Sledging and pitch tampering have led the 2010 Ashes Cricket Series news since Australia defeated England by 267 runs to level the series in the Third Test at the WACA in Perth.
After Australia bowled England out for 187 and 123, the Ashes Series is alive and well—setting up what is expected to attract a world record breaking crowd for one day of cricket at the Fourth Test beginning on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With three of the 5-day Test matches played, the series is tied at 1-1, including a drawn match in the First Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. The tourists need only avoid defeat in the remaining two Tests at the MCG and Sydney Cricket Ground to return to England with the Ashes.
There was anticipation of an Adelaide repeat performance by both nations as Australia struggled in their first innings at bat. The top order fell cheaply and at one point was 4-36. And although they only scored 268 runs in the first innings, Australia set themselves up for the victory on a bouncy pitch suited to bowling.
The standout player in the match was Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, who had been controversially omitted from the Second Test and included in the third. He took six of England’s wickets for 38 runs in the first innings and 3-44 in the second. Leading the fight-back with bat and ball, his important 63 runs in the first innings helped the fiery fast-bowler’s momentum.
On several occasions, heated words were exchanged between players during the match. Beginning when Johnson was batting on the first day—he and England’s James Anderson traded barbs—Australia were louder than their subdued behavior in the one-sided Adelaide Test.
After Australia bowled England out for 187 and 123, the Ashes Series is alive and well—setting up what is expected to attract a world record breaking crowd for one day of cricket at the Fourth Test beginning on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With three of the 5-day Test matches played, the series is tied at 1-1, including a drawn match in the First Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. The tourists need only avoid defeat in the remaining two Tests at the MCG and Sydney Cricket Ground to return to England with the Ashes.
Third Test—WACA
With England only needing one win following the Second Test at Adelaide Oval to retain the Ashes, they began confidently in Perth and appeared to have one hand on the urn.There was anticipation of an Adelaide repeat performance by both nations as Australia struggled in their first innings at bat. The top order fell cheaply and at one point was 4-36. And although they only scored 268 runs in the first innings, Australia set themselves up for the victory on a bouncy pitch suited to bowling.
The standout player in the match was Australia’s Mitchell Johnson, who had been controversially omitted from the Second Test and included in the third. He took six of England’s wickets for 38 runs in the first innings and 3-44 in the second. Leading the fight-back with bat and ball, his important 63 runs in the first innings helped the fiery fast-bowler’s momentum.
On several occasions, heated words were exchanged between players during the match. Beginning when Johnson was batting on the first day—he and England’s James Anderson traded barbs—Australia were louder than their subdued behavior in the one-sided Adelaide Test.
Sledging
The Australians played with an aggression not seen since 2008 at the SCG, where they defeated India. They had received a warning from Cricket Australia for sledging, an aspect of the game that Australia had been masters at during their long period of dominance.
The chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Paul Marsh, speaking on ABC Radio, said that as a result of the warning, this led to a change in their form for the worse.
“There was a clear directive from Cricket Australia that the players’ on-field behavior needed to be looked at,” Marsh said.
“I think at the time, a number of the players were of the view that it was a bit of a storm in a tea cup, but at the time, there was a fair bit of controversy going around. The players definitely looked at their behavior and I think they changed it—not necessarily for the better, as it turned out.”
Marsh discussed the line at which on-field behavior becomes unacceptable.
“Obviously, if you’ve got physical contact between players, that’s unacceptable. If it becomes personal, you don’t really need it to be discussing people’s family and the like.
“But the object of Test cricket is a test, as the name suggests. It’s not just a test of how good a batsman, bowler, fielder, etc you are, it’s how strong you are mentally and I think that’s what our players have been very good at, getting into the minds of opposition players. Our players have been doing it for several decades. It’s part of the DNA of the Australian cricket team and the reason why we are so successful.
“The team went through a bit of an identity crisis around what they could and couldn’t do on the field and I don’t think they played with their natural instincts for a while,” he said.
“It was pleasing to see them in Perth get back to their natural instincts. I think the Australian public clearly wanna see the team play like that.”
The chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, Paul Marsh, speaking on ABC Radio, said that as a result of the warning, this led to a change in their form for the worse.
“There was a clear directive from Cricket Australia that the players’ on-field behavior needed to be looked at,” Marsh said.
“I think at the time, a number of the players were of the view that it was a bit of a storm in a tea cup, but at the time, there was a fair bit of controversy going around. The players definitely looked at their behavior and I think they changed it—not necessarily for the better, as it turned out.”
Marsh discussed the line at which on-field behavior becomes unacceptable.
“Obviously, if you’ve got physical contact between players, that’s unacceptable. If it becomes personal, you don’t really need it to be discussing people’s family and the like.
“But the object of Test cricket is a test, as the name suggests. It’s not just a test of how good a batsman, bowler, fielder, etc you are, it’s how strong you are mentally and I think that’s what our players have been very good at, getting into the minds of opposition players. Our players have been doing it for several decades. It’s part of the DNA of the Australian cricket team and the reason why we are so successful.
