So after 25 days of enthralling (when not rained out) cricket, we end with no winner. Try explaining that to your nearest American. What we did have were two flawed teams, which exploited each others deficiencies to produce the best Ashes series since 2005’s epic.
Australia
Job done. Sort of. Australia arrived on the English shores on what seems like a lifetime ago with dreams of taking home the World Cup and the Ashes. A semi final berth and a retain- not victory- seems like a tick in the box for Justin Langer, especially after the chaos of ‘sandpapergate’.
Similar words were printed in early 1930s papers regarding Bradman, but surely Steve Smith can’t maintain this ludicrous form. Provided he can’t, Australia will need to get more runs from their middle order. Only Labuschagne and Wade get pass marks batting wise- with Wade contributing little other than his first and last innings centuries. If cricket captaincy was done on a laptop, ideally Wade would take the gloves and Mitch Marsh would play at 7 instead of Paine. But this Ashes series showed the value of Paine outside the bare statistics, as his calmness held an at times nervy team together.
Unlike many I don’t have concern for David Warner going forward. He showed with his world cup form that he still ‘has it’. He was simply outmatched by a a top class bowler in Broad who had completely worked him out. An unanswerable question- would Warner’s T20 dasher to test star transition have been as smooth if he was thrust into Duke balls and English conditions immediately? (and yes I know his maiden ton was on green monster in Hobart).
Bowling wise the cupboard is stocked to the brim. Cummins will be a star for many years, and a potential future captain provided he stays injury free. It will be interesting to see if there is any lasting discontent from Starc after his treatment during the Ashes however.
A welcome break before a jam packed summer is in order, as is some early Sheffield shield runs for top order hopefuls Khawaja and co.
England
Frankly England have looked jaded since the first day of their pre-Ashes test against Ireland. For a team that usually relatively flies under the radar during the football season, they were the centre of the media spotlight from June. Such pressure was always going to take its toll at some point. Still, a team low on fuel ploughed on, energised by the untiring Jofra Archer- who’s one flat day ended up costing them the series.
England can take some positives away from the 2-2. They have found one long term opener in Rory Burns, and a short term option in Denly until a younger, more talented option finally presents themselves in County cricket. Jack Leach is dependable, and a cult hero, but to challenge for the test championship surely a strike spinner is required.
My problem with England’s lineup is their much vaunted ‘power engine’ middle order. Stokes, Bairstow, Butler, Woakes and if in favour Ali. All good batsmen, destructive on their day (especially the first 3), but are they consistent, 50 average potential batsmen? Maybe Stokes is if he ever gives up bowling. But I’m not sure if Bairstow and Butler can be in the same team. Give one the gloves and bring in a specialist bat if the other doesn’t increase their run production.
All in all a successful summer for England, but they wasted a golden opportunity for a perfect one. It will be fascinating to see how this team evolves under the incoming new coach.