Root's time might be up and the moment the urn was retained... ASHES TALKING POINTS

NICK HOWSON AT HEADINGLEY: How will Australia accommodate both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne and should neutral umpires remain?

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Ninety-four minutes which decided the Ashes

Their second-lowest Ashes total since 1909. The fourth time they have been dismissed for less than 100 since the start of 2018. The joint-second lowest total at Headingley.

Some might argue that England's fate in this series was decided when all efforts were put into trying to win the World Cup. The ends justified the means, and the team are 50-over world champions for the first time.

But the affection England fans have for the Ashes and the rivalry with Australia means this summer's debacle won't just be accepted.

The beauty of Test cricket is despite the undulations which occur during a typical day or series, sometimes short periods of play can decide and define the contest.

During the second morning, the prevailing theme of this five-Test series was spread across a little over an hour-and-a-half, as England lost six wickets before lunch to seal their fate.

If much of England's team are physically tired and mentally jaded from their World Cup exploits, then they showed it. Every shot was lazy, carefree in the extreme. It was a pitiful display which wasn't so much a failure in application, but a failure in responsibility.

From the moment Jason Roy was extracted in typically predictable fashion at 11.17am there was an inevitability about what would follow. That sentiment is perhaps the most worrying. This latest collapse was only to be expected.

A wretched day got worse with a fielding display which included two dropped catches off Marnus Labuschagne. And when the hosts did cling on to one, Ben Stokes overstepped. Jack Leach and Joe Denly meanwhile let boundaries through their grasp. This was a rotten performance to the core.

The inquest into this England display should and will focus on deeper failings than just poor shot selection, batsman playing out of position and shelled chances. This particular display was dictated by an attitude problem - perhaps galvanised by the exploits from earlier this summer - though many might suggest the run of sub-standard scores points to something much more significant.

Once again, the abject showing came after England had built a platform by bowling Australia out for 179 on day one. Like they did at Edgbaston after they led by 90 follow both first innings, Joe Root's side failed to convert a position of supremacy. Being unable to sustain periods of intensity is a trait indicative of a side with a faltering engine and a scrambled mind.

Perhaps not since 1989 have England produced such a wafer-thin resistance against Australia in a home series. On that occasion, the tourists were regarded as the worst to tour in an Ashes series. The squad of Allan Border, Geoff Marsh and Steve Waugh are now engraved into the annals of history. Perhaps the same might become of England's bunch of misfits, though for vastly different reasons.

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England's batting wilted at Headingley

Neutral umpires rethink needed

A recent meeting of the MCC cricket committee - the regulator of the rules of the sport - concluded that neutral umpires should remain in place for Tests.

The current regulations say both standing umpires can't herald from either of the competing nations, though the rules are different for ODIs and T20s.

Ricky Ponting put forward the idea that such rules - fully introduced in 2002 - should be dropped and that the sport was in a place where it could accept a change.

Seven of the ICC's elite panel of umpires from which the governing body draw from are from either England or Australia - reducing the options available for the Ashes.

The first Test at Edgbaston saw 10 decisions from umpires Joel Wilson and Aleem Dar overturned by the Decision Review System.

Perhaps as a result of Wilson's errors, seven of his other decisions were also reviewed - with the DRS agreeing with him on each occasion.

Just 30 minutes into play on day two and Wilson's judgement was called into question again when he gave Joe Denly out lbw. Sure enough, DRS showed the ball was going well over the top and the decision was overturned.

Chris Gaffaney did not escape without an error either, as in the penultimate hour he gave Marnus Labuschagne out caught down the leg side. The New Zealander is now four from five in this match.

Ponting is right that cricket has reached a place where neutral umpires should no longer be a requirement. It's in a sad state if it isn't.

But the MCC would prefer to see the ICC's top tier of officials enlarged. The problem, however, is that it could compromise the quality of the officiating.

Wilson is among the latest batch of umpires added to the elite list, but given his recent trials is the quality actually available to expand the roster?

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Joel Wilson's umpiring was at the centre of attention once again

The Root of the problem

With the Ashes set to evade England again, the root and branch review of the Test team begins now.

Deeper problems with regard to participation and old-school conventions are of course important, but it would be foolish to suggest there will not be a head on a plate. Just ask Mark Robinson.

And head coach Trevor Bayliss' exit at the end of the series might not be the only senior alteration, either.

Defeat in this Test would make it two bilateral series wins in the last seven, a run which includes reverses against New Zealand and West Indies.

Joe Root's decline as a batsman since becoming captain means of all the possible changes, his removal as captain cannot be ruled out.

Averaging 52.80 before being named as skipper, that has dropped to 40.41 in his 31 Tests leading the team. His last 14 sees that figure dip below 30.

It is hard to imagine a resuscitation of England's fortunes without Root's runs being central to it.

Though it might seem simplistic, relinquishing him of the captaincy might be the only logical route towards ensuring that form returns.

It immediately raises the question of who would succeed him. Ben Stokes is the natural replacement and has the character to make a success of the role, however, it must be considered what such a responsibility would do to his own form with bat and ball.

How do you solve a problem like Marnus?

Three consecutive half-centuries under the most intense of pressure means Labuschagne is a shoo-in for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Given his haul of 1,114 runs for Glamorgan in the County Championship, it is somewhat curious he wasn't in from the start - not that Travis Head and Matthew Wade have badly underperformed by any stretch.

Indeed, it is further up the order where the problems have been. Usman Khawaja is averaging 20.33 after six innings while Marcus Harris has scored 27 in this match after replacing Cameron Bancroft. David Warner has been worse, but his 61 on day one in Leeds means he will surely be given a stay of execution.

Wade is perhaps most vulnerable with scores of 1, 6, 1, 0 and 33 alongside his century at Edgbaston. It would also be another way to remove a left-hander from the line-up. Head would also fit that criteria, but either side of a hundred at Worcester, a half-century in the first Test and a resolute 42 to save the game at Lord's gives him every chance of being retained.

Couple that dilemma with the desire to give Mitchell Starc, who is bowling like a bolt of lightning in the nets, and Australia have some difficult decisions to make when the series moves to Manchester.

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Comments

Posted by Hereward Sporke on 24/08/2019 at 13:18

Joe Root MUST fall on his sword! If he doesn't the Selectors should make the decision for him and sack him! England's batting coaching staff should also be fired! This is 5day Test cricket NOT limited overs and vastly different techniques and mindsets are required - why can't England understand that?

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