The Serve

First test win almost perfect, but not the Dizzy Heights

Just before the start of the Ashes, I sat down and watched Rocky III. That’s the one where Mr.T wins the first fight over Rocky Balboa, then, in the return bout, Rocky climbs off the canvas and not only turns the fight around, he puts on an exhibition and returns to greatness. Funny that.

 

Could this test have possibly turned out any better for Australia? After recklessly throwing away their first innings, they not only restored order before stumps on the first day, they crushed the opposition into the ground. Bowled out for 190 on day one, yet a victory margin of 239 runs. This wasn’t even close.

 

The star, again, was Glenn McGrath. Three tests at Lord’s and three man of the match awards. 500 wickets, but old players still tell us he’s not Dennis Lillee. No, he’s not. McGrath has more wickets, a better strike rate, with an average almost 3 runs better than the most lauded quick of all time. And, oh yeah, McGrath has been spearheading the number one team in the game for a decade. In the last couple of years, when McGrath has battled injury, we’ve had trailers of life without him. It’s not a pretty picture, yet he still doesn’t seem to get the absolute standing he must be close to deserving of.

 

And who was McGrath’s partner in this physical, yet mental, disintegration? Shane Warne. Of course.

 

After day 1, this columnist boldly told colleagues that Warne was going to have a poor series. In the midst of a 17 wicket day, his two efficient overs at the end of play would be forgotten as quickly as the name of the winner of that day’s stage of the Tour De France, but he wasn’t putting his once again chucky body into his stride, hence a lazy, arm dominated action. What wasn’t factored in was the fact he still has a mental edge over England so fierce, the sunday league tea and crumpet stride is more than enough. In saying that, his action was far superior in the second innings, where figures of 4-for didn’t do him justice. The beauty of Warne? Just look at Ian Bell. Bell is apparently the future of England’s batting, but the way Warne worked him over with his series of big turners, before the inevitable, yet somehow still deceiving, straight ball, gave Bell a frightening resemblance to Darryl Cullinan. There may not be a flipper in the kit bag these days, but Warne doesn’t need it. He can still set them up for the big fall. Warne may have got Bell leg before, but he didn’t get much else. Alim Dar is an umpire of tremendous talent and composure, but his continual refusal of Warne’s appeals were akin to Seinfeld refusing to eat a slice of pizza because Poppy didn’t wash his hands. Warne deserved better.

 

So, are we heading down the same road we’ve been driving for the last 20 years? Maybe we are, but the difference between this incarnation of England and previous versions is this team has matchwinners. Yes, Flintoff was poor. But his bowling troubles the Aussies, especially Gilchrist. Flintoff’s lethargic batting technique may lend itself to only one decent innings all series, yet it may be significant. Harmison can rip through the top and/or bottom order, and Pietersen has no fear. Before this test, critics wondered whether Pietersen had the game, had the temperament. Sure, he can hit the thing, but can he actually build an innings? Now, the only question is whether he should move up the order. If he’s going to have to keep bailing England out, he might as well come in at 2 for 20 instead of 4 for 20. Then he might be able to influence the game, rather than be in spite of it. Plenty has been lost, but not all, yet.

 

It seems like so much happened, but what did we learn form Lord’s that we didn’t already know? McGrath and Warne mentally own England, Lee is actually back and not just hype this time around, Harmison is a genuine threat, Kevin Pietersen can play, and Jason Gillespie is in big trouble. None of those statements are new. Gillespie? Aah yes. He bowled the grand total of 14 overs. They weren’t bad overs, but they weren’t all that threatening either. If the skipper doesn’t have the faith to throw him the ball, surely his time is close.

 

OK, so the first test could have possibly turned out better.

 

But this will do just fine for now.