England pushed Australia really hard in the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Really hard, that is, by the standards of the first Test: the visitors managed to take the game into a fourth day as opposed to the clash in Perth which was wrapped up inside two.
In statistical terms, the result was the same in both matches, though, with the hosts winning by eight wickets. And, in fact, if anything, this most recent defeat was even more comprehensive, with the Aussies having to chase down just 65 in the fourth innings. In contrast, in Perth their success required them to score the biggest total of the match, so Ben Stokes’ men may have even gone backwards here.
Drops Bring Flops
England were totally outplayed in all aspects of the game at the Gabba. However, catches definitely do win matches, or in England’s case, drops bring flops. Stokes’ men dropped five catches on the second day alone. Taking 20 wickets in a game is tough, but having to effectively take 25 was always going to give the tourists very little chance of competing.
Will Jacks took a stunning catch to remove Steve Smith but that should not gloss over the five that went down, none of which was so difficult as to not merit being called a major chance. Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith were responsible for two each, and with Alex Carey particularly brilliant thus far with the gloves, eyes are being turned to Smith. His cause is not helped by the fact that he has made scores of just 33, 15, 0 and 4 with the bat.
Australia were also helped in this game by a stunning piece of fielding from Leeds-born Josh Inglis. He hit one stump to run out Stokes on the first day, just as the skipper and Joe Root seemed to be building a nice partnership and guiding England to a fine score.
They had progressed things to 210/4, but that quite quickly became 264/9. England managed to get to 334 all out thanks to a career-best 38 from Jofra Archer and a brilliant unbeaten 138 from Root. The fact that the Yorkshireman made his first Test century Down Under will be of little consolation, and even at the time Root’s celebration was muted, the player aware his team needed much more.
Poor Bowling Gives Aussies a Handsome Lead
At the start of the second day, England bowled poorly and allowed the hosts to race to 77 without loss from 13 overs. They chipped away with wickets through the day, but the dropped catches prevented them from building real momentum, and the tail wagged strongly, helped by 77 from Mitch Starc at number nine.
Australia eventually made 511, with all 11 players reaching double figures. That was just the third time Australia had achieved that feat, and it gave them a healthy lead and also meant England would have to bat under the lights.
The tourists were poor, with the same old mistakes, wild drives, ill discipline and a lack of grit seeing them slump, all too predictably, to a poor score of 134/6 at the end of the third day. That left them 43 runs in arrears and in danger of an innings defeat, with Jacks and Stokes at the crease. Australia had bowled well, finding more movement than England had been able to and exploiting uneven bounce, with Duckett caught out by one that kept low.
Some Fight But Few Positives
On the fourth and, as it turned out, final day of the game, England started well. The two overnight batsmen played with steely determination, leaving a high percentage of balls and making few errors. They ensured that Australia would have to bat again.
However, Steve Smith took some form of revenge for Jacks’ stunning catch that removed him by returning the favour with a grab that was probably almost as good. Jacks and the England skipper had put on almost 100, but then the tourists slipped from 224/6 to 241 all out following the brilliant catch from Stokes’ counterpart. Stokes had made a defiant half-century, but it was nowhere near enough, and Australia raced to their target of 65 from just 10 overs, albeit for the loss of two wickets.
And Now for Golf
“Optics” are significant in the modern world, and many are questioning the optics of England taking what is sure to be billed as a golfing holiday following two devastating defeats. Their pre-planned trip to Noosa is set to go ahead, with Baz McCullum suggesting that if anything, his team had trained too hard ahead of this game!
The England leadership group seem determined to do things their way, but their lack of regard for how what they say and do might appear to others is making their tough task even tougher. The English media, let alone the local rags, is sure to go to town on Stokes and co as they take in the sun and golf.
Let’s hope the rest does them good. After a few rounds, they will head to Adelaide for the third Test, which starts on the 17th of December. They are 2-0 down with three to play, and with the hosts set to welcome back at least one of their top bowlers for Adelaide, England will need a miracle to turn this series around.
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