The Ashes Diary - Trent Bridge Day Two

The Ashes Diary, Trent Bridge Test; Day Two.

There are dropped catch, miss fielding, no flurry of runs from the openers, no attacking fields lack lustre bowling, McGrath carrying drinks to the playfield!! Nothing is going Aussie’s way. If you have to see a top sporting team go through night mares switch to Ashes. Neither the batsman, nor the bowlers showing any sparkle on the field. Did the Aussies boil to soon in the first Test? McGrath and Warne not together have not held matters either. I hope Warne does not get injured when McGrath joins the team.
The Aussies do not have a great track record of winning last test match of series off late.
The Aussies this time would be praying for Lord to save the Queen.
They have lost last test of a series to India in India. When Indian toured down-under Aussies where gasping for air and managed a draw, courtesy some forgettable umpiring decisions. They did not win last test of last two Ashes series held in Australia. The last Ashes Andy Caddick bowled an inspired spell and took seven wickets. The tour before that Gough claimed a hat trick at MCG to drive the English home. When Australia toured England last Steve Waugh hit an emotional century the best of his efforts. Mark Waugh had an extended net practice session with the English bowlers. Aussies won. That’s history now.
Let bygones be bygones. The Aussies are reeling under the English attack. It is a sought of déjà vu for touring teams. The home sides bats for a day and two thirds there is sun shine. The pitch gives nothing to the bowlers. He ball is not doing much. The home team bats under no sense of pressure or compulsion. The Sheikh of Tweak is struggling and showing a negative body language. There are wickets of no balls. Then the next ball is clobbered for boundary. The English are scoring at four an over for better part of the day. The middle order is showing resilience.
When Aussie come in to bat, the ball starts to misbehave and does dirty tricks with the batsmen. The skies are cloudy and dark. The bowlers on top. The are no planned dismissal for Aussie. They seem to be leaving in early 80’s. It is believed that the worst of Aussies teams were present in early part of 80’s.
There was a metamorphosis which followed made them the numero uno for a decade.
But this Ashes is bit of a down-hill for many of the players. It is a matter of time for most of them. Is it an end of an era of big wicket takers and big hitters? Or there is some thing we have not seen?
The target is set for Aussies; avoid follow on then play from there. The causes of concern are many and demand the most urgent attention. Which will Ricky Ponting address first?
The English are fighting fire with fire and matching Aussies stroke for stroke. There are enough sparks in the cricket world to turn their imagination to Ashes. The giant is walking giant steps. He can put on foot wrong. He is there every where, scoring big runs, taking wickets, holding on to catches. He also knows to back flip. The
Who’s Ashes is this for the taking? It is an English call; they got to still play well to beat Aussies from here.