England v Australia, 2nd Test, Day 4 - Australia have bounced back in style!

After a clinical performance at Cardiff, such a dismal show from England was quite unexpected. They gained the momentum in Cardiff, but failed to hold on to it as they were outplayed and outsmarted by a professional Australian unit. The English simply failed to put up a fight against the Aussies  and their meek surrender was not an easy one to digest for their supporters.

It was a ruthless Australia! Brilliant Australia! Professional Australia! Yes, the Australians have bounced back at Lord’s in a clinical fashion. They were down and out in Cardiff, and  it didn’t dent Australia’s confidence, but in turn, that defeat made them determined enough to dish out such a riveting display. On a sun-kissed day at Lord’s, England’s miseries knew no bound.  

What makes these Aussies to fight in such a ruthless and professional manner? In my opinion, the enriched and professional cricket culture of Australia aids them not only to play like a champion, but create champions as well.  Yes, lean-patches do visit their cricket, but those dark phases are transient and ebb away fast due to a professional cricketing infrastructure. Their cricket players and hierarchy are well-equipped in knowing where the mistakes are being made and then., quickly rectify them. Above all, temperamentally, each Australian is a champion.

For the past few days, I have read  various opinions where some were repeatedly saying that the Lord’s track was a placid. If it was that flat then why the English batsmen failed to capitalize on it? Yes, the track didn’t have enough spice on it like Cardiff, but it was certainly not as dead as Ahmedabad, Lahore or Khulna. The track was almost like Adelaide where you can fetch good results if you land the cherry on the right line-and length and if the batsmen know the value of uplifting and slowing down the tempo according to the demand of the situation then you can reap a rich harvest here. Australia applied it, whereas England failed to to do the same.

Mitchell Johnson was fiery. His odd nasty bouncers and well directed short-pitch stuffs were bone-chilling. The English batsmen were reminded of Brisbane 2013 while there some good contributions from Hazlewood, Marsh and Starc. The Australian pacers bowled with deceptive pace and enough discipline – a criteria which have been a trademark of this Australian team since the Ashes 2013. Pace and discipline in combination can do anything. It’s a lethal combination and when movement gets added, it becomes a devastating bomb.

Mitchell Marsh has proved his worth in Lord’s and it seems that Shane Watson’s Test career will be laid to rest.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar