The Ashes 2013-14: England burnt to ashes by Australia

The victorious Australian team

For the past few Ashes series, the term favourites was rightly accorded to the English. Such has been their dominance, that they won the last three Ashes series by a distance. But their performance in this return series has raised concerns. Here is a team which looks jaded, tired and without fight. This is unlike the clinical England we saw over the past 4-5 years since Andy Flower took charge. Is this a mental problem or simply fatigue? Or is this the end of the purple patch for England’s current generation?

Firstly, England’s dressing room atmosphere, though unknown to an outsider, needs a bit of shaking up. It seems one of serious intent, with many coaches watching the players’ backs everytime. Such a dressing room would be ideal for players when they are winning consistently as England have been doing for quite some time. But when the team starts losing its confidence, the atmosphere in the dressing room plays a big factor in reviving them. Players should be allowed to express themselves and have a bit of down time. This is where Kevin Pieterson had problems earlier when he lamented that he could not be himself in the currrent dressing room.

The Australian dressing room had a similar air when Mickey Arthur was in charge. But the appointment of Darren Lehmann has proved to be a masterstroke. For here is one coach who loves to have a beer with the players, can put a hand around his mates and tell them their flaws and at the same time be focussed on extracting the best out of their players. The results have shown in Australia’s performance.

The other major factor has been the “THE MOUSTACHE”, the “ENIGMA” Mitchell Johnson. When he is in this sort of mood and form, there is no team which can deal with his pace. Bouncers, full length swinging deliveries at 90m/hr is not an easy proposition. He had developed a web of doubts around England’s players after the first Test itself and the English have been unable to come out of it. They have handled him in the past very well, and they have the talent and mental toughness to survive Mitch. They seriously need to come out of this mental roadblock they have hit for them to win any test match in the Ashes.

The English team balance has been hit following the retirements of Strauss and Collingwood. It shows that they have not found ideal replacements for these two blokes. Nick compton, Johny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara have all come and gone, but none have cemented their places. The only newcomer who has sort of established himself is Joe Root. England need to find a solid opener like Strauss and a solid No. 6 batsmen who can put up a fight and bat with the tail.

The previous Ashes series win masked the failure of England’s batting unit. Ian Bell single handedlydelivered their wins with a few support acts from Cook, KP and Trott. Cook must go back and watch videos of his last Ashes tour down under where he was immovable like a rock. KP needs to find his magic touch.

England need Bell and Cook to play the kind of innings they are used to and with Trott not around it puts additional pressure on these two.

The bowling unit looks uninspired with Swann and Anderson not being amongst the wickets. If these guys can find their mojo they can still retain the Ashes.