Ashes 2019 | Oval Day 4 Talking Points - Root's spin tactic and Jofra Archer's foreseeable Australian outing

Ashes 2019 | Oval Day 4 Talking Points - Root's spin tactic and Jofra Archer's foreseeable Australian outing

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England’s win in the fifth Test was indeed the highlight of Day, which turned out to be the final day of Ashes 2019, but considering the bigger picture, Australia need to figure out who goes into their home summer and what would Jofra Archer’s impact be when England tour Australia next.

Root emulates Paine’s tactic of early spin

England, batting in their second innings, were leading by 382 runs at the end of Day 3 of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. To everyone’s surprise, Australia captain Tim Paine gave the bowling duties to Nathan Lyon right at the start of Day 4 at The Oval instead of starting off with a pacer. No wonder a clear thought process was put into that decision since his deliveries, especially the ones to Jack Leach, showcased clear turn and it was evidently troubling the batsmen.

The ball was either drifting, at the least, or turning square especially owing to the rough patches. After Archer was dismissed by Pat Cummins, Stuart Broad accelerated England’s innings by hitting a couple of sixes to the top-ranking bowler in Test cricket. Then came Lyon back in action when Leach was on strike and this time the batsman following his partner Stuart Broad’s lead made the mistake of hitting the top edge as the bowler finally bagged the wicket of his much-deserved victim. That wrapped up the English innings as Australia were given a target of 399.

This tactic of Tim Paine, to bring in Lyon and its perfect execution lured Joe Root into emulating it as the English skipper brought in spin early- first change in bowling- in the form of Jack Leach. The tactic served well enough for England as Leach, bowling his third over, delivered a ball that offered significant turn and beat the edge of the bat of Marnus Labuschagne, and in no time Jonny Bairstow removed the bails. After Steve Smith, Labuschagne has been the most efficient batsman in the Aussie brigade and to get his wicket, Leach worked as the perfect trick. Root rejoiced his decision as Australia were reduced to 56/3. 

Three Aussie batsmen pass with flying colours, what about the rest?

Every Aussie fan heaves a sigh of relief when David Warner goes past the single-digit curse as a ritual in this Ashes. And unfortunately for the fans, it happened only twice in 10 innings in the entire series. Batting in the fourth innings of the fifth Ashes Test, Warner produced such an instance but that was only short-lived as Stuart Broad, for the seventh time in this Ashes, uprooted the batsman hence establishing an obvious dominance which will be remembered for a long time. The last time when the left-handed opener touched double figures was during the Leeds Test when he scored 61 and once again returned to his disappointing form as he scored three consecutive ducks in the next three innings.

Australia’s other gravely disappointing openers have been Cameron Bancroft and his replacement Marcus Harris who produced high scores of 13 and 19 respectively, which showcases nothing but their sheer failure. Meanwhile, captain Tim Paine- who irrespective of everything was the Aussie leader who retained the Ashes for his team- averaged only 20 throughout the Ashes with a lone half-century. Since he was bestowed with captaincy, owing to nothing but his on-paper experience, since last year, Paine has added immense character to the team but his batting doesn’t make a strong case for him in the side that will play a home series against Pakistan later this year.

Meanwhile, needless to say, Steve Smith has been the lone warrior for Australia in a majority of the cases and has produced series-defining innings time and again, starting from his twin centuries in the first Test to his double hundred in his comeback game at the Old Trafford. The ‘sandpaper gate’ followed by the one-year ban, the concussion in the Lord’s Test, every hassle collectively couldn’t put the champion down. While he sailed the ship for Australia with an unbelievable form, thus being the deserving holder of the Man of the series title, Australia found two other gems in the form of Marnus Labuschagne- Smith concussion substitute- and in a very surprising turn of events- Matthew Wade.

In the absence of Steve Smith during the 2nd innings of the Lord’s Test and the following third Test at Leeds, Labuschagne sailed the ship for Australia scoring three consecutive half-centuries. Matthew Wade, who scored a hundred in the first Test, came around after a few disappointing knocks in between when he scored a brilliant 117 on a day when Steve Smith got out on 23 while chasing 399. Now Ricky Ponting has attested that Warner will carry on in the home series, irrespective of his current form and while Australia have found their silver-lining in Wade and Labuschagne, it'll be interesting to see the string of events - with respect to the Aussie batsmen - unfold in the next couple of months. 

What happens when Jofra Archer tours Australia next year?

The year 2020 will be all about Joe Root’s quest to win back the Ashes, that has been retained by Australia this time. The one major weapon in his arsenal to make that happen is, goes without saying, Jofra Archer. The young and fiery Englishman has established himself as an intense character in the game of Cricket just too early in his career. Starting from winning the World Cup for England to earning the Man of the Match title in the fifth Test, Jofra Archer’s short yet glorious career has come a full circle.

And even though there have been glimpses of the bowler being over bowled by his captain, something that’s supposed to put pressure on a speedster who regularly bowls above 90mph, Archer just refuses to be worn down. The biggest proof of which was the final day of The Oval Test. While day 4 was totally dominated by England pacer Stuart Broad, dismissing both openers and bagging the most important wicket of the entire series- Steve Smith -  in hindsight Archer had already set the tone for the result of the game with his six-wicket haul in the first innings. Even though he went wicketless in the fourth innings, he was as fearsome as ever with his deliveries- a glimpse of which was seen when he had a prolonged stare-off with his Hobart teammate Matthew Wade. Even close to the end of day’s play Archer refused to lower his energy keeping those fearsome shortish deliveries coming. 

This takes us back to Mitchell Johnson’s exploits when England toured Australia in 2013 when the Aussie quick ruthlessly ripped through the batting unit of the visiting team. From his stare-down at Jimmy Anderson to his fearsome toe-crushing yorkers, Johnson left a mark in Ashes history. Six years hence, in the form of Archer, it’s time that Johnson’s fearful legacy will be carried on, but this time Australia will be at the receiving end. 

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