Ashes Wide Open as Australia Frustrated
England Gain Confidence from First Test Fight Against Ponting's Men
The Australian team did everything but win the first Ashes Test match at Cardiff. They held their opposition to a moderate first innings total on a lifeless pitch, took a stranglehold on the game with a magnificent, disciplined reply that yielded four centuries, and had the old enemy at nine wickets down - still trailing the Aussies - with an hour remaining on the final day.
Moral Victory Despite Draw - But to Who?
The crucial and anticipated tenth wicket never fell, though. England survived through the determination of ex-captain Paul Collingwood and the application of tailenders James Anderson and Monty Panesar. It was a mighty effort and might yet turn out to be, one way or the other, the most critical session of the entire series. Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie commented on his Cricket Info blog that, 'there's no reason for Australia's bowlers to do much differently for the second Test at Lord's'. He may well be right, but one thing they will certainly want to do differently is dispose of England's wagging tail more quickly. It remains to be seen if any confidence was rendered from their inability to do so at Cardiff.
Both captains claimed a moral victory. For Ponting the dominant display indicated that his side is superior and built the confidence in some of his inexperienced players that they can perform in these conditions. For his England counterpart Andrew Strauss it was a case of anything but a loss is a win. Few would have given the hosts hope of winning the series had they gone down one-nil immediately. The way they battled til the end will have sent waves of enthusiasm and euphoria through the dressing room despite the overall insipid showing. Though they protested otherwise after the match, the visitors will have felt somber and extremely frustrated at not closing the game out. They will be wary that opportunity doesn't always knock twice.
Playing Well is Great, But Winning's More Important
It remains to be seen if Australia can recover from the disappointment. It's nice to play well, but oh so much more important to win. The problem for Ponting's men is that sport, and cricket especially, has a habit of turning things upside down rather adbruptly. Australia receive no reward for their spirited display. At this level missed opportunities are sometimes worse than being clearly outplayed, as the opposition gathers free information and sets about improving their weaknesses. Certainly if England begin well in the second test at Lord's starting Thursday then a series victory will look highly possible. On day five at Cardiff that looked as likely as Mitchell Johnson hitting the seam.
Momentum is a strange beast and the Australians' failure to capitalise on this ocassion may haunt their thoughts for weeks. What-ifs will be asked in the privacy of each individual's head if not out loud. It is doubtful the Australians can dominate all four remaining matches so convincingly. The hosts' chances will come; will they take them?
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