'Days like this few and far between' says James Anderson as Australia reduced to 164-9 on second day of fouth Test
While they are no doubt immune to such things, England's hardy supporters woke up on the second morning of the fourth Test to a thanks-for-coming headline in The Australian newspaper designed to convey maximum derision: "Quiet please, while we dance on your Ashes grave."
Of all the insults flung on this tour, this one, accompanying a photograph of the Australian players "shooshing" the Barmy Army, looked to be the one that might leave a definitive wound. And that might yet be the case.
However, as both sides know, it does not do to tempt the cricketing gods, even if leading 3-0 in a five-Test series, because at the conclusion of the second day, England's bowlers, having finally clicked after serial disappointment, had not only patched up the their own cuts but sliced Australia's batting to the bone.
Michael Slater, among the army of former players thronging the commentary box, managed to utter the immortally confident line that Australia were 91 runs behind but the match was evenly poised – just before they lost their ninth wicket. It might take more than purblind flag-waving to help Australia keep England's bowlers at bay in the fourth innings, the price they might yet have to pay for Michael Clarke's decision to bowl first.
There were several reasons for England's revival, desperation probably chief among them, and, finally led with a more conviction by James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the supporting troops of Ben Stokes, Tim Bresnan and Monty Panesar all piled in to opponents who had become worryingly comfortable against them.
It has become obvious that England cannot trust their batting to provide adequate protection, as Graeme Swann alluded before departing, so they are now living on their wits and their persistence with the ball. Anderson, who took three wickets, along with Broad, was not entirely happy with his rhythm, but hugely relieved to have delivered at last.
"Days like that have been few and far between on this trip," he said. "We're just really hungry to get something out of this tour and I think we showed that today. I thought we… well, I thought most of the guys fielded pretty well [Anderson spilled two out of three chances, the first a one-handed dive, the second a dolly]. We dived around a lot, we chased everything. Cooky set really good fields, and we bowled to those fields. It was a really complete performance.
"[But] I felt terrible today. I didn't have any rhythm. I'm sure I'll make a lot of the highlights with the fall of the wickets, but I felt really frustrated at times. I felt all right throughout the series. The frustration is not getting the ball swinging as much as we would have thought, and there's not been as much seam movement as there was last time here.
"[Broad's foot injury] does look uncomfortable, but he's coping it very well with, being a brave little soldier, taking pain killers and he's done a great job for us today. Thankfully, he's fit enough to play for us. [And] it does take a lot of pressure off [having Stokes in the attack]. We don't have to bowl 20-plus in a day, and it keeps us a lot fresher. Having someone like that in the team is fantastic, great for balance – certainly with his talent, as well."
Although the pitch began to betray uneven bounce, Anderson said: "There's not much sign of it changing. There might be a bit more spin by the end, out of the footholds. We've seen how difficult it is to score on there and it might be slow going for us but, if we get stuck in, hopefully we can get a reasonable lead.
"There was some reverse at some points in the day but there wasn't really much seam movement or anything else, so we had to work really hard, stay patient, work with the guy at the other end. We were all trying to bowl maidens. As boring as it sounds, that was the way to go on that pitch, and it worked well."
Asked if the thought had crossed his mind about following his friend Swann into retirement at some stage, he smiled and said, "I'd like to carry on playing for a bit. Just because Graeme's gone, I have got other friends in the team. I really enjoy being part of this. It's been a disappointing tour and I know we've got lot more show people and I want to be a part of that."
The dressing room had not changed noticeably since Swann left, he said. "He was a big character in there but there are other big characters in our dressing room. As harsh as it sounds, he's a good friend but we've got to move on. We want get something out of this Test match and the next one. It's sad to see him leave but we've got to concentrate on the future."
The future can be a scary place, but the recent past has not exactly been a bundle of laughs for this team. If the bowlers can win this Test for them, the fifth in Sydney will be an altogether more welcoming proposition, even if the mistrust in their batting will not quickly fade. Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 hours ago.
