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Home , Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris (cricketer)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 SPORTS

England eye redemption after Ashes surrender

PERTH: The clouds drifting over the it was too late and went on to The tourists’ main problem, and one of his career average of 47. He got a gem of a Ashes test match in his second test match, WACA on Tuesday produced an apt set- dish out what they were subjected to in many, remains that they could not get on from Harris to be for a under that kind of pressure, bodes well.” ting for the gloom that settled on English the 2010-11 series which England won 3- top of Australia’s excellent attack golden in the second innings at Unfortunately for Cook, his bowlers have cricket as the tourists surrendered the 1. England’s fourth innings run chase at exploiting every bit of their home advan- but had fallen tamely to off-spinner also been taken apart by the Australians. Ashes at their earliest opportunity at a the WACA was the third time in succession tage. England’s run-rate in this series lum- in the first after grinding out Senior bowlers James Anderson and sweltering Perth. Visiting Alastair that the tourists were asked to chase a bers around 2.7, compared to close to four early pressure. in particular have been Cook had demanded introspection from 500-plus victory target which no team has per over they achieved in their last Ashes Cook has been one of many victims targetted for some harsh punishment, his team mates ahead of the third test but achieved so far. series in Australia. The slow means snaffled by Lyon as a of Australia’s leaving Cook’s main strike pair averaging there is no safety net for the lower order quick bowlers squeezing the life out of 58.42 and 80 with the ball respectively in batsmen with the bottom half of the bat- England’s best batsmen. Amid their swift this series. ting line-up coming to the crease often subsidence in three tests at , “The simple fact of the matter is we having to face the new ball. Since landing and Perth, there could still be haven’t had enough players in form with in Australia, too many senior players have signs of life for this England side. Ben either bat or ball,” Cook said. Top order bat underperformed for England. Stokes without doubt stole the show with ’s abrupt exit to deal with Against the pace of his knock of 120 in the second innings of his stress-related illness and paceman and skills of and , only his second test match which had ’s foot injury further compli- the likes of Cook, and Matt even the rival captain sweating. “No doubt cated Cook’s problems. Prior is neither Prior have been way below their best. we were nervous,” Clarke said. “ delivering with the bat nor keeping well in “Unfortunately when we needed people deserves a lot of credit for the way he this series. At 31, his time will come again to be in form and playing well, we haven’t played. That was a hard-fought hundred but there is no harm in giving the gloves done that, and that’s why we lost,” Cook and he deserves a lot of credit.” to Yorkshire’s , who has said after his side’s 150-run defeat in Perth, already played a number of times for which gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 STRAIGHT BAT England. lead in . Far too many times Playing with a straight bat for most of The rest of the top order may need to England’s top order batsmen have thrown his innings, the all-rounder offered few be left unchanged. is their their away and fallen into well-laid chances, punished loose deliveries and only alternative but would be more suited traps. overcame gaping cracks on the WACA to the number six position, which is cur- Pietersen was culpable in both innings pitch to score at a strike rate of 61.25. “I rently occupied by Stokes. In the bowling at Perth, allowing hubris to get the better know as a batter that when you see the department Swann is likely to stay on as of him and holing out in the deep twice cracks there and how big they are - to be bringing in would weaken when set the challenge by Michael Clarke. able to put them out of the mind like he the and batting. Providing Broad PERTH: England batsman reacts after being dismissed on the Cook’s salad days of 2010/11 must seem (Stokes) did with the shots he played, I is fit, England may like to bring in Steve fifth day of the third Ashes cricket Test match against Australia in Perth like a long time ago as his average in this thought was outstanding,” Cook said. Finn for either an off-colour Anderson or on December 17, 2013. —AFP series slumped to around 25, well below “For him to be able to deliver that in an . —Reuters Aussies’ ‘Boof’ behind the Ashes turnaround

PERTH: Australia’s dramatic turnaround to domi- momentum shifted? I think it has but only time Waugh of the 1970-80s. He insisted on aggres- nate England and win back the Ashes just will tell.” sive, in-your-face cricket and no one embraced months after a 3-0 series defeat to their tradi- They were to prove prescient words as this more avidly than Johnson, who disconcert- tional rivals has largely been attributed to the Lehmann got down to work devising plans for ed the England batsmen with his terrifying man they call “Boof”. has been each English batsman. These were implemented short-pitched bowling. the instigator of a reinvigoration of Australian to devastating effect by Mitchell Johnson, Ryan “He’s has done a fantastic job, he’s made us cricket in just six months, since stepping into the Harris and Peter Siddle. Australia stymied skip- work hard, he’s made us maximize our potential,” hot seat vacated by the sudden sacking of per ’s scoring shots on the leg side, skipper Michael Clarke said of the coach