A Preview of the Third Ashes Test of 2009

After recording their maiden first-class win of this tour with a solid victory over Northamptonshire, the tourists probably raised more questions for themselves than the match answered.

The biggest problem for Australia is their pace battery.

Australian vice captain Michael Clarke has confirmed that Brett Lee is basically a non-starter for the third test at Edgbaston, robbing the tourists again of what should have been their most potent strike weapon on this tour.

His “deputy” and anointed senior bowler Mitchell Johnson has been quite simply terrible.

It has been widely reported that he had an argument with his mother Vikki Harber, claiming that Johnson’s fiancée Jessica Bratich had “stolen her son.”

This could be true, or it could be vintage Shane Warne and Kim Hughes winding up the media.

Either way, the man who arrived in England with a fearsome reputation after his heroics in South Africa took a combined 8 for 331 in the first two tests.  He followed this up with a return of 1 for 65 in the tour match, dismissing a lone tailender David Wigley, and going for six an over.  It did not stop there, as he also dropped a plum chance of Stuart Clark.

Clark, the forgotten man of the Australian bowling attack, took two wickets in a solid display.  He might have had more was it not for dropped chances off Johnson and Phillip Hughes, but forms a compelling case for selection.

He can, a la Glenn McGrath, provide the necessary accuracy and accompanying strangled pressure that Australia has relied on for years throughout their perhaps bygone era of cricketing dominance.

Something that was missing in the first two tests.

The Australian camp has closed ranks around Johnson, with players and Coach Tim Nielson coming to the support of the beleaguered paceman. 

But while he may be given some slack considering his feats barely a few months ago, a growing cacophony of cries call for his sacking, led by former test captain Allan Border.

The only factor that may be in Johnson’s favour is the fact that Nathan Hauritz, who has come of age in England, may be dropped with wide ranging reports that the Edgbaston pitch may be a soggy and a seamer’s paradise.

Certainly, Ponting will recall the horrors on the same ground four years ago, where he sent England into bat only for the home team to make 407 in the first day.

To further complicate matters, Shane Watson and Andrew McDonald had marvellous matches against the county team.  Watson scored two half centuries for the match, and McDonald knocked 75 in the second as well as taking 4 for 15. 

However, the only two batsmen whose places could be at risk, either Hughes or Michael Hussey, made solid contributions with the willow and should be safe; despite the appealing option of having another bowling option considering Australia’s inability to take English wickets.

For the home team, buoyed with a brilliant test victory at Lords, they too will go into the third test with concerns over their playing roster.

Kevin Pieterson is of course out of the series with his Achilles surgery, and while trump card Andrew Flintoff is likely to play, he will not be at full fitness with a heavy recovery schedule being utilised for the dynamic Lancashire all rounder.

He has even been sleeping with a compression machine strapped to his troublesome knee.

But it may not be for his talismanic bowling that Freddie will be required for, with England’s batting order looking vulnerable without the explosive Pieterson.

Ian Bell has been confirmed by captain Andrew Strauss as the new England number four, and will likely combine with Ravi Bopara in a middle order that features poor reading in regards to Ashes statistics.  However, the latter did score 43 and 104 in England’s warm up against Warwickshire.

The spectre of Steve Harmison could bolster an England bowling attack that relies heavily on Flintoff, but at this stage the home team appears to be slightly stronger in both experience and options with the ball.

As for the ground itself, bookmakers have stated that a draw is the most likely result.

The pitch has played 16 draws in its last 20 first-class matches, and rain is forecast in the West Midlands over the next four days.

Steve Rouse, the curator of Edgbaston, has remarked that the pitch was like jelly, but the conditions could favour or disturb the respective bowling attacks.

The reality is that England as home team, one up in the series, will head to the third test as favourites, with all and sundry knowing that this is one of the weakest Australian ashes teams to ever walk on enemy territory.

However, irrespective of their strength or experience, Strauss knows that a wounded Australia is a dangerous beast whatever the colour of its coat, and while the English may lift against the baggy green, the same is certainly true for the tourists when it comes to an Ashes contest.