Why Australia lost the 2009 Ashes
When Australia lost the 2005 Ashes, the scapegoating and finger pointing was immediate, fierce and frantic. Billy Bowden. Ricky Ponting. Breath mints. WAGS. God. John Buchanan. Gary Pratt. The loss was such a shock, there was plenty of blame to go around too. However, and despite the fact that the pain of this Ashes loss is still fresh, I think it's possible to offer a dispassionate and logical analysis on where blame lies in our 2009 Ashes loss.
I don't think Ricky Ponting's captaincy was a contributing factor. Sure, he's defensive and unimaginative. But his conservative captaincy was matched and cancelled out by Andrew Strauss' equally conservative captaincy. If anything, the one captaincy howler of the series was Strauss' decision to bat in the 4th Test. It invoked memories of Ponting's decision to bowl at Edgbaston in 2005.
A more likely culprit is the Australian batsmen. It was their first innings collapses at Lords and the Oval which lost us two Tests. The batsman that sticks out like a sore thumb is Mike Hussey. He was Ravi-Bopara-like in the energy and enthusiasm he gave to the fielding team. He was always a wicket just waiting to happen. Sure, he may have saved his position with a futile century yesterday. It's becoming an Australian tradition for one beleagured batsman to save his career with a meaningless century at the Oval every 4 years.
But Mike Hussey is just a symptom. The underlying problem was the selectors had no options, noone to replace him. How could you possibly select a touring Ashes squad with not a single back-up specialist batsman? It seemed unwise at the time. Foresight has only intensified the craziness of the decision.
However, the true cause of Australia's demise goes further back than our batting collapses at Lords and the Oval. The seeds of our Ashes loss were sowed in the 1st Test. We had every opportunity to finish off England on the 5th day. All it needed was one delivery, one jaffa to finish off the English tailenders. Instead, we witnessed with dismay the unravelling of Mitchell Johnson. It took 3 Tests for him to get his groove back. What happened to our devastating spearhead? How did he devolve from the world beating champion in South Africa to the pie chucking farce in Cardiff? Mentally, he wasn't all there. Something was happening off-field that had him distracted on the field. And thus we have our answer.
Why did Australia lose the 2009 Ashes? Mitchell Johnson's mum.
| Posted by JC on Mon 24 Aug |  80 comments |
While I agree with most of what you are saying (Unimaginative captaincy etc) bowling North at the end at Cardiff with 1 wicket to take, in order to gain an extra over or 2 was a by any stretch a howler!
Posted by fitzgeral on 2009-08-24 13:23:57
Posted by fitzgeral on 2009-08-24 13:23:57
It was a shocker. But Mitch Johnson had already had ample opportunity to dismiss either tailender in a long spell that was largely ineffectual. If he'd bowled anything like he did to South Africa (or later in this series), we would've won at Cardiff.
Posted by JC on 2009-08-24 15:53:34
Posted by JC on 2009-08-24 15:53:34
MT sums all this up for me in his previous post:
"I think that's the worst part about losing the Ashes - the reaction from the Poms".
I still feel sick in the guts from the collapse but now I have to endure 18 months of gloating, and smart-arse emails and comments from the Pommies all over again! I mean, they've only just got over the knighthoods of the previous Ashes win (our 5-0 apparently doesn't count because it wasn't in England).
Other stuff that doesn't get a mention is their Pakistani bowling coach (Mushy), their South African debutant, their Zimbabwean coach and John 'bloody traiter' Buchanan.
Ponting has to go (but we'll keep him as a batsman (as opposed to a 'batter' thank you very much). And what about all the soccer-style chating and carrying on in the crowd? Twenty-twenty has a lot to answer for.
Beam me up Scotty.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-24 19:04:23
"I think that's the worst part about losing the Ashes - the reaction from the Poms".
I still feel sick in the guts from the collapse but now I have to endure 18 months of gloating, and smart-arse emails and comments from the Pommies all over again! I mean, they've only just got over the knighthoods of the previous Ashes win (our 5-0 apparently doesn't count because it wasn't in England).
Other stuff that doesn't get a mention is their Pakistani bowling coach (Mushy), their South African debutant, their Zimbabwean coach and John 'bloody traiter' Buchanan.
Ponting has to go (but we'll keep him as a batsman (as opposed to a 'batter' thank you very much). And what about all the soccer-style chating and carrying on in the crowd? Twenty-twenty has a lot to answer for.
