Big Decisions For Both Teams At The Oval

 

 

Ashes 2013

 

Plenty for both sides to ponder

 

August 19^th

 
 

[14:00 CEST] Both England and Australia have a lot to think about before the 5^th Test on Wednesday. England’s issues are well known: Tim Bresnan has a long-term injury and Graeme Onions a broken finger so, Bresnan’s ready-made replacement has had to be replaced too. This requires a significant change of direction and has meant that possible experiments – a rest for Jimmy Anderson and/or Jonny Bairstow – have not been contemplated. Then, Monty Panesar’s well publicised problems, have ended his Sussex career and threaten to end his county career unless a county can be found willing to try to give him a fresh start [Update, 17:00: Monty will join Essex on loan until the end of the season]. This has meant looking for a new second spinner. However, the bulk of the squad remains unchanged and only one name will appear that has not been in the side for the last three Tests. It could well be that a desire to maintain stability means that Steve Finn comes straight back into the side.

However, this ignores that fact that England’s top order has struggled for runs, the opening partnerships have been paltry, with a best of 47 – not one century opening partnership in the series for England. Cook has 3 fifties. Root has a big century, but his next two highest scores are 30 and 16. Trott has a single fifty but, in his case, also has a 48 and a 49. England are simply not getting starts. Against more dogged opponents that would have been a fatal weakness and one that must be addressed before the return series. Great speculation is surrounding the roles of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, who has got a start in every single innings, but has also been dismissed between 14 and 37 in seven of his eight innings (the eighth was his top score of 67).

For Australia the situation is also one that requires careful thought. Down 3-0 in a series against a side that has not been playing anything like as well as it can, Australia may yet obtain a consolation victory at The Oval. However, the tour match against the Lions has not been a great help. Only 145 of the planned 200 overs were delivered. Australia struggled against what was more a Development Squad than a 2^nd XI. The two highest scores of the match came from the Lions and no one was outstanding with the ball for Australia. Australia faced a fairly friendly new ball attack – Keith Barker is a swing bowler more than a paceman and James Harris is feeling his way back from injury and was only bowling high 70s mph for Middlesex earlier in the week – but lost wickets regularly. Everyone but the luckless Khawaja got a start, but no one could better Shane Watson’s 45; indeed, Watson was the only batsman to reach 40. Ed Cowan played a limpet-like innings, but fell soon after Warner for a neither here nor there 17.

Possibly the greatest beneficiaries were Matt Wade, Nathan Lyon and James Faulkner. Wade was lucky to be dropped on 3, but then batted through to ensure the draw and Faulkner added a steady 29* to his wicket with the new ball the previous day. Neither has made a cast-iron case for inclusion, but neither had a bad match, although neither Faulkner nor Starc looked especially penetrating with the ball, but Nathan Lyon did, clearly outshining Ashton Agar.

It leaves Australia pondering their line-up. Hughes for Khawaja looks almost certain, although that will require yet another small re-shuffle of the batting order given that Hughes played at 4 in the first two Tests and would need to slot in at 3 instead. After the comments of Darren Lehmann it would look odd to leave the rest of the top seven unchanged, but that could even happen, although a 5, 6, 7 of Smih, Watson and Haddin lacks solidity. Haddin has two fifties, but no other score above 13. Smith looks too high at 5 and Watson is suffering his own personal torment in this series: if he cannot bowl it is hard to argue his case to be included in the side. At the same time, the arguments that said that David Warner would be far more effective against tired bowlers and an old ball than against the new ball are still there.

Almost the only player who can be sure not to be picked is Ed Cowan, who could yet have forced his way back with a big innings against the Lions.

However, if the Australian selectors show faith in youth to come good, as Ricky Ponting is advocating, Wade, Agar, Faulkner and Starc must all have a fair to good chance of starting the Test.