After a bout of soul-searching in the wake of their first Test defeat, it was back to business as usual for Australia’s press following the 405-run thrashing of England at Lord’s.
Robert Craddock, writing for News.com.au, called England cynical and said that the crushing defeat was what they deserved.
“They came into this series with a cynical plan to blunt Australia’s great fast bowling strike weapons with featherbed pitches for the second series in a row,” he wrote.
“But in doing so they only showcased their own shortcomings.”
In his match report, Ben Horne writes that “Mitchell Johnson has ripped England’s mental scars wide open again, as a rampant Australia inflicted one of the most comprehensive Ashes victories of all time to square the series at Lord’s.”
He continued: “England were cheering the return of the old Mitchell Johnson in Cardiff as he was smacked all over the park but the left-arm destroyer showed you should never knock a champion as he fired back with a devastating three-wicket blast either side of tea that had the hosts on their knees, at one point reduced to seven for 64.”
Horne also reports that England are likely to make changes for the third Test at Edgbaston and that the Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin may have played his final match.
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Chris Barrett gives Australia their due credit rather than focusing on England’s shortcomings. “Yes, the toss of the coin last Thursday was crucial,” he writes, “Australia having the fortune of being first to get a total on the board on a pitch that in its infancy was a batsman’s best friend.
“But they also played remarkably well, from man of the match Steve Smith and Chris Rogers’ big hundreds, to the Johnson-inspired attack, to the wonderful performances from new additions Peter Nevill, who took seven catches on debut, and Mitchell Marsh, who claimed several important wickets.”
Jesse Hogan is more effusive still, saying that Steve Smith now ranks among the all-time great batsmen after his double-hundred, while Greg Baum believes the result “morally gives Australia the series lead.”
From an English perspective in the same paper, Geoffrey Boycott is scathing towards the home side. “Joe Root comes in with England in trouble, hooks his fifth ball, and gets hit on the head. I thought we were trying to save the game. And the most stupid dismissal of all was Ben Stokes trying to get out of the way of being hit by the ball, not running his bat in and getting run out. As a batsman, you protect your wicket at all costs, and should not mind getting hit by the ball anywhere. By that time, the whole innings was a shambles.”
Gideon Haigh in The Australian suggests the margin of defeat could make this a killer blow in the series, saying “the Australians have left England with scars of a new and vivid hue”, while Mike Atherton believes that England are in need of a stiff drink.
On a different subject, in The Courier-Mail Miike Colman expresses concern over Chris Rogers’ future after the batsman was struck on the head during the match and, the next day, retired ill with dizziness.
Finally Derek Pringle, writing for Fox Sports News is equally effusive in his praise for Mitchell Johnson and damning in his condemnation of England.
“Three wickets did not do his savage brilliance justice but Australia will tell you it is a team game and the other bowlers certainly benefited from his efforts as England’s second innings disintegrated in a measly 37 overs.
“Facing fast bowlers like Johnson, when the force is with them, provides one of the thrilling sights of Test cricket, providing the batsmen are able to withstand it, at least for a while.
“Less edifying is the sight of craven capitulation, something England were guilty of and something their selectors have a fortnight to come to terms with.”
