‘Clueless’: Ashes image exposes baffling tactic as ‘rattled’ Aussies lost for answers

Pat Cummins and the Aussies were completely lost for answers against England, resorting to a tactic that had many scratching their heads.

Australia is at risk of heading into the fifth Ashes Test with the series all square at 2-2 after a lacklustre display in the field on Day 2 at Old Trafford.

After wasting an ideal opportunity to set up a large first innings total on Day 1, Australia was slapped around like a second-tier country as Zak Crawley scored 189 at better than a run-a-ball and England finished 4/384 at stumps with a lead of 67 runs.

The Aussies were knocked over for 317 before lunch and were already trailing midway through the third session as they finally felt the full force of Bazball.

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Cummins raised eyebrows in the first Test when he opted for defensive fields, including putting a man at deep point within the first hour of play at Edgbaston.

The defensive approach, and playing the hare to England’s tortoise, paid off for Australia with two thrilling wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s as they took a 2-0 lead.

But the ease with which Crawley, Joe Root and Moeen Ali scored showed England are every chance to win the series 3-2 as the Aussies look lost for answers.

Cummins’ field placements appeared erratic and were again put under the microscope as he failed to contain Crawley and gave Joe Root (84) the warmest of welcomes at the start of his innings before he too got away.

At one point to Crawley the Aussies had a fly slip, a fly gully and a deep backward point and it left an exasperated Mark Waugh tweeting: “I just can’t get my head around these Aust field placements on the off side.”

Two fly slips and a deep point. That is … different. #Ashespic.twitter.com/h0t8r7s2l0

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) July 20, 2023

Australia’s unusual field placements, and the frequency with which they changed, were criticised by cricket pundits.

Sports commentator Adam White said: “The Australians spend far too long setting fields. They need to hurry up. And they don’t set particularly good ones either.”

Cricket writer Bharat Sundaresan said: “Never expected to type this out at the start of this series but it’s safe to say that Zak Crawley currently seems to have Australia more rattled than even Ben Stokes did at Lord’s & Leeds.

“The fields & plans are changing literally every two deliveries.”

The Grade Cricketer’s Ian Higgins said: “Not sure I have any solutions either but been a long time since I’ve seen Australia look this clueless with the ball or in the field.”

It was one of Pat Cummins’ worst days as Australian captain. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The slip cordoned was emptied seven balls into Root’s innings and ex-England captain Nasser Hussain was cutting with his comments about Australia’s rudderless approach.

“They have been sloppy, haven’t they, Australia? Probably their poorest day of the series,” he said.

“They have been scrappy. Dropped catches. Fielders haven’t picked up balls. Lots of players waving their arms around.

“Often when you look down on the Australian side historically you know who the captain is, whether it be Taylor, Border, Ponting Waugh.

“If you look down today there have been a lot of cricketers waving their arms around trying to help their captain, Cummins.”

Cummins finished with 0/93 from 16 overs to be the clear weak link in the Aussie pace attack.

It was a long day in the field for the Aussies. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Mitchell Starc (2/74 from 15 overs), Josh Hazlewood (1/62 from 15) and Cameron Green (1/40 from 10) were all far more economical as England appeared to target the Aussie skipper.

The decision to enter the match without a frontline spinner was also debated after Travis Head (0/48 from six overs) was quickly hit out of the contest.

Everything went right for England as even the gamble to bat Moeen Ali at first drop paid off as he delivered a half century.

Rain looms as Australia’s only hope.

It would be one of the least satisfying ways to retain the Ashes — being saved by the weather in a match you’re being dominated in.

But if the Aussies can bat long enough on day three and the rain arrives on the weekend they may be able to avoid heading to The Oval with the series still alive.