Comment: Aussie batting shown up yet again as David Warner plays lone hand in run chase

COMMENT: IT IS a poor reflection on Australian cricket when a miscreant who missed a month through suspension was the most poised batsman out there.

RICHIE Benaud was yet to be appointed captain the last time Australia lost three Ashes series in a row.

This Australian side has now suffered the same unfortunate fate as those teams from 1953 to ’56 after England won the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street to go 3-0 up in the series. The last Test begins at the Oval next Wednesday.

The collapse that saw Australia tumble from 0-109 to all out 224, losing by 74, was oh so predictable given what has been on display for much of this largely disappointing series.

It all came to a sad end at 7.39pm local time amid milky light and long shadows as England strove to end the match in four days.

The statistics say it all. England has scored more than 300 five times and Australia just once, 7-527 declared in the last Test at Old Trafford when England lost the toss for the only time in the series and was saved by rain.

Australia has used eight batsmen in this series and only three of them have managed to average 30, Michael Clarke (49), Chris Rogers (43) and Warner (30), although a couple of the bowlers have managed better than most batsmen.

It is a poor reflection on Australian cricket that just the captain, a left field selection who will be 36 this month and a miscreant who missed a month through suspension should have the only passable figures.

Even good sides would have struggled with the 299 Australia was set for a most unlikely victory.

Bradman’s Invincibles were the only Australian team to successfully chase more in England, making 3-404 at Headingley in 1948.

There is a silver lining to the sea of batting gloom, David Warner’s 71 in a century opening partnership with Chris Rogers.

When Warner went caught behind off a Tim Bresnan lifter the game changed. Suddenly England went from the hunted to the hunter as Australia lost 8-56.

It is hard to believe that someone who has been so flaky on and off the field during his short, action-packed career could be so reassuring but that is how it felt when Warner was at the crease.

A rare batting talent in a largely barren land, Warner’s ability to take on the fast bowlers with a minimum of fuss automatically transfers the pressure back onto those delivering the ball.

By opening with Warner instead of keeping him at number six, the original plan for the Ashes tour, it also keeps the left hander away from Graeme Swann's off-spinners until set.

The contrast between Warner searching tentatively for the ball spinning across him when he first comes in and looking to attack Swann from the outset as an opener could not be greater.

The gung ho Warner was on full display. He had made a run a ball when Swann was brought on to bowl the 16th over.

Warner advanced to the third ball and hit it inside out over extra cover for six. Statement made.

For all his faults and foibles, it is a shame Australia does not have more like Warner.
 

David Warner