The Ashes, through the first two Tests, have largely been a showcase for a remarkable display of force by Australia.
Australia clinched the second Ashes Test by 218 runs over England yesterday, leading some – like our Graham Caygill – to wonder aloud about just how low England can sink on this tour.
Of the second Ashes Test, he wrote:
"If this was a plan to tell Australia and Johnson they were not afraid of the short ball, then it did not work.
The only message it gave was that the team lacked the spirit, intelligence and guts to at least make Australia work for their wickets.
As painful as it might be for England fans to read, the Ashes are gone. Worst-case scenario, either early next week in Perth or in Melbourne at the end of the month, the destination of the urn will be confirmed.
At this point, for England, it is about improving. Australia have been comfortably better with bat, ball and in the field, and if that continues in Perth, then a potential whitewash is going to become more of a reality."
To really illustrate Australia's ownership of this Ashes series so far, Graham provides five telling figures:
6
Test hundreds for Australia captain Michael Clarke after his 148 in the first innings. The right-hander has averaged 85.66 at the Western Australia Cricket Association Ground since his first appearance there in 2004.
8
Wickets in the match for Mitchell Johnson. He took seven for 40 in the first innings, and the Australian left-arm bowler now has 17 to his name in the series.
21
Sixes over the five days of the match. Both sides looked to hit out while at the crease, with Australia hitting 13 to England’s eight. Brad Haddin led the way with five for Australia.
200
Partnership between Clarke and Brad Haddin for the sixth wicket in the first innings in Adelaide, which moved Australia from being in a good position into a dominant one.
383
Minutes England’s No 3 batsman Joe Root spent batting in Adelaide for his scores of 15 and 87, the most of any player in the match, showing the kind of tenacity and concentration that so many of his teammates lacked.
