WACA, Perth

England just need one victory in 3 matches to retain the Ashes while Australia need to win atleast two to bring the urn back home. It really is desperation time for Australia and none will be feeling the pressure more than Ricky Ponting who faces the igimony of losing the Ashes thrice during his tenure as the skipper.

Ponting’s form with the bat is a matter of huge concern for Australia and it is not often that you see the Punter getting scores of 10, 0 and 9 in 3 of the 4 innings. He did score a quickfire half century in the second innings at Brisbane but that was when the match was already headed for a draw.

The rest of the lineup barring Hussey hasn’t done much to boast about either. Watson has scored a couple of half centuries but as a Test opener, he can’t be happy with half centuries. After scores of 9 and 0, vice captain Clarke returned to form with a fine 80 but how he takes this form ahead remains to be seen. Marcus North’s place in the side was really inexplicable with his recent string of low scores and his replacement Steven Smith is not someone that England will have nightmares about. The Aussies definitely will be depleted with the loss of their regular opener Katich. His replacement for the third test Phillip Hughes is known to be susceptible against the short ball and he can expect nothing better from the English quickies on the fastest track in the world.

If Australia’s batting has been pathetic throughout, their bowling hasn’t done any better since Day 1 of the series. The English batsmen have since then scored 1137 runs and lost only 6 wickets in the process.  Alistair Cook helped himself to a double hundred and a 148 while Kevin Pietersen, who hadn’t scored a century for 18 months, blasted his way to career best 227.

After a dream comeback in which he took 6/54 including a hat-trick, Siddle went wicketless in his 30 overs at Adelaide. Mitchell Johnson’s confidence took a beating at the Gabba and returned with figures of 0/170 was dropped for the second test. But his replacement Bollinger didn’t pose any bigger threat and Johnson, after just one domestic game, finds himself in the squad for the third Test. Xavier Doherty, after 2 Tests has been dropped for an unheard name in Michael Beer. With just 5 first class games under his belt and with a bowling average of more than 40, the English batsmen will be licking their lips to feast on him. Ryan Harris did trouble the batsmen on an occasion or two but Australia need more than just that.

But England have a dismal record at Perth having won only once in 11 attempts and having scored above 300 only once in the last 20 years at the venue. England will also be weakened by the absence of Stuart Broad, who has been the most aggressive and quickest bowler in the opening two tests. Australia have always been known to perform when it matters the most and despite all the above numbers, my money is on Australia to bounce back at the bouncy WACA.

Tags: 3rd Test, Australia, Cricket, England, Perth, Ricky Ponting, The Ashes, The Ashes 2010, WACA