Ashes Cricket - 5 Thoughts after Day 4 in Adelaide
1. Test on a Knife Edge as England Storm Back
The momentum and direction of the whole Ashes series comes down to the final day in Adelaide today, as England come storming back into a Test match in which they had been dominated for nearly three days. If England lose here, at 2-0, the series is effectively over, with the WACA never a happy hunting ground for the visitors especially with a mountain to climb. However, if they can pull off this victory, and get to 1-1, Australia will be shell-shocked and the momentum might have well and truly shifted.
I'll say up front I was very wrong about the direction this game was heading halfway through Day 3. England looked a bedraggled mess and I had all but written them off, not only for the game, but for the series. However, after fighting back on Night 3 by picking up four Australian wickets, England dominated yesterday’s play to set up a frenetic finish which seemed impossible when they were bundled out 215 runs behind Australia’s first innings score. Yet here they are heading into a much anticipated Day 5 at 4/176, requiring another 178 runs for what would be a famous come-from-behind win here in Adelaide. After a Jimmy Anderson 5-wicket haul saw Australia bundled out for just 138, England showed real character with the bat as Mark Stoneman counter-attacked early, before Joe Root and the middle order held things together in a testing night session to frustrate an increasingly desperate Australia.
2. Steve Smith Has a Couple of Days to Forget
Words like "arrogant" and "disrespect" have been bandied abut regarding Steve Smith's decision not to enforce the follow on. For me it was more circumspect then anything brazen and cocky. If anything asking the opposition to follow on is usually the ultimate sign of disrespect. Steve Smith has always been an emotional leader and worn his heart on his sleeve. I don't mind that from a leader at times, however there are times when that sort of body language can come across as panic, and that panic can spread among the team. Smith didn't look fully in control of his team last night, and his fumbled catch and failed reviews displayed that of a man feeling the pressure of a massive Test match where the momentum had stunningly shifted against his team.
Australia needed a steady hand last night there was a bit of panic about Smith and his team earlier in the day with the bat. His body language displayed that of a man frustrated and concerned that things seemed to be slipping away from an impregnable position. Whilst I am not as critical as others of Smith’s decision not to enforce the follow-on, the fact his side were bundled out and allowed England to wrest back the momentum, by batting their first 35 overs in better batting conditions than Australia experienced, would have played heavily on his mind.
Put simply, Smith had an absolute nightmare with the review system, frittering away Australia’s two reviews in less than an over, on two very marginal decisions. Whilst players are not umpires, both appeals looked less than convincing, and for Smith to go upstairs twice showed an element of desperation and panic had set in after he had failed to go upstairs earlier in the innings which would have led to the departure of Alistair Cook. Smith will know with a win today everything is largely bright and rosy at 2-0. However he would have had a restless night’s sleep, knowing a loss will bring about plenty of inquisition and introspection.
3. Joe Root The Man for the Big Occasion
Big players love the big moments, and Joe Root would have felt he owed his team here. It’s been a chastising opening to the series for Root with his decision to bowl first here, mixed in with his own batting and his team’s struggles to get going. However, you will go a long way to find a better 67 not out than what he produced under lights last night, when his team needed him most. I would classify Root, right alongside Virat Kohli and Steve Smith, as the equal best three players in the world, and that was on display last night when Australia threw everything at him only to be met with stubborn resistance as well as some classical stroke play off front and back foot. Root defended as if his life depended on it, and was the only England player to break the spell Nathan Lyon has on this team by sweeping a couple of times emphatically to the boundary. Whilst Root will have won all the plaudits last night, I think he needs 150, and perhaps the best innings of his career, to steer his side home here.
4. Day/Night Delight
I was half questioning the hype about Day/Night Test matches after the first couple of nights proved a bit of a fizzer in Adelaide. However, the last two nights have been Test match cricket at its very best. With a nail biting Day 5 finish the perfect scenario for a Test match, this has been a much needed shot in the arm for the series itself and the day/night Test concept overall. The Test match has now brought in almost 174,000 fans over four days, which is the largest attendance for an Adelaide Test since Bodyline in 1933.
With a gold coin donation gaining entry to Day 5, we are all set for a blockbuster finish to this Test which this series really needed after a largely one-sided opening Test and a half. The Barmy Army were out in full force last night, and a captivated crowd were hanging on every ball, such was the tension of the contest in that final couple of hours. What I love most about the Day/Night Test matches is the extra layer of strategy the night time session produces. Games of Test match cricket are better, for mine, when the ball swings and seams and, while the batsmen might not agree, from a viewer’s standpoint it’s must-watch TV.
5. Australia Still Favourites From Here
I still have this match about 70-30 in Australia’s favour. The Bookies tend to agree with Australia short in the market at $1.28, whilst England remains a roughies price in a two-horse race at $3.50. I think the Australian quicks need to really get in England’s face today and let them know this is eleven against two in the field. I thought, for a much hyped pace attack, that Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were well below their best yesterday and surprisingly passive in their body language. Pat Cummins was the best of the quicks and bowled without luck for the most part, whilst Australia were held together by another fantastic spell from Nathan Lyon.
I really think the likes of Moeen Ali and Johnny Bairstow need to attack Lyon and try and get him off his relentless line and length. We saw Alistair Cook go into his shell and that created problems not only for him, but at the other end, as the pressure fell on Stoneman to break the shackles. Ali and Bairstow are both excellent stroke makers and capable of using their feet to Lyon and, if they can take him out of the attack, then Australia might just lose the control they are banking on.