The draw meant England have now triumphed in three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s. Photo: AFP
Cook’s team concluded their dominant 3-0 series win over the Australians with a dramatic draw in the fifth Test at The Oval on Sunday and thoughts have already turned to the next instalment of cricket’s most enduring grudge match.
England, set a target of 227 to win after Australia captain Michael Clarke’s bold declaration, needed 21 more to win off 24 balls with five wickets left when the umpires decided the light, even with the floodlights on, was too dark to continue.
“If you go right back to the start of the series a lot of questions were asked of the England team,” said Cook. “We’ve had some tough times but we’ve shown character. When runs needed to be scored and wickets need to be taken we’ve done it.”
Cook knows Australia will come at England hard on enemy territory in the year’s second Ashes series, which starts in Brisbane in late November.
But he is certain his squad can cope with anything the hosts throw at them.
“In Australian conditions where they are more comfortable of course it’s going to be hard. But I feel very comfortable that this side is capable of doing that.”
Clarke insists Australia’s defiant effort in the drawn fifth Test against England proves they are ready to mount a strong challenge to regain the Ashes.
It is Australia’s performances over the last three Tests, where they were only denied victory by rain in Manchester, enjoyed dominant spells in defeat at Durham and then forced the pace at The Oval, that give Clarke belief that his players are improving quickly.
“I certainly think we take a lot of positives, especially from the last three Tests,” said Clarke.
“We would have won in Manchester if it didn’t rain. We got close in Durham after being 150 for one batting last and without rain here on Saturday it would have been a great finish to the final Test.”
Lehmann vows to learn from Broad bust-up
Australia coach Darren Lehmann has promised to learn from the Ashes controversy sparked by his scathing attack on England’s Stuart Broad.
Lehmann, speaking in a radio interview last week, accused Broad of ‘blatant cheating’ following the pace bowler’s decision not to walk after edging a catch at Trent Bridge.
Lehmann also called on the Australian public to make life so difficult for Broad during the Ashes rematch in Australia later this year that he will want to cry and go home.
The comments earned Lehmann a fine of 20 per cent of his match fee from the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.
But former Australia batsman Lehmann says he has now spoken to Broad to draw a line under the incident and will look to make sure he chooses his words better in future.
“I’ve had a chat with him already. We just move on,” said Lehmann.
Best batsmen
Player M Runs HS Avg
I Bell 5 562 113 62.44
S Watson 5 418 176 41.80
K Pietersen 5 388 113 38.80
M Clarke 5 381 187 47.62
C Rogers 5 367 110 40.77
Best bowlers
Player M W BBI Avg
G Swann 5 26 5-44 29.03
R Harris 4 24 7-117 19.58
S Broad 5 22 6-50 27.45
J Anderson 5 22 5-73 29.59
P Siddle 5 17 5-50 31.58
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.
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