England vs Australia 2015: Cricket’s most celebrated rivalry deserves better contests

Australia finally clinched the One-Day International (ODI) series against England 3-2 in what proved to be an anticlimactic finale. The comfortable eight-wicket win was yet another instance of how one-sided virtually every match of the tour has been so far. Shiamak Unwalla feels the overall effect was diminished due to a lack of even contests. CRICKET SCORECARD: England vs Australia, 5th ODI at Old Trafford

The record books will show a 3-2 win for England in The Ashes 2015 and a 3-2 win for Australia in this ODI series. For future generations, this might be considered one of Australia’s finest tours of England yet, given that every match played produced a result. However, those who watched the tour live will know how the level of cricket on display was grossly under-par.

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None of the Tests lasted a full five days. If Mitchell Johnson ran through England at Lord’s, it was Stuart Broad’s turn to rip Australia apart at Trent Bridge. In between James Anderson and Steven Finn wrecked havoc as well. Steven Smith and Joe Root did the bulk of the scoring for their respective sides, backed up by Chris Rogers (Australia) and the tail (England). England won the series because Australia lost it; the cricket on display was far from exemplary.

This continued in the ODIs as well. Australia smashed past England in the first two games before the hosts annihilated their challengers in the third match. The fourth ODI was probably the only close match of the series, with England chasing down 300 with three wickets remaining. The fifth and final match was the decider, the final match of a long and arduous tour. It ended up being yet another wet blanket, with an early umpiring error not being referred by England, and their captain sitting out after getting a concussion thanks to a Mitchell Starc bouncer.  VIDEO: Eoin Morgan hit on head by Mitchell Starc bouncer during 5th ODI at Old Trafford

In contrast, the all-too-brief three-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka provided some riveting cricket. When it seemed like Sri Lanka were down and out in the first Test, Dinesh Chandimal turned the tide with a phenomenal counterattack, and then with very little to chase India capitulated to that man Rangana Herath. The Indians pulled up their socks and came back with back-to-back wins, pulling off a 2-1 victory after losing the first Test, and returning triumphant from the island nation for the first time in over two decades. That was cricket as it was meant to be; hard-fought and gritty.

Australia and England may have a traditionally iconic rivalry but sadly this tour offered a poor advertisement to that history.

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)