Published: Aug 19, 2015, 04:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 19, 2015, 04:40 PM (IST)
Despite all the eye-grabbing performances to regain the urn in dramatic fashion, England will lose some of their sheen in case of domination by underdogs Australia, in the final Test at The Oval. Do the visitors have stomach for a challenge, to send a fighting leader into retirement with a smile? Abhishek Mukherjee previews the upcoming event, the last international cricket assignment for Michael Clarke.
The culmination of a five-Test Ashes series will be best served if there is the urn on the line, but despite a one-sided contest this summer, the final Test at The Oval will be an emotional one. Michael Clarke, the last link to the distinguished Australian team of the 2000s, will not play international cricket for his country any more. It is hard to conceive a win when the wheels have fallen off, but when the occasion is big, and amid huge adversity, a stunning comeback for pride cannot be ruled out from a wounded side. The ‘Dad’s Army’ is likely to fade away after this tour, but it will want to make a statement of intent before departing the arena.
The four Tests have been convincingly won; three by England, and one by Australia. It had been hard to keep track of a pattern to pin the results down to in the initial half of the series, but now it is clear the nemesis for Australia has been its poor batting against a quality seam attack at home. This attack took 15 of the 20 wickets in the first Test in Cardiff, 19 out of 20 wickets at Edgbaston in the third Test, and all 20 in the series-clinching fourth Test at Trent Bridge. Mark Wood and Ben Stokes have contributed with crucial spells, but most importantly, Stuart Broad has stepped up to fill the void left by the exit of James Anderson due to injury. Broad has now taken 21 wickets in eight innings at 18.09. READ: Pat Cummins might play 5th Ashes Test at the Oval after good tour match
At The Oval, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is likely to return to the Australian side, and Mark Wood is likely to sit out of England’s line-up. Otherwise, the teams may have the same playing eleven from the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, a dramatic one, with Australia being bowled out for 60 in the first innings en route to an innings defeat.
The criticism of the Australian team and the disarray they find themselves in cannot be a positive lead-up to the upcoming Test, as it makes the team jittery and full of doubts. Cracks seen are reminiscent of their tour of India in 2013, in which the ‘homework’ scandal provided a highlight of the confusion the team found themselves in. However, unlike then, many stalwarts are about to disappear. READ: David Warner named vice-captain of Australian Test side
The reality is at most times, in the middle: all cannot be bad for a side that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, clinched an Ashes series 5-0 in 2013-14 and defeated the No. 1 Test side, South Africa, in their own backyard. If only the shakiness against moving ball is addressed, and the bowling made to sizzle, as in the Lord’s Test only a short while ago, much can be redeemed.
Clarke, in the lead up to his farewell Test, said, “I think this Test is as much about our character as anything else. We need to play with that resilience and grit and determination and really fight as hard as we possibly can. The past couple of Tests in particular have only gone two and a half days so we need to try and take this as deep as we possibly can. That’s going to come down to fight – and that’s a big part of why you play, why you look forward to playing cricket for Australia.” READ: Michael Clarke urges fans to be patient following Ashes 2015 loss
It seems lives have changed in the two fateful Tests talked about, at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge. Alastair Cook has got his smile back, and Clarke, his frown. Efforts will be made to balance the lopsided and bizarre flow of the tour, when probability, at least on the surface, did not suggest such turn of events. But when grit and determination are two qualities sought in the final endeavour, there is one thing very clear to both camps: there are cold, hard facts, and planning, behind such a clinical reversal.
‘We’ll have to look at the data.’ A refrain associated in a negative sense with England, finds resonance in the Australian team. Darren Lehmann must surely have looked at the facts, but his camp will be well advised to take a harder look, at least for one final time.
Squads:
England: Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Adam Lyth, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood
Australia: Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, Pat Cummins, Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson, Ryan Harris
Time: 11:00 local | 10:00 GMT | 15:30 IST
(Abhishek Mukherjee is a reporter with CricketCountry. His Twitter handle is @bhejafryyy)
