The Hindu : Sport : Australia has a chance

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

Sport

Sport

Australia has a chance

It is a compliment to the Australians that a rival is so desperate to beat them

PETER ROEBUCK

Jonathan Agnew says that an England triumph at The Oval will be as joyous an event as the winning of the 1966 Soccer World Cup. In that case, Australia has a chance. As befits an experienced representative of the BBC, Agnew knows the national mood. English cricketers are as ready to charge into battle as the lads at Agincourt. Decidedly, Australia has a chance.

Sport is an examination of the mind. Adam Gilchrist's words before this series were full of foreboding. He said that he didn't want to be a member of the Australian side that gave back the Ashes. The Australians started worrying before a ball had been bowled.

Now it is England's turn to suffer. So near and so far. I can remember the 1996 World Cup, could name the England side and even the moustachioed Russian who decided that Geoff Hurst's shot had crossed the line. Hurst scored a hat-trick, Martin Peters provided a fourth. Nobby Stiles was everywhere, snapping at ankles. Bobby Chalton passed the ball around majestically. The crowd developed its own clap. It was a dreadful, dirty Word Cup but England won.

And the Oval is bigger than that? Day by day the pressure mounts.

Most difficult task

The most difficult task a sportsman faces is to keep thinking in the right way. Sportsmen do not press a switch at breakfast and remain at their peaks till nightfall. Every day they face the challenge of thinking themselves up. Of course it is easier for those blessed with a sunny disposition than for the more gloomy types to be found in defeated staff rooms and the Balkan Republics. Always those negative thoughts try to sneak into a sportsman's head whereupon they go forth and multiply.

Apart from the weight of expectation, England's chief handicap is that a draw is enough. After all the Oval provides excellent batting conditions, and the groundsman knows that every man is expected to do his duty. Of course it might rain. Unless the weather spoils the show, though, the series will either end 3/1 or 2/2. This pitch encourages pace, spin and bold batting. England has a strong pace attack and aggressive batsmen. England dominated the last three matches and has nothing to fear except fear itself.

Attack is the watch word

Apart from anything else, these Australians bowl superbly to cautious batsmen. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne are at their predatory best when batsmen are pushing and poking around. In any case five days is a long time and modern batsmen are inclined towards attack. England must maintain its momentum. Between the calamitous first and epic second matches of this series, the hosts made the brave decision to attack. Now is not the time to hold back.

The sound of Australians complaining must be music to local ears. Rather than seeking sympathy, the Australians must go back to basics. Matthew Hayden is not leaning into his shots, and the catching, fielding and running between wickets must improve. Australia have been outplayed. Ponting's players must forget about substitutes, reverse swing and other distractions and concentrate on their own games.

Australia must attack and hope that their opponents go into their shell. England must keep its nerve. It won't be easy. For the first time this summer the visitors are the side with the least to lose. 1966 and all that was enormous. Of course it is a compliment to the Australians that a rival is so desperate to beat them. As the saying goes, the highest tree catches the strongest winds.

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