Michael Clarke-led Australia regained the Ashes just four months after the last series defeat in England with a comprehensive 150-run victory in the 3rd Test at Perth.
Michael Clarke-led Australia regained the Ashes just four months after the last series defeat in England with a comprehensive 150-run victory in the 3rd Test at Perth. As the Aussies romped home victorious, we take a look at the factors that worked for them:
Mitchell Johnson’s form
23 wickets in merely 3 Tests – surely Mitchell Johnson himself wouldn’t have written such a nice script. His ominous fast bowling left the English batsmen worried and terrified with some suggesting Johnson as the reason behind Trott’s departure.
David Warner answered his critics
A pub-brawl, Twitter feud and a lot of controversies followed David Warner during his tenure in England this year. But in Australia, the southpaw was completely a ‘changed person’. Two tons at the top of the batting order left his critics eating humble pies!
Team spirit
During the India tour as well as the Ashes tour to England, the Aussie team looked as if they lacked spirit and chemistry. With the inclusion pf former player, Darren Lehmann, it seemed the team got their mojo back. The recent series win showed that Lehmann has worked wonders for the players and got them united for one cause – get the urn back!
Sledging returns
Whenever one spoke of ‘sledging’ in cricket, Australia were the first to be associated with it. The recent series saw a host of ‘hot headed’ duels between England and Australia with the most familiar being Michael Clarke and James Anderson. The Aussies made perfect use of it and rightfully triumphed in what they were good at!
Michael Clarke’s captaincy
Without a better leader, a team cannot work wonders and that’s what Oz skipper Michael Clarke portrayed throughout the 3 Tests. He was efficient with the bat, team strategies were spot-on, bowling changes and also selecting the perfect eleven. In the post match presentation after the Third Test, Clarke paid glorying tributes to his players and management and also the nation. Now, that’s a real skipper mate!