Beam me up Scotty.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-24 19:04:23
Agree about the gloating, unfortunately our home ashes is ignored by the Poms (Warnie reffered to them as the forgotten ashes).
Think one major issue has been playing Watson - he is not a match winner, hes not a future prospect, hes not a test player and he was lucky not to get out time and again. Poor Hughes was dumped unceremoniously after two matches, after having virtually set up the series win in South Africa.
Posted by sillypoint on 2009-08-24 20:03:02
Think one major issue has been playing Watson - he is not a match winner, hes not a future prospect, hes not a test player and he was lucky not to get out time and again. Poor Hughes was dumped unceremoniously after two matches, after having virtually set up the series win in South Africa.
Posted by sillypoint on 2009-08-24 20:03:02
Yeah I can't stand the triumphalism when they win. Are we that bad?
For me the reason we lost the Ashes (besids nerves) was the selectors. THhey just don't get it. Saw a pathetic interview with Sunderland and Hilditch where they were feebly defending not selecting Hauritz - "it wouldn't have stopped us getting bowled out for 160" - yeah but we might have bowled THEM out sooner and not been chasing 546 if we had a spinner in the side! And of course they had to trot out the "but we won in South Africa" excuse. What a bunch of morons.
If we'd had Clark at Lords and Hauritz at the Oval we might still have lost, but the point is they didn't select the best side for the conditions.
If the ones at the top don't get it then what hope do we have? What chance Warney becoming a selctor? You'd love it JC - the side would have at least 1 if not 2 spinners!
Posted by MT on 2009-08-24 20:08:41
For me the reason we lost the Ashes (besids nerves) was the selectors. THhey just don't get it. Saw a pathetic interview with Sunderland and Hilditch where they were feebly defending not selecting Hauritz - "it wouldn't have stopped us getting bowled out for 160" - yeah but we might have bowled THEM out sooner and not been chasing 546 if we had a spinner in the side! And of course they had to trot out the "but we won in South Africa" excuse. What a bunch of morons.
If we'd had Clark at Lords and Hauritz at the Oval we might still have lost, but the point is they didn't select the best side for the conditions.
If the ones at the top don't get it then what hope do we have? What chance Warney becoming a selctor? You'd love it JC - the side would have at least 1 if not 2 spinners!
Posted by MT on 2009-08-24 20:08:41
Reasons for Loss at Oval were simple,
1st: Lack of a spinner. When ur part time spinner picks up 4 wickets then u really r missing something in ur head not pickin up a regular spinner.
The 2nd reason throughout the series was the inability to to wipe off England's tail. Someone please check Broad's and Swann's scores in the series. It would certainly be higher than most Aussie and Pommie batsmen not to forget the importance of those innings.
3rd Reason was Johnson. He let down Aussies in the first 3 and the last test. I include the last test because the pitch was very much India like and Johnson seemed ur best bowler when Aussies' lost to India in India last year.
Last was Aussie's batting. I need not say much about it. Ponting could not bear the booing nor the chatting he received form the Pommies as he is usually at the giving end and not at the receiving end.
Anyway's now that u guys have lost the Ashes and have become No. 4 test team (I don't agree with the rankings esp. Lanka being no. 2 playing minnows like Pakistan and NZ at home and India being no. 3 having not played a Test for ages), u should look to build a new team for the next ashes. the first thing would be to hire Warne as a spinning coach (he is not bad because after last year's stint at Rajasthan Royals under Warne's coaching and captaincy, Ravindra Jadeja went on to become the joint highest wicket taker and Jadeja publicly acknowledges that Warne's tips helped him. 2nd throw out Hussey, and try a few other ppl in the batting department.
Posted by ssukhdial on 2009-08-24 20:59:33
1st: Lack of a spinner. When ur part time spinner picks up 4 wickets then u really r missing something in ur head not pickin up a regular spinner.
The 2nd reason throughout the series was the inability to to wipe off England's tail. Someone please check Broad's and Swann's scores in the series. It would certainly be higher than most Aussie and Pommie batsmen not to forget the importance of those innings.
3rd Reason was Johnson. He let down Aussies in the first 3 and the last test. I include the last test because the pitch was very much India like and Johnson seemed ur best bowler when Aussies' lost to India in India last year.
