Australia look troubled as England refuse to sit back and accept the same fate as the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash

By Lawrence Booth for the Daily Mail

Published: 12:41 EST, 10 July 2015 | Updated: 19:24 EST, 10 July 2015

Sometimes, the devil really can be in the detail. And, after three days of this Cardiff Test, the details do not look good for Australia.

This is curious, since the bigger picture going into this series left little room for doubt. All they needed to do to retain the Ashes was lie back, close their eyes and think of 2013-14. The rest would follow as smoothly as the Taff flows behind the Swalec Stadium.

The problem, so far at least, is that England have refused to do the same. If the best sporting scripts are the least expected, 2015 is shaping up promisingly. 

Mark Wood celebrates after he dismissed Nathan Lyon lbw during the third day of the Ashes

Mark Wood celebrates after he dismissed Nathan Lyon lbw during the third day of the Ashes

Alastair Cook and his team-mates celebrate after Stuart Broad dismissed Shane Watson

Alastair Cook and his team-mates celebrate after Stuart Broad dismissed Shane Watson

When, during the 5-0 whitewash, things occasionally strayed off Australia’s course — and they did, despite the scoreline — they always had someone to right the tiller: Mitchell Johnson or Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin or David Warner.

Their counterblows were devastating. No matter that Australia frequently found themselves 180 for five. The narrative told of their domination, and England were left hopelessly trying to make sense of it all. 

Yet, despite a late flurry of English wickets on the third evening, the what-ifs in Wales have largely belonged to Michael Clarke’s men — and what-ifs can have a corrosive effect on a team’s soul.

What if Haddin had snared Joe Root on nought in the first innings? What if Moeen Ali had been given out caught behind for 34 after no Australian appealed properly for a thin edge? What if Shane Watson hadn’t fallen victim to a marginal lbw decision? (Actually, scrap that: Shane Watson is always falling victim to marginal lbw decisions. Just ask him.) 

Mitchell Johnson improved on Thursday's performance but he knows Australia face an uphill battle

Shane Watson walks off after being given out following a controversial lbw decision in Cardiff

Shane Watson walks off after being given out following a controversial lbw decision in Cardiff

When things are going well, these moments disappear quickly in the rear-view mirror. But Australia have found themselves confronted by reflections they can barely have recognised. The way England polished off their lower order on Friday morning was an act of ruthlessness of the kind perpetrated by the Australians in 2013-14. The game was there to be seized, and it was England who did the seizing.

Stuart Broad and Mark Wood conceded one run in six overs of gun-barrel-straight seam bowling in an opening half-hour which earned them the wickets of Watson and Nathan Lyon.

That brought together Haddin and Johnson, England’s bêtes noires not so long ago. Had this been Brisbane’s Gabba or a packed and throbbing MCG, these two would doubtless have responded by flaying a quick hundred. 

Broad looked delighted as he dismissed Watson as England continue to dominate proceedings in Cardiff

Now, they survived briefly on their wits before Jimmy Anderson and Broad disposed of them in successive overs with the second new ball.

At this point previous Ashes encounters might have witnessed an enervating last-wicket stand between Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Instead, Root held a smart catch at third slip to see off Starc for a duck and complete a collapse of five for 43.

And so it went on — England shutting the door every time Australia threatened to jam in their boots. From 22 for two, Adam Lyth and Ian Bell smashed 49 in five overs. From 73 for three, it was Bell and Root. 

Joe Root scored 60 before being dismissed as he continues to impress with the bat during the series

Joe Root scored 60 before being dismissed as he continues to impress with the bat during the series

Someone, somewhere has been finding an answer. And by the time they lost three for nine as the shadows lengthened, the lead was already 367. Bell’s 60 performed a second function, completing a jigsaw in which each member of the side has contributed. Alastair Cook’s scores of 20 and 12 may not scream off the scorecard, but his captaincy has been alert and proactive. And his pull for four off Johnson in the third over of England’s second innings was another ghost laid to rest: 18 months ago in Adelaide, he hooked the same bowler into the hands of long leg, and trudged off with one run to his name.

For the Australians, there was a sense of frustration, as if events were refusing to bend to their will.

When Lyth miscued Johnson into the covers, Rogers failed to pick up the flight of the ball as the slip fielders gesticulated skywards in vain. 

Josh Hazlewood had another solid display with the ball as he took two wickets for 49 runs 

Later, Watson casually let the ball dribble through his fingers at extra cover. Australia then made a hash of the DRS: had they bothered to review Starc’s leg-before shout when Ben Stokes had only four, they’d have found technology smiling on them. Stokes went on to a cavalier 42.

It’s too early, of course, to diagnose anything terminal. But these tourists may not be as rudely healthy as we imagined.

England discovered last time round that an ageing team on the wrong side of the peak can quickly lose their footing. Australia have already bade farewell to Harris, winced as Haddin spilled Root, and watched with concern as Johnson conceded 161 runs in this series before claiming his first wicket. 

Adam Lyth scores a four before he was caught by Michael Clarke following a Lyon delivery

Adam Lyth scores a four before he was caught by Michael Clarke following a Lyon delivery

Despite his team impressing, Cook scored a disappointing 12 runs before being dismissed 

Just as pertinently, Cook’s mob are playing happy cricket — in complete contrast to the tension that cost them a series victory recently in the Caribbean.

Again, it’s the little things that have been revealing — the freshly restored games of football every morning, the earpieces in the dressing-room that allow the players to tune into the commentary and let the outside world in, the infectiousness of Wood.

Even Cook’s aggression with the bat has met with cautious approval from the new coach Trevor Bayliss.

Whatever next? Cook out- captaining Clarke? Truly, anything seems possible after three days of frolics and fun.

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