The Australian cricket team must seize their chances if they are to compete in the Ashes

ASKED what the feeling was like in the Australian rooms as the latest collapse became an avalanche, captain Michael Clarke said it was hard to tell.

ASKED what the feeling was like in the Australian rooms as the latest collapse became an avalanche, captain Michael Clarke said it was hard to tell.

"There were batsmen putting pads on, batsmen taking pads off." Tasks completed with apparent success. Proving there is at least one aspect of batting the Australians have fully mastered.

But as wickets tumbled at a rate usually only associated with broken election promises, other signs of batting competency were much harder to come by.

Indeed, the latest catastrophe happened in such a blur of flying bails and screamed appeals it was hard to know what to make of it all.

Although, if you had Australia’s second innings in scorecard form, the best thing to make was a ball scrunched tightly enough to throw with violent force at the nearest waste paper basket.

Abject, pitiful, humiliating. Just some of the words that fail to do justice to an afternoon when Australia managed to turn, in one session, the makings of a famous victory into yet another embarrassing capitulation.

Yes, Stuart Broad bowled brilliantly. Yes, the conditions were difficult. Yes, the target of 299 was, for Australia in England, historically immense.

Usman Khawaja

But when a team plunges from 1-120  at tea, to all-out 224 in the next elongated session, even the best reasons can sound as hollow as a cheap easter egg.

Particularly when the rump of the batting order loses, in 56 startlingly inept balls, 5-13.

So, as the apparent revival at Old Trafford leads only to a 3-0 drubbing, and the Australians suffer a seventh defeat in the eight Tests, how to view the latest debacle?

Do we face the bleeding obvious? That, even allowing for the skilled and merciless nature of the opposition, Australia’s batting line-up remains sadly lacking in talent, dedication, application or all of the above.

In that regard, it seems cruel to choose a scapegoat from such a large herd. But Usman Khawaja’s insipid half shuffle that had him trapped LBW by Graeme Swann was symptomatic of Australia’s malaise.

Australia was 1-147 at the time, and Khawaja needed only to support David Warner. Instead, yet another young player given his chance failed to seize the moment, or even to play his role.

Or do we keep rummaging through the charred remains of a failed campaign, looking for reasons to convince ourselves that, with just a bit of time and experience, this team will have England’s measure? Even by next summer.

Warner’s accomplished  71, in partnership with the worthy Rogers, was the latest small mercy. In his composure, and his relative orthodoxy, Warner finally inflicted some truly painful blows on England.

Otherwise, you have to again fall back on the opportunities Australia has created – but not exploited - to find consolation.

A narrow loss in Trent Bridge, the chance of victory at Old Trafford ruined by rain and, twice, a winning position at Chester-le-Street that could, and possibly should, have been exploited.

First when they had England 3-49 in the second innings, effectively 3/17 given Australia’s first innings lead. Then at 1-147, when Khawaja shuffled when he should have moved decisively.

But, as England captain Alastair Cook said: "We’ve learnt to not to get beaten when we’re up against it...and we take it by the scruff of the neck when we have a chance."

An example. Australia had resumed at 5-222 on the third day and England rolled them for just 270. The next day, England resumed at 5-234 and bunted then bashed their way to 330.

The difference was not overwhelming, but significant. Almost, it turned out, the final margin between the two teams.
England squeezed every drop out of its innings. Australia could not maintain its grip.

You can study the numbers and believe the gap between these teams is not great. But, until Australia learns how to seize their chances, the gap between their achievements will remain immense.

TIMELINE OF AUSTRALIAN FOURTH INNINGS COLLAPSE CHASING 299 TO WIN ON DAY FOUR OF THE FIFTH TEST AT CHESTER-LE-STREET:
Chris Rogers (1-109) at 4.31pm
Usman Khawaja (2-147) at 5.26pm
David Warner (3-168) at 5.44pm
Michael Clarke (4-174) at 6.10pm
Steve Smith (5-175) at 6.22pm
Shane Watson (6-179) at 6.29pm
Brad Haddin (7-181) at 6.39pm
Ryan Harris (8-199) at 6.59pm
Nathan Lyon (9-211) at 7.14pm
Peter Siddle (10-224) at 7.40pm