Now, sky’s the limit
It doesn’t get any better than beating Australians inside three days to win the urn, writes Ian Botham
Huge congratulations to the England team. This is what you play the game for. It doesn’t get any better than beating the Australians inside three days to win back the Ashes and enjoying the bragging rights until the next contest.
They are the toughest of opponents and you could tell that there was a lot of respect between the two teams in the aftermath of the win at Trent Bridge. But to the victors the spoils, while the Aussies can lick their wounds and think about how it will be at least 18 years since their last win here.
They have shown better skills with bat, ball and in the field. They have dealt with the conditions superbly as you would expect from the home side, and they have reacted to little setbacks like defeat at Lord’s and the injury to Jimmy Anderson with total professionalism. There has been a relaxed and confident air about them from the start and the way they have played, with smiles on their faces, really enjoying themselves has been obvious.
I noticed it when I spent a bit of time with them before the first Test and it has just continued with Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace leading the way and encouraging the players to play with freedom. There are lots of ways to skin a cat, but the difference between the way they are trying to play the game now compared to the past is a world apart, and a lot more fun.
They have tried to make things happen, rather than wait for the opposition to make mistakes and that is a big shift. The bowlers have tried to take wickets and attacked, while the batsmen have tried to score runs instead of survive. That is how you play the game in the modern era.
And let’s not forget. Almost noone gave Alastair Cook and his side a chance at the start of this series. I’m pleased to say I wasn’t one of them and for good reason, not just because I’m an enthusiastic England follower.
Ithought the Australian team were struggling with age instead of being full of experience. There were a few players all searching for the final success of their careers in England but have each found it a tour too far for various reasons. The loss of Ryan Harris at the start of the trip was just a hammer blow they never recovered from. He was so important to them.
On England’s side they had a team just starting to emerge with players like Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler and Mark Wood all showing they could thrive. Root has gone on to a different level and is arguably the best batsman in the world right now, but I don’t think it will be too long before Stokes and others are the best at what they do.
The talent in England has long been there, and now there is a depth of players they can pick from that should sustain things for years to come. The sky is the limit for this group of players. The senior players will be around for a few years yet, the captain is going nowhere, and the young players will just get better and better so who knows how far they can go.
Another win at the Oval will do for starters and then the huge challenges of the winter are there to be risen to against Pakistan and South Africa. For now though, it is time to salute our Ashes winners.
Huge congratulations to the England team. This is what you play the game for. It doesn’t get any better than beating the Australians inside three days to win back the Ashes and enjoying the bragging rights until the next contest.
They are the toughest of opponents and you could tell that there was a lot of respect between the two teams in the aftermath of the win at Trent Bridge. But to the victors the spoils, while the Aussies can lick their wounds and think about how it will be at least 18 years since their last win here.
Michael Clarke will head into retirement not knowing what it feels like to win in England, but he can hold his head high because he has given it everything each time and has had a wonderful career. There is never any disgrace in being beaten by the better team and England have been magnificent.
They have shown better skills with bat, ball and in the field. They have dealt with the conditions superbly as you would expect from the home side, and they have reacted to little setbacks like defeat at Lord’s and the injury to Jimmy Anderson with total professionalism. There has been a relaxed and confident air about them from the start and the way they have played, with smiles on their faces, really enjoying themselves has been obvious.
I noticed it when I spent a bit of time with them before the first Test and it has just continued with Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace leading the way and encouraging the players to play with freedom. There are lots of ways to skin a cat, but the difference between the way they are trying to play the game now compared to the past is a world apart, and a lot more fun.
They have tried to make things happen, rather than wait for the opposition to make mistakes and that is a big shift. The bowlers have tried to take wickets and attacked, while the batsmen have tried to score runs instead of survive. That is how you play the game in the modern era.
And let’s not forget. Almost noone gave Alastair Cook and his side a chance at the start of this series. I’m pleased to say I wasn’t one of them and for good reason, not just because I’m an enthusiastic England follower.
Ithought the Australian team were struggling with age instead of being full of experience. There were a few players all searching for the final success of their careers in England but have each found it a tour too far for various reasons. The loss of Ryan Harris at the start of the trip was just a hammer blow they never recovered from. He was so important to them.
On England’s side they had a team just starting to emerge with players like Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler and Mark Wood all showing they could thrive. Root has gone on to a different level and is arguably the best batsman in the world right now, but I don’t think it will be too long before Stokes and others are the best at what they do.
The talent in England has long been there, and now there is a depth of players they can pick from that should sustain things for years to come. The sky is the limit for this group of players. The senior players will be around for a few years yet, the captain is going nowhere, and the young players will just get better and better so who knows how far they can go.
Another win at the Oval will do for starters and then the huge challenges of the winter are there to be risen to against Pakistan and South Africa. For now though, it is time to salute our Ashes winners.
