Bookies had it right

[westozfalcon]

There was a lot of hype and expectation of a humdinger of a series and talk of how England would be no pushover etc etc.

But right from the start the chasm in the betting market in a two-horse race indicated that one of the runners had a broken leg and so it has proved to be.

A lot of cricket ‘tragics’ said otherwise but the Poms didn’t have the personnel and were always going to be crushed by a much better side obsessed with revenge for the 2005 aberration.

[Adelaide Hawk]

It's a guess I know, but I predicted 3-1 to Australia so they've done even better than I anticipated.

[am Bays]

There was a lot of hype and expectation of a humdinger of a series and talk of how England would be no pushover etc etc.

But right from the start the chasm in the betting market in a two-horse race indicated that one of the runners had a broken leg and so it has proved to be.

A lot of cricket ‘tragics’ said otherwise but the Poms didn’t have the personnel and were always going to be crushed by a much better side obsessed with revenge for the 2005 aberration.

I would argue the POMS have had the personnel because at times this series they have shown they can hold their own with us

e.g. Day 3 at the Gabba, when Bell, Collingwood and Pietersen made runs, Days 1 & 2 at Adelaide and having us 5/84 chasing 160 in this test but the personnel has lacked the killer desire they had last series as they haven't been able to kill us off like they did last series when they've had the opportunity....

Their best has been good enough to compete with us this series but they haven't been able to sustain it which illustrates a lack of mental toughness and /or desire. In other words their best is good enough but their worst (day 1 Gabba, Day 5 Adelaide, day 2 Perth and most of this test) has been shocking......

Plus for two tests their best personnel weren't playing......so they had the personnel but for whatever reasons they've decided not to play them....

Thank you Duncan......

[bayman]

they were beaten mentally as proved on day 5 in adelaide, they went out to survive instead of 'lets get a quick 200 & try & bowl them out'