Last was Aussie's batting. I need not say much about it. Ponting could not bear the booing nor the chatting he received form the Pommies as he is usually at the giving end and not at the receiving end.
Anyway's now that u guys have lost the Ashes and have become No. 4 test team (I don't agree with the rankings esp. Lanka being no. 2 playing minnows like Pakistan and NZ at home and India being no. 3 having not played a Test for ages), u should look to build a new team for the next ashes. the first thing would be to hire Warne as a spinning coach (he is not bad because after last year's stint at Rajasthan Royals under Warne's coaching and captaincy, Ravindra Jadeja went on to become the joint highest wicket taker and Jadeja publicly acknowledges that Warne's tips helped him. 2nd throw out Hussey, and try a few other ppl in the batting department.
Posted by ssukhdial on 2009-08-24 20:59:33
Can someone quickly help me out here?
What did John 'bloody traiter' Buchanan do? What did I miss in the SA media?
Posted by Frost on 2009-08-24 23:47:39
What did John 'bloody traiter' Buchanan do? What did I miss in the SA media?
Posted by Frost on 2009-08-24 23:47:39
Guys -- I just wanted, as a Pom, to say two things.
First, that some of us here are nothing like as triumphant as 2003. No smugness, no MBEs this time around. Most of us can read the stats: the centuries and wicket taking and realise that we got a bit lucky simply by playing better in the first innnings, sneaking one in Cardiff and getting the better of some duff decisions.
Secondly, and more importantly, to express my admiration for Ponting. What nonsense to say he's unimaginative. He's your best bat, your inspiration and gracious in victory and defeat. A gentleman and a true cricketer. I was truly touched by his shake of the hand to Flintoff when he came into bat for the last time; his resilience after a clout in the mouth. Thank goodness that he got the ovation he deserved at the Oval. I do hope that we see him over here again for the next but one Ashes -- Ponting is a great of the modern game and watching him play has been a privilege. When you've hounded him out; then you'll feel guilty... If the crowd boos, it's because they fear and respect him.
Posted by Jonster on 2009-08-25 08:25:40
First, that some of us here are nothing like as triumphant as 2003. No smugness, no MBEs this time around. Most of us can read the stats: the centuries and wicket taking and realise that we got a bit lucky simply by playing better in the first innnings, sneaking one in Cardiff and getting the better of some duff decisions.
Secondly, and more importantly, to express my admiration for Ponting. What nonsense to say he's unimaginative. He's your best bat, your inspiration and gracious in victory and defeat. A gentleman and a true cricketer. I was truly touched by his shake of the hand to Flintoff when he came into bat for the last time; his resilience after a clout in the mouth. Thank goodness that he got the ovation he deserved at the Oval. I do hope that we see him over here again for the next but one Ashes -- Ponting is a great of the modern game and watching him play has been a privilege. When you've hounded him out; then you'll feel guilty... If the crowd boos, it's because they fear and respect him.
Posted by Jonster on 2009-08-25 08:25:40
Totally agree about Ponting. If he gets the criticism back home that's been forecasted over here, I think it's totally unjustified. Certain members of his team let him down badly, but he dealt with Sunday's events with dignity. He's clearly a good guy, and still your best player. What guarantees do you have that Clarke could do a better job?
On the celebration front - I don't think you guys can fully comprehend what it's like to be on the receiving end of so many thrashings for two whole decades. If you had been, you'd find yourselves going slightly over-the-top with the celebrations. England never used to be a match for the Aussies, and it was frankly embarrassing. Now we are, and we're going to make the most of it. In reply to MT - "Are we that bad?" - I don't know, but it sure hurt like hell watching Warne, McGrath and co doing series victory laps round Perth last time, with two full Tests to come.
Posted by rich on 2009-08-25 16:41:09
On the celebration front - I don't think you guys can fully comprehend what it's like to be on the receiving end of so many thrashings for two whole decades. If you had been, you'd find yourselves going slightly over-the-top with the celebrations. England never used to be a match for the Aussies, and it was frankly embarrassing. Now we are, and we're going to make the most of it. In reply to MT - "Are we that bad?" - I don't know, but it sure hurt like hell watching Warne, McGrath and co doing series victory laps round Perth last time, with two full Tests to come.
