5 Things Australia need to do differently in the second Ashes Test

Some predicted Australia to win the Ashes outright, although they haven’t done so in England in a long time. Some predicted England to compete well but still gave Australia the thumbs up. There were very few loyalists who actually believed England can win. Even fewer still have entertained the idea of a thumping win that England dished out to the Aussies. It is a long series and the thing with long series is, it is very easy for things to take a massive turn. Endurance, patience and strategies will all be tested just as much as fitness of the players and the will to compete. Australia came to England, World Champions and straight from an excellent tour to West Indies. The pace cordon was firing and the batsmen were on top of the game. However, in just one bad Test, England have exposed quite a few vulnerabilities in the Australian attack. Jason Gillespie made the famous Dad’s Army comment against Michael Clarke’s team and even though he was ridiculed by Clarke, it looks like the former fast bowler and present Kent Coach wasn’t really far off the mark. You cannot do the same things and expect different results. Here are a few things Australia could implement or consider to counter the massive surge in English confidence.

#1 Pace for pace

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If the talk is to be believed, Peter Siddle might get a game in the Second Test at Lord’s. Ryan Harris’ injury and subsequent retirement was a massive blow for Australian Cricket. He was one bowler who could attack and check the flow of runs simultaneously. In his absence, Australia bowled too much on both sides of the wicket and went for a lot of runs.

Siddle is a workhorse who will give it away his all. But, if you are in the English camp, you would be happier facing him than the prospect of Pat Cummins, who joined the squad as replacement for Harris.

Mitchell Starc is battling the possibility of an injury sustained in the first Test and might sit out of the second. With Mitchell Johnson yet to acquire is mojo, there is something bleak about the pace attack. Australia by playing Siddle are actually going England way than the Australian way. Instead of picking an attacking weapon, they are going for the conservative option.

Cummins’ hasn’t played a Test in a long time and his Johannesburg performance is a distant indicator. Yet, he has played competitive cricket and is match-ready. If Australia were ready to trust him so early and in South Africa, there is no reason why they can’t take a chance with him in England?

Agreed, South African pitches resemble Australian pitches more, but at this moment, if there is one thing Australia needs, it is someone who can intimidate the English batsmen.

#2 Target England\'s top order

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England might have looked brilliant in their win in the first Test. But, it was a matter of one catch. Had Brad Haddin taken the catch Joe Root offered even before opening the account, it couldn’t have been a different story.

England’s top order is still vulnerable. Root bats too low. Gary Ballance was out of form in spite of his gutsy knock. Ian Bell has a half-century under his belt but is still not in prime form. Adam Lyth looked jittery in the first Test too.

Australia have a genuine chance to nip out a few early and put England middle order under pressure. Once under pressure, there is no telling which way it will go, considering Root wouldn’t rescue the team every time by Law of Averages.

But for that to happen, Clarke needs his quick guns to fire in the beginning. Lord’s pitch has a slope and is less likely to be as slow as Cardiff’s which gives them some hope too.

#3 Block one end and attack from the other

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This probably is the toughest advice, given no one bowls waywardly by intention. England got off jail twice in the first Test because Australian bowlers failed to really stick to one line. Clarke has to use Johnson as a surprise weapon for an all-out attack. He will never be a steady bowler and he will never get his mojo back if he is only thinking of saving runs.

So, that leaves, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle/Cummins, Marsh and Nathan Lyon. While Hazlewood was economical, the other bowlers have to come with a clear plan of bowling to one particular line. Australia cannot afford to have England scoring at nearly four per over.

England has a very attacking lower middle order comprising of Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali. The bad thing is they score quickly. The good part is, they will offer chances, especially in the face of tight bowling.

So, if Australia have to stage a comeback, they will have to find at least two steady bowlers who give away nothing. With Marsh, Clarke will have greater liberty considering Watson never had the capability of taking a big workload due to his fragile body. That gives Clarke the opportunity to block one end and attack from the other.

#4 Controlled aggression instead of recklessness

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This is easier said than done. However, Australian batting wasn’t as bad as the scores suggest in the first Test. That is because, the top order had scores of 95, 17, 33, 38, 31, 30 and 22. Everyone got a start and threw it away.

Steve Smith plays a particular brand of cricket that works well against slightly weaker bowling attacks. But, as a long time No.3, the young talismanic batsman has to learn to rein himself a little. He virtually threw his wicket away in the first innings.

Although against their fundamental philosophy, it might be time for the top three or four Australian batsmen to buckle down, cut off the risk from their game and try and post a big score. Scoring fast is impressive, on days when it comes off. But, not always. Someone like Michael Clarke or Adam Voges, with all the experience, has to take the responsibility.

#5 Send Mitchell Marsh up the order

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Given Marsh will play instead of Shane Watson at Lord’s, Australia could send him at No.4 instead of letting him handle the pressure at No.6, especially with Peter Nevill also likely to play instead of Brad Haddin.

Marsh has played sporadically, four Tests in all with a fifty in eight innings. Nevill will get a debut. That will be too much inexperience in the lower order, especially if Smith or Clarke fall early. It will help if Australia separate the two, with Voges batting at No.6 and Clarke batting at No.5, his old position as a vote of confidence for Marsh.

If Clarke has to come in at No.4, Marsh can still slot in at No.5. Australia still have Shaun Marsh in the squad, although Voges has done enough for a secure spot in at least couple of games, to be fair to him. But, with his experience, it would be better if he is asked to marshal the lower order that includes a decent bat like Mitchell Johnson.