In a reversal of old Ashes roles, England has ruthlessly wrapped up a crushing second Test victory at Lord's while Australia slid into a losing streak not experienced for 30 years.
England secured a 2-0 lead in the Investec Ashes series as they completed an inevitable victory against Australia with relentless efficiency at the fag-end of the fourth day at Lord's. The result, which at one stage amid a familiar flurry of wickets appeared likely to happen much earlier on the fourth day, was sealed in the over before stumps, causing the England players to leap into each other's arms.
Australia were four balls away from taking the match into a fifth day, with England forced to take a second new ball, the extra half-hour and finally resorting to silent prayer before completing a 347-run win in the final over. Not for the first time in this series, Australia's last pair embarrassed the batsmen above them. Ryan Harris and James Pattinson held out for an hour in front of a Lord's crowd anxious to witness a result before Graeme Swann trapped Pattinson lbw with three balls left in the day. Australia's last pair, James Pattinson and Ryan Harris, established Australia's second highest stand of the innings - 43 runs awash with defiance.History suggests England's two-nil series lead will prove unassailable. Only once has a team overcome a two-nil deficit to win a five-Test Ashes series. In 1936-7 Australia lost the first two Tests and won the series 3-2, but had the benefit of Donald Bradman plundering 810 runs in the series.It was be an astonishing feat for this Australian team, which has now lost six Tests in a row, to emulate such an achievement, given the depths to which it has sunk.It all feels like a reverse of 20 years ago. England are now the side in a golden era, able to relish high-class players and sound planningAustralia had not lost six consecutive Tests since 1984, all against the West Indies. It took years for Allan Border to lead Australia out of the wilderness.If Michael Clarke's team loses the next Test in Manchester, it will equal the country's worst-ever losing streak.Australia was bowled out for 128 in the first innings and 235 in the second, losing by 347 runs. Pattinson - who was the last man standing when Australia narrowly lost the first Test at Trent Bridge - had resisted for two hours and made 35 runs with valiant support from No.11 Harris (16 not out), who had already done his job with seven wickets for the match. That has been the story of the series, the bowlers forced to make up for the batsmen's failures.England ensured the tourists would have had to bat for almost two days to save the match, and set an unrealistic victory target of 583, beyond anything chased in the fourth innings to win a first-class game.England have four Ashes victories in a row, the strategy of dry pitches is working like a dream and Root's 180 emphasised the gulf between the sides. The youngest English player to make a Test hundred at Lord's, unsurprisingly he took the man-of-the-match award. "I've loved every minute of it," he said.They made skillful use of a wearing Lord's surface, with Swann predictably to the fore, and with Root also making a cheery guest appearance to break the back of the Australia innings just before tea. Australia will be particularly disturbed that they have completed back-to-back wins without major contributions from the likes of Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen.Australia have only straws to clutch at - Usman Khawaja acquitted himself responsibly at No. 3 to make his second Test half-century and their bowlers are displaying commendable spirit with both bat and ball - but only one side in Ashes history has ever won a series 3-2 after losing the first two Tests. England can surely assume the Ashes are as good as retained.A spirited 99-run partnership between Micheal Clarke and Usman Khawaja after a typical top order collapse maintained some interest but their resistance merely delayed the inevitable.Just when Clarke and Khawaja had something going, in bounded man-of-the-match Joe Root, fresh from making 180, with his occasional off-spin removing both batsmen before tea.Clarke again came to the crease with the innings in crisis, at 3-36 in the 16th over. The game would have been over much sooner if Matt Prior had completed a stumping when he was on two, and the Australian captain was subjected to a barrage of short-pitched bowling by Stuart Broad.He battled on to reach 51, but fell to a crafty bit of captaincy from Alastair Cook and was caught at leg slip.Khawaja made a composed half century, but edged to gully on 54 to send Root on another joyful celebration.Lamentably, there was more of decision-making drama. Ashton Agar slashed at a wide ball from Tim Bresnan and was given not out on the field, but third umpire Tony Hill inexplicably overturned the decision despite the absence of a hot spot. Agar looked confused, and although the decision had no great influence on the match, problems with the Decision Review System and its implementation have dominated the series so far.Root's memorable Lord's Test continued apace when he conjured up the wickets of Clarke and Khawaja shortly before tea, breaking their composed 98-run stand in a spell of 7-3-9-2. Clarke, Khawaja and Steve Smith all fell within the space of 21 deliveries.Root, encouraging hopes that he could develop into the fifth bowler England need on spin-friendly surfaces, found extravagant turn out of the rough to dismiss Clarke, but his dismissal was a soft one as he tickled a ball down the leg side to be caught by Alastair Cook at leg slip. Khawaja put up staunch resistance but followed in Root's next over when he pushed at a ball that turned and edged gently to James Anderson at gully.Nevertheless, there was enough in Khawaja's approach to suggest that he intends to battle for the right to become Australia's long-term No. 3. He