Day 3: Beyond Belief

 

 

Ashes 2015

 

You see it, but you do not believe it

 

July 11^th 2015

 

Day 3 of the Test was always going to be Moving Day: the day when one side or another either staked a firm claim for the win, or the match started to peter out towards a draw.

England’s weakness has often been removing the tail and Australian fans were confident that they could exploit this and build a significant first innings lead. Australia were looking to bat at least until Tea. England wanted to be batting before Lunch.

What followed was nothing short of unbelievable. A single pushed to mid-on by Watson off Wood, second ball of the day, followed by no less than 37 dot balls. In that time, first Broad trapped Watson LBW to general hilarity, as Watson missed a straight ball and then, predictably, wasted a review and then Wood got Lyon, also LBW with an even straighter ball.

The sight of Haddin and Mitch Johnson together at the crease has reduced bowels to water and bowlers to nervous wrecks often enough. For a while there were horrible feelings of déjà vu as the two started to go after the bowlers. This Australian side though does not have the aura of invincibility of Australians past: just as the stand was getting annoying Anderson removed Haddin and Broad, Johnson in the space of four balls. Nine balls later the hobbled Starc joined them in the Pavillion. Australia had folded in the most English of manners.

Rub your eyes. Pinch yourself. No, you are not dreaming. Yes, Australia have just batted like lemmings and folded like a pack of cards. 258-4 to 308ao. Wasn’t the script that they would show the profligate English batsman how to bat on this pitch and run up a massive total?

When you are effectively 139-1 at Lunch on the 3^rd Day, even the loss of the captain is not going to provoke indigestion.

So far we have followed the pattern of 2013: England bat, the top order crumbles before a middle order recovery and the setting of an apparently inadequate total, which the Australians proceed to make look good. The second innings has been no different: 22-2, 73-3. Lyth got a start and got out – rumblings will start soon about his place despite that century unless he is careful – followed by a rollicking stand. When you start 122 ahead, putting on 97 at 5-an-over is a great way to demoralise the opposition. So far this Test England have failed to understand their ritual role as a hearthrug for marauding colonials to wipe their feet on.

By the time the clatter of wickets came it looked as if the England batsmen were set on having a good time, confident in the knowledge that there was no way back for Australia. When you see the explosive Moeen Ali playing sheet anchor to the England #10 who is hammering the ball to all parts with gay abandon, including one shot that was perilously close to landing in the River Taff, you know that the worm has turned and the supposed victims are just taking the mickey.

Everything suggests that Alistair Cook had said that he would declare overnight and had given free rein to the batsmen to enjoy themselves until the Close. Cook? Attacking instead of taking the conservative option to bat on? Next we'll be hearing that St. Francis of Assisi was a bloodthirsty axe murderer: it will be almost more plausible to Cook-watchers.

The Australian target is 412. It would be the third highest successful chase in Test history.

Even if part of Sunday is lost to the threatened rain, there is ample time to get the runs. What there is not is much belief that Australia can chase so many.

Unless England have a shocker tomorrow – and a cynic will say that they are due one – surely the match will end sometime in the evening session with an England win.

Mitch-watch: 25-3-111-0, 14 and 16-2-69-2.

Mitch J finally got his account inaugurated and bowled fast without too much luck. However, a sign of how much Australia were struggling is that fact that the hobbled Mitch Starc, who was clearly carrying an important ankle injury, bowled as many overs and with better figures. One wonders just how much damage Mitch S. has done himself carrying the attack and trying to bowl through an injury.

Day 3 to England… by a wide margin.