“The team went through a bit of an identity crisis around what they could and couldn’t do on the field and I don’t think they played with their natural instincts for a while,” he said.
“It was pleasing to see them in Perth get back to their natural instincts. I think the Australian public clearly wanna see the team play like that.”
“I don’t think anyone overstepped the mark; they played hard but fair and it’s no doubt the players intimidated the English during that particular game.
“I hope we can see more of that and I’m sure that’s what the Australian public want too.”
“I’ve played against Australia I don’t know how many Test matches and believe me, the first time I played and the second time I came out here, the likes of Warne, McGrath, etc, there were some pretty big verbal contests,” said Pietersen, reported espncrickinfo.
“I haven’t seen or heard anything different from what’s happened in the first two Tests, let alone last year in England. There are not really any big chirpers or sledgers.
“It’s England vs Australia, an Ashes series. Blokes get the red mist occasionally and you’re allowed to do that; things happen.
“You’re playing for that little urn and it’s historic, it’s huge. But there’s nothing that’s been overboard and if things go overboard, match referees deal with stuff like that and there’s been nothing like that. There’s not been anything close to it.”
Pitch Tampering
Leading into the much anticipated Boxing Day Test, reports of preparing a green MCG pitch to suit the host nation had seen a knee-jerk reaction by English media crying foul.
“I hope we can see more of that and I’m sure that’s what the Australian public want too.”
‘Red mist’
England’s Kevin Pietersen said that there was nothing new about the Australian’s behavior, but that it wasn’t as bad as in the past.“I’ve played against Australia I don’t know how many Test matches and believe me, the first time I played and the second time I came out here, the likes of Warne, McGrath, etc, there were some pretty big verbal contests,” said Pietersen, reported espncrickinfo.
“I haven’t seen or heard anything different from what’s happened in the first two Tests, let alone last year in England. There are not really any big chirpers or sledgers.
“It’s England vs Australia, an Ashes series. Blokes get the red mist occasionally and you’re allowed to do that; things happen.
“You’re playing for that little urn and it’s historic, it’s huge. But there’s nothing that’s been overboard and if things go overboard, match referees deal with stuff like that and there’s been nothing like that. There’s not been anything close to it.”
Pitch Tampering
Leading into the much anticipated Boxing Day Test, reports of preparing a green MCG pitch to suit the host nation had seen a knee-jerk reaction by English media crying foul.
A greener pitch means that fast bowlers and seamers will get more swing from the ball than a spin bowler would on a drier one—suiting the Australian pace-bowling attack that had great success in Perth.
The tendency of a host’s curator preparing pitches in the hope of favoring their team has probably always been a factor in cricket—home advantage has always played its part in results.
England’s Alastair Cook saw it as normal “home advantage”.
“You’d expect everyone to do it,” the opening batsmen told reporters in Perth. “That is the beauty of home conditions, isn’t it?
“You can prepare a pitch to hopefully suit the home side. That is what we try and do in England in certain cases. There is no reason I would expect Australia not to do it.”
Excited at the prospect of playing before an expected MCG crowd in excess of the record of 90,800 set at the same venue in February 1961 against West Indies, the stage couldn’t be bigger for Pieterson to find a return to form.
“Having won a Test, lost a Test, two to play and one to win to take the Ashes home is an incredible opportunity for the team.
“I don’t know what ticket sales are like, but it could be potentially around 400,000 people watching the five days. That is so exciting.
“I’ve played a little bit and I get goosebumps thinking about it.
“Everyone in the team, including the management, and the Australians are really looking forward to what should be a great week’s cricket if the sun shines. Any day of Test cricket is amazing, but if you get 100,000 watching you on a particular day, you’re pretty pleased.”
The tendency of a host’s curator preparing pitches in the hope of favoring their team has probably always been a factor in cricket—home advantage has always played its part in results.
England’s Alastair Cook saw it as normal “home advantage”.
“You’d expect everyone to do it,” the opening batsmen told reporters in Perth. “That is the beauty of home conditions, isn’t it?
“You can prepare a pitch to hopefully suit the home side. That is what we try and do in England in certain cases. There is no reason I would expect Australia not to do it.”
Fourth Test—MCG
Pieterson, who was the hero at the Adelaide Oval when he scored his career-best 227 and captured the crucial wicket of Michael Clarke on the last ball before stumps on Day Four, had a shocker in Perth. A duck in the first innings and three runs in the second was far from his best Test performance.Excited at the prospect of playing before an expected MCG crowd in excess of the record of 90,800 set at the same venue in February 1961 against West Indies, the stage couldn’t be bigger for Pieterson to find a return to form.
“Having won a Test, lost a Test, two to play and one to win to take the Ashes home is an incredible opportunity for the team.
“I don’t know what ticket sales are like, but it could be potentially around 400,000 people watching the five days. That is so exciting.
“I’ve played a little bit and I get goosebumps thinking about it.
“Everyone in the team, including the management, and the Australians are really looking forward to what should be a great week’s cricket if the sun shines. Any day of Test cricket is amazing, but if you get 100,000 watching you on a particular day, you’re pretty pleased.”
