England lose ground in the Ashes

England lose ground in the Ashes.

At the beginning of this sporting summer it had all looked so simple. All English cricket had to do was turn up at a World Cup Final in their own backyard and win it. This they did in nerve shredding, nail biting and ultimately thrilling style against a New Zealand side who must have been convinced that they could do no more than push England all the way.

 How England are now paying for both cockiness and complacency on a monumental scale. Things are not going according to their script. But then, when was the last time you saw groups of scriptwriters at a cricket match? Maybe a just a slight touch of arrogance and presumption had seeped into their souls and Australia were determined to redeem themselves after the World Cup semi final defeat to England.

Yesterday Australia opened up the first day of the third Ashes Test against England like the proverbial startled rabbits in the headlights. This was not the Headingley of 1981 nor was it ever likely to be. There were no Ian Bothams or Bob Willises stampeding down from the famous Kirkstall Lane End with fire in their eyes, nostrils flaring, hair flapping and fully intent on creating bedlam and wholesale destruction in their path. Rather this was a somewhat stunned, aghast and totally confused Australian side, unsure of their bearings, just a little surprised and then staggered at the quality of the opposition.

After opting to bat first Australia, both David Warner and Marcus Harris set about the England bowling like hounds chasing their prey. Then, with just a hint of over zealousness Marcus Harris waved his bat rashly before recklessly snicking the ball to Jonny Bairstow and company behind the English stumps and Australia were 12-1.

Then with the score rattling speedily on Usman Khawaja was bowled by a ball that whipped back sharply to Khawaja who played on brushing the ball through to the wicketkeeper and slips. The Australian batsman was only given out when video evidence had shown quite clearly that the Australian had actually got a touch to the ball. 25-2.

After some stubborn defiance from Marnus Laluschagne who had established an entertaining 74, Australia proceeded to lose two more wickets in fairly rapid succession. The bullishly belligerent David Warner crashed some stunning fours through the covers, cutting beautifully and then building craftily towards 61. Jofra Archer then bowled a beauty that Warner simply couldn't defend against and Australia were teetering on the precipice, ready to collapse.

By now Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer were beginning to rip open the Australian batsmen. They bowled with brutal pace, frightening hostility at times and then moved the ball this way and that. The red ball Test match was now spitting venom at the Aussies who were perhaps feeling ever so constipated and drained of energy.

Now there occurred one of those unfortunate incidents that batsmen must dread. It happens when you think you've got the better of your opponents. Sport can often punch you in the guts when least expected. It can often be deeply cruel, unforgiving and totally unsympathetic. So when Matthew Wade trotted out to the wicket in that floppy green cap he must have privately accepted that something would go terribly wrong. It did and England rejoiced once again.

 Broad, now flying and fulsomely vigorous, dug the ball deep into Wade and before Wade could turn around, the bails had been accidentally nudged and dropped to the ground. Another Australian wicket another embarrassment. The Australian fortress had now been emphatically broken into and England were licking their lips in anticipation of a richly deserved change of form.

When Tim Paine was out for a paltry 11, Australia knew that any hopes of a survival would dwindle so disturbingly that any hope of a late order comeback would have to go on the back burner. Travis Ward was swiftly bowled for a duck before the last man standing James Pattison was routinely bowled as if he were not there.

So for the first time in this Ashes ding dong, Australia were the fall guys, tottering and trembling in the face of an England barrage that seemed to get worse by the over. They were all out for 179 and for those who still remember 1981, this seemed like a case of history repeating itself. There are  impartial observers though who wish that both Australia and England would just get on with each other. But this was a kind of phoney war before swords are drawn and the battle commences. Then again we really wouldn't have it any other way.