carried the fight against some short bowling from Stuart Broad immediately after lunch, in contrast to Clarke, who was struck on the shoulder and helmet in quick succession by the same bowler. He also blocked Swann out of the footholds with determination.Swann was a touch hampered by a lower-back injury, caused when Khawaja accidentally collided with him when dashing a single to the bowler's end, and although he regularly found pronounced turn out of the footholds, with the ball traveling more than once straight to slip or gully, he required painkillers and after 17 overs eventually gave way to Root.Smith's departure to the last ball before tea - the batsman unsuccessfully reviewing after he had been caught at the wicket off a thin inside nick against Tim Bresnan - completed a deflating end to the session after Australia's top-order batsmen had shown as much application as at any time in the series.Australia's frustrations were compounded by further issues over DRS after tea. Brad Haddin was adjudged lbw to Swann as he padded up to one that turned from around the wicket and then Agar's brief cut and thrust through point - the area where he lives or dies - was silenced when England successfully turned to the review system to win a catch at the wicket off Bresnan."Nothing wrong with the system, it's down to the people using the system," said Michael Holding in the Sky commentary box.Previously, Steve Smith and Phillip Hughes used up Australia's reviews to challenge caught behind and lbw decisions, respectively, leaving none for Brad Haddin when he was adjudged lbw to Swann, and Hawkeye showed the ball missing.Shane Watson didn't reach for a review this time but his recurring lbw nightmare continued when Jimmy Anderson nipped one back into his pad on 20. It was his 10th leg before dismissal in 18 innings against England.Watson's opening partner Chris Rogers was bowled shouldering arms to Swann, anticipating the spin of a previous ball. Swann was later cleaned up in a mid-pitch collision with Khawaja, and spent time off the field, but he would not be kept out of the game for long, adding 4-78 to his first innings haul of five.Earlier, England batted on in the morning to give Root a shot at a double-century. When he fell 20 runs short, flipping a lap shot off Harris to third man, Cook declared at 7-389. Everything that happened from then on delayed an inevitable Australian hammering.Australia has 11 days to regroup in mind and body before the third Test at Old Trafford. But the gulf in class is greater than anyone imagined when the Australians embarked on this Ashes tour.
Ashes 2013: The second Test report cards :
England :
Alastair Cook :– If he has the happy knack of making runs when needed, does he also have the happy knack of failing to make runs when they're not needed? The Lord's Ashes Test (and a Royal one to boot) is the biggest event for an England captain to manage and he betrayed a little fatigue with all the palaver at the toss – expect the fierce concentration to return at Old Trafford.
Joe Root – Already looks likely to open for 10 years or more (as Alastair Cook did at the same age) with a superbly compact technique and the mental strength to play to it. Started getting ridiculous when he snared Michael Clarke and Usman Khawaja with his off-breaks, but look at the scorecard – it did all happen.
Jonathan Trott – The new, ultra-positive early approach paid off, as he made a very handy half century in the first innings when England were wobbling and memories of Australian wins at HQ were flooding unpleasantly back. Out off the inside edge second time round, trying to force things early. Doesn't seem as serenely oblivious to life outside his bubble as he did when reeling off the centuries and might need to rediscover that Zen quality if he is to improve on just three centuries in his last 25 Tests, despite regularly getting starts.
Kevin Pietersen – Eight years on from his skunk-hair and six-hits debut in the Test that lit 2005′s blue touch paper, it was a quieter KP in every sense who limped out of Lord's, happy for the new generation to win the plaudits. He hasn't played much cricket this summer and he looks to be trying a bit too hard at times – the rhythm, as important to batting as to bowling, will come soon though and, with it, the big scores.Ian Bell – It seems incredible now, but some people were questioning his place just a fortnight ago. Never mind his technical correctness, the beauty of his cover drives and the wisdom of his shot selection, his value to the team can be illustrated in the hardest of cricket's currencies – runs. In the first innings, he arrived at 28-3 and left at 271-5; in the second, he arrived at 129-4 and left at 282-5. That's middle order batting of the highest quality.
Jonny Bairstow – Suffered a little in comparison to Bell's masterclass at the other end when making 68 in the first innings, but without that knock, England may have fallen away rapidly. Like KP, he hasn't had much cricket this season and might be better for some time in the middle. He has an unorthodox style, but a strong bottom hand never hurt Graeme Smith.
Matt Prior – Since winning England's Player of the Year Award at the start of the season, he just hasn't been able to get going with the bat, but is still a reassuring presence to have on either side of the stumps, despite missing Clarke's wicket from a straightforward stumping. Having earned a reputation for being overly keen to call for the DRS review in its early days, he is now its shrewdest operator.
Tim Bresnan – Bowled the perfect in-ducking delivery to see off Shane Watson in the first innings and then kept Joe Root company for three hours as England crushed Australian spirits on Saturday. There's less than two runs between his Test batting and bowling averages and, if he doesn't often produce the eye-catching performance, he usually finds a way to contribute.
