Ashes 2015: The Aussie media are celebrating their easiest win since Don Bradman was about
Sunday 19 July 2015 22:37, UK
Distraught after defeat in Cardiff, the Australian media outlets are predictably a lot more happy with life after the tourists romped to a 405-run second Test win over England on an amazing day at Lord’s.
The series is now level at 1-1 but for, the time being, the Aussies are enjoying their return to form rather than looking too far forward.
Here is a sample of some of the comment and reaction:
ANDREW RAMSEY, CRICKET AUSTRALIA
Andrew Ramsey summed it all up with: “On a summer afternoon that must rank alongside the dominance of anything seen in the previous series whitewash in Australia, and one of the most dismal in a summer that had seen England reborn, the home team was bowled out for a scant 103 inside three hours in perfect weather.
“On a pitch that their bowlers, their supporters and many a bemused commentator had labelled a blight on the game, it was apparently laughable to foresee 40 wickets falling.
“As they didn’t. In fact, Australia managed to lose just 10 (plus one retired) across their two days at the crease and the last couple of those were gifts as they chased fast runs this morning.”
And Ramsey pointed out that it is England who now appear to have all the problems.
He wrote: “So far have the respective roles reversed, the England selectors who were happily sitting back after Cardiff thinking that only an injury or two would force them to consult over their line-up, now have more headaches than those Australia fans revelling in the win will feel tomorrow.”
CHRIS BARRETT, THE AGE (AMONG OTHERS)
Chris Barrett kindly pointed out that England have only ever been beaten by a bigger margin in Ashes Tests when the Aussies had the greatest player of all time in the line-up.
He wrote: “A 405-run demolition, a stunning turnaround from a 169-run defeat inside four days in Cardiff, leaves the momentum firmly with Australia, with a short break before the third Test begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday week. The only two occasions England have lost an Ashes Test by more runs was when Don Bradman was playing for Australia.”
Mitchell Johnson bounced back from a below-par Test by his standards in Cardiff with an outstanding display at Lord’s and Barrett added: “Johnson, mocked by the crowd in south Wales after recording the worst figures of his career in the first innings there, had the last laugh in north London and is now only one more wicket away from joining the exclusive 300 club.
“Not only did he leave England's batsmen second-guessing themselves with his hostility, almost as if he was steaming in at the WACA and not the far more sedate strip at Lord's, but he popped up in the field to complete an embarrassing run out of Ben Stokes that sealed the hosts' humiliation.”
FOX SPORTS
Oh right, that Ben Stokes run-out. Please, we don’t want to hear any more about it! Ah … Fox Sports have other ideas:
“If there was one dismissal that summed up England’s dismal performance at Lord’s, it was the run out of Ben Stokes.
“Stokes was caught short of his ground by a throw from Mitchell Johnson after the England all-rounder inexplicably decided not to slide his bat into the crease.
“The throw came close to hitting Stokes and there were suggestions he was put off by the ball being in his vicinity, but he could have easily avoided contact and still managed to ground his bat.
“Instead, both his feet were in the air, as was his bat, when the ball clattered into the stumps to have him run out for a duck.
“After being lauded as English cricket’s saviour and the next Ian Botham following a superb performance in the first Test at Cardiff, this served as a little reminder that Stokes still has a fair way to go before he can be deemed the finished product.”
BEN HORNE, NEWS CORP
Ben Horne of News Corp also made the point that Australia apparently managed to smuggle a different wicket into the middle when England batted.
He wrote: “This was a wicket that was supposed to be a batsman’s paradise, but Australia’s high-voltage pace attack proved that relentless hostile bowling can rattle England’s jumpy top order on even the bleakest surface.”
Chris Rogers unfortunately had to retire hurt in the second innings after suffering a dizzy spell and Horne pointed out that events at Lord’s may have big ramifications for three Aussie veterans, the other two of whom did not play in the match.
He added: “Australia might have produced the biggest turnaround in Ashes history but the landscape has changed so enormously for three key individuals in the past five days that major selection decisions loom for Birmingham.
“Proceedings started in Cardiff with veterans Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin intrinsic to Australia’s plans of breaking a 14-year Ashes drought on UK soil.
“They were all on the wrong side of 34, but ‘Dad’s Army’ was justifiably marching on regardless.
“However, for varying and complex reasons, there are now doubts over whether the trio will play a further part in the rest of the series.”
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