Ashes Series 2013: Pressure to Perform Threatening England Success

Coming into the 2013 Ashes series, Australia were rightly considered underdogs to “Return the Urn” and after four days of play, can still be looked upon as less likely to emerge triumphant.

In the first test, both England and their southern hemisphere visitors have had their fair share of shaky moments, moments which Andy Flowers’ men have so far managed to cope with.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, this pushed Piers Morgan into heaping some early pressure on those performing below expectations:

However, cricket, like most sports, is a practice divided by the most slight of margins and should the substantial weight on the hosting side’s shoulders begin to wear weary, what’s looking like a bright start could come crumbling down all too quickly.

A great deal of that fate rests with the umpires.

Even in this first test, the decisions made by those overseeing events have been called into question.

For example, Stuart Broad’s controversial decision not to walk on Day Three of proceedings sparked social media uproar.

Decision was split over just whether the Englishman was right to ignore the unwritten moral code and walk to the Pavilion, or if any victory was inevitably tainted by this act of ‘cheating’.

On that occasion, Michael Clarke’s decision to use up his review decisions earlier in the day looked like a bad one He was forced to watch, helpless, as his opponent made full use of the rules to his advantage.

The other question lies with the youth of the hosts’ squad.

One headline to have enveloped the Series in recent days is the surge of Ashton Agar, star Australian performer at just 19 years old. Agar is simply doing what someone his age should do—enjoying the occasion—a feat sometimes easier said than done.

In the England camp, Agar’s counterparts, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, are having mixed reactions to the pressures of their current environment.

While Bairstow’s credentials are being called into question, 22-year-old Root is faring far better, bowling like someone far more experienced than his age would suggest and picking up almost as confidently with the bat.

At the other end of the spectrum, the veterans of the squad need to assert their extra taste of experience, too.

On the one hand, one might argue than an event such as the Ashes will never fail to impose itself on even the oldest of veterans, but Flower needs his more seasoned stars to shine under the pressure.

Graeme Swann’s disappointing spin bowling of Day Four was indicative of a player just failing to get the job done, gifting Ed Cowan and Chris Rogers a plethora of runs before allowing Root to step in, sending Cowan to the stands before tea.

Irrespective of age, it would seem the occasion has the potential of affecting starlets and superstars alike.

Although they’ve got their noses in front at the moment, reason for celebration will be postponed for some time yet, as England’s campaign remains balanced on the thinnest of knives’ edges.