Don’t blame Ben Stokes |
So what was the best bit of this dispiriting Ashes series? Lucky you if you’ve found one, but for me – at the time of writing, before Jacob Bethell was belatedly allowed to unfurl his brilliance – it was the moving homage to the heroes of the Bondi massacre at the start of the Sydney Test. It was flawlessly executed, unlike a great deal of the cricket: a group of first responders, including paramedics, lifeguards, police and Ahmed al-Ahmed, the shopkeeper who disarmed one of the terrorists, were given a guard of honour as applause and cheers flooded the ground. If it didn’t bring a tear to the eye, check your pulse.
Otherwise, what have we learned? The England bowling has often been shocking and toothless, with Matthew Potts, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue among the more dismal bowling attacks in Test history. Elsewhere, I feel sorry for Ben Foakes of Surrey, the best wicketkeeper/batsman in England, marginalised to make way for Jamie........