Posted by rich on 2009-08-25 16:41:09
Rich what I meant by triumphalism was this: When Australia beat England, do you receive smug emails, phone calls, texts etc for months afterwards mentioning the Ashes? And I know it's not just me - take a look at this article
http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2009/08/24/1251001857074.html
At least it makes a change from convict jokes.
I do remember Aus getting thrashed for a decade in the 80s, and I can remember losing an Ashes Test by 4 runs with Border and Thommo making a last stand!
To tell you the truth, I think it's the whole "colonial" thing that gives and edge to the Ashes. Is it the same with the England/South Africa series? Will be interesting to see what happens if both Trott and Pietersen go to SA.
Anyway good to see the two captains were gracious in defeat and victory.
Posted by MT on 2009-08-25 17:21:44
http://www.theage.com.au/text/articles/2009/08/24/1251001857074.html
At least it makes a change from convict jokes.
I do remember Aus getting thrashed for a decade in the 80s, and I can remember losing an Ashes Test by 4 runs with Border and Thommo making a last stand!
To tell you the truth, I think it's the whole "colonial" thing that gives and edge to the Ashes. Is it the same with the England/South Africa series? Will be interesting to see what happens if both Trott and Pietersen go to SA.
Anyway good to see the two captains were gracious in defeat and victory.
Posted by MT on 2009-08-25 17:21:44
Maybe the English over-reaction is the same as the reaction when Australia made the soccer world cup - everyone went absolutely off because we suck at the sport. The overreaction is more ironic because Australians hate soccer. Let's face it, it's a boring sport (spoken by a guy who'll happily watch a 5 day game which often doesn't have a result).
Posted by JC on 2009-08-25 18:36:50
Posted by JC on 2009-08-25 18:36:50
And JC, don't forget that the origins of T20 are entirely with soccer... the 90minute attention span, the dumbed down rules, the chanting, the crowd participation, razzle, the uniforms and lack of any real skill.
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-26 16:06:42
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-26 16:06:42
Hello everybody i am back on cricket blog after a long break. I enjoyed ashes 2009 completely. From the last over in cardiff to the magic throw of freedie to dismiss ponting. I want to make some points here. I have never considered ponting a great captain even when he was going great guns but he is not a bad captain either as a captain i always rated him as 6/10. But one point i would like to ask all australians on this blog. I think aussies selectors are completely hopeless. I cant understand the theory of removing hughes just after 3 innings and one of which strauss catch was not clear. And if you are removing him whats the logic of replacing him with watson. Who didnt deserve to be in any test side forget australia. Why they are not giving shaun marsh a chance who is young and talented. Aussie selectors just want to frustrate the young talented players and give chances to oldies who dont have any future. Why hussy was not given a chance earlier why marcus north was not given a chance earlier. And why stuart Law if u all remember given a chance at the age of 29. Except ponting and clark they have never given chance to any young player. They are also spoiling the career of shaun tait. Dont blame ponting for the loss blame your selectors.
Posted by Jatinder on 2009-08-26 17:10:58
Posted by Jatinder on 2009-08-26 17:10:58
Not quite sure I agree with you saying it's Johnson's fault. Although his form was definitely a contributing factor in the first and second Tests, we didn't lost at Cardiff, and it was the first innings batting collapse that lost Lord's for us. I'd probably place the blame on an inability for all parts of the Australian touring party to adapt to the conditions. The bowlers couldn't swing it as consistently as Anderson and Onions (Headingley excepted), and the selectors persisted with picking the wrong sides for every Test barring Headingley.
Posted by kirby on 2009-08-26 17:46:43
Posted by kirby on 2009-08-26 17:46:43
I'm being facetious blaming it on Johnson - that was just an avenue to blaming it on his mum. I place most of the blame on the Australian selectors - not so much for choosing the wrong side on tour but for choosing the wrong squad in the first place. Hussey desperately needed replacing. I had no problem with Phil Hughes getting dropped - he obviously was all at sea - but needed to be replaced with a proper opening batsman.
Posted by JC on 2009-08-27 19:12:16
Posted by JC on 2009-08-27 19:12:16
I see what you mean MT. I think it's something to do with regaining the Ashes, rather than retaining them. In the nineties, when you beating us seemed the natural way of things and a true contest was all but non-existent, I don't remember Aussie fans being overly gloating. Then we won it in 05, made it a pretty big deal, and subsequently (in my experience) Aussie fans did the same in 07. No problem with that - bragging rights are one of the joys (or frustrations) of supporting teams. If you can't make the most of an Ashes win then what can you?
