Strauss- Mitchell Johnson Reignite Jardin’s Bodyline with Chin Music Talk

By Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

      How about a jazzy affair? asks Mitchell Johnson. Bring it on, says Andrew Strauss. And Thus began the Ashes 2010.

     

      That could perhaps be how the Ashes 2010 get underway if England were to bat first at the Gabba in Brisbane with the first Test of the Ashes scheduled for Thursday. And neither team is willing to give a quarter (not that they can spare one) or take one (their dignity would not allow it). The teams are then going to have to rely on their strengths then – for Australia, that would be intimidation while for England, the mantra is concentration and focus on the goal.

       There has been a lot of talk that has targeted Kevin Pietersen. Being a temperamental character who could get turned on by the jibes, Australia are walking a fine line trying to rake up arguably England’s most boisterous batsman. But KP can also self destruct and that is Australia’s hope through their age old practiced art of sledging, or rather, mental disintegration. Whether any of it has percolated into Kevin Pietersen’s head will be told as the Ashes pan out.

        But Australia also rely on their herbs. One of the most obvious ones is targeting the opposition captain and wait for the domino effect on the rest of the team. Andrew Strauss has been reminded of it by former Australian fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, as well as Australia’s current spearhead, Mitchell Johnson. Chin music is the remedial prescription for England.

        What is interesting to note is that while Andrew Strauss is fully aware of Australia’s tried and tested tactics, he has tactically steered away from pointed out that Johnson’s own game plan unraveled on the field at Lord’s as his mind was preoccupied with the battle between his mother, Vikki Harber, and fiancé, Jessica Bratich, over territorial rights over him. While England cannot count on the same thing happening again, what they can count on is upsetting Johnson’s rhythm and thereby, negating a huge threat and a huge trump card in Australia’s hand.

     There will be nothing pompous about England’s prepping ahead of the Test. That is what Strauss promises about his own captaincy – maintaining a low key, strong, self assured profile. It is indicated in how he has responded to Johnson in the media. Strauss has suggested that Australia’s tactics are not new spanners he needs to worry about. Suggesting that as the opener and having played against other teams, he has the wherewithal to survive the fast bowlers’ early tactics, Strauss is carefully and plausibly deliberating taking the onus on himself and defining himself as the target Australia should focus on.

     With the series hinging on a knife edge of a battle, Strauss knows the merit of every battle won, every contest conquered, in sessions or in a day. While keeping it quiet would have been an alternative, Strauss also wants to sound unafraid and reflect the confidence in the England dressing room. The accuracy of Douglas Jardine's Bodyline in required if the series is to see a sharp swing in either team's favour. But Strauss has hit back by suggesting that Australia were revealing their cards too early for their own good.

        Strauss is too shrewd to miss the trick on that front. Not only will Strauss be the target in Australia’s desperate attempt to hit bull’s eye as far as the Ashes is concerned, but also, it will help the rest of the England team loosen up, relax and let the rhythm remind them of how they managed to stay on the top of their game in the past eighteen months. If England can keep doing it like machinery, they should hold up just fine, chin music or alternative.