after Mickey Arthur. while Kevin Pietersen was forced into errors by wrapping up the Ashes with a 150-run win in Perth on Tuesday. Lehmann sought to “pick and stick” with the preferred lineup after Australia used 17 players in the previous series against England and a total of 22 players in their run of nine winless Tests. He gathered some of the country’s top cricket minds before the current Ashes series to discuss ways Australia could improve their batting and has been rewarded BRISBANE: Teammates celebrate with Australia’s paceman Ryan Harris (top with seven centuries. England have just one in right) after claiming the of England captain Alastair Cook (not pic- the first three Tests. tured) during day two of the first Ashes cricket Test match between England Lehmann, a throwback to the good old days and Australia at Cricket Ground in Brisbane. —AFP when mateship and a few beers were prerequi- sites, encouraged his players to relax and enjoy their cricket and they responded in a closely- Australia’s Harris in bonded group. “He was always thinking about what he would do if he had the job. His strength is his people skills, the way be brings players drunken Twitter rant together, gives them confidence,” Lehmann’s cricketing 21-year-old son Jake said recently. “He SYDNEY: Australia’s Ryan Harris has discov- ed something I probably shouldn’t have,” he plays the game hard on the field, but off it he is ered that winning the Ashes does not guaran- told reporters after arriving at his home base laid-back, a typical Aussie bloke who loves a tee access to Perth’s casino, with the bowler in , adding that the bouncers on beer, relaxing and talking cricket with anyone.” launching a foul-mouthed tweet after he was the door eventually let him in. “As I’ve heard Perhaps Lehmann’s greatest success was the initially refused entry for being drunk. The many times before, don’t tweet when you’ve rebirth of left-arm paceman Johnson, a figure of team’s celebrations after clinching the series had a drink.” In contrast to Harris, Michael fun for England’s supporters in the against England on Tuesday, hosted by former Clarke had no trouble getting in, with the 2009 and 2010/11 campaigns, and absent from great , stretched long into the Australian skipper tweeting his thanks to this year’s series in England. Notoriously way- night with Harris, in particular, letting off Warne, who hosted a party for the team at the ward in the past, Johnson honed his accuracy steam. Perth nightspot. “Can’t thank @warne888 through tweaks in his bowling technique that “A tip for all those heading to Perth! Avoid enough for having us last night. The boys and PERTH: Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann (left) celebrates with player Shane earned him back-to-back man-of-the-match the crown or casino! Shithole, can’t get in if their partners had a night we will remember Watson (right) after winning back the urn from England on the fifth day of the third honors in the first two huge Test wins in you have had a drink #shitplace” he tweeted, forever,” Clarke tweeted. Ashes cricket Test match in Perth. —AFP Brisbane and Adelaide. reportedly at 3:30 am. The tweet has since His wife Kyly added: “What a night of cele- Australian Test great wicketkeeper Adam been removed but newspapers took a screen- brations.” All-rounder , who The 43-year-old, who played 27 Tests from the nagging consistency of Siddle. ’s Gilchrist believes Lehmann has freed up the shot and it was widely reproduced yesterday. scored a century in the Perth Test, said he went 1998 to 2004, has always been credited with a favored late cut to third man, his chief scoring players to play their best cricket. “I can’t remem- Strike bowler Harris, who has played a key role to bed before the Harris incident. “Obviously razor-sharp cricket mind. He saw enough during area when he made three centuries in the ber such a shift in power between two teams in in the Ashes series, won widespread sympathy things for a period of time might not have the July-August series in England to detect English series, was dried up. such a short space of time,” Gilchrist said. on social media. “Poor old Ryan Harris. gone exactly right. But in the end we were just weaknesses in the England batsmen which he Matt Prior was denied width and Australia’s “Obviously Mitchell Johnson has been of vital Apparently denied entry to the Crown in Perth there to have a great time,” he told reporters. sought to exploit in the back-to-back series. bowlers were told to bounce the tailenders. By importance but I continue to go back to Darren for being too drunk last night. Australian Fun “There was no intention other than making Lehmann raised eyebrows when he observed the Perth Test the England team had largely dis- Lehmann and the seeds that he would have Police at their finest,” said one tweet. the most of winning the Ashes back. You do towards the back-end of the last series: “We’ve integrated. Lehmann wanted to take Australian planted as soon as he assumed that role. “His fin- Another said “Feel ya pain son.” A sheepish have to make the most of those good times shown some cracks in their batting which is cricket back to the golden eras of gerprints are all over the atmosphere around Harris apologized yesterday. “Obviously I because they’re not always there. So it was exciting for us as a bowling unit. Has the and Jeff Thomson, the Chappells and Steve that team.” —AFP made a silly mistake this morning and I tweet- extremely special last night.” —AFP NZ aiming to ram home advantage England’s seniors face some tough questions PERTH: England’s senior players are really emotive and it’s hurting like it’s quickly. “It doesn’t mean their careers first century of the series with his HAMILTON: New Zealand