Do you think the selectors will be brave enough to drop Watson as an opener?
Posted by rich on 2009-08-28 03:50:23
Do you think the selectors will be brave enough to drop Watson as an opener?
Posted by rich on 2009-08-28 03:50:23
I seem to recall Allan Border coming back from England with the urn and a 3-1 victory. The main question was "what the hell happened with the 1?!"
Posted by JC on 2009-08-28 11:35:13
Posted by JC on 2009-08-28 11:35:13
All my oz friends are thinking that they will win ashes easily in 2010 as they did in 2006. Dont take it badly but it wouldnt be as easy as 2006 becoz you dont have warne,gilly and mcgrath. Lee wouldnt be that sharp and you cant win ashes with bowlers like hilfe,siddle and hauritz. I agree that siddle and hilfi performed well in this ashes but they are not match winners and about hauritz Geoffery(boycott) was saying even my mother can play him(HAHA). You have to admit that you have enjoyed a lot of success just by having champions like warne and gilly now they are no more there as far as gilly haddin is a good replacement for him but for warne and seamers hauritz is not even 10% of warne leave hauritz no other spinner is even 10% of warne. I remember last year ponting was trying to win tests in india by keeping cameron white and clarke as spinners i cant stop laughing. And above all aussies selectors are nothing but a bunch of jokers who has ruined the career of many players brad hodge,stuart law,shaun tait to name a few and hughes,shaun marsh for the future. Did u have any answers my oz friends???
Posted by jatinder on 2009-08-28 18:01:33
Posted by jatinder on 2009-08-28 18:01:33
Well I think to develop spinners we need to pick one and stick with him. Warne was pretty bad in his first few Tests but the selectors persevered. Now they seem to expect another ready made Warne to suddenly pop out of the woodwork.
maybe Warne could be a selector one day!
I think Hughes they have earmarked for the future once he works his game out. Katich will retire sometime in the next few years and I can't imagine Watson staying as opener for that long either. He might move down when Hussey retires/is dropped.
And don't remind us of the White as the main spinner debacle in India. We were laughing stocks!
Posted by MT on 2009-08-28 19:08:18
maybe Warne could be a selector one day!
I think Hughes they have earmarked for the future once he works his game out. Katich will retire sometime in the next few years and I can't imagine Watson staying as opener for that long either. He might move down when Hussey retires/is dropped.
And don't remind us of the White as the main spinner debacle in India. We were laughing stocks!
Posted by MT on 2009-08-28 19:08:18
You are right MT but nothing will happen overnight we have also struggled years for good fast bowlers but now we have some good ones. You people at least have a good system to produce good players. Our(indian) system is totally pathetic and corrupt. Its just becoz the game is so popular here and we are more than 1 billion we produce good players. Our selectors have also been pathetic for years and still they are but aussies selectors are hopeless i dont know what they get by teaching young players that an aussie team spot is such a big thing. Why they always prefer oldies over young guns. I wanna know????
Posted by jatinder on 2009-08-28 20:54:20
Posted by jatinder on 2009-08-28 20:54:20
Actually i cant understand why people think ponting is responsible for lose of Ashes. I think the selection comity is responsible for that thing.
Posted by seoexper19 on 2009-09-11 03:32:45
Posted by seoexper19 on 2009-09-11 03:32:45
I think England can give a big thanks to the groundsman, Bill Gordon for the pitch he prepared and Ponting's awful record of winning the toss. Maybe he should call tails for a change? There's no way that a pitch like that would have been prepared if Warne was in the team. Plus the covers didn't go on till really late after the one and only rain shower - was it a coincidence that immediately after the shower Broad ripped through our bowling line up - the only time the ball swung in the whole match?
Posted by MT on 2009-09-12 14:35:37
Posted by MT on 2009-09-12 14:35:37
Australia lost the series because of its over confidence.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2222539
Posted by Addisonhype on 2009-11-27 19:37:21
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2222539
Posted by Addisonhype on 2009-11-27 19:37:21
Australia is unlucky that they have no pure chucker like Murali.
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2257792
Posted by Addisonhype on 2009-12-02 00:22:07
http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2257792
Posted by Addisonhype on 2009-12-02 00:22:07
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