While they are no doubt immune to such things, England's hardy supporters woke up on the second morning of the fourth Test to a thanks-for-coming headline in The Australian newspaper designed to convey maximum derision: "Quiet please, while we dance on your Ashes grave."
Of all the insults flung on this tour, this one, accompanying a photograph of the Australian players "shooshing" the Barmy Army, looked to be the one that might leave a definitive wound. And that might yet be the case.
However, as both sides know, it does not do to tempt the cricketing gods, even if leading 3-0 in a five-Test series, because at the conclusion of the second day, England's bowlers, having finally clicked after serial disappointment, had not only patched up the their own cuts but sliced Australia's batting to the bone.
Michael Slater, among the army of former players thronging the commentary box, managed to utter the immortally confident line that Australia were 91 runs behind but the match was evenly poised – just before they lost their ninth wicket. It might take more than purblind flag-waving to help Australia keep England's bowlers at bay in the fourth innings, the price they might yet have to pay for Michael Clarke's decision to bowl first.
There were several reasons for England's revival, desperation probably chief among them, and, finally led with a more conviction by James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the supporting troops of Ben Stokes, Tim Bresnan and Monty Panesar all piled in to opponents who had become worryingly comfortable against them.
It has become obvious that England cannot trust their batting to provide adequate protection, as Graeme Swann alluded before departing, so they are now living on their wits and their persistence with the ball. Anderson, who took three wickets, along with Broad, was not entirely happy with his rhythm, but hugely relieved to have delivered at last.
"Days like that have been few and far between on this trip," he said. "We're just really hungry to get something out of this tour and I think we showed that today. I thought we… well, I thought most of the guys fielded pretty well [Anderson spilled two out of three chances, the first a one-handed dive, the second a dolly]. We dived around a lot, we chased everything. Cooky set really good fields, and we bowled to those fields. It was a really complete performance.
"[But] I felt terrible today. I didn't have any rhythm. I'm sure I'll make a lot of the highlights with the fall of the wickets, but I felt really frustrated at times. I felt all right throughout the series. The frustration is not getting the ball swinging as much as we would have thought, and there's not been as much seam movement as there was last time here.
"[Broad's foot injury] does look uncomfortable, but he's coping it very well with, being a brave little soldier, taking pain killers and he's done a great job for us today. Thankfully, he's fit enough to play for us. [And] it does take a lot of pressure off [having Stokes in the attack]. We don't have to bowl 20-plus in a day, and it keeps us a lot fresher. Having someone like that in the team is fantastic, great for balance – certainly with his talent, as well."
Although the pitch began to betray uneven bounce, Anderson said: "There's not much sign of it changing. There might be a bit more spin by the end, out of the footholds. We've seen how difficult it is to score on there and it might be slow going for us but, if we get stuck in, hopefully we can get a reasonable lead.
"There was some reverse at some points in the day but there wasn't really much seam movement or anything else, so we had to work really hard, stay patient, work with the guy at the other end. We were all trying to bowl maidens. As boring as it sounds, that was the way to go on that pitch, and it worked well."
Asked if the thought had crossed his mind about following his friend Swann into retirement at some stage, he smiled and said, "I'd like to carry on playing for a bit. Just because Graeme's gone, I have got other friends in the team. I really enjoy being part of this. It's been a disappointing tour and I know we've got lot more show people and I want to be a part of that."
The dressing room had not changed noticeably since Swann left, he said. "He was a big character in there but there are other big characters in our dressing room. As harsh as it sounds, he's a good friend but we've got to move on. We want get something out of this Test match and the next one. It's sad to see him leave but we've got to concentrate on the future."
The future can be a scary place, but the recent past has not exactly been a bundle of laughs for this team. If the bowlers can win this Test for them, the fifth in Sydney will be an altogether more welcoming proposition, even if the mistrust in their batting will not quickly fade. Reported by guardian.co.uk 4 hours ago.