Racing to the finish
Mitchell Starc claimed career-best figures but Australia’s meek batting melted as England’s pace cartel turned up the heat
I’m not telling you anything you didn’t see by describing the first day’s play in Perth as both frenetic and exhilarating.
It felt more like baseball than cricket; batter up, batter out; innings out, innings up. You could say we’re at the bottom of the fifth with England holding a two-run lead, and their bullpen is purring and leaving Australia’s batters to ponder their strategy of taking balls and not swinging strikes.
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19 wickets in 71 overs wasn’t the fault of the pitch or conditions. It was merely a product of some outstanding fast bowling, patches of senseless batting, and the occasion, which got to both the inexperienced and the veterans alike.
The pivotal point of yesterday’s play was Travis Head’s dismissal. Australia were in no way steady—Head’s partner, Cameron Green, was reeling on the ropes; dazed and seeing stars. But, at 4-76, and with the partnership starting to move, and with Head beginning to find his mojo, after an awkward start, Australia were in a position to counter-punch—Head’s reason for batting at five.
Ben Stokes was into the attack—this is a point worth making; a significant reason for England not to play four quicks is that it relegates Stokes to number five in the bowling rotation, and delays his impact with the ball. So, England’s captain drops short to Head, a perfect height to flail over mid-wicket, he cloths it to mid-on where Carse takes the catch. Head departs at 5-76, and Stokes proceeds to take five wickets in six overs, and Australia’s innings is all but done, 50 adrift.
Understandably or not, the local press went to town on their visitors as soon as they set foot in the West. Joe Root and Stokes were mocked, others were bagged, England’s planning and match preparation were a joke. To their credit, though, beneath all the fluff and condemnation, there remains an unambiguous and hard-nosed edge to this England side and its handler. Brendon McCullum knows well that he has a compelling opportunity to take back the Ashes in the most challenging possible environment.
England, you presume deliberately under McCullum, has purposely created a self-approval bias in which its success is not judged by the standard parameters: wins, losses, averages, etc. But more by the decisions they are making in-game, and the enterprise they show when under pressure. It’s an atmosphere that initiates questioning and infuriates many—Australians are at the top of that list. Me too. But if nothing else, it forces the dressing room to be interminably supportive of one another.
So, Australia trails by 49. Nathan Lyon and the impressive debutant, Brendan Doggett, get first crack at redressing the tilted balance in their team’s favour—I would take another 20 if it were offered. Then it will be in Mitch Starc’s hands again to strike early and expose England’s dangerous middle-order. Scotty Boland needs a day. If Doggett can match his first-innings efforts, that would be a pass, and maybe Lyon will have a say if England look to launch him into the Swan River. Oh, if Ussie Khawaja can stay on the field, that will help matters when the Aussies bat again, which might be as early as tea!
