Fools to believe?

It's probably not fitting for such a piece to arrive a day after a leaked dossier on "Fredless chickens/pussy" English cricket, or a humiliating innings lost within 3 days at Headingly, but even as Andrew Strauss and co. built-up for the Ashes, the signs were ominous and the question that pops to my mind is... was this a worthy side to win the Ashes? England's record over the past half-a-decade is poor at best despite what Strauss might claim. They have lost home series to India, South Africa and drew 1-1 against Sri Lanka. They lost in Sri Lanka, India and even in the flatbeds of the Caribbean’s. To get to the point easier, England's only Test series wins in the past two years read like a Twitter post. So, after a truly terrific performance at Lord's, calls for a repeat of 2005 etc. how did we come to this?

The statistics are clear and disturbing; England's batsmen have failed miserably at accumulating runs and looking at the hundreds scored by both teams, 80% into the series shows Eng 1 (thanks Strauss) Aus 7. The current 1-1 standing would probably be more on account of Australia's failings rather than England's ascendancy. I’m no English die-hard, so this isn’t just barmy slamming either but it is credit to the Ashes that even with such stats, the score line remains tantalizingly at 1-1. It opens a number of possibilities for the Oval. Does Fred come back for a farewell performance to be remembered? Does Ricky Ponting get the monkey off his back? Will England regain the Ashes, cause let’s face it they won’t get to touch it until it’s hosted in the British Isles again.

Not even with a horrible display of on-field umpiring has England been able to wrap their hands around the elusive urn but if history is anything to go by – dodgy umpiring is part and parcel of England’s great exploits of the past decade or so as the series victories in Sri Lanka and the 1998 win against South Africa further demonstrates. So, after the high of 2005, England has descended back to the reigns of Michael Atherton. Still, what about Australia? I think it’s safe to assume this isn’t a battle between two great teams but a scrapper between two wounded sides. Australia has always displayed a sense of discipline, aggression and hard work and that at times can compensate for the lack of genius. It was said during the T20, that South Africa’s efficient unit was boring and were simply a “better England,” if that was the case perhaps Ponting’s men are simply a stronger, better England team themselves.

My earlier pieces highlighted the battle for Test supremacy by Australia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and England. Of these sides, England and Australia have fared the worst. If there’s anything less than a 2-1 result to Australia, we will see a new Test number 1, which would be a note worthy prize given South Africa’s dedication and hard-work throughout perhaps one of the most challenging season of cricket ever played. Sri Lanka have held their home advantage to good measure and it will be interesting how the giants of South Asia battle it out later on when Sangakarra’s men visit India. Either way, the Ashes are alive and what better way to finish the 4th Test with both teams going in 1-1. The Oval has been flat but has also staged many English victories (many dead rubbers too). But Strauss will have to lift his men (or throw some out) to the highest of heights if he is to stage what could probably be one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. Till then, we wait.