Tourists’ flimsy tail fails to wag once again

England’s struggles with the bat have been a feature of this Ashes tour, but while the top order has been subject to most scrutiny, the tail let them down on day two in Perth.

Australia claimed the last six England wickets for just 35 runs, which meant the fine work that Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow did in their brilliant partnership did not lead to a potentially matchwinning total of 500 or more. Perhaps most concerning was how unsurprising it all was. For the seventh time on this tour, England lost five or more wickets for fewer than 80 runs.

Bairstow, having moved a place up the order, no longer felt the need to score quickly, because he could trust Malan to stay in and support him.

He clearly felt the benefits, scoring his first Test century for nearly two years and celebrating in a manner that hinted at a much more relaxed attitude. But as soon as Malan was dismissed, the tail, Bairstow included, fell away at record speed.

For wickets nine, 10 and 11, during this series, Australia have scored twice as many runs as England, and have faced more

than twice as many balls (see graphic, far left).

Were someone able to do something as simple as support the likes of Bairstow late on, England would be a whole lot better off. Once Malan was gone, Australia’s tactics shifted and on came the barrage of short balls England had been promised beforehand by their opponents (see graphic left).

Moeen Ali poked at one outside off that he should have left alone; Chris Woakes was caught at long leg after mistiming a pull shot; Craig Overton gloved a straight one to short leg and Stuart Broad’s unorthodox hook just went straight up in the air and down short leg’s throat.

The England tail were outdone by Australia’s short bowling, and not for the first time this series. Just like that the innings was over, and England’s hopes of a big total were gone.