The Ashes Recovery.

Middle of the week, we talk about cricket!

"I think I was saying 3-0 or 4-0 about 12 months ago, thinking there might be a bit of rain around. But with the weather as it is at the moment, I have to say 5-0."

-Glenn McGrath

A whole bunch of feet got into a whole bunch of big mouths with the result of recently finished Ashes series. The fact is that even the staunchiest of English supporters didn't expect them to win so emphatically. Before the series there were many talks about the possibility of English team putting up a decent fight this time. It was considered blasphemy to even talk of an Australian defeat. The truth, has indeed came out to be stranger than fiction.

(It's been a long wait: Jubilant English team. Vaughan is holding the Ashes urn.)

Dubbed as the clash of the titans, this Ashes indeed came out to be the best in the recent times. It has not only attracted people once again towards Test cricket, but has also replaced Football as the most watched sport in UK. After the humiliating defeat in the first test, where McGrath ruthlessly ripped the English batting line up apart, it seemed as if it's gonna be the same story all over for England. But the lady luck finally smiled for England and McGrath injured himself just before the second test. It looked as if the Brits were waiting for just this, a small chink in the Aussie armour. They made the most out of the horrible decision of Ponting to field first and amassed 407 on the very first day. The Aussie bowling's resistence didn't look more than that of a lamb being taken to slaughter house; in the end it was butchered. Australia was given the target of 282 in the last inning, with ample time. But at the end of 4th day, it was reduced to a meek total of 175/8 and defeat was staring Ponting right in the eyes. But hat's off to the defiant display from Warne, Lee and Kasprowicz. They took the aggression back to English bowling and almost made them lose. But this fairy-tale ended, quite ironically, with a harsh decision from the umpire. Australia lost the test, but not their pride. Still, if they would've won this test match from the situation they were put into, it would've turned the series in their favor.

The third test was the same story. Pommies played first and piled up 444 in the first inning. They got Australia to 214/7 at the stumps on day two but major part of day three was washed away by rain and the Australian inning came to an end only on day four, not before gathering 302. England put up 280 in 61.5 overs and asked Australia to chase 423 in about 110 overs. The kangaroos made a cautious start and finished the day on 24/0 but the next morning they were shrank to 201/7 with more than 50 overs to be bowled. In the end, it took some imperviable batting from the lower order and a top class century from the skipper to save the test. The fourth test saw Australia following on after 18 years. Their batting order did better in second inning and forced England to bat again, to chase 129. The task looked easier on paper, but the Aussies were in no mood to let it go. If only they could manage some 20-30 runs more, it would've been so much more difficult for English. But as Siddhu would say - "If ifs and buts were pots and pans, there would be no tinkers". Australia showed the spirit to fight back in the last test, but stiff resistence from England and bad weather did not let them get away with the match and the match ended as a lame draw. I feel, Vaughan should have had a crack at the Australian batting when 30-35 overs were left in the day's play. The lead was enough to avert any danger of losing and it would have made it all the more interesting. Anyway, England was more interested in keeping it safe and claiming the Ashes back, and quite rightly so.

Test	Countries	Date	Ground	Result
1st Test	AUS v ENG	14/11/1986	Brisbane Cricket Gr	England Won by 7 Wickets
2nd Test	AUS v ENG	28/11/1986	W.A.C.A. Ground	Match Drawn
3rd Test	AUS v ENG	12/12/1986	Adelaide Oval	Match Drawn
4th Test	AUS v ENG	26/12/1986	Melbourne Cricket Gr	England Won by an Innings and 14 Runs
5th Test	AUS v ENG	10/01/1987	Sydney Cricket Grnd	Australia Won by 55 Runs

(The last time England won the Ashes)

England played amazingly well to reclaim the Ashes, but Australia did have it rough from the luck. First of all, McGrath was not fit for the last four tests of the series and it made them pay. The decision, which turned the second test in England's favor, was unfair to Australia as the replays later proved. Not to mention the horrible form which eclipsed their top tier players for most of the series. But if Australia lost it, England has won it by playing top notch cricket consistently through out the series. "Freddie" Flintoff will get a special mention everytime this series will be discussed. Coming back to international scene after an injury, he played out of his skin and made Australia kneel before his accurate bowling and devastating batting. Perhaps, it was his superb form which made the difference in the end. He has been an important part of the current England team, which has been performing increasingly well in last two seasons.

It would be too early to discard Australia though. Sadly, that's exactly what many have done. This loss is getting names like "The start of the end for Australia". It's true that the start of this season has been very uncharacteristic for the champs; they lost to Bangladesh and lost Ashes after 18 years. But the loss in Ashes was not an act of submission to English superiority. The scorecards don't do justice with Australian performances, they went down fighting, their nails firmly dug into the wall. No one should have any doubt in their minds about the capabilities of this team, the only thing they were found wanting is momentum. It was disheartening to see many "fans" of the great game, wanting them to lose by hook or by crook. Some cheered to the news of injury to McGrath & rain in the last test. All in the name of rooting out their dominance! I just want to say, Australia got there after years of hard work and consistent delivering - it will be pointless to see them lose lamely. In the end, it happened in the way it should've happened - England had to play better to take Ashes back. Now they have to keep proving themselves time and again to retain this new found stature. I have a hunch that Australia will bounce back strongly from this and it won't be easy for Brits to replace them from number one position.