A close-up view of the Aussies may show England’s foremost frustrated talent just exactly what
A close-up view of the Aussies may show England’s foremost frustrated talent just exactly what a world-class performer does out on the field.With Robert Croft almost certain to be surplus to requirements at Headingley, England will probably resort to seven batsmen again. If they do, none of the places should go to Mark Ramprakash or Ian Ward.Pressure, mainly constant but with occasional nerve-shredding peaks, is the one thing that separates Test cricket from its cousins. It brings out the best in some players and the worst in others, though England had a shortfall in the first camp. Ramprakash’s demons, seemingly in remission since his move to Surrey, re-emerged during one such peak at Trent Bridge. Having showed that he has the technical practicality to cope with Australia’s bowlers, Ramprakash once again failed his mental. His lurching attempt to hack Shane Warne into the Trent, just when England needed him to stabilise the innings, ended in total humiliation.When Damien Martyn did something similar for Australia against South Africa in 1994, he was immediately dropped. That one error, rather than the litany that Ramprakash has committed, cost him his place until this tour, when, after waiting six years in the wings, he replaced Justin Langer.
Ramprakash too needs to serve some time, at least until India, where his soft hands and watchfulness could play a part in coping with the spinners.Ward has worked hard to get himself into contention for Test cricket. But like so many who make up for shortfalls in talent with sweat, some things cannot be conquered by endeavour alone and Australia’s pacemen have exposed him time and again. In some ways it is not Ward’s fault he was ill-equipped to cope. These days most county cricket does not prepare you for a day out against Zimbabwe, let alone a clinical and motivated unit like Australia. As Atherton pointed out on Saturday: “Australia are institutionally good at producing Test cricketers.” Of course cricket chiefs are hoping that, in time, the newly minted Academy will do the same for England.
If it does, their beloved county cricket will become even less relevant at producing Test players to challenge Australia, than it is now.As a longer standing measure of English well-being than avoirdupois, the Ashes is inextricably entwined with big emotions. Win and everything in the world takes on new lustres and hues Lose, and walls, both inside and out, come tumbling down. At the moment, the urge for demolition will be strong, but, unless the Ashes are to remain uncontested for another generation, that should be ignored in favour of prudent construction, ideally with Atherton and Stewart as the temporary cornerstones.England’s seven-wicket defeat in the third Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday extended their long losing sequence against Australia since last winning the Ashes under Mike Gatting in 1986-87. Since then they have have six captains while playing Australia 35 times – winning five, drawing eight and losing 22June 89 (Headingley): Aus won by 210 runs (Capt: D I Gower)June 89 (Lord’s): Aus won by 6 wkts (Gower)July 89: (Edgbaston) Drawn (Gower)July 89 (Old Trafford) Aus won by 9 wkts (Gower)Aug 89: (Trent Bridge): Aus won by inns and 180 runs (Gower)Aug 89 (The Oval): Drawn (Gower)Nov 90 (Brisbane): Aus won by 10 wkts (A J Lamb)Dec 90 (Melbourne): Aus won by 8 wkts (G A Gooch)Jan 91 (Sydney): Drawn (Gooch)Jan 91 (Adelaide): Drawn (Gooch)Feb 91 (Perth): Aus won by 9 wkts (Gooch)June 93 (Old Trafford): Aus won by 179 runs (Gooch)June 93 (Lord’s): Aus won by inns and 62 runs (Gooch)July 93 (Trent Bridge): Drawn (Gooch)July 93 (Headingley): Aus won by inns and 148 runs (Gooch)Aug 93 (Edgbaston): Aus won by 8 wkts (M A Atherton)Aug 93 (The Oval): Eng won by 161 runs (Atherton)Nov 94 (Brisbane): Aus won by 184 runs (Atherton)Dec 94 (Melbourne): Aus won by 295 runs (Atherton)Jan 95 (Sydney): Drawn (Atherton)Jan 95 (Adelaide): Eng won by 106 runs (Atherton)Feb 95 (Perth): Aus won by 329 runs (Atherton)June 97 (Edgbaston): Eng won by 9 wkts (Atherton)June 97 (Lord’s): Drawn (Atherton)July 97 (Old Trafford): Aus won by 268 runs (Atherton)July 97 (Headingley): Aus won by inns and 61 runs (Atherton)Aug 97 (Trent Bridge): Aus won by 264 runs (Atherton)Aug 97 (The Oval): Eng won by 19 runs (Atherton)Nov 98 (Brisbane): Drawn (A J Stewart)Nov 98 (Perth): Aus won by 7 wkts (Stewart)Dec 98 (Adelaide): Aus won by 205 runs (Stewart)Dec 98 (Melbourne): Eng won by 12 runs (Stewart)Jan 99 (Sydney): Aus won by 98 runs (Stewart)July 01 (Edgbaston): Aus won by inns and 118 runs (N Hussain)July 01 (Lord’s): Aus won by 8 wkts (Atherton)Aug 01 (Trent Bridge): Aus won by 7 wkts (Atherton).