Fifth Test, Day 4 – Too Little Rain. Too Little Defiance

 

 

Ashes 2015

 

Fifth Test, Day 4 – Too Little Rain. Too Little Defiance.

 

August 24^th 2015

 

In the end, despite several hours of heavy rain, it was not enough to save England. And England did not really deserve to escape either.

Had Jos Buttler and Mark Wood continued until the rain band that had been approaching for hours finally arrived, you might have made a case that such defiance between a desperately out of form batsman and a nightwatchman deserved some reward; as it was though, both fell in half an hour and, once again, left the task of rescuing England to Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad. The difference was that, with the nightwatchman used, they were batting 9 and 10 respectively and with only Steven Finn to come, everyone knew that it was hopeless. It seemed appropriate that, as the skies darkened, it was Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad holding the line. Had another batsman higher in the order supported Alistair Cook, this stand might well have saved the match; as it was, it just delayed the inevitable because the radar showed that the rain band would clear during the afternoon and that Australia would have plenty of time to finish things off before the next – and terminal – rain band arrived that would surely stop any play on Day 5. As at Lord’s, every time that England seemed to be getting back into the match, one – or more usually two – wickets fell quickly: here was no exception.

It is an indictment of some of England’s batting that Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad have been by some distance the most productive batting partnership for England in the series. Far too often they have had to save what they could from the ruins of a collapse, or lead a counter-attack to avoid frittering away an advantage gained. It is not what you expect your #8 and #9 to have to do time and again in a series.

However, it is an indictment of Australia’s thin bowling – as in 2013, the statistics hide far more than they actually reveal, essentially papering over a misfiring attack – that, when they needed to finish the job, they were unable to do so. In 2013 Australia had England 30-3 or 40-3 time and again, but England almost always escaped and set up winning totals. 2015 has been a similar story. Australian averages are padded by Lord’s and The Oval, but when the bowlers were desperately needed to show up, like their batsmen, they were found wanting.

Although Stuart Broad’s 134 runs @ 19.1 looks like a modest contribution, this was from a player whose confidence had been destroyed to the point that many fans questioned whether he should bat anywhere other than 11. Rather than being a walking wicket, he was a major obstacle to the Australian bowlers and an ideal foil for Moeen Ali. The failure of the bowlers to dismiss Broad quickly was indicative of how they failed to sustain pressure.

Michael Clarke can complain about the pitches prepared but, he cannot fairly blame the ECB for Australia’s failure to pick Peter Siddle and Mitch Marsh on two pitches where they could have been destructive! In this match they have shown what Australia have missed thanks to some rather dubious  selection policies.