Australia’s bowling in the second Ashes Test
The Second Ashes Test is finally over and Australia has been left with the scar of defeat. It takes a lot of effort from a side to defeat the Aussies on their own territory, and one wonders how long we are going to wait to see
the real http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 emerge. Australia has always played well at home, and if a side is able to take away their home advantage, than means something is seriously wrong. For Australia, their worst fears came true in the second Test match when their bowling completely
failed to leave a mark on England’s first innings. There was a lot of speculation before the Ashes series that Australia will have some problem areas in the Ashes, and it turned out that the area was their bowling. Though, their batting was also substandard
in the second Test match, the way they bowled was simply atrocious. For the past many series, their bowling has been lacking the punch that was once associated with it, and it was just a matter of time before this weakness would be exploited by an in-form
side.
Australia started horrifically in the second Test match, and it could not have been more embarrassing for the Aussies to see their side struggling at 3-2 in first 3 over’s of the first day of the Adelaide Test. After being bowled
out for just 245 in the first innings, Australia needed their bowlers to restrict England to a low total, but they were unable to dismiss the English batsmen for a low total. They did not seem to trouble the English batsmen in the first innings, and England
took this opportunity to post a big first innings score. Australia dropped Mitchell Johnson for the second Ashes Test, and included Ryan Harris and Doug Bollinger. The gamble did not pay off for the Aussies, as they were not able to control the English onslaught.
Mitchell Johnson was dropped from the side because of his undisciplined bowling, and was rested for some time to improve his length. But Doug Bollinger failed to make any sort of impression in the Test match, and conceded a lot
of runs as well. The change did not seem to work for the Aussies as Bollinger did not bowl a decent length during his spells. The Aussies were in desperate need of a wicket in the first innings, but none of their bowlers were able to deliver Bollinger was
successful in getting rid of Strauss in his first over, but that was more a lack of judgment on part of Strauss than anything else. Bollinger was quite expensive on the second day, but bowled much better on the 4th. Like the other bowlers, he was
in the firing line for not being able to put pressure on the English batsmen.
Peter Siddle, who was the star performer for the Aussies in the Brisbane test, bowled much better than Bollinger, and did not give much to the batsmen to hit at. But unlike the previous match, he was not successful in getting wickets
at regular intervals for his side. This really shows the form of the English batsmen that they were not bothered by different bowling changes and were focused on getting runs. Siddle went wicketless in the Test match.
Xaview Doherty was a major disappointment for the Aussies, as he was not able to provide the role of a threatening spinner on the side. He paid dearly (27-3-158-1), and failed to test the in-form English batsmen. For a spinner,
it is mandatory to let the batsmen to wonder about his bowling, but the way he bowled was contrary to that. He bowled in particular areas, and gave a lot of margin to the batsmen to score runs off him. Pieterson in particular, was quite harsh on Doherty, and
scored 61 runs off 60 balls from his bowling. He used his feet quite well against Doherty and did not allow him to settle. All the Aussie bowlers were guilty of drifting too much on the pads, and also gave too much room to the batsmen on the off-side to score
easy runs. Ryan Harris can be labeled as a bowler, who was successful in his approach. He swung the ball quite well early on, and did manage to pose a problem for the English batsmen. He was a bit unlucky as some of the catches were dropped off his bowling,
but overall he was the odd one out in the bowling department. He was the partnership breaker for the Aussies, and did manage to keep his head straight when the English batsmen were playing with ease. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 was another bowler who bowled well in his spell and
also picked one wicket. Aussie bowling in the second Test match was “not threatening” at all, and this is the message. The Aussie ballers must test the batsmen in order to create an impact in the series.
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