London, Auguat 09: Former Test spinner Greg Matthews said England have plenty of unanswered questions with their batting.
“England are going to have to bring out Flintoff and Pietersen in wheelchairs for the final Test, because clearly their teammates are not up for it,” he said on SBS TV.
“Ravi Bopara is not good for it. Ian Bell is not good for it. They must drop one bowler.”
Vice-captain Michael Clarke and number six batsman North were praised for their 152-run fifth-wicket stand, after their record-breaking 185-run partnership in the previous Edgbaston Test forced a draw on the final day.
“Clarke is the biggest star of the Ashes and the elegant batsman has more runs in this series (445 runs at 89) than any other Australian batsman in an Ashes campaign in England since 1997,” The Sunday Telegraph said.
Long-time ABC radio commentator Jim Maxwell said selection changes had shifted the course of the series in Australia’s favour.
“North’s success and the surprise emergence of Shane Watson as a Test opener have delighted every Australian supporter, and the belated inclusion of Stuart Clark has at last given captain Ricky Ponting a bowler who can control the game, allowing the hunters at the other end the confidence to attack,” he said.
Australia are set to seize a series-winning momentum heading into next week’s final Ashes Test after condemning England to a heavy defeat in the fourth Test, Australia’s media said on Sunday.
The Australians are on the verge of levelling the series at 1-1 after inflicting a dramatic England collapse for the second time in the Headingley Test.
At stumps on Saturday’s second day, England were 82 for five, still needing a further 261 runs to make Australia bat again after Marcus North’s 110 had been the centrepiece of the visitors’ 445 all out.
The Sunday Telegraph said England had no chance of escaping from the Test with Australia poised to level the series.
“Only needing a drawn series to hang onto the Ashes, Australia is set to grab a major advantage by heading to the final Test at The Oval with the series deadlocked,” the newspaper said.
The Sun Herald said Australia were poised to finish off the England tail and post an emphatic Headingley victory.
“Five late wickets by Australia took away any chance of England surviving this game, and Ricky Ponting’s side will no doubt finish them off,” it said.
Former Test batsman Damien Martyn said Ponting’s team was finally getting its act together after being outplayed at Lord’s and Edgbaston.
“I’ve been waiting three Test matches for Australia to click into gear across all aspects of the game,” Martyn said on SBS TV.
“Australia is finally getting it all together and we’re starting to see the whole package.”
The Sun Herald’s Peter Roebuck said the series will be won by the team best able to get its strongest side onto the field in the final Test.
“And that might be Australia. Already England have lost their two most influential players, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff,” he said.
“Contrastingly, Australia have finally been able to field a full-strength side.”
—–Agencies