And so goes another almost sleepless night. For once the Aussies come away without losing, in a close, tense situation.
A "victory" (read: they managed to achieve what they were trying to) in those circumstances is exactly what the side needs. I am not going to attempt to write a long analysis of another wonderful match - that will be done by people who are paid to do it better than I can.
Suffice to say, for once a close one, went our way. England outplayed Australia for about 90% of this match, and yet Australia left the field "punching the air" and "dishing out the high fives". Just the tonic the guys needed. Whether they convert this into real momentum into the next Test remains to be seen, and even the off field "by play" of the next couple of weeks, before the fourth Test, promises to be interesting.
Many Australians need to improve, but Ricky Ponting has stepped up as a leader when he was under fire, and together, I think they will now take the next step. England will have other ideas and of course, won't let this "downer" impact there efforts in the next Test - just like they didn't after the first Test.
So, the Ashes still too close to call - maybe it's England's turn to suffer some off field woes - throw some stray cricket balls around at the English training maybe :-)
But what has to happen now, selection-wise?:
- Clarke to miss with injury?
- Gillespie out - surely, but who comes in, Kasper, Tait or MacGill?
- McGrath will be back to full fitness, if he's not already.
- Matthew Hayden?
And for England:
- Again Jones (G) will come under the microscope, but really that's about it.
- Some questions should be asked of Pietersen's catching, given his obvious cricketing talent, his performance in the field, or more specifically, catching is hard to understand
1 comments so far...:
As an England supporter, I am actually more optimistic about our chances in the series now than I was after Edgbaston. There's a palpable stiffening of team resolve manifesting itself in some improved performances, which in turn added that extra push allowing England to dominate the match. Basically, they almost won in 4 days.
Australia, or rather Ponting,Warne, Lee and McGrath, seem to be carrying some passengers at the moment. I don't know if the inspiring performances they have put
up over the last 2 tests are going to be enough to turn things round.
On balance you want to be behind the side that doesn't need changing in the middle of a series (believe me, that's long been a bitter truth for England supporters).
In essence, I'm heartened that the England team find a really stiff challenge such a clear stimulation to raise their game. I'm wondering
if some members of the Aussie team are finding any stimulation in the challenge.
The only other thing to say is I'm struggling to remember a sporting contest of any kind that has been as
mesmerising as this series. I'm only listening to it over the internet, and I'm exhausted. I can only marvel at the players stamina.
In the flood of stories on TMS about
new converts among the young and the
fairer sex drawn to this epic contest, more than a few have referred to the quaint questions about cricket lore they ask, but I don't imagine a single 12 year old or housewife now following the series has had to ask why each match is called a Test. This series has made it abundantly clear why.
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