The Ashes: Time for heroes to become legends

Changing of the guard - Michael Clarke will become the 43rd Test captain of Australia as he takes over for the injured Ricky Ponting

It would take some going to top the performance that England produced in Melbourne last week, but what better way to end an Ashes series than rubbing the hosts noses in the dirt whilst they are on the ground. Aside from the anomaly in Perth, the tourists form has been nothing short of flawless since they first touched down in Perth at the end of October.

Yes the Ashes have been decided but their is still much for both sides to play for as the series reaches in finale. It has been 38 years since a tied Test series between these two sides but with the pride of history to play for, Michael Clarkes side will come out all guns blazing as they seek to rectify the authority that their predecessors gave them.

It has been a fairly ubiquitous tour thus far for Englands Graeme Swann, with an assured performance in Adelaide paired with the delightful tussle with Mike Hussey serving as highlights thus far. The tourists top tweaker, whose promotion of the Sprinkler Dance has seen the country embrace it as a nationwide celebration, will see the traditional spin-friendly Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) pitch as his best opportunity to regain the authority that his bowling has demanded since he arrived on the international set-up.

His opposite number in the shape of Michael Beer will certainly not bring waves of confidence flooding back into the nations cricket-fueled nation, especially after revealing that he has yet to test his skills at the SCG. With only seven first-class games to his name, the Western Australian is evidence that Cricket Australia is running on empty.

Aside from Beer, there will be one other th! at will be claiming his Baggy Green cap from newly-promoted skipper Clarke, that of 24-year-old Usman Khawaja. The Pakistan-born left-handers job is filling the significant void left by the injured Ricky Ponting, who is tasting his first Test absence since the tour of India six years and 73 Tests ago.

Becoming the first Muslim player to represent Australia, Khawaja must hit the ground running if he is to press the Australian selectors into believing that he is more than just a player to make up the numbers. A fine average of 51.70 from 27 first-class matches will hold him in good stead, but the international step-up is one that many simply cannot adjust to; just look at Darren Pattinson of England in 2008.

Having already faced up to England when Australia A met Strausss side prior to the first Test in Brisbane, Khawaja suffered scores of 13 and a first-baller, which again is not the kind of performance that will fill patriotic Aussies with joy. But, aside from Shane Watson and Hussey, he will be in good company as a fragile batting line-up is yet to convince many fans or pundits.

Clarke will undoubtedly be feeling a huge weight on his shoulders to return to the sleek and sophisticated performances that heralded him as one of the greats in the making, and that was before the captaincy was handed to him. With only 148 runs to his name at an average of 21.14 so far in this series, it is difficult to imagine he will emerge triumphant from such a difficult situation.

It seems that the hosts simply cannot get out of the rut they have found themselves in, with the Perth result many believing to be a flash in the pan. Indeed, commanding performances have been achieved in both Brisbane and at the Waca, but these faster, bouncier pitches seem to epitomise the Australian performances, as positive results are struggling to be found on any other variation.

The same could be said of the tourists who struggled to adapt to the unplayable swing that a rejuvenated Mitchell Johnson conjured up on the ! Perth wi cket, with the slower, greener tracks appearing to be more favourable. But for sheer determination, England must be credited for the comeback in Melbourne that saw an Aussie outfit with their tails up, sent back with those tails firmly between their legs.

The performance looks likely to have warranted an unchanged England side when the teams are announced on Monday morning, which means the efficient, yet expensive Steven Finn looks likely to miss out again. But Im sure you would not want to be the person to knock on any of the winning XIs doors to deliver the news that they had been dropped, especially after such a significant win.

So with the battlefield set and the combatants fired up, their is one final element that England must abide by. The reputation that Australian cricket holds is fearsome, and they are one of the finest teams at improbable recoveries; therefore any presumptions on a team with little to lose would be a costly error for Strauss and co.

Let battle commence.

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