Ashes
2017/18: 3rd Test Preview
Checkmate in
Three Days?
December 13th 2017
“Same side.
Better play”, would have legendary Essex captain Tonker Taylor’s reaction to
the 2nd Test defeat. Having got within an hour of inducing genuine
panic in the Australian side, England threw away a potentially winning position
in half an hour of reduced intensity.
There were plenty
of panic remedies: with Liam Plunkett still struggling with a hamstring
problem, Mark Wood looked like making an incredible comeback. Yes, he impressed
in patches in Perth, but showed too that he was nowhere ready for Test cricket.
It is not pace, it is quality pace that is needed: that was a lesson of the
great West Indian sides. In fact, of the reserves and Lions who supplemented
Moeen Ali in the England XI, only Keaton Jennings and Sam Curran really
impressed. With Alistair Cook’s place in the side starting to look in danger
again, Keaton Jennings showed the application that got him into the Test side
in the first place and also demonstrated that his form and confidence are
returning. And Sam Curran impressed enough with his left arm seam to make one
wonder if having a left-armer among so many right armers might not be a bad
thing. Worse, Jack Leach and Mason Crane took such fearful punishment that
England could even have lost the two-day game: both have shown that they will
not be pressing Moeen for his place – in fact, Leach has probably bowled
himself out of any chance of a Test debut on this tour by going at more than
ten-an-over (Crane managed a more respectable eight).
So,
eliminating an out and out quick bowler and eliminating a second spinner and
thinking that Sam Curran is probably neither quick enough, nor quite ready, the
only England change is the one that was called for, of all people, by the
Australians: Jonny Bairstow moves up to #6 and Moeen Ali drops to #7. “Moeen,
you’re batting a place too high” sledged the Australian fielders at Adelaide.
Despite making a better fist of batting than many around him, Moeen just
replied “actually, probably two places too high”. Self-deprecating, situation
de-fused. With the loss of Ben Stokes, Moeen needed the series of his life to
compensate. Unfortunately the spinning finger that he split open early in the
Brisbane Test has still not healed and even started to split open again.
England face him being severely hampered at Perth too, adding to the advantage
that Nathan Lyon is giving Australia.
At Perth,
the same batsmen have to bat for at least four sessions and Joe Root needs to
win the Toss. Otherwise, this match is going to end Saturday or, at latest,
early Sunday and the Ashes will go with it.
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