It is just difficult to see where they will get runs from to prevent it. I thought if Watson and Clarke hit their straps early, then maybe there might be some tight moments. Watson doesn't look like an opener, at least not in english conditions. He'll often get off to quick starts, hit some glorious cover drives, but eventually he is getting one on the pad. If you play across the line that many times, it'll get you in the end. The ball moves about too much for that style. I wouldn't care the bloke can play straight, he just lacks patience. Clarke is feeling the pinch, he doesn't look in horrendous nick at times, but one brain fart follows another.
The rest I just can't see it myself. Hughes is technical wise a walking wicket. He gets into some bizarre positions. Fine for T20 but ruthlessly exposed in test cricket. Lets not forget we are yet to encounter a quick bouncy pitch either so we haven't even had to test that short ball weakness Freddie exposed. We may not of course with this weather.
Khawaja actually looked ok for the first time yesterday, I liked his technique. Kept it simple. Whether the Ashes is the best place to flourish is debateable, maybe if you're the team on top. Rogers is ok and has had some shockers, and his confidence will have taken a pounding. He'll be questioning himself, asking if he good enough for test cricket or just another county/shield cricketer.
We have to remember England are below par too. We are winning without getting out of 2nd gear in the main. Yes Bell and Root had to produce three fabulous knocks, and Jimmy a great spell of bolwing to win these first two tests, but Trott, Cook and Pietersen who are our heavy hitters have been out of sorts. Trott looks in great nick but hasn't made it count. KP is having one of those spells he goes through and Cook's fantastic run has come to an end. He has not always loved English conditions and has had a few issues if you can the ball moving just outside off. Swann is below par for him too despite his wickets.
I can't see it getting much better for them down under either because Cook looks those wickets where his square of the wicket play really comes into its own with the bounce. Trott, Prior and KP too. Root looks tailor made for their wickets and Belly is looking better than ever. Bothams 10-0 doesn't actually seem that far fetched for all it is unlikely.
