Adelaide Test, Day 4
Sunday, November 24, 2002 Well, it's the same old story for England – it's turning into a bit of a sorry saga at the moment. They were hoping to be much better on this tour, they had expected to stand up better in this sort of situation, and they'll have a few more challenges like today before the series is out. But what with their injury situation, and key players underperforming, they'll need a few team changes before the third Test gets underway.

First and foremost, they need to bring in players who can come close to doing their jobs, the same as they do against every other team. Craig White, for one, is not doing his bit, and many of the other batsmen's records against Australia don't compare well with their career records. Another batter would be nice, if they can fit one into their team balance. They are certainly going to need them all at Perth.

The weather was always a long-shot for England. It's freed up a bit now, though it's still greyish, and they'd have had plenty more batting to do today. It's quite sultry and humid at the moment, and there was a bit of a heat storm last night which brought a little rain, so it's all building up. But there was simply no digging in from England. Whatever Australia said to the batsmen worked, and whatever they predicted, happened. The cycle has to be broken.

That McGrath catch stands out as a major difference between the teams. Sure, Australia drop catches, but they rarely let the big ones get away. That sort of shot from Vaughan would normally have dropped short, but McGrath put his body on the line and manufactured a wicket. It was a magnificent piece of skill all round from McGrath – the pace off the mark, the juggling of the ball when completely parallel in the air, the hanging onto it as he landed. It was a great effort.

The fact that it was Vaughan won't have mattered much – it was just another wicket. But Australia always find a way to weasel out the big ones, while England, time and again, give Australia's best batsmen a chance – and a second and third chance as well – and the bowlers never get on a roll. Fielding should be the one area where England can compete, because it's just you – the opposition aren't involved. But whenever the pressure's on, Australia are thriving, while England are shrivelling.

Australia will be gunning for a whitewash now, and they will go into the Perth Test confident and fresh. To beat Australia, you have to wear their bowlers out, especially in back-to-back Tests, by keeping them in the field for long periods. But a four-day finish is not the way forward for England – Australia can now just sit back for a day and bask in their glory.

Alec Stewart has said that the last Ashes series in 2001 was the most lop-sided he had ever played in, but this one looks like being even tougher. That sort of talk goes against the message that Nasser is trying to put out. If his senior player reckons Australia are going to steamroll the series, then that is not good at all.

Though all the talk for Perth is of an extra batsman, England have got one or two problems with their bowlers as well. I guess they'll finally have to use Tudor, maybe Silverwood as well. It beats me. Caddick doesn't look like he wants to be there, or that he can be there with his back injury, Hoggard was honest, and only Harmison looked like he was really enjoying himself. I liked that attitude. But how will he cope with another tough match straight up? There's always been a question-mark about his stamina.

Ian Healy, who kept wicket for Australia in six winning Ashes series, will be providing his Expert View at the end of each day's play in the Tests. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

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