Cricket Unfiltered: Why the Adelaide day-night Test will decide the Ashes
HEADING into the Adelaide Day night/Test Australia have a big problem writes Cricket Unfiltered podcast host Andrew Menczel. They don’t win close Ashes series.
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HEADING into the Adelaide Day night/Test Australia have a big problem. They don’t win close Ashes series.
The day-night pink ball Adelaide Test will resemble English conditions more than any other ground during the series. The swing in the air and movement off the pitch brings the experienced English bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad right into the contest.
If England can win the Second Test and level the Ashes series then recent history would suggest England will go on and win the Ashes.
It may be hard to fathom but Australia have an abysmal record in tight Ashes series and have a terrible record in deciding Ashes tests.
Let’s look at some crucial Ashes tests Australia have flopped in.
In the Fourth Test of the epic 2005 Ashes series Australia lost by three wickets after having to follow on in the first innings. They lost the series and the Ashes.
In the 2009 Ashes Australia headed into the series-deciding Fifth Test full of confidence after smashing England by an innings in the preceding Test. Australia needed a win or draw to retain the Ashes.
LISTEN! Geoff Lawson believes ABC Radio has lost touch with its cricket audience, The Sun’s John Etheridge dissects ‘Headbutt-Gate’ while Mike Colman gives his verdict on the first Test.
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But led by a Stuart Broad spell of 5-37 England won the Test by 197 runs, won the series and regained the Ashes.
Fast forward to the Ashes Boxing Day Test of 2010 and the series was level 1-1. Australia needed to win or draw the match to stay in the series.
They fell woefully far short. Australia were bowled out for just 98 on the first day and in reply England made a mammoth 513. Australia lost by an innings and plenty.
England went on to win the series 3-1 and retained the Ashes.
In 2015 the Ashes series was tied at one-all going into the Third Test. Australia lost the match by eight wickets after being dismissed for 136 in their first innings on the back of James Anderson’s 6-47.
But things got even worse in the next Test.
Australia were desperate for a win to stay in the series but were embarrassingly bowled out for just 60 with Stuart Broad taking 8-15. Australia went on to lose the contest by a whopping innings and 78 runs.
They surrendered the Ashes, the series and a fair bit of national pride.
Australia have lost all the recent close Ashes series and get blown away by the Poms in deciding Ashes tests.
What does all this tell you?
Australia are great frontrunners, as evidenced by the 5-0 Ashes whitewashes of 2007
and 2014, but in a scrappy tight series England have the advantage.
This is why Adelaide will decide the Ashes.
If England can level the series one-all under lights with the pink ball then we will be in for a cracking summer with a likely English win.
But if England lose then 5-0 for Australia is back in play.
This week on the Cricket Unfiltered Podcast former Australian fast bowler and current NSW bowling coach Geoff Lawson gives some great insights into the current Australian fast bowlers and the English coach Trevor Bayliss.
Lawson is also a willing participant in the commentary critique segment. John Etheridge from The Sun and Mike Colman from the Courier Mail also joins the show.