The Ashes 2015 has seen some striking individual performances in the first two Tests, with the likes of Mitchell Johnson, Steve Smith, Chris Rogers, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes doing well. However, while some players have done well, a lot of the batsmen on either side have failed to make an impact. Shiamak Unwalla wonders what has happened to these. READ: Mitchell Johnson will need to prove that Lord’s was no flash in the pan
It might be too early to pass judgement, given that only two Tests have been played so far, but most of the batsmen on both sides are yet to come to the party. Australia have been helped by the fact that the world’s best Test batsman — according to the rankings anyway — bats at No. 3 for them. It also helps that one of their openers has scored more First-Class runs in England than most of England’s top and middle-order. That being said, barring Steve Smith and Chris Rogers — and to a lesser extent David Warner — none of Australia’s batsmen have looked in any sort of form. READ: Ashes 2015: The No. 3 Conundrum for England
Michael Clarke has scored a mere 81 runs in four innings without ever going past 38. Adam Voges has mustered 31 runs in three innings. Shane Watson, Mitchell Marsh, Brad Haddin, and Peter Nevill have played one Test each, but none have scored more than 45 in an innings. Perhaps the most incriminating stat for Australia is that Mitchell Johnson has outscored every Australian batsman from No. 4 downwards. READ: Australia levelling an Ashes series in the second Test after losing the first
England do not have it much better. Joe Root won them the first Test with an excellent century, but even he was dropped in that innings before he could score a run. Ben Stokes has shown a penchant for counter-attacking, but he is yet to get a big innings under his belt. Alastair Cook has been resolute, but inconsistent. And Moeen Ali’s abilities against the short ball remain suspect as ever. They remain competent, though. This cannot be said of the other England batsmen. Adam Lyth has struggled severely, and averages just 12.5 in four innings. Gary Ballance scored 61 in one innings but has looked so bad that he has been dropped from the squad after two Tests. Ian Bell looked moderately good in one innings but still averages a mere 18.25, and Jos Buttler has failed to go past 27 so far in the series. READ: Mitchell Johnson leads Australia’s roar back in Ashes 2015
It seems that the batsmen on both sides have still to turn up. Both teams seem to be carrying more excess baggage than actual cargo, and the fat will need to be trimmed sooner rather than later. For now, it seems that the third Test of The Ashes 2015 at Birmingham will be decided more on the basis of which team’s bowlers can take 20 wickets faster. READ: England’s scars deepen after monumental thrashing by Australia at Lord’s in Ashes 2015
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)
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