This morning, England wrapped up their inevitable innings defeat of Australia in the second Ashes Test Match at the Adelaide Oval.
The margin of defeat is incredible, the Aussie's have been well and truly smashed and for the first time in 20 years England are hot favourites to retain the Ashes down under.
England were outstanding in all three departments on every day of the Test Match and the gap between the two sides is fast becoming embarrasing for the Australian nation.
Which leaves me to wonder; Is this victory and the remaining series marred by the quality of the Australian team?
Maybe it's a little harsh on England's effort? Maybe we should be revelling in the dominant performances of Andrew Strauss and his men? Maybe I'm being premature?
BUT, I can't help the nagging feeling in the back of my mind, which keeps saying to me 'there is no McGrath, there is no Warne or Langer or Hayden or Gilchrist or...'.
I know Cricket moves on, I know England have improved and I know different sides have dominant era's and then generally fall from grace. It just seems that Australia's has been at an alarming rate.
Warne and McGrath were irreplaceable, Gilchrist was a one in a million cricketer and Langer and Hayden formed one of the most formidable opening partnerships in contemporary Cricket. I'm not denying replacing them was a near impossible task, I'm just looking in an un-biased manner at the players that have come in to fill their shoes and I'm worried that their lack of quality degrades England's victories.
Is Graeme Swann in the same league as Warne? Is Anderson close to McGrath? Prior up against Gilchrist?
Just a few questions I'm asking myself.
In terms of irreplaceable stars, I believe Australia have had them but have largely been plagued by unfortunate timing that their replacements were around at the same time as the stars and have been waiting in the wings for so long! Gilchrist may have been brilliant, but Haddin would be the wicketkeeper-batsman for almost every country in the world, England included, with India as perhaps the only exception. McGrath was brilliant, whilst Stuart Clark had the potential. A like for like replacement to McGrath, only injuries and age stopped his replacement Both had to wait an age to get a glimmer of test match cricket, and in the case of Clark, didn't get enough. Given time, the Aussies will be back, providing the traditional 'Aussie' mentality is there. It seems that self belief and a quiet arrogance is currently missing in the side, highlighted by the ridiculously small crowd sizes at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval. But if you look at the likes of Khawaja and the ever improving Tim Paine; if these can be accompanied by players such as the erratic but potentially brilliant Mitchell Johnson amongst others, there is no reason to suggest why the Aussie team cannot return again.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of this, England's work is not done. Without Broad are our attack lacks the man who can be a game changer when the ball is dead, and thus Anderson, Finn and Swann will really have to help carry whoever comes in. If this can be accompanied by Katich, Ponting, Clarke, North all supporting the current efforts of Watson, Hussey and Haddin then England may struggle to take 20 wickets to win again. Will Australia be able to take 20? On paper its unliekly, but if the Gabba shows us anything, it is that this England side is still prone to panic...bring on the 3rd Test!