What a Test match. Credit where its due, this England team continue to be involved in entertainment that will revive Test match cricket and bring new fans to the greatest form of the game. Credit too to Australia, their captain was exceptional, and they will take heart from winning a tight battle without significant contributions from either of the fidget twins. The series is set up beautifully and England will need to dig deep to get themselves back into it at Lords.
I have read some lazy and/or miss informed articles suggesting that the first innings declaration was too bold and that it cost England the game. This is simply not true. England did not take a wicket in that short evening session but the rationale behind the decision was absolutely spot on. It was a shot to nothing, I know that Stokes would do it again and he’d be correct to do so.
There are two areas to where I do think England lost this match; They bowled 15 no balls in the first innings and a further 8 in the second. Even setting aside the wicket that went begging due to a no ball, that is 23 runs gifted to Australia plus the bowler has to bowl those again and Australia get 23 more balls to score from. For context Australia bowled 4 no balls across the match.
I have never understood the need to push the front foot so close to the line, the risk v reward speaks for itself.
The second is the wicket-keeping, there were three chances that should have been taken by Bairstow and each had a material cost.
Cameron Green – missed stumping on 0 – scored 38 (cost 38)
Alex Carey – dropped on 27 – scored 66 (cost 39)
Usman Khawaja – dropped/missed on 5 – scored 65 (cost 60)
There were other half chances, but these three were must-takes and the cost of 137 runs outweighs the 98 he scored.
Of course, the impact is not as simple as the maths above. Jonny batted in a way that took the initiative back in England’s first innings and created momentum. He is noisy behind the stumps which creates pressure but don’t underestimate the negative impact on the bowlers of seeing chances missed and dropped.
In summary, if the no balls were fixed and the best wicket keeper picked I think England would have won this Test.
The other factors that will inevitably be in the spotlight after a loss are selection. No question Bairstow had to play but to ask him to keep at the expense of Foakes was not the right call. The sense from the England camp is that no one wants to open, but I can’t see why. Sehwag, Gibbs, Langer, Sharma and Khawaja are all examples of people successfully stepping up to open.
Foakes won’t play because he’s not even in the squad, but he should be nailed on at no7. One of Bairstow, Brook or Stokes needs to go to the top of the order.
Moeen Ali, I understand why they picked him, but it was asking a hell of a lot. He’s played no first-class cricket for two years so was never going to be a consistent threat. To then ask him to bowl 30 + first innings overs was only going to lead to the inevitable outcome and he was pointless when really needed in the fourth innings. Not his fault, just frustrating as I think Rehan Ahmed can bowl match changing balls and his googly will be a nightmare for the left handers (more reason to have Foakes behind the stumps).
Finally, Broad, Anderson and Robinson … I was shocked that Mark Wood did not play and if he was not fit then Tongue was worth a risk. We had no one to bowl the short-pitched deliveries and Jimmy seemed out of rhythm.
Hindsight is wonderful etc. etc. etc. but I think for the first time England got a couple of big calls wrong. That said, they could’ve still won, so have nothing to fear.
England seem unlikely to go outside of the existing squad for the 2nd Test unless they call up Rehan Ahmed as cover for Moeen. I expect Mark Wood to play and it may well be at the expense of the injured Moeen. It will be interesting to see how Jimmy pulls up so both Potts and Tongue will be waiting nervously.
I’m not a fan of no frontline spinner but I can see that being the way when they go at Lords. The Ashes is alive and I expect England to comeback hard.