The outcome of the Ashes series is all but over if the results of the first two Tests are any real indicator, and yet if we were to see a repeat of the nothing less than remarkable Test series of England vs South Africa in 1955, we would be in for a treat in the next few weeks.
On that occasion, all of 70 years ago in England, the visitors who had just come off the back of a highly successful tour of Australia, had surprisingly gone 2 – 0 down under the leadership of Jack Cheetham who due to injury was not available for the third and fourth Tests, and was replaced by vice-captain Jackie McGlew. The fiery opener turned his side around, resulting in the sides going into the fifth Test tied at two tests apiece.
By the start of the deciding Test at the Oval, Cheetham was fit to play again, but the selectors decided to stick by the successful McGlew.
To everyone’s surprise he declined and Cheetham returned to skipper the South Africans. There was to be no happy ending for him as England won the decider in a low scoring game.
England supporters of the modern era will now be hoping the captain hoodoo issue strikes again when Pat Cummings returns to skipper the side, taking over from Steve Smith, one of the most successful Aussie leaders in the history of the game.
My own view is that lightning is unlikely to strike again, as this vastly superior side will be rather like the great West Indies side of the 1970/80’s who only needed Clive Lloyd to be present at the tosses, regardless of who they were playing.
The Aussies have, in my opinion, not only a better all round side, but a mindset which equips them for all occasions. Whether they can go and complete the whitewash remains to be seen. Ben Stokes could alone prevent such a disaster.
In the meantime I was delighted to see the aforementioned West Indies surge back to draw an astonishing test match away against New Zealand last week. Chasing over 500 runs to win and ending up on 457 for the loss of six wickets was proof of just how exciting this great game can be.
Perhaps the outcome of the Ashes is not the formality assumed by most.
Add to that the hope that Pakistan can soon recapture lost glories, and that Ireland build on their hard won Test status, while Scotland can take their place with similar status, but as Lord Botham famously said, Scotland must first get their own Freddie Flintoff and some better weather!