The Australian media has branded England's plan to 'bore' their way back into this Ashes series with a 'stoic batting marathon' as 'fundamentally flawed'.
Stating that England has a problem in their plan to win the toss and bat for two days in Adelaide to make a score approaching 600, News.com.au said that over the past two years, they have managed to make 500 just once, against India in Kolkata, and have failed to score 400 at any stage against Australia in the past six Tests.
In contrast, the report said that Australia has passed 500 five times and 600 twice in that two-year period and even though it may have won just one of its past six Tests against England, it has the three highest scores, 7-527 at Old Trafford, 9-492 at The Oval and 7-401 in Brisbane.
The report also quoted figures suggesting the downward slide of England's batting, and said that the departure of Jonathan Trott with a stress-related illness leaves a significant hole in England's batting despite his recent modest form again Australia.
While England has four of the six leading run-scorers from either side over the past two years, Australia captain Michael Clarke has been by far the most dominant batsman in the world during that period with 2648 runs at an average of 70 including nine centuries.
The report also pointed out that of England's leading run scorers have a significantly lower average from December 1, 2011, when compared to their careers, adding that Cook's is 43 compared to 48 across his career, Trott's was 38 compared to 46, Kevin Pietersen 40 (career 48) and Ian Bell 38 (career 46).
