The unlikeliest of triumphs

Okay – I admit it. In predicting that England would be rolled over by Australia following their 400 plus run defeat at Lords I got it rather spectacularly wrong. My only comfort is knowing that I was not alone, most pundits predicting a similar outcome. Where I was perhaps more wrong than most was in being too quick to admonish the side for its lack of backbone a trait which, in the subsequent tests, has proved to be a tag more applicable to the usually resilient Australians. The manner of their batting collapses at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge were so precipitate that for a short while one almost felt sorry for them. It was, as I say fleeting, for one then thought back to the ignominy endured at the hands of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Haden, Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist - who never gave us an inch - and a sense of delight was restored. Indeed it was lovely that both Warne (Sky Sports) and McGrath (TMS) should have to sit through it and commentate, gritted teeth to the fore.

Though we may criticise the lack of spine in the Australian batting line up, it was England’s bowlers and their fielding that won the day. Broad, Anderson, Finn, Stokes and to a lesser extent Wood made full use of the English conditions and few will forget Stuart Broad’s remarkable 8 for 15 on day one of this Trent Bridge Test. But credit must also go to Ben Stokes, whose second innings haul of six wickets, was due to swing bowling of the highest caliber. His development with both bat and ball bodes well for the future as does the now established Joe Root and one hopes Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali. The latter, a number four batting at number 8 is a great fillip to the lower order and on at least three occasions during this test series his innings have helped to both change the mood and turn the tide.

Eighteen months ago, following its 5-0 Ashes series defeat, all was not well with English cricket. The intervening period seemed to add insult to injury. Peter Moores was welcomed back as head coach, but failed to inspire and found himself sacked once again. Paul Downton was appointed Managing Director of the England & Wales Cricket board only to find himself gone within two years. Part of that stemmed from his botched sacking of Alistair Cook as one day captain. England then suffered a miserable World Cup and all the while the brooding Kevin Pietersen cast a dark shadow over all that was happening.

Sense finally seemed to prevail with the appointment of Andrew Strauss as Director of Cricket, who quickly lanced the Pietersen boil and installed Paul Farbrace as temporary coach to the England team. It was he who instilled the side with the freedom and belief that was evidenced in the test and one day series against New Zealand. But even on the back of that one was still left believing that the all conquering Australians would arrive and trample all over us.

But, as we now know, it didn’t happen. Watching Alistair Cook being interviewed today after England’s emphatic victory, I don’t think even he could quite believe what had happened. His team is far from the finished article with batting deficiencies in the top order and lacking a genuine spinner. But it is young, enthusiastic and with an all important sense of self belief. How lovely for them to claim the final Oval test and send the Aussies home thoroughly deflated.

©Mark Brennand