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The Ashes: Perth day three

First came renewed confidence within the bowling, now it was the turn of the batsmen, and who better to lead them than the man they know as Mr Cricket. With 517 runs already in this series at an average of 103.4, we are seeing Mike Hussey (116) in the form of his life.

Following up fellow Western Australian Mitchell Johnson’s efforts with the ball, it was another day that belonged to the locals. A combination of exquisite drives and perfectly timed pull shots put England’s bowlers in the doghouse for several hours, but it could have been so much different.

Indifferent form for his state had national selectors’ mulling over his inclusion only a week before the first Test, and it may well have been a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria that swung selection in his favour.

A knock of 118 in the second innings in Melbourne set his team on the way to victory, but the way he went about playing his strokes will have played a major role in faith being restored with him. Also, it was in the same match that Johnson took 5-35 while scoring an unbeaten 121, a feat not too dissimilar to what has taken place here thus far.

Shane Watson (95) is a man who has struggled to convert good starts into triple figure scores, and despite falling short by a mere five runs this time, a century would have been deserved. A series of perfectly timed driven boundaries were the highlight of his three-and-a-half hours at the crease, but he was one of five to fall to a persistent Chris Tremlett (5-87).

The Surrey bowler, spurned on by a strong performance in the first innings, was the pick of the England attack as he took crucial wickets at key times to keep the tourist’s in the hunt. Following on from Michael Clarke’s wicket at the end of the second day, he went on to take Watson, Steve Smith (36), Brad Haddin (7) and finally the seemingly unbeatable Hussey.

Steven Finn (3-97) ably supported Tremlett but the damage had been done as England were set an imposing target of 391 to win the match, whilst retaining the Ashes in the process. But as we pointed out yesterday, this England team has a unique collapsing ability.

It seems like only yesterday that Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott surmounted 517-1, and to transform that into 81-5 identifies that something is going wrong in the England camp. Johnson (2-28) and Ryan Harris (2-22) put the hosts firmly in command during the final two hours of play, and fans and media alike in England will now be questioning the sudden loss of concentration within the side.

Could it be that they felt they had one hand on the Ashes? Who knows, but it is seemingly inevitable that England’s barren Test streak at the Waca is set to go on.

The Ashes: Perth day two

Many England fans will have been waiting for a day like this, one where yet again debates would rage on how and why the tourists collapse quicker than a deck of cards. But after 12 days of the Ashes now gone it is only the second time, after the first day in Brisbane, that Andrew Strauss’s men can say they’ve been comprehensively outplayed.

It was a rejuvenated Mitchell Johnson (6-38) who tore through the tourist’s middle-order to bring Australia roaring back into this match. It is amazing what one day can do for confidence, it seems only yesterday that the 29-year-old was dropped after the first Test for failing to claim a wicket at an expense of 170 runs.

Yet it is at his home ground where he thrives and it was proved today with some fine swing bowling. The South Africans suffered his wrath in late 2008 where he picked up his best Test figures of 8-61, and it was a case of deja-vu as he put the hosts firmly in command.

It was a day in stark contrast to that of the first as Australia’s bowlers stuck to their task well by providing consistent line and length deliveries that bamboozled an out-of-sorts batting display. With only Strauss (52) and Ian Bell (53) providing any resistance, the common sight of an English collapse finally reared it’s ugly head once again.

But take nothing away from a disciplined bowling performance from Ricky Ponting’s side, it has provided them with a cornerstone for a comeback that would wipe the critic slate clean. Ponting (1) himself however will be battling personal demons after another failure with the bat, totaling a mere 83 runs at an average of 16.6 so far in the series, which will again raise questions over the skipper’s international future.

Despite being on the back foot however, the wickets of Phil Hughes (12), Ponting and Michael Clarke (20) will give England hope going into the third day. The recovery mounted at the Gabba will serve as inspiration, but Perth’s cracking track will be far more hostile for batsmen, and batting their way out of the current hole will be easier said than done.

So after being belted in Adelaide, the Aussies have begun to show the fight that gave them the fearsome reputation that they have enjoyed for many years. And after conceding only their third Test defeat in the last 18 home Tests’ against the Poms, the Baggy Green’s appear to have restored order, for now.

