Wednesday, August 29, 2001 Another Ashes, another Australian waltz in the park. Just what is their secret? Here are eight things they did better than England this summer.

1 Picked the right players

Before the Ashes began David Graveney approached a national newspaper cricket correspondent and asked him for the names of a few young players he should be looking out for. The selectors were almost as clueless once the series got under way, picking 19 players and short-listing several for Duff Pick of the Series Award: a half-fit Ashley Giles at Edgbaston; Robert Croft at Trent Bridge; Usman Afzaal all summer; and James Ormond, suddenly a certainty for India, after his 1 for 115 at The Oval. Australia made just two changes all summer: one because of Steve Waugh's injury, the other because of Michael Slater's apres-cricket activities. England were forced to make more, but not half as many as they did make.

2 Stayed fit

There's not much you can do about broken fingers, but why were England so slow to recover from niggles in general? Graham Thorpe's pre-one-day-series twinge turned into something more sinister while qualified physios stood around helplessly. Michael Vaughan's knees should have been sorted out immediately after the tour to Sri Lanka. And Alex Tudor's hypochondria should have been understood, not pooh-poohed. As it was, England resembled a bunch of hungover students at a supervision, desperately trying to convince their tutor that they were on the ball. Australia's apparently injury-prone seam attack were fighting fit throughout. This can't be a coincidence, because it happens almost every time these teams meet. England must stop telling themselves that injuries are purely about bad luck.

3 Dug themselves out of holes

At Trent Bridge, Australia slumped to 105 for 7 in reply to England's 186, but still managed a first-innings lead. In the second innings they were 89 for 3 with Steve Waugh hors de combat, but still cruised to the 158 they needed to regain the Ashes. On the fifth morning at The Oval, England were 18 short of saving the follow-on - and probably the game - but Australia took the last two wickets for nine. While England wilted under pressure, Australia's relationship to it was like a vampire and blood: they lapped it up and grew stronger.

4 Showed flexibility

Australia reacted to events almost before they had happened: witness the decision before the series to drop Justin Langer, the man Steve Waugh had described only a year before as the best batsman in the world. Damien Martyn took his place and made an early bid for the World XI. The emptiness of England's think-tank was exemplified by their opening batsmen. Mike Atherton, stubborn to the end, kept facing the first ball of the innings, which meant Glenn McGrath, otherwise known as Nemesis. And with quick singles in short supply, it also meant Marcus Trescothick developed a less-than-healthy relationship with Jason Gillespie at the other end. Gillespie got him five times in the first four Tests. The little things can make a difference.

5 Delivered the crucial blows

Glenn McGrath muttered before the series that he would target Atherton again. He did, and duly dismissed him six times. Despite being given advanced warning, Athers played him as meekly as ever, aggressive only when McGrath gave him something to pull. Rarely in his career has he been such a walking wicket. England's failure to go for the jugular was magnified by Steve Waugh's insane decision to play at The Oval. Overweight, one-legged, and barely able to run singles, he scored 157 not out against a side that sat back and let him chisel his way into the history books. Apart from Headingley, Australia's Plan A always came off; England often didn't even have one.

6 Carried no passengers

Even the three players who contributed least to Australia's triumph contributed something. Matthew Hayden (234 runs at 33.42) made a crucial 42 in the series-winning run-chase at Trent Bridge; Michael Slater (170 at 24.28) responded to Alec Stewart and Andy Caddick's bat-throwing at Edgbaston with interest; and Brett Lee (nine wickets at 55.11) broke Thorpe's finger at Lord's. England's ship had too many passengers: allrounders Craig White and Dominic Cork combined to score 64 runs in eight innings and take 2 for 273; the now-forgotten Ian Ward averaged 13.60 (less than Caddick or Darren Gough); even Phil Tufnell took just 1 for 174. Weak links don't come much weaker.

7 Held their catches

An old chestnut, but one that England were unable to grasp. They put down 14 chances of varying difficulty in the series, including four off Adam Gilchrist in one jaw-dropping morning at Lord's alone. Australia spilt a few themselves, but didn't stand around moping. At The Oval, McGrath had Trescothick dropped at slip, so he decided to do it all by himself, catching him off his own bowling with the very next delivery. When England fluffed a chance, they dropped their heads; when Australia did, they licked their lips. Resignation versus expectation - as much as anything, the fielding summed up the difference between the sides.

8 Played mind-games

Steve Waugh waged the perfect psychological war. This is easier to do when you're winning, but England didn't even try, and allowed themselves to be manipulated like a piece of putty in the desert. They dropped Owais Shah because Waugh spread the word that Australia had worked him out; they kept Ian Ward because Waugh said he liked the look of him; they were shamed by Waugh when only Gough said he wanted the captaincy; they even started singing Waugh's praises in their myriad ghosted newspaper columns. In one round-the-table chat in a Sunday paper, Nasser Hussain sat virtually mute as Waugh gave his views. Waugh bestrode the English press like an Aussie media tycoon, and met with pitifully little resistance.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com. His column appears every Wednesday.

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