Australia vs England - Second Test - Day 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Well that is a smashing! What more can you say about a Test where you start with 3 for 2 in the opening 10 minutes and lose 5 for 30 at the end of that same innings, then 6 for about 60 in the next?  A debacle.

England on the other hand did everything perfectly. There attitude is brilliant, which it ought to be when you've made 5 for 1000. They're positive. They're backing themselves. There is a belief that it is their destiny to win this series and it's coming true in a big way. I hesitate to say there is an air of former Australian sides about them, but that would be an insult. England have built this side their own way. Some Aussie-style arrogance perhaps, but that's warranted when you can back it up the way they can.

In years gone by you could bet on breaking that spirit, but this side is tougher mentally than we've seen for a long time and that is fueled by the smashings they've received (or watched) at the hands of Australia in the past.

There is more evil at work here. I blame Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist and Hayden.  Batsmen had so much licence when you knew Warne would clean up on day 5. When the opposition so rarely got on top of McGrath at the top of the order and Hayden bullied everyone to all parts of the ground. If the side was in trouble, Gillie would come in and make 100 in 20 minutes and all would be well. A battered opposition would have to come in and face McGrath and Warne!

There is a great amount of synergy at work here. The batsmen could bat like millionaires knowing if things went awry, Warne and McGrath (Gillespie, Lee and co, that were second string bowlers that would lead any other attack in the world at the time) could get them out of trouble, which in turn meant they scored huge totals, which made Warne and McGrath look even better.

Now, the current crop of players think that's how Test Cricket is played. You know, "we get results", "we're aggressive". No! Heads down  - bat through the tough times and make some big scores please! Watch Cook. In fact watch any of them. They aren't plundering boundaries all the time. Please - show some grit. If we can leave Perth, 1 all, we're still a chance!

Rumour just to hand - as always from a reliable source - Ponting does not want to be succeeded by Clarke and wants North to stay in the side for that purpose. It's going to be a tough case to make now, except the Perth is his home ground. I'm tipping North will get another chance!

Changes to come:

What I think will happen (not what I would do)
Kattich injured - in Phil Hughes
They will replace Doherty with Hauritz
Bollinger could be injured, so Mitch Johnson will come back in to play on his home ground - Perth.
That will probably be it.

I'd leave Doherty, but add Dave Hussey for North. If Kattich is injured then I guess Hughes could get a chance.

Interesting times. England could win 4 nil yet!