Published: Aug 07, 2015, 02:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 07, 2015, 03:14 AM (IST)
It was a historic day of cricket, one which Australia would want to forget and England will savour for years to come. Australia were bundled our for a meek 60 in just 18.3 Overs after Stuart Broad finished with career-best figures of 8 for 15. But in between all this, there were two men who were under a lot of scrutiny going into this match. For Australia it was their skipper Michael Clarke and for England it was their opening batsman Adam Lyth. Both of them had a chance to score big and put questions over their place in the side to bed, but that did not happen. Pramod Ananth elaborates.
It was a contrasting situation for both Michael Clarke and Adam Lyth. Clarke came out to bat when his side were 10 for 3 and needed him to play a big innings. For Lyth it was just a question of getting his eye in and taking England to a position from where they can easily fly home. It has been 11 innings since Clarke scored a century, and he has not managed a half-century after that. He was under the cosh going into this game as he had not contributed much throughout this series. His scores of 38, 4, 7, 32*, 10, 3, and 10 in this series does not reflect well on a player who has an average of close to 50 in Tests. The Clarke the world knows is a brave player, who has been the pillar of Australia’s batting line-up over the years. His magnificent century in and against South Africa, which he scored with a broken shoulder, will always be remembered by cricket fans around the world. READ: Australia’s no-show against menacing Stuart Broad will haunt them for years
Clarke had an opportunity in the fourth Ashes 2015 Test to once again assert his dominance. He had the chance to play a calm innings at one end and bank upon someone at the other end to give him some support. He had the chance to lead from the front and take Australia to a respectable total. Granted, Broad and the other English bowlers were on the money throughout, but looking at the way England batted on the same pitch, one gets the feeling Australia just did not apply themselves one bit and Clarke chasing a ball way outside off to get out for 10 just proves that. A chance to put his critics to rest seems to have vanished. READ: Stuart Broad shows a rare glimpse of history in Ashes 2015 4th Test at Trent Bridge
The same can perhaps be said of Lyth, who had a good beginning to his Test career after scoring a century against New Zealand in only his second Test match. It has been a downward slump for Lyth since. The Yorkshire batsman scored heavily in the domestic circuit and thus warranted a place in the England side. Many thought that England’s opening woes would be solved with the arrival of Lyth, but it has sadly not turned out that way. Despite over 6,000 First-Class runs under his belt, Lyth has found it a tad difficult to adjust to international cricket. Like most, he too is a little suspect while playing outside his off stump. He can take a cue from his skipper Alastair Cook, who has shown excellent awareness of where his off stump is these days. He does not chase deliveries pitched outside off, in a way forcing the bowler to bowl to his strengths and thereby getting the runs. READ: Australia’s collapse at Trent Bridge among worst in history
With Australia bundled out for just 60, Lyth opening the innings could have got a quiet fifty or even more, which not only would have put serious pressure on Australia, but would have given his teammates and the selectors the confidence that they have made the right call. Lyth has wasted his opportunity and it will not be a surprise if he is not considered for upcoming series. READ: Australia desperately need Mitchell Starc to strike in Ashes 2015
Australia are well and truly on their way to lose the match and also the series. But had Clarke and Lyth shown a little more character, they could have at least saved themselves from more criticism, which will be thrown at them regardless of the outcome of the match. They will have to wait for the next Test to prove their mettle for possibly the final time. READ: Under-fire Michael Clarke needs expert help to battle himself out of danger
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
