I couldn't help myself, I just had to say something about the cricket
After a dismal time in the last few Ashes series, Australia has finally come out breathing fire. While England were clearly the better side in England earlier this year, I believe the Aussies showed enough to make cricket followers believe that things were starting to turn around. We were thrashed at Lord's, but other results were much closer, and England were saved by the weather, and some awful umpiring decisions, on two occasions.
The Australian cause was not helped by Cricket Australia's decision to sack coach, Micky Arthur, and replace him with Darren Lehmann, literally weeks from the commencement of the tour. Lehmann was certainly the man for the job, but the timing of the appointment was appalling. However, results have shown that the decision was the correct one, and while the personnel are much the same, the attitude within the squad has improved out of sight.
England were steamrolled by 381 runs in Brisbane, with Mitchell Johnson the main destroyer, and by 218 runs in Adelaide, with Johnson dominant again. The England team looked thoroughly demoralised as they walked off in Adelaide, and it will be a big job to get them thinking positively for the Perth match. I would definitely not write England off, they are too good a team for that, but they are going to have to pull something extra out of the hat for the third test on a wicket that is traditionally a fast bowler's paradise.
We will see.
Peter.