The Ashes: The Waca day one

Paul Collingwood is known for his spectacular catching ability, and at the end of day one he had put another nail in the coffin of Ricky Ponting’s (12) captaincy. Having already edged through the vacant fourth slip area without scoring the Aussie skipper almost gained another reprieve but for the athletic Collingwood who plucked a sumptuous one-handed catch off a ball that was travelling.

The Australian’s do not have fond memories of the Durham all-rounder, with Matt Hayden and Ponting again falling to his terrific abilities in matches past. Following on from the recalled Phil Hughes (2) dismissal, Ponting left the field in a state of disarray after his brief stint left the fragile Aussies on 17-2.

From thereon in it would prove a fruitless first session for the Baggy Greens’ as England’s seam attack ripped through a fragile and somewhat nervous batting line-up. Chris Tremlett (3-63), recalled to the squad after three years, merited his selection with some fine bowling that utilised the bounce and pace of the flat track.

But several wickets that fell were unnecessary, with Ponting, Michael Clarke (4), Steve Smith (7) and Brad Haddin (53) all falling to wayward shots, summing up the current plight they seem to be suffering. Mike Hussey (61) once again provided the base for a comeback, using guise and skill to frustrate England’s four-pronged attack.

Mitchell Johnson (62) went out guns blazing to temporarily put Steven Finn (2-86) and Graeme Swann (2-52) on the back foot. But after a brief spell of Australian tail-wagging the day belonged to a clinical England once again.

The passion and confidence of the tourists squad is higher than it has been in years, and despite Cricket Australia ringing the changes at every opportunity, it seems England are on the march to victory.

But of the 11 Test matches England have played at the Waca, their sole victory came in 1978, and that is a heavy weight that Strauss’s men seem confident in removing from their shoulders.

The Ashes: Perth preview

There was a time when Australia went on a 16 Test match winning run, beginning against Zimbabwe in 1999 before Pakistan, India, New Zealand and the West Indies were all swept away. Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel and Damien Fleming were in their prime and tearing through every batting line-up that was placed in front of them.

Today the bowling attack is beyond words in contrast. Insecure, underwhelming, a completely unknown quality in comparison. Following left-arm spinner Michael Beer's selection ahead of a beleaguered Xavier Doherty, Australia have selected seven main bowlers since the first Test in Brisbane.

Cricket Australia will be hoping that Beer, who has only played five first-class matches, could be a hidden gem in the rough as they continue to search for Shane Warne's replacement; by no means an easy task. His average of 39.93 is marginally better than his predecessor Doherty, but this continuous chopping and changing will eradicate any stability that the team is attempting to build.

Simon Katich's Achilles injury will prevent him from playing any further part in the series, but Marcus North's scores of 1, 26 and 22 have once again underlined his poor form. His replacement, Steve Smith scored well against England''s seam attack during Australia 'A's match prior to the first Test, notching a competent 59.

But James Anderson, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann are a different class in their current form, so the Baggy Green must hit the ground running if they are to impose themselves on a quick WACA pitch. Back in the day when Perth could claim it had one of the fastest tracks in the world, batsmen feared it and bowlers thrived on it, with severe cracks giving it a dangerous name.

Recent matches have dismissed it's dormant status, exploding once again to the delight of tall seam bowlers. Could this be where the towering Chris Tremlett takes the lead in the race for Stuart Broad's spot in the team?

Don't forget, it was here where West Indian seamer Curtly Ambrose took seven wickets for one run in less than an hour against Australia in the 1992-93 series. If cracks appear such as the crevasse that appeared in a recent match between second XI sides for Western Australia and New South Wales it would take a brave man to make a wager on the upcoming third Test.

It may also be here that the recalled Mitchell Johnson will rediscover his threat, which has thus far been absent to England's dominant batting line-up. He will be thankful that Doug Bollinger failed to take a grip on the spot given to him in the latest Test.

Despite the pitch's new-found trampoline-like bounce, the Australian side does not look like recreating the speed and precision that Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson used to dispatch England in the mid-seventies. Cricket Australia's inability to have faith within certain players will have confidence at an all-time low and to see Ricky Ponting's side walk away with anything looks unlikely.

A lack of height could prove the difference on an indifferent pitch, with Anderson, Finn and Tremlett all looking down on Australia's stout bowling attack. This could be curtains for Australia, and possibly Ricky Ponting's illustrious career as captain.

