Youth Gone Wild

Since I was born they couldn't hold me down

Another misfit kid, another burned-out town

Never played by the rules I never really cared

My nasty reputation takes me everywhere

I look and see it's not only me

So many others have stood where I stand

We are the young so raise your hands

Day 2 saw a couple of the youngest members of both sides have an opportunity to really make a mark on this series. Neither Phillip Hughes nor Stuart Broad were able to live up to the hype. Let's look at why

Understandably, Phillip Hughes needed a cuddle after facing his first over from the King of 2005, Andrew Flintoff

I am going to make a prediction right here, sitting squarely in the middle of Stanford's Lap, that Phillip Hughes will not be successful in Test cricket long term unless he fundamentally changes his technique. To make sure it is a prediction that will either give me a reputation as a Seer or make me a laughing stock, I also predict that he will not be in the Australian Test team on 10 July, 2010

Don't agree ? Well, ask his opening partner, Simon Katich. He had similar thoughts 18 months ago

For all the discussion, and there has been much discussion, about Hughes getting out to Harmison twice in a warm up game, we are all missing the real problem here: Hughes hasn't got a shot on the leg side. Forget difficulties with the short ball, he is a left hander that can't even turn the ball off his hip. I think this is a one off in the history of international cricket. If there is one thing all left handers can do, it is work the ball off their rump. Instead, Phil basically ignores or fends off anything near his body and tries to jump inside everything else with his Twist and Shout technique ... and here is the second problem: the jumping.

Hughes moves around so much on the crease, trying to give himself room to cut, that he is often in motion, often in the air, when playing his shot. This is death is most cricket but even more so at the top level ... and thus it was when he faced Flintoff: jumping away to try and squirt out a cut, he under edged one through to Prior who took a smart catch (and continues to look good with the gloves today). England were back as was their hero, Flintoff. By the way, what is it about this Flintoff fellow ? He bowled one ball yesterday and the pitch, and the match, looked totally different. I am still a bit in awe of this guy. He is a fantastic bowler.

Sure, Hughes raced to 28 off 30 before lunch but Anderson and Broad bowled the biggest load of tripe possible to him and fed his cut shot. This was such a disgraceful bowling display that when SBS Australia commentator Rodney Hogg was asked how he would bowl to Hughes he replied,

"Watching Hughes jump around all over the place, I couldn't help wondering how Andy Roberts or Dennis Lillee would bowl to him ... and it wouldn't be half trackers outside off stump"

No Hoggy, it most certainly would not have been

Bowlers all over the world are now going to bowl straight at Phillip from now on and he is going to struggle to get one off the square, mark my words

For reasons Stuart Broad could not explain, by the end of Day two Ponting and Katich were seeing them very well indeed

Stuart Broad was always going to be a bowler. Being the son of perpetually cranky international opening batsman Chris Broad, it appears as though every time a young Stuart asked Dad to play cricket with him, he got a reply along the lines of

"Sure, what don't I bat and you can have a go when you get me out"

Whereupon Stuart would begin another day of 75 overs straight, interspersed with trips next door to fetch the ball off the roof of the neighbours conservatory. When he was finished, he would be sat down and told stories about Dad's exploits in 1986 / 87 (which frankly still bring me very close to tears. Why could we never get him out ?!)

Clearly, he is a very talented cricketer. His batting technique is wonderful (and in actuality he was about to flourish as a teenage opening batsman before growing a foot in half a year and realising his bowling was quite effective) and his height gives him the occasional unplayable delivery. However ...

He is not an opening bowler.

He doesn't do enough with the ball to warrant the new cherry and he is far too inconsistent. His bowling to Hughes before lunch yesterday was a great example. At a time when England needed precision and pressure, he provided Hughes the opportunity to exercise all of his two shots (the cut and the back foot cover punch). Why would England not open with Flintoff ? It seems crazy.

In short, Broad isn't ready to carry the England attack. Strauss needs to use him as an effective backup bowler and a number 8 batsman that can get handy runs and let Broad learn his game. He will get there, he is now bowling at almost 150 km/h at times and has the best back foot cover drive since Sobers according to Sir Geoff Boycott (although not everyone agrees). Just give him a few years to get ready, otherwise England risk ruining a great prospect.

On with Day 3 !

Quick highlights so far

• Ponting: Wonderful with the bat, still slightly crap as a captain
• Katich: Determined and deserving
• Hussey: On a mission to make me look silly
• Swann: Poor
• Monty: On the way back. Come on Monty !
• Flintoff: Still an enormous presence
• Prior: Looking great

They call us problem child

We spend our lives on trial

We walk an endless mile

We are the youth gone wild

We stand and we won't fall

We're the one and one for all

The writing's on the wall

We are the youth gone wild

We are the youth gone wild

Youth Gone Wild, Skid Row, 1989