DECIDER AT THE WACA...

Another grueling battle of Ashes Cricket awaits at the WACA, Perth. Australians are a clear favourites from what we have seen in the last couple of matches. They are just doing three things better than the Englishmen and that's batting, bowling and fielding. English batting looks a bit too much fragile and inexperienced. Mark Stoneman has produced a couple of solid innings at the top but hasn't gone on to make a big one and so has James Vince. So much was talked about James Vince and he did play a scintillating knock at the Gabba in the first innings but has got out to some very poor shots. Nathan Lyon seems to have got better of both of them. Dawid Malan also looked good for one innings he played on that fourth evening at Adelaide. The dependable lower middle order is not firing one bit. Though Jonny Bairstow has looked one of the best on display for England so far, there is a criticism that he comes in too late down the order. Experts say that he should bat at number 4 in order to stop the crisis that has been taking place in the middle order. While batting has got so many issues, the bowling looks quite settled and they have shown that they can get 20 Australian wickets. Moeen Ali is the only one who has failed to deliver with his off spin but I don't think you have to make crucial changes ahead of such a big game because you surely don't want a young English leg spinner like Mason Crane making his debut in an Ashes test at the WACA. But let's be realistic about it, Alastair Cook and Joe Root must fire and get big hundreds in the first innings because that's what they have lacked so far. They have played on two absolute cracker of tracks and haven't got a massive first innings total yet.
    Australians though are enjoying their time off field with families and friends. I don't expect any change in the Aussie XI. They will be looking to get out on the field as soon as possible and get the urn back and inflict some more pressure of the speculated whitewash just like they did in 2013. Everybody has scored runs except Peter Handscomb. English bowler seems to be looking at him and assume him as their easiest wicket and you can not have that especially with someone batting at number 5. That is the only spot where Aussies might have some discussion on but not sure he will be dropped though. As said earlier, Aussies have behaved themselves much better than the visiting poms. What Michael Vaughan said on English player blaming social media was 100% true. ' Social media didn't pour drink on someone's head, social media didn't punch someone in the face on the streets in Bristol, social media didn't introduce himself with a headbutt, it is an easy excuse!! ' What England should worry about is not these off field scandals but the suspensions that are inflicted because of these incidents.
    This test will be the last one at the historic WACA in Perth. England don't have a great record here. The pitch is not as fast as it used to be a couple of decades back but if it is anywhere close to as it usually is, I am afraid England are going have a hell of a lot of problems to deal with. If Starc-Hazlewood-Cummins stay fit as they have, we will probably watching them bowl at their fastest! No English team has come back from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series in Australia and I don't see how this English team is going to pick themselves up and produce a better performance.