If ever confirmation was needed that the Australian way of playing cricket is superior to the English method, the final day of the second Ashes Test provided the ultimate proof.
Australia has a strong belief in winning and the players to make it happen, while England is uncertain about when to seek victory and is further handicapped by poor selection.
While Australia was still desperately searching for wickets on the fifth morning, England was largely batting with survival on their mind. If you look at Test match records, games are won either by so many runs or wickets and that is why both are critical to the ultimate result. The moment you stop trying your darnedest to accumulate either, an opponent senses an opportunity and you don't need to offer a bowler of Shane Warne's class a second invitation.
As I was saying to my Dad tonight, when he called from the shellshocked UK, England just does not have the killer instinct (other than the self inflicted type). I think, given the right conditions, and players playing to their capabilities the teams are fairly well matched technically, with the exception of Ponting and Warne. Where the difference is stark is in the inner self belief that they can win, and of course the home field advantage. I sat through the third day on Sunday, where England were a sniff ahead for most of the day, enjoying the occasion and thought, these are two pretty well matched teams batting easily on a placid wicket. How could things change so dramatically. It reminded me of the last series in Australia, where there was even less self belief and Steve Harmison was even more erratic. Anyway there is always the next Test and with the more positive showing against Western Australia, maybe there will be a better result for England. I hope so.
