England in ball tampering row
Desperate Aussies accuse Anderson of ball tampering
RAIN and a whinge from those battling to avoid defeat in this fourth Test. The only surprise was that we are in Australia and the complaints were coming from the home ranks.
This role reversal at the MCG in a one- sided Ashes might be the only consolation for England if a combination of the elements and the broad bat of Steve Smith save Australia on the final day.
It was something of a moral victory to see Smith and David Warner grind to a virtual halt on a rain-ruined fourth day in the face of probing bowling from an England attack scenting victory.
And there was irony in the fact it was not the Poms who were Touchy subject: Anderson rubs his thumb on the shiny side whingeing when they were struggling as they faced a heavy deficit but the Australians over allegations of England ball-tampering.
All sorts of Australia legends jostled to point the finger at Jimmy Anderson when England were trying to get the ball in condition for reverse swing just a few overs into the home side’s second innings.
The accusations, originally made by Fox Sports, were legitimised by coverage of the incident on Cricket Australia’s website, which somehow tries to present itself as an independent media vehicle rather than an official voice. It is right to say umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Sundaram Ravi had words with Joe Root over England appearing to throw the ball into the rough at either end of a dead MCG drop-in pitch in an attempt to scuff up one side.
But it is also true they made the same comments to Australian captain Smith on the third day as his side used the same tactics when Alastair Cook was proving to be such an immovable object. The ICC confirmed afterwards that both sides had been warned for attempting to scuff the ball.
Of course, it was difficult for the umpires to know whether Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Anderson were deliberately throwing the ball into the ground towards wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow or attempting a run-out.
Any suggestion Anderson was attempting anything untoward with his thumb was undermined by the fact that he was paying attention to the shiny side of the ball rather than the rough one.
And he did it right in front of umpire Dharmasena, rather than attempt any deception.
The bottom line is that umpires should have more to worry about than what should not be considered an illegal practice at all. Bowlers throw the ball in dirt to try to aid reverse swing. So what?
Reverse swing was perhaps the only weapon England had yesterday as they attempted to convert a first-innings lead of 164 into their first Test win of the tour.
England did strike two blows before the rain wiped out the last one and a half sessions. Chris Woakes forced Cameron Bancroft to drag on and Anderson nipped out Usman Khawaja.
It seems Bancroft’s biggest contribution to the series is destined to be his comic press conference at The Gabba over Jonny Bairstow’s ‘headbutt’ rather than anything he has done with the bat.
And Khawaja, booed to the crease by some England fans questioning the legitimacy of his catch to dismiss Broad on day three, has not looked anything like the answer for Australia at No 3.
The trouble is that Australia do not need too many other batsmen to fire as long as they have Smith. Only 33 runs came from the 18.5 overs possible after lunch as even Warner was reduced to near strokelessness by an attack finally finding conditions to their liking.
Yet there was a lesson for England in the patience and discipline shown by Smith and vice-captain Warner, who faced 140 balls for his unbeaten 40 with just three fours.
Too many England batsmen, including the captain, do not seem able to dig in like that, a problem that must be resolved if they are ever to compete overseas as well as they do in home Tests.
The perfect role model is already in the team — Cook, who became the first Englishman to carry his bat in a Test innings for 20 years when Anderson fell to the first ball of the day. Cook’s unbeaten 244 was the highest score on any of the 52 occasions a batsman has carried his bat in Test history.
It is nonsense to belittle the achievement because the Ashes are already lost.
We are very quick to condemn England when they capitulate and lose 5- 0 once the Ashes are gone, so should not decry a demonstration of the skills that make Cook an all-time great.
For now, he looks to have ensured this will not now be the third Australian whitewash in four Ashes tours and could still set up victory. That is not to be underestimated.