by bigfluffylemon » Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:47 pm
Cook's dismissal was the perfect example of how when you're out of form you just can't catch a break. It was one hell of a catch. And Vince's dismissal was an absolute freak. England have often seemed to be on the receiving end of some pretty bad luck, but the fact is, when you're behind in the game everything looks unfortunate, and when you're ahead, you tend to make your own luck.
There is an outside chance that rain will save England. There is a fair amount forecast, but it's supposed to be showery rather than a constant deluge, so there will probably be time enough for the 20 or so overs England will need to capitulate, and lose by an innings after scoring 400 for the second time in a year, a feat that until last year had never been achieved before.
This series isn't as bad as the 2013-14 drubbing, I'm not sure anything could be, but in some ways the result here might be even more frustrating. 2013-14 was based on one player playing the series of a generation, and England just couldn't handle him. I don't think any batting line-up in history could. Australia are playing well this time around, but not out of their skins. England are being competitive in patches, then finding new ways to hand the initiative back. It's deeply, deeply frustrating to watch, as we know that the players, especially the senior players are better than this. Anderson's been ok, but Broad, Root, Cook, Moeen and Woakes have been so far below their average, let alone their best, that it's not even funny (and it's particularly heinous from the former three). The newcomers, Vince, Stoneman, Malan, Overton, have actually performed reasonably under the circumstances, and probably better than anyone expected, but without the experienced players standing up England were never going to have a chance.
Heads are going to roll after this series, rightly or wrongly, unless England can somehow pick themselves up, scrape a draw here with some rain, and score a miraculous win in Melbourne. Surely the Australian batting line-up is due a failure?