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Adelaide Test - The Verdict

Adelaide Test - The Verdict

Johnny Pratt9 Dec 2013 - 12:13
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Awful England Hammered In Second Test

After a second humiliating test defeat,the positive words about England are over. This tour is a shambles.To lose in Brisbane was bad enough,but in some ways this defeat in Adelaide is even worse.

Some of the the team look shot,some look out of form and some are just playing dumb,stupid cricket. Here is my player by player assessment of the test match.

1. Alistair Cook - Had an awful match with the bat.Beaten for pace by Johnson in the first innings and then playing a brainless hook in the second.He looks shell shocked and this is spreading to his batting - 3/10

2. Michael Carberry - Nice 50 in the first innings but let himself down in the second with a poor pull shot. He at least looks like he cherishes his wicket.However,his drop of Haddin was awful and was a turning point in the game. 5/10

3. Joe Root - Out to a shocking shot in the first innings.However,played really well in the second.He is pretty much nailed in the number 3 position.Doesn't look phased by the aggressiveness of the Aussies 6/10

4. Kevin Pietersen - What was that first innings shot all about ? Horrible. Batted ok in the second but needs to stand up and be counted now. 5/10

5. Ian Bell - Batted nicely in the first innings when mayhem was going on around him.However,his second innings shot smelt of desperation,thinking that there was an imminent collapse on its way. England's best batsman still. 6/10

6. Ben Stokes - I don't get why he is in the team.I thought the days of allrounders like him were gone. Bresnan would have been a much better choice.He will probably play in Perth though. 4/10

7. Matt Prior - While his keeping is still very good,his batting looks desperate.69 in the second innings has saved him from being dropped however.Hopefully this is the start of his batting getting back to where it was a year ago. 5/10

8. Stuart Broad - As Peter Whitehead says,how can you bowl at 90mph when you are pumped up and lose 10% in speed the rest of the time. Too comfortable in this team and has too many ordinary tests. 4/10

9. Graeme Swann - Is this him or an alien who has taken over his body ? He is having a terrible tour. Going at over 4 an over and not a threat at all. He looks intimidated when batting too. 2/10

10. Jimmy Anderson - Lack of express pace shows Jimmy up a little in these conditions. Wholehearted bowler who is our number 1. His time will come on this tour. 5/10

11. Monty Panesar - Took a couple of beauties and was better than Swann. Also showed some guts when batting unlike most of the others.Will he play in Perth and Swann be left out ? I doubt it. 5/10

I honestly don't know how England are going to get out of this mess.The players not playing aren't really any better than the starting eleven apart from Bresnan. He has to play in Perth.It going to be 35 degrees on a hard bouncy track.You can almost write the script now.Blown away by Johnson and the test over by day 4.This could well be the end for some players.Swann,Prior,Trott,Tremlett to name but four could well be on borrowed time.

The Australians looked more motivated,keener,fitter and better in every department.Warner,Clarke,Haddin & Johnson are having a field day. Half their team aren't really needed.I can see 3-0 going into Melbourne and the series and Ashes gone.It's painful to watch and won't get much better.

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