The pitch was dead and the bowling listless, yet the return to form of England’s batting rock gives the team the necessary foundations to build towards the challenges that await them next year.
Before today, Jonathan Trott had not scored a Test century since his superb effort in a losing cause against Sri Lanka in Galle in March. Although his numbers were not desperately poor, England had become used to substantial contributions from their No3 ever since his hundred on debut in the decisive Ashes Test at The Oval four years ago.
If the man at first drop is struggling, life becomes difficult as the balance of the batting order is upset. When he is prolific, as Trott had largely been before his patchy 2012, matters are easier for everyone.
It was right that Alastair Cook, with his 766 runs, took much of the credit for England’s superb batting Down Under during the 2010/11 battles with Australia, yet Trott made two hundreds of his own, in Brisbane and Melbourne, and ended the series with an average of 89.
With 10 Tests against Michael Clarke’s improving Australian side next year, England need Trott to be at his peak. His remorselessness at the crease and ability simply to bat time will be vital against Clarke’s promising attack, some of whom will still shudder at the memory of Trott and Cook grinding them into The Gabba dust when England broke records to save the First Test and turn the tide of the contest.
A Trott innings will rarely be as exciting as when Kevin Pietersen is batting but, unlike his colleague, Trott has the knack of transmitting calmness to his batting partner and, by extension, the rest of his team. When Cook and Trott bat well together, it must seem to the fielding side as though they will never make a breakthrough. And, when their energy and spirit is close to breaking point, England’s stroke makers can strike.
That is the plan, at any rate. There are five Tests against New Zealand —three away and two at home — before the Ashes series begins next July and we will learn more about the possible composition of the England team from those games against the Black Caps. What will encourage the selectors and management, however, is that the pool of talented batsmen is becoming deeper.
Nick Compton will end the series with an average in the mid-30s and, while he has been steady rather than spectacular, the Somerset opener has complemented Cook well at the top of the order.
When a batsman has a strong mind, runs will usually follow. It is not easy to begin your international career with a tour of India and Compton’s performances have suggested he has the mentality required to do well at Test level.
Read More
Jonny Bairstow might feel unlucky to have played just one Test, in Mumbai, and then only because Ian Bell had returned home on paternity leave, yet his moment will come. After a difficult start to life as a Test batsman, in which West Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach tested his technique against the short ball, Bairstow blossomed when he replaced the exiled Pietersen against South Africa at Lord’s. Twin half-centuries against the most dangerous attack in world cricket were evidence of rich potential, of which we will surely see more next year.
Bairstow’s Yorkshire team-mate Joe Root will also believe he deserves a spot after his highly-promising debut in Nagpur. Plenty for England to be optimistic about, then, as they look to 2013, but having Trott back in his familiar routine is the best news of all.
