THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013 SPORTS England eye redemption after Ashes surrender PERTH: The clouds drifting over the it was too late and Australia 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 delivery from Harris to be bowled 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 bowling attack golden duck 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- Perth 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- Nathan Lyon in the first after grinding out Senior bowlers James Anderson and sweltering Perth. Visiting captain Alastair that the tourists were asked to chase a bers around 2.7, compared to close to four early pressure. Graeme Swann 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 batting means snaffled by Lyon as a result 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 Brisbane, “The simple fact of the matter is we having to face the new ball. Since landing Adelaide 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 Jonathan Trott’s abrupt exit to deal with Against the pace of Mitchell Johnson his knock of 120 in the second innings of his stress-related illness and paceman and skills of Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, only his second test match which had Stuart Broad’s foot injury further compli- the likes of Cook, Kevin Pietersen 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. “Ben Stokes 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 Jonny Bairstow, 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 the Ashes. 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. Gary Ballance is their their wickets 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 Monty Panesar would weaken when set the challenge by Michael Clarke. able to put them out of the mind like he the fielding and batting. Providing Broad PERTH: England batsman Matt Prior 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 Tim Bresnan. —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”. Darren Lehmann 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 Alastair Cook’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 wicket 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 the Gabba 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 Melbourne, 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 Barmy Army 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 Shane Warne, 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.