England Have To Overcome Their Cricketing Everest – At Least They Have A Start

The unmistakeable truth of it all is that in the next four days, England may have lost the Ashes.

It’s more than likely too, in fact, if history is anything to go by it’s as near to a certainty as there can be in a sporting contest.

But at least Dawid Malan’s century has given them hope to hang onto. After the first day’s play, England have given themselves the chance to overcome their Perth hoodoo.

At 2-0 down in this five-match series, England face the daunting prospect of needing to avoid defeat at the WACA. The Perth home of the Western Australian Cricket Association is the host’s fortress – and yes there are quite a few of them. But if you thought England’s record at the Gabba in Brisbane was poor…

This is a more intense Australia fortress than any other. It is the most typical of Australian pitches and any Englishman who sets foot on the wicket will be in no doubt that he faces his cricketing Everest.

England have won just a single Test there – way back in 1978, when the hosts were severely weakened by the World Series exodus. Of their 13 Tests on the famous old ground, the Three Lions have suffered nine defeats, with three draws. It’s unquestionably why Australia host Test three of the series there, knowing it can win them the urn, or if things haven’t started so well, turn the tide back in their favour.

Even during England’s historic series win in 2010/11, Australia were victors at Perth – Mitchell Johnson, inept elsewhere that year, ran through Andrew Strauss’ men claiming 9/82 across the two innings. That heavy defeat is in keeping with an awful run of big losses since 1998. And not since 1986 has an England side left the WACA without defeat.

In the last four Ashes tours, three times Australia have crushed English hopes and celebrated a series victory at the WACA.

Quite simply, if Joe Root can lead England to success it will be one of his country’s greatest ever wins. It will become the finest of all if it triggers an almighty turnaround that leads to the retention of the Ashes, which are so quickly slipping away Down Under.

Malan has made a start. His unbeaten 110 overnight, combining so brilliantly with Jonny Bairstow who is also unbeaten on 75, leaves England in an unfamiliar strong position heading into day two tonight.

Before that, Australia had demonstrated why the WACA is so troubling for visiting teams – particularly visiting English sides. Alastair Cook went for seven and James Vince and Joe Root for 25 and 20.

At 131-4, when the industrious Mark Stoneman departed controversially for a well-fought 56, England were in trouble. The bounce, pace and ferocity of the WACA pitch doing as expected for the top order.

Most Australian pitches carry extra pace and bounce. Alarmingly for an England batting lineup already struggling to get to grips with the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, that’s never truer than in Perth. Extra, extra pace and bounce is the best way to describe it, and adapting to the conditions quickly is a huge challenge.

It is far quicker than anything England face in home conditions.

Given England don’t have a Starc, Cummins or even Josh Hazlewood in the ranks, being able to exploit the conditions themselves with the ball will be difficult too, given Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Craig Overton all lack the express pace the Aussie attack provides.

With the heat more intense than anywhere else, too, the conditions will be as alien to the England eleven as anywhere else on this tour.

Thankfully, by the time of England’s next tour of Australia, the WACA will no longer be used. The new Perth Stadium officially opens for business in January, when the sides play a One Day International. How brilliant it would be for England to say goodbye to years of woe with a series-defining performance and victory over the next few days. At least they now have a platform.

England must perform better than they have done at any time in any series Down Under for the entire duration of the Test – and for almost every session. One bad session on any given day and the writing will be on the wall. It’s the ultimate test. It’s England Cricket’s Everest.