England's Ashes glory - a recap

Published on Friday 7 January 2011 15:50

Iain Fletcher reflects on England's Ashes glory and the contributions of Cook and Anderson

• Dive, dive, dive: Alastair Cook just gains his ground in the third Test in Perth. Photograph: Getty

It should have been close but such was England's ruthless determination to prove themselves superior to the hosts that the Ashes finished in Sydney with a resounding victory, England's third in the series. All were by an innings and some and all confirm what Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower knew beforehand: that England are a committed side who play good, disciplined cricket and Australia are weak.

But that is more simple to write than actually construct, so much applause should go to the two leaders and their staff as well as the players, and of those it has been the two openers who have affected the series the most. Neatly, one is a batsman and the other a bowler and, although Alastair Cook received the medal as Man of the Series, it could easily have gone to James Anderson. Bowlers say it is a batsman's game, a gripe based on most law changes and the award of nearly every man of the match, so let us consider Anderson first, for he has been the matchwinner.

In Australia the first 20 overs of each innings are crucial as the Kookaburra ball remains new and hard for about that long and then softens, making it considerably easier to score runs. The opening bowlers simply must take early wickets or, as the sun bakes the moisture out of the pitch, the opposing team start plotting a score of 450 or more and dominance in the game.

Brisbane apart, Anderson has not allowed Australia to do this. Indeed, at the most batting-friendly wicket in the world, Adelaide, he, with the help of a Jonathan Trott run-out, reduced Australia to 2-3.

That start will be long remembered but, in each innings, he has taken wickets, or threatened them, or helped his partner at the other end take them.

It is his job but he has led the attack supremely at the start. Compare him to Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson and then reflect on how important he has been.

But to be good with a new ball is one thing. To be threatening when the ball is 50 overs old is another and this is why Anderson is the second best seamer in the world, behind only the prolific Dale Steyn of South Africa. How does he do it? Reverse swing. England work very hard on the ball, keeping one side polished and as shiny as a cherub's button nose while the other becomes scuffed and ragged. This combination is perfect for reverse swing but still the bowler must be pinpoint accurate. Anderson is a master of it, running to the crease with the ball hidden in his left palm, he then transfers it to the bowling hand in the final strides and pitches it up outside off-stump. The batsman, unable to see which side the shine is on, has to play a shot and this is where Anderson can be devastating as he can deliver both reverse and conventional swing, meaning the ball could go left or right at the last moment.

On occasions it has looked like he has influenced the movement of the ball by remote control and the batsmen have been groping blindly like they're on a first prom date.

Even Mike Hussey struggled and he scored more than 500 runs.

Some quickies are sledge-hammers, banging the ball in short and working a batsman's courage over until a full delivery slips through. Anderson is a precision tool, a therapist taking the unfortunate man though all his doubts and insecurities before applying the killing stroke.

The statistics show that he took 24 wickets at 26 apiece but these figures are only part of the story.

They are the best in the series and excellent but still do not reveal his full influence.

Cook's figures do. Only Wally Hammond has scored more for England in Australia than Cook's 766. The records broken are almost endless but they are for the anoraks. The most important part is that he completely blunted the Australian bowling attack. Only at Perth did he fail and England lost. Brisbane he saved with a double-century and Jonathan Trott. Melbourne he got 82 and laid a strong base. Adelaide he scored 148 and Sydney 189.

These are match-dominating innings and Anderson was quite right when he suggested Cook may be as or more talented than Kevin Pietersen. He does not play the glamorous strokes and does not signal superstar attitude but Test cricket is a five-day endeavour and Cook prepares to bat for as many of them as possible.

Incidentally, Pietersen only scored at ten runs more per 100 balls this series.

Sometimes being unobtrusive and quiet can be devastating, a bit like a nuclear submarine. The Australians have seen plenty of Cook but not once has he strutted or taken centre stage.

The Barmy Army have certainly loved him. Despite their barmy image and ribald songs they are a knowledgable crowd and enjoy watching good cricket. Cook has delivered that with calm and aplomb and in doing so has drawn the fight from a beleaguered Australia. His upright bearing and doe eyes suggest he would be comfortable in Brideshead Revisited but, beneath such old British manners, he is a fiercely strong and competitive animal.

Last summer he was dreadful, this winter a marvel and he ensured any good fortune he enjoyed was maximised. Cook and Anderson, two friends, a pair of charming assassins and two incredibly hard workers. They have dominated this series and should be remembered in Ashes history as much as Ian Botham and Freddie Flintoff.

THE 2010/11 ASHES SERIES IN FULL

First Test (Brisbane)

England

260 all out and 517 for 1

Australia

481 all out and 107 for 1

Match drawn

Second Test (Adelaide)

Australia

245 all out and 304 all out

England

620 for 5

England won by an innings and 71 runs

Third Test (Perth)

Australia

268 all out and 309 all out

England

187 all out and 123 all out

Australia won by 267 runs

Fourth Test (Melbourne)

Australia

98 all out and 258 all out

England

513 all out

England won by an innings and 157 runs

Fifth Test (Sydney)

Australia

280 all out and 281 all out

England

644 all out

England won by an innings and 83 runs

England won the series by three Tests to one

Alastair Cook

Matches 5

Innings (not out) 7 (1)

Runs 766

Best 235

Average 127.66

Hundreds 3

Fifties 2

James Anderson

Overs 213.1

Maidens 50

Runs 625

Wickets 24

Average 26.04

Best 4-44

5wkt innings /10wkt matches 0/0