Australia’s aggression with the ball and bat are the blueprint
of Australia’s dominance in the first Ashes Test. After
claiming England had played ‘dour’ cricket in England, Lehmann and the Australian
team have took on England with the aggression that has been customary to
Australian sides of the past.
Ever since Lehmann took over the side he has advocated the enterprising
style of cricket and in conditions that assist that brand of cricket, Australia
have forced England into their shell.
Lehmann push for playing the assertive style is enhanced by
the Australian conditions and the top six batsmen. Warner, Watson, Smith and Clarke Australia
have four players that have the potential to change the duration of match in a
session especially in their home conditions.
With the Kookaburra losing its shine after 30 over’s, Australian batsmen
have strict mindset to attack. It was illustrated by Haddin and Smith in the
first innings by pulling short of the length balls to the boundary. Then once again today, once Warner and Clarke
were set, they hit the ball on top of the bounce, an ability that comes natural
to them. Such shots poses high risks
with the duke ball in England but in Australia if the shots can be executed
properly can produce a lot of runs. They
are shots Australia is willing to play and take on England.
On the other side of the fence, the only batsmen in England
capable of playing such shots in Kevin Peitersen, all the others are prefer to
play the waiting game. It is a style that is enhanced by the duke ball and the
English conditions.
With the ball, the catalyst has been Mitchell Johnson, the
left armer ability to bowl sharp rising balls at over 90mph have left the
England top order clueless at times. While
Johnson has tendency to be erratic, the batsmen are so conscious of his pace they
have failed to put the bad balls away. Johnson tactic of bowling at the body has
forced England to play the ball instead of sitting back and leaving it. The aggression has forced England out of
their comfort zone something Lehmann wanted his team to do.
The issue for England is Australian bowling is so
disciplined with the lines and length it is impossible to score of likes of
Siddle, Harris and Lyon unless the English batsmen decide to take a slight risk.
On top of that Clarke innovative captaincy also ensures England is not assured
easy runs and his field settings have the choking feel on the batsmen.
Even today, Carberry might have been unlucky with his
dismissals as Ian Chappell said “if you are imparting the backspin on the ball
it means the ball has hit the bat, rather than the bat hitting the ball”.
England will continue to face the intimidation from the
Australian all series, it is important their batsmen show positive intent and
play the brand of cricket that is needed to put Australia on the back foot. If they continue with the ‘dour’ style, their
hopes of regaining the Ashes could evaporate even before Christmas.
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