It was the most anticipated Ashes Down Under in a long time. But after the opening three Tests, it was hard to remember why.
What went wrong?
Quality quicks being unavailable
Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood being out for most or all of the Ashes undoubtedly hurt the series.
The two English speedsters’ absence was fairly expected. Since debuting in 2015, Wood has played just 38 Tests, whereas Archer had lined up for England just 15 times before this year’s Ashes and had been missing from the Test side for almost four years before returning in July.
Unfortunately, just after Archer hit his straps in Adelaide, he again broke down. The Barbados-born fast bowler had just registered 5/53 in the first innings and brought up his first half-century in Test cricket following that spell. In the second innings, he disappeared for a time and could only muster 12.4 overs during a crucial period of the contest.
In contrast, the recent durability of Australia’s first-choice quicks Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc held them in good stead for the series. The trio have played almost 40 Tests together.
England’s Jofra Archer reacts after a delivery during the second match in Brisbane. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Despite this, Hazlewood and Cummins played just one Test between them for the whole series. In his single match, Cummins was a standout performer, taking six wickets for the game at an average of 19.5, and importantly, dismissing England great Joe Root in both innings.
Meanwhile, Hazlewood has been in outstanding form in all three formats. His Test record over the last three seasons has been particularly impressive. He’s dismissed 57 batters at an average of just over 15. He was also sorely missed but who knows how much more lopsided his inclusion could have made the series.
Batters bereft of runs
The days of batters lining their pockets in Australia are over. Before the fifth Test, only three players had scored hundreds, with Travis Head the only batter with multiple tons.
The number of players averaging below 30 is quite startling, including England captain Ben Stokes has only made 184 runs at 18.4. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett averaged a combined 23.75 across the five matches.
While Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green made 149 runs at 21.28 without registering a half-century despite having ample opportunity to do so.
The torrid pitches of Melbourne and Perth likely had an influence on these results but the high strike rates across the board indicate an issue with temperament. The English being the chief culprits, in particular their three most aggressive batters – Duckett (91.40 SR), Harry Brook (81.73 SR) and Jamie Smith (72.50 SR), who best embodied the free-spirited Bazball ethos but consistently failed to convert starts.
Bazball breakdowns
After a competitive 2023 Ashes in England, where Australia got their first face-to-face experience of Bazball and were able to just make it out with the urn, there were high hopes despite the long history of local dominance Down Under.
It wasn’t to be as the English seemed to consistently buckle at crucial junctures, which meant the urn stayed put after 11 days of play, the equal second fastest loss in Ashes history.
Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett had nightmare series where they only averaged 20 each and were subjected to constant scrutiny.
England’s Jacob Bethell celebrates after scoring his century. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Smith and Brook were unable to curtail their aggressive instincts, at times playing loosely and giving away their wickets.
This frequent haphazard strokeplay would often trigger batting collapses, forcing responsibility on an inexperienced tail order who had just been toiling away with ball in hand. England also lost wickets on the brink of lunch or tea breaks throughout which would halt any momentum in their innings and gift Australia the upper hand.
Eventually, England changed tack to decent effect. In the final Test, where they registered their highest team score and installed Jacob Bethell at three, who brought up his maiden hundred with the assurance of an experienced pro.
Too little, too late.