will field an unchanged side for the final facing tough questions over their hurting, you could make some very are over. But it does mean they need valiant second-innings stand in Perth. Test against the West Indies starting in Hamilton today as they international careers after flopping radical decisions which could be the to call on that experience to help Cook’s figures for this series stand at a chase back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly six years. badly in the embarrassing Ashes wrong ones,” he said. them get out of a tough time quicker meagre 154 runs at 25.66, while The home team are hot favorites to seal the three-match series defeat to Australia. While major “These have to be very cool, calcu- than other people,” he said. ‘We are Pietersen, 33, has 165 at 27.50 and has after snapping a year-long win drought by wrapping up the sec- changes are unlikely mid-series, some lated decisions at the right time.” always playing for our future’ been guilty of soft dismissals almost ond Test inside three days against a struggling West Indies side players who have formed the back- However, it seems inconceivable that The English came into the tour full every time. Among the bowlers, expe- who will now be missing suspended legspinner Shane bone of a previously successful team England will not try to rebuild as they of confidence after their 3-0 defeat of rienced duo Swann, 34, and Anderson, Shillingford. The last time New Zealand won consecutive Tests was against Bangladesh in January 2008 and they last managed the will rightly be nervous about their look ahead to the next Ashes series in Australia on home soil just three 31, have also been well short of their feat against a top eight nation two years earlier when playing the futures. Thirty-somethings Kevin 2015. Wicketkeeper Prior could be the months earlier. Ranked third in the best form. West Indies. After rain ruined a likely New Zealand win in the first Pietersen, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann first to go after making just 107 runs at world, they were unbeaten in four Test Swann has 255 Test victims but only Test of this series, and New Zealand won the second by an innings and James Anderson, along with cap- 17.83, and missing two stumpings and series, winning three of them, and seven in this series at 80 apiece, while and 73 runs, captain Brendon McCullum said Wednesday his side tain Alastair Cook, all went missing as a catch in a disastrous showing on the they had also celebrated three Ashes Anderson, who has 336 Test wickets, needed to ram home their advantage. Australia won emphatically in third day in Perth. “It’s a possibility of series victories in a row. However, a has the same tally at an average of “We’re going to play the same team,” he said after all-rounder Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth to take course,” said Flower, when asked if closer look at the figures reveals that it 58.42. The end of Australia’s second Corey Anderson came through a fitness Test unscathed following an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five- Prior could be replaced by Jonny had also been eight Tests since innings in Perth summed up a shin problem. “It will give the guys the opportunity to build on match series. Bairstow, 24, for the fourth Test. “Matt England last posted a score of more Anderson’s woes, when he was humili- what we’ve done in the last two Test matches.” Although the line- Head coach is yet to Prior has been an outstanding crick- than 400. Their batting fragility in this atingly smashed for a record-equaling up was decided, McCullum remained uncertain whether he pledge his future beyond this series, eter for England during a second year’s previous Ashes series was 28 in one over by George Bailey. Cook would bat or bowl first if he won the toss, although the pitch is and with the England and Wales phase of his English career. masked by the brilliance of Ian Bell, conceded Swann and Anderson were expected to hold promise for the seam bowlers. Seddon Park, Cricket Board also about to welcome a “But like all those positions we have who scored 562 runs at 62.44, plus among those who weren’t performing where New Zealand have lost their past three Tests (against new national selector and managing to review them. We constantly review Pietersen’s 388 at 38.80. to their potential. But he warned that Australia, Pakistan and ), has proved an enigma for director, a significant shift seems likely. what our best side will be and we also In the current series, England have no England player could feel safe from the team winning the toss. Traditionally, the successful captain elects to bowl, although six of the 13 matches to produce a result Cook, 28, cautioned against “radical have to have an eye to the future as barely fired a shot, with go-to men the axe. “There’s so many good players at the ground have been won by the team batting first. “Who decisions” ahead of the final two Tests well.” Flower admitted England’s veter- Cook, Pietersen and Prior all struggling around in England wanting to be in knows how it will play but I’m expecting it to be a good Test wick- in Melbourne and Sydney, a call ans were going through “tough peri- to make an impact. It took New the 11 spots we presently hold. So we et,” McCullum said. “The important thing in Hamilton is the over- echoed by the British press.”When the ods in their careers” and indicated Zealand-born Ben Stokes, 22 and play- are always playing for our future,” said head conditions and the mugginess which is around. If there is game’s just finished and everyone’s they would need to find their form ing just his second Test, to post their Cook. —AFP some cloud cover then the ball can swing quite a lot. —AFP