The weather was always likely to have the final say in the Third Test at Edgbaston: from the outset only the most optimistic or partisan watcher would have thought a result likely. That we came as close as we did is a tribute to the efficiency of contemporary anti-rain measures, and the intensity with which both these sides play their cricket. Sadly, the forecast isn’t promising for Headingley either: tomorrow’s first day looks at the moment as if it could be a wash-out too.
When cricket was played at Edgbaston, it was compelling enough, until mid-afternoon on the last day when it became apparent the English bowlers didn’t have the firepower on a still docile pitch to pull the Australian batting apart a second time. And throughout the match there were images to sustain the imagination.
Firstly of course there was the dramatic call-up of reserve wicketkeeper Manou to the Australian team, minutes before the start of the game, and at a point where if Strauss had so chosen, the suggestion that he play in Haddin’s place could have been refused. Haddin had broken a finger in the warm-up – a potentially disastrous moment for the Aussies, because he’s so often proved his value to them with the bat over the last twelve months. There was much discussion in the press about Strauss’s chivalrous action: the informal rules about where ‘gentlemanly’ behaviour begins and ends in cricket are as vague as territorial claims to the Antarctic. There seemed to be general agreement that what Strauss did was A Very Good Thing. But it seemed to me the journalists were leaving room that if Manou scored a hundred on debut, and pouched ten catches, they’d hold the English skipper out to dry. ‘Weak England captain puts Ashes in jeopardy’. In the event, the debutant got an extremely good ball from Anderson which cleaned up his stumps, batted out some time in the second knock, and kept wicket competently, taking just three catches without fuss. The image which remains is of him joyfully receiving his baggy green cap from Ricky Ponting on the second morning. There hadn’t been time for the ceremony on the first. Manou may be lucky to play in a Test for Australia again.
The second thing I shall remember is Watson’s first morning innings. We English had high hopes of the new Shane: we were salivating at the prospect of this one-time all-rounder, now makeshift opening bat, being turned inside out by Freddie’s pace. In the event, Freddie went through the match wicketless, and it was Watson who probably prevented England winning by scoring half-centuries in both innings and being top-scorer first time round. To be fair, during England’s purple patch on the Friday morning when the humid conditions were at their juiciest and most helpful for England’s swing bowling, he lasted one ball – the first ball of the morning – but by then he’d done just enough to take Australia to security. Half an hour into play on the first day, he squirted a boundary to third man, Flintoff bowled him a bouncer and gave him the stare. Flintoff’s stare is meaningful without real menace. Everyone knows he’s much too nice a guy for murder and mayhem, even when less than sober. There’ve been Australian bowlers in the past about whom one would have been less sure. When Dennis Lillee stared, anything seemed possible. And when South African Allan Donald utterly lost his cool in the face of Mike Atherton’s stubborn provocation a few years ago, for all that both sides laughed it off subsequently, there was a real frisson of danger. Anyway, the point is Watson just smiled while Fred glared: an apparently genuine, amused smile. If he was acting, he played the part very well. Flintoff enjoyed batting on this pitch, but he got little reward for his energetic bowling.
On that second morning Onions and Anderson were destructive, swinging the ball at a good pace, and taking out seven Australian wickets for 77 at one point before the tail-enders restored a little respectability. Sweet for Onions. He’d been on the end of some rubbishing from Australian commentators, quick to try and get Steve Harmison into the England team on pitches which wouldn’t have suited him, and where they could have got thoroughly into the big man’s head. You’ve got to wonder whether all along they haven’t been more concerned about the focus of the younger, hungrier bowler. Onions has good pace, and a clever bouncer, which did for Ponting in the first innings. The previous ball had also been short, but slightly slower. The next was quicker, and deceived the Australian captain for pace. The Australian captain didn’t have a great game. In the second innings he was out-thought by Graeme Swann and clean bowled at the end of a very testing over: perhaps the most absorbing six balls of the match.
Flintoff turned back the clock with an innings of the sort he used to play more regularly for England. In Prior he found a good foil, but just when it looked as if their rapid rate of scoring would take England to a point of real strength, he got an oddity of a ball from Hauritz which unlike any other in the match bit into the rough outside his off-stump and hit his gloves to offer an easy catch to slip. An hour more and England might have had a lead sufficient to really intimidate the Australians.
As it was Clarke’s broad bat snuffed out the chance of a win. He seems to be hitting most balls in the sweet spot at present. His driving through extra cover and straight was classically elegant: lovely to watch. There actually never seemed any likelihood that he and North wouldn't save the game.
A final thought. Had this match gone to a sixth day, England would have been the team struggling to survive.
On to Leeds, with pleas for civility from the watching crowd. Which will undoubtedly be ignored.
Australia 263 and 375 for 5 England 376
