What a Difference Four Years Make

Friday, November 26, 2010 : The Ashes, England, Tests

What a Difference Four Years MakeAt the end of Day 2 of the first Test four years ago, England were 550 runs behind having lost 3 top order batsman at 53-3. Whereas England’s last venture Down Under was a tortuous debacle, this Ashes Series is developing into an enthralling contest. Why?

  • Because we have two evenly matched sides
  • Both sides batting is fragile and prone to collapses
  • Both sides have the bowling to exploit opposition batting frailties
  • This Gabba pitch is not ‘a road’ and is providing an even balance between bat and ball
  • Both sides have the bowling/fielding/captaincy to maintain control

With the slow-burn pace of a Fischer-Spassky chess championship or the Gunfight at the OK Coral, this is wonderful, old fashioned, relatively slow scoring test cricket at it’s best. Let's hope the next 23 days are just as good as the opening salvos.


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