Final Ashes Test 2009 - What can we learn from it?

I wrote this article a few days after the conclusion of the 2009 Ashes Series - Now we are starting a new season, it might be useful to revisit this article. See what you think!...

In the wake of the 2009 Ashes series, I thought I would have a look at the way the Australians played during the big run chase in their second innings of the final Test when the series was on the line. They did a lot of things right and a few things spectacularly wrong and I am sure young cricketers can learn a lot about the way to go about a run chase by analysing this performance.

Firstly, the openers approached their task with great determination and batted out the first session.

Their primary job was to get through to stumps on Day 3 with all 10 wickets intact. They did this by:

• Staying positive. They left the ball, defended the ball or attacked the ball with total commitment to that shot. They realized the field was up so putting away loose deliveries – especially short bowling – was possible. So when they swung, they swung hard and by stumps 80 runs had been erased from the total required, without the loss of a wicket.
• Learning from other batsmen. There is no doubt that the wicket was difficult but Strauss and Trott in particular handled the conditions and made runs. Good batsmen watch each other and try to learn what works on a particular deck. Strauss and Trott played with soft hands, watched the ball obsessively and left as many balls as possible. On the evening of Day 3, the Australian openers took a leaf out of Strauss’ book and successfully negotiated that final session.
• Running well between wickets. In order to wear down a bowling attack, batsmen must continually rotate the strike. This is particularly effective when one batsman is left handed and the other a righty. This causes the bowler to be constantly changing his line and fielders to be changing their positions and angles in the field. It also gives each batsman time off strike to relax so they can refocus when called upon to face up again.

In many ways, what Katich and Watson did on the evening of Day 3 was a blueprint for all opening batsmen looking to set the base for a big score the following day.
Unfortunately, on the morning of Day 4 both batsmen showed precisely how NOT to set about a big run chase. They were obviously trying to set the base for a big score, and they had proved they were up to it the previous evening.

What went wrong?

It is difficult to know what specific thoughts were going through their minds, but a few of the thoughts that may have been circulating that may have contributed to their downfall may have been:

• Getting ahead of themselves. In any situation the batsman can only play the next ball – that ball is the only ball that can get them out so they must focus all their attention on playing that ball as well as possible. If you think about the task of batting for a whole day, rather than just dealing with the next ball, you run the risk of losing focus and letting the next ball bring you undone. Both Aussie openers were out in the first couple of overs – out LBW to straight deliveries.
• Forgetting the one basic rule: Batting never gets easy. Having batted so well the previous evening, they may have tried to “just continue on from last night” rather than starting again - having a good look at each new bowler, leaving the wider deliveries and reacquainting themselves with the characteristics of the pitch. After any break in play, batsmen must take a little time – depending on the situation of the game – to settle back in. Trying to continue on as if there has been no break can often times be disastrous.

So having done a wonderful job at the end of Day 3, they put pressure back onto the middle order at the beginning of Day 4, the one thing an opening pair should never do! Ponting and Hussey then showed us all how to approach a large run chase.

They played each ball with total concentration. They did not look concerned with the size of the task they faced – they broke it down into balls, overs and spells but always stayed focused on the next ball. They realized that – even if the wicket was difficult – the longer they batted the easier it would become. That was their motivation.

Then the run outs.

We will never know what might have been if the run outs had not occurred but they may have changed the course of the innings. What we can do is look at the situation and learn some lessons from it.

• Take responsibility. Once a batsman is set at the crease, he has a larger responsibility not to give his wicket away. Risk must always be balanced against return if successful and consequence if not. In a big run chase, the set batsman must not take excessive risks such as pre-meditating shots or initiating very short singles.
• Run the first run hard. Regardless of the situation, each batsman must always run the first run as hard as possible. No ball watching – just run flat out when your partner calls you through.
• Stay aware. Make sure you know where the ball is before heading down the wicket, especially when you are still getting a handle on where the fielders are.

Finally, in any game, no matter how well you think your side is batting, add two wickets to the total and then re-examine how you are travelling. The Australians had a huge task still ahead of them but I am sure in the back of the Englishmen’s minds the pendulum must have been starting to swing and doubts must have been germinating. The loss of Ponting (which was very avoidable) followed just 4 balls later by Clarke (which was just plain bad luck) really amplified the magnitude of the task facing the Aussies. And the Test was gone!

But even then, a final lesson can be learnt from the way the Australians batted on from this set back and the loss of North soon after. They did not give up.

Self-Belief

Hussey continued to bat with great skill and determination and when Haddin joined him they both gave the impression that – if they could bat through to stumps – anything could happen. Good players and good teams have self-belief. This self-belief impacts on how they play and how their opponents are forced to play. They are always in the contest and they force their opponents to “Go hard or go home”!

Once Haddin departed, another case of losing concentration and playing a loose shot, Hussey continued to bat as if it was the first over of the day. He was rewarded with his first test ton in 20 tests. The English bowlers kept at him and eventually got their man and The Urn.

Even though the Test was lost by the Australians, we can learn a lot about how to play the game by examining what they did right and what they did so terribly wrong. Young players should always actively watch the way more senior players play. There are always lessons to be learnt.