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 | 35 comments |
Posted by fitzgeral on 2009-08-24 13:23:57
Posted by JC on 2009-08-24 15:53:34
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Posted by JC on 2009-08-25 18:36:50
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-08-26 16:06:42
Posted by Jatinder on 2009-08-26 17:10:58
Posted by kirby on 2009-08-26 17:46:43
Posted by JC on 2009-08-27 19:12:16
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
Posted by JC on 2009-08-28 11:35:13
Posted by jatinder on 2009-08-28 18:01:33
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
Posted by jatinder on 2009-08-28 20:54:20
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