
Steve Smith, surprisingly, chose not to enforce the follow on. Perhaps he felt the Australian foot, which was firmly now on England’s throat, wasn’t ready to be pushed down just yet.
In fact, England then rallied under the night conditions and were swinging the pink Kookaburra ball with regularity – they clearly felt more at home in these conditions and bowled impressively, skittling Australia out for 138. James Anderson was in his element, finishing with 5 wickets for 43 runs, with Woakes supporting him well with 4-36. We suddenly had a game on.
England made it to 174 for 4 by the close of play on the 4th day, leaving them with a target of scoring 178 on the final day to win – or for Australia to take 6 wickets and do the same. It felt an improbable target for England, they’d never managed such a run-chase in their history, but their batting in the second innings had been far better than their first up to this point, and it set up an enthralling final-day scenario.
However, virtually as soon as play started, it was clear this would be no glorious run chase from England.
With just the second ball of the day, Josh Hazlewood had Chris Woakes caught behind by Tim Paine. Just the start England didn’t want. Fifteen balls later, Hazlewood and Paine completed a similar dismissal of Joe Root – a terminal blow from which England’s innings never recovered. Root hadn’t added a single run to his overnight 67.
And so the wickets tumbled, none of the remaining batsmen looking remotely like sticking around long enough to make a contribution. From 174 for 4, to 233 all out – ouch. Mitchell Starc enjoyed himself immensely with the ball, taking five wickets for 88 runs – he polished off the tail in style, requiring only 14 deliveries with the second new ball to take the last three wickets for just 13 runs.
The final wicket would have gladdened every Australian heart. Jonny Bairstow chopped a fizzing delivery from Starc into his stumps, sending middle flying and the bails to the skies like rockets. England had, frankly, been blown away – just like Bairstow’s stumps.
Australia won by 120 runs, and as you would expect, they celebrated lustily. Two Tests played, two victories to Australia. It’s sad to say it, but England already look like they’ve running out of ideas, and their confidence is very brittle.
Unfortunately, several factors look to be against England at present. In the first two tests, Australia had a batsman who’s made a strong, convincing hundred – Steve Smith’s 141 in Brisbane and now Shaun Marsh in Adelaide – and remember, both of them also carried their bats. The closest England have got to this is James Vince’s 83 in the first Test. It’s a major factor and it’s hurting England badly.
The England fast bowlers are commonly around 10mph slower than their Australian counterparts, and it shows. When the ball seamed and swung during Australia’s second innings, England’s attack looked good – Anderson and Woakes in their element.
But during the day sessions, it was different story. Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood all ask far more questions with their extra pace and hostility. It already looks like a series-defining advantage to Australia in terms of attack.
In the spin department, Australia have a clear advantage also. Nathan Lyon is revelling in this contest, Loud, confident, chirping non-stop. He’s up for it, and he’s getting wickets for fun. Contrast this with England’s Moeen Ali, a quiet, possibly even introverted guy by nature, and his own wicket haul.
Lyon has smashed it – 11 wickets at a cost of 250 runs, average 22.72. It seems almost cruel to put Moeen’s figures up for comparison – 2 wickets for 196, average 98. Sadly, for England, enough said. And Lyon just loves bowling to left-handers – England’s side has five of them at present.
This was the Test that by common consent carried England’s best chance of winning, out of all the venues, yet still ended in defeat. When problems are there for all to see with both your batting and bowling, and your opponents are clearly smelling blood, it’s not a time for the faint-hearted.
Unfortunately for England, looking ahead doesn’t exactly bring much optimism. The next Test is at the WACA in Perth – where England have only ever won once before, and that was nearly 40 years ago. This notoriously hard and fast track seems perfect for the Australian pace bowlers .
So it’s very much advantage Australia. Win at the WACA and the Ashes are theirs. England’s grip on the Ashes is looking like it can now be counted in fingers rather than hands.
By Chris Tribe
7th December 2017
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