I have to confess, nearly seven weeks or so since Brisbane and I'm still shocked at what England has produced this series. I didn't think they were all that, but did think them a solid, professional, experienced outfit.
I thought we may win this series on our turf, because of depth in bowling and because we just needed one or two blokes to catch fire with the cue to support Clarke - something more likely to happen at home in a slightly inexperienced side than away.
While England hasn't bowled as well as the home series, tttt the attack hasn't been terrible - they've taken enough early poles to have Australia in strife enough times to win the series. It seems, though, that England as a unit has completely lost the ability to go up a gear with the bat.
There have been a number of times they've been in a decent position, but a combo of good bowling and this strange becalmedness and lack of intent means they don't advance the game. So they'll be 60-70 odd overs into their innings and might be three or four down, but it's 3/140 or 150 odd. Lose a couple of poles and it's all out 200 stuff.
It's a bit like when I started playing golf and wouldn't hit my driver because I couldn't control it. Bloke I was playing with said "if yer gonna be in the ****, you may as well be in the **** 60 yards further along the hole."
Seven majors later and I still thank him
I know we all have a giggle here about #intent, but lack of it has seriously hurt England this series. It's been coming for a while with how they've batted over the past couple of years, but it's really bent them over this tour.