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s Australia’s cricketers contemplated the Ashes this summer, those who had been watching England’s year of barnstorming spoke of a need to be prepared. There would be phases in the series when the home team would burst the bonds of accurate bowling and defensive field formations, and appear to charge off with the game. In these circumstances, Australia would simply have to keep their heads, stick to their core skills, and wait for the gradual restoration of equilibrium between bat and ball.
That afternoon came here at Old Trafford. But as England piled on 178 in 25 overs between lunch and tea, it felt less like Australia were chasing the game and more that they were being dragged behind a chariot with knives on its
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