Two tests down, two wins to England, all of a sudden a whitewash looks on the cards. Australia battled valiantly at Trent Bridge, and thanks to two heroic last wicket partnerships almost seized the unlikeliest of victories, in a highly dramatic Ashes test, which will live long in the memory, both for the cricket and the controversy surrounding the Decision Review System (DRS).
In the second test though any semblance of resistance had vanished, as a lacklustre performance saw the Aussies meekly succumb to a resounding defeat. Their batting was once more woeful, and this time the tail did not rescue the innings after the top order had failed miserably.
All ten wickets fell in the space of 86 runs in the first innings, and in the second innings the Australians never threatened to even challenge England’s mammoth total. You can’t fault the efforts of the Aussies, and can’t question their hunger and desire to win, but in truth this current side simply isn’t good enough.
Only the last wicket partnerships saved them from ignominy in the first test, and masked the weaknesses of the side that were brutally exposed at Lords. Too many times the Australian batsman seem to give away their wicket, whether it be Shane Watson hitting across the line, Usman Khawaja chipping Graeme Swann to mid-on or Ed Cowan flashing wildly outside off stump.
Only Michael Clarke can be recognised as a genuine world class batsman in this team, and despite a half century in the second innings at Lords, he appears short of form as he has struggled in the first two tests after recovering from a back injury. Off the field problems seem to lie around the corner too, with the highly documented ill feeling between Watson and Clarke once more being brought to the fore by former coach Mickey Arthur, and rumours of unrest in the camp.
And even the bowling has its weaknesses. England’s top order has constantly failed, as the hosts found themselves struggling at 28-3 and 30-3 at Lords in their respective innings. Yet both times the visitors failed to capitalise on the position, as England battled their way to solid scores, with notable contributions from Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow and a phenomenal 180 from Joe Root in the second innings. The top teams would seize on the opportunity and make England pay for the poor start, but the Aussies seem unable to do that.
There is undoubtedly talent and wicket taking ability in the Australian fast bowlers, as Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle have shown to date in this series. James Pattinson possesses excellent pace, whilst Mitchell Starc offers another option with his left arm bowling. Yet Australia don’t seem to know who are their best bowlers, and keep chopping and changing, unable to find a winning formula, a problem which also hinders the batting unit, with the batting order constantly altering.
More worrying is the dearth of spin bowling talent. Whilst Graeme Swann dismantled the Australians on a turning Lords wicket with nine wickets in the match, Australian spinner Ashton Agar returned figures of 0-142 from 42 overs during the contest. The 19 year old grabbed the headlines in the first test with his magnificent 98 in the first test batting at number 11 and breaking many records, but he is in the team for left arm spin bowling, and at the moment that is failing to impress.
Steve Smith picked up three wickets with his part time leg spin, but again that only concealed the problems, as the Australians continue to struggle to find a spinner, after the retirement of the great Shane Warne. Nathan Lyon has been jettisoned heading into this series, but may be in for a recall after Agar’s wicketless return at Lords. All in all the Aussies have problems.
England meanwhile have not been at their best, with the trio of Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen, who looks set to miss the third test with a calf strain, all struggling for runs. Ian Bell though has been England’s batting saviour, whilst James Anderson and Graeme Swann have led the bowling attack which has caused the visitors so many problems.
After the dismal defeat at Lords, it is hard to see a way back into the series at the moment for the Australians, and a 5-0 Ashes whitewash may well be on the cards. That would be a humiliating event for the visitors, who will be determined to avoid such a shocking reversal. If they are to avoid such a result though, the Aussies will have to produce vastly improved performances than they have displayed so far.