All Over Red Rover...

Well, its all over.  We have lost the Ashes.  After weeks of lack of sleep and sitting up until all hours, it has come to nought.  I really thought we had some hope today when we took 4 wickets in the first session, but the costly dropping of Pietersen on 0, 15 and even 60 cost us big time.  On reflection, we were totally outplayed and didn’t deserver to win or even draw the series.  We took the First Test easily but then the next 4 were all England with the whip hand.  Sure we only lost by small margins, but still we were fighting hard to keep up with England.

So after 18yrs, The Ashes are in England’s possession and I am old enough to remember when we won it off them but I don’t really recall being under the hammer by them and fighting to win it back except for one memory of going to the SCG and seeing Greg Ritchie getting bowled by Dilley and Australia collapsing on the first test in that series… that must have been in 1984?

So now we are in a new era of Australian cricket.  There is no point in getting too despondent and I am already looking forward to the return bout in Australia in 18mths time.  It is good to see competitive cricket again rather than the fodder that has been served up to us in the past 5 years or so.

But having said that, changes need to be made.  Warne said after last nights play that he looked forward to the return series in 2007/08 and I think he may be able to hang on.  But as for the rest of the team, I would expect McGrath, Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Gilchrist to be gone from the XI that played last night.  Also fringe players Gillespie, Kasprowicz would also be gone.  That means we need to find 3 batsmen and 3 bowlers and a keeper to come through in the next 12 months.

For keeping, I am not sure of his age, but Brad Haddin seems to be the heir apparent.  A good batsman, he will play both Tests and ODI so I think unless there is an unfortunate event, he will be the next Test keeper.  Gilchrist’s glove work was very sloppy last night.  He did take a good catch off McGrath, but there were byes and he wasn’t getting across to take legside deliveries from Warne.  His batting is off the boil too… so he probably has only 6mths in the team.

Batsmen:  Hussey is a clear candidate.  Hodge has had a good domestic season last year and got a tour but did nothing but sight seeing.  This seasons Sheffield Shield will determine the next Test batsman.

Bowlers:  MacGill needs to get more time, but he is behind Warne who has not let age detract from his bowling.  Warne’s slip fielding is horrendous at the moment, so if we can hide him in the field, he can still play.  We may need to look at the option of playing two spinners more often just so that we can maintain winning form.  In the pace department, Tait has shown promise and although a little bit rattled by Pietersen last night, will come good with time.  Stuart Clark of NSW has been pulled into the squad to cover for injury and he looks like a likely candidate.  The pace bowling is a worry though and again we need someone to step up in the Sheffield Shield.

So we will go through a cyclical effect and will wear a few more losses, but at least its better than smacking Zimbabwe around…