Final prediction: England win

Day five at the Adelaide Oval

Former England player Mike Gatting has fond memories on his travels to Australia, not least the 2-1 win they claimed over Allan Border's side during the 1986-87 tour. The burly England skipper, infamously known for being Shane Warne's first Test victim, is the latest England captain to have left Australia with the little urn.

Andrew Strauss is in danger of repeating this feat following their demolition of an Australian side devoid of organisation, incisiveness and confidence as they suffered their heaviest defeat to England since 'Gatters' career highlight 24 years ago.

It took less than an hour-and-a-half for England to banish the memories of Adelaide in 2006, Graeme Swann (5-91) claiming his tenth five-wicket haul in 25 Tests by bowling Peter Siddle (6) through the gate. It is England's biggest victory over Australia since Bill Lawry's side capitulated to lose by an innings and 81 runs at Sydney in 1965.

Now many fans would have been waiting for the inevitable England collapse that is standard procedure on every Ashes tour in recent times, but for some reason or another this team has some fight in it. Ranked fourth in the world Test rankings, the chasm in class that was on show underlined England's vast improvements in all departments.

You simply could not take anything away from England, it was the perfect game. With the benefit of hindsight, waking up to an England collapse on an Ashes Tour Down Under was almost a formality, so much so that anything other than a heavy beating would make any supporter choke on their toast.

Stuart Broad suffering a severe abdominal injury was the only downside to this scintillating performance. It will leave the 24-old-old unable to take any further part on the tour.

In their last two innings England have scored 1,137 runs for the loss of only six wickets, that in itself tells the story of how the Baggy green's bowling attack lacked depth, precision, consistency, I could go on but for the life of me I will run out of superlatives.

Pure and simply they looked ordinary, maybe that is because we have been exposed to the dazzling performances of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, and many more who gave every nation they came up against a schooling in cricket. We were almost expecting a continuing trend that failed to materialise, and this has brought Cricket Australia back to earth.

To follow on from such national heroes was always going to be difficult for Australia's new front-line attack, but fans all across the country will be turning in dismay, waiting and hoping that order can be restored. Shane Watson averaging 48, and Michael Hussey averaging 113.3 are the only two players who have shown real fight for the hosts' in this series.

England's top four now have top scores of 110 (Strauss), 235 not out (Cook), 135 not out (Trott) and 227 (Pietersen), a statistic that will leave England fans happily dumbfounded. So 1-0 it is, and with Perth next I think England can afford plenty of optimism.

Day four at the Adelaide Oval

After singing Kevin Pietersen's (227) praises for much of yesterday, he again proved to England why he is such an asset to the team. As a player he is undoubtedly talented, but his influence on the field has been a far greater gift, a talisman by name and nature.

Despite only adding 14 to his overnight score before falling to victim off a slog-sweep off Xavier Doherty (1-158), KP made his highest ever international score, beating his previous best of 226. Receiving a warm round of applause from all corners of the ground on his departure, the 30-year-old has hit form just when needed, leaving Ricky Ponting in a dire frame of mind.

Two scores of 158 and now a 227 will tell you that Pietersen is settling into a good trend against the Baggy Green. At the Oval in 2005 he saved England's second innings, seeing them home to the draw they craved when defeat seemed inevitable. The other was at this very ground four years ago, but as we all know, England imploded spectacularly.

Ian Bell (68 not out) continued his rich vein of form while Matt Prior (27 not out) survived a pair by the skin of his teeth before entering one-day mode to pile the misery on the Aussie bowlers. So 375 runs separated the respective first-innings' totals, an interesting reminder of the gulf in class for this match.

Simon Katich (43), suffering from an Achilles injury, finally faced his first ball after four days of waiting, but was unable to provide any serious heroics. Ponting (9) became the outstanding Graeme Swann's second victim to round off a poor Test for the captain.

Shane Watson (57) once again failed to convert a gritty half-century into something more substantial, nicking Steven Finn to Andrew Strauss. With his new status as a 'walking wicket' weighing him down, Michael Clarke (80) produced a stirring knock to keep his critics at bay.

You could not have written a script for this series, and another day ended in curious fashion, part-time spinner Pietersen providing the perfect end to the perfect day by taking the wicket of Clarke with the final ball as the sun sank behind the stands. With confidence soaring, a jubilant Pietersen claimed, "I'm an all-rounder now".

Steady Kev, keep that ego in check, on second thought it could be the first time an international side has beaten the Aussies in their own backyard by an innings since 1993. Maybe we can afford a little excitement.