Ashes 2017 : Talking points from England's defeat in Perth

The next match is on 26th December in Melbourne.

Australia after winning Perth test | Source Cricket Australia

Yesterday, England lost the third Ashes test match against Australia by a huge margin of an inning and 41 runs at WACA, Perth and hence Ashes 2017 trophy has been slipped through their hands by all over poor performance throughout the three matches. No team management, Flop performance from senior players, the In-experienced middle order of England led the host to reclaim Ashes urn 2017.

England's Alastair Cook failed to perform at the top order 

One of the reasons England were not effective in all three match till now is Alastair Cook's performance at the top of the order. Cook is an experienced and a senior player was expected to score runs providing a solid platform for the middle order but unfortunately, he has only managed to score 83 runs till now in the series, this might be his end days of cricket as well with his future under a cloud.

In-experienced Middle Order

The in-experienced middle order also went out of England's fortune to have a win in the first three Ashes test. From the moment Ben Stokes got into a scuffle in Bristol, England has missed him badly because he is three players in one - batsman, bowler, and super fielder - who balances the side. No one was able to capitalize their potential except few cameos from Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow highest fifth-wicket test partnership for England. With Stokes, England would probably not have lost the first three Tests.

Anderson and Broad losing their focus 

Till the first three matches, Experienced most pace bowlers, Stuart Broad and stand in Vice Captain James Anderson fell short of taking wickets. In spite of being so experienced, they had no answer to Smith-Mitchell Marsh heroic partnership of 301 runs that had Australia right back in the game. Anderson and Broad together have taken 911 test wickets but still miserably failed to show up when their team needed them the most. Their form will be a great matter of concern for the team unit for on-going test series against Australia.

Poor Batting Performance

England's all over batting form was another issue that led Australia to reclaim their Ashes championship 2017. All of the batsmen were not quite effective at the strike, most of them fell to fiery and fast yorkers of Mitchell Starc with his ball of the summer that took James Vince stumps out. England needs to get their basics right with some changes in the playing XI for the rest of the matches left.

Lack of Consistency

The most important thing that went wrong for the visitors in the Ashes till now that England was not able to have good starts in back to back sessions, Australia has always been one up against their opponent in this so far. England has been beaten by the better side and the 3-0 scoreline does not flatter the home team. There have, however, in all three Tests been moments when England have had the initiative. It was the same in 2013-14. Yet in that series and this, Australia has wrestled that advantage away.

England 3-0 down in Ashes and with the team lost its focus would be really difficult next three weeks won't be easy for the visitors to play in Melbourne and Sydney. A win for England is all they require right now else the England Cricket Board will question Joe Root's captaincy.

The fourth Ashes test is to be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26th of December with England hoping for a change in their fortunes with a better performance from everyone.

 
 

By Kunal Kataria - 19 Dec, 2017

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