Stuart Broad – Flayed more quick and classy runs down the order and then nailed the Australian captain LBW to effect two momentum shifts that were welcome, if not exactly needed. Plugged away in his pressure-building role with the ball without ever threatening one of his streaks.
Graeme Swann – Was expected to take wickets on a track that offered plenty to Australia's tyro tweakers and did so without ever being at his absolute peak. Had the good grace to look sheepish on taking Chris Rogers' wicket first time round with a shocker of a full toss, but got him with a smart ball when in his sights next time round. Looked far too good for the Aussies in the second dig when turning it out of the rough and may feel a tinge disappointed to miss out on a ten-fer.
Jimmy Anderson – Looks like he believes he can get a wicket every time he bowls – and it looks like the Australians think that too, such is the chasm in confidence between him and his opponents. He will have appreciated the support of his fellow bowlers in this match – and the break before the next Test.
Australia :
Shane Watson – As is the case with a few of his colleagues, his secondary skill may be keeping him in the side. His bowling is canny and effective; his batting anything but. In his compulsive falling over a planted front leg to be LBW (rather like Graham Gooch did so often to Terry Alderman in Ashes past) he is in danger of becoming a caricature of himself. But Alderman needed to bowl very well to get Gooch's wicket; England merely need to wait for Watson's.
Chris Rogers – Did not help himself when recommending the DRS option for Watson's first innings plumb LBW and then failing to review his own howler from Marais Erasmus. But the dismissal felt like it was coming, as he seemed too anxious to force the pace against Swann, when his preferred jabbed ones and twos fitted the bill perfectly. Unlike many of his colleagues, at least he can line up head, hands and feet when playing strokes. Unfortunately for him, he didn't play one in the second innings to be bowled by a straight delivery. He might become Swanny's bunny.
Usman Khawaja – Looked as nervous as a kitten (or a Cowan) in making a poor 14 in the first dig – has he really played 65 First Class matches? Showed a bit more of what got him selected in the second innings, balancing attack and defence well, as he battled with the ball turning out of the rough, but succumbed to the pressure with the tea break in sight.
Michael Clarke – Even his bouncy bonhomie must be tested by the task before him and maybe it's getting to his recently peerless batting. Is in grave danger of hitting an all-time low for an Australian captain – by receiving the sympathy of the crowd. Had no answer as England more than doubled their score after tea on Saturday, as Root and Bell had the boot on the throat and pressed down hard. But who would have had an answer? Got a second chance second time round after Prior's fluffed stumping and found a willing foil in Khawaja to put together a rare partnership against some probing bowling. His mind looked a little addled in turning a ball he ought to have left straight into his opposite number's hands – but he'll take some solace in notching a 50 to get his series going.
Steve Smith – Landed his sharply spun leg-breaks and found a perfect quicker ball for the compulsively cutting Prior to pick up three unexpected wickets. The golden arm was still working in the second innings when he snapped up a set Bell with a long hop. But he's in as a batsman and now looks very vulnerable lunging at Swann's spin and then played a mirror image of Phil Hughes's terrible first innings flay before calling for an equally misjudged review and wallking off looking just as crestfallen.
Phil Hughes – Played an astonishingly ill-conceived stroke in the first innings and then topped it with an equally misconceived review (though one presumes that he didn't hear the click that everyone else heard). Appears to have no defensive technique at all to the spinning ball. How many more matches like this can the selectors tolerate?
Brad Haddin – Couldn't carry on with the bat where he left off at Trent Bridge and his keeping is in a downward spiral of poor judgment and lack of confidence, which led to an horrendous mix up with Michael Clarke and a let off for Joe Root that cost his team 172 runs. Padded up to be unluckily LBW to Swanny and walked away looking more cheesed off with the match than the decision – as well he might be.
Ashton Agar – Restricted by a injury and, if truth be told, inexperience. There are plenty of less intimidating places to learn how to bowl and he should find them and return a better cricketer for it. His potential is obvious, but that's all it is at the moment. Two seasons as a pro in the Lancashire Leagues would improve his cricket no end.
Peter Siddle – No praise is too high for his refusal to be bowed after a dismal, disgraceful Australian first innings – the vicious vegan just ran in hard and knocked over three top order bats with force of will. Even he couldn't do much after that, but he deserves better support than he is getting.
James Pattinson – Didn't really deal with the Lord's slope in the first innings, but had the radar set second time around. It may be a harsh judgment on a young man, but in this disappointing Australian XI, he may be the biggest disappointment of all – too easily emasculated by slowish pitches and orthodox batting. Puts upper order batsmen to shame with his discipline and technique with bat in hand.
Ryan Harris – Found the right line and length and bowled fast and straight, looking like a grown-up in a team with too many kids. His efforts on Thursday were magnificent and he could have done with a longer rest on Friday before being asked to do it all again. Unlike plenty of his colleagues, you can imagine him in previous touring parties.
