I think a 2-2 result is satisfying enough for an Australian supporter. Given how weak our batting is its an achievement for the team to get a drawn series where better batting sides have failed. After retaining the Ashes at OT I was looking forward to the Oval test until a series of poor selection choices and ultimately the decision to bowl first took away all the enthusiasm I had for the match. From then it was just witnessing the inevitable result from such cumulative bungles.
England's side is starting to resemble a more traditional test team rather than a few batsmen and a bunch of allrounders. Denly's success at the top, the application shown from Burns, a good spinner in Leach and the firing of Roy and Moeen helping the transition. If Anderson continues to play you'd think there wouldn't be much need for guys like Curran or Woakes, except for back up or injuries, as Archer, Anderson, Broad, Stokes and Leach look an all weather attack. Perhaps England will look to new players like Sibley or Pope to replace Buttler or Bairstow.
Langer has received a lot of criticism. Whatever part he played in selections and bowling first at the Oval being among them. But he did back Labuschagne which is beginning to look like a win for him. He's also had some terrible and limited options in batting to deal with. Warner's loss of form adding to his many problems. Matthew Wade left it to the last innings to finally justify his spot. Two centuries in England is really an exceptional performance. Concerns remain over his consistency and ability to convert centuries into daddy hundreds though. However one poster here said Wade's style is not suited England. It was a fair comment. Cricinfo reported the cover drive as Wade's most productive shot. Which hopefully showed an ability by Wade to adjust to conditions. The pitches where he scored his hundreds weren't easy to bat on. Plus Archer gave him 8 overs of fury to deal with and he came through. I also liked the way he advanced to and countered Leach when the rough presented him problems.
Australia just might have a middle order happening if Labuschagne continues to improve and Wade and Head become more consistent - which they might do at home at least. The bowling is fine and so is the keeper. There are some young middle order batsmen around in Patterson, Pucovski and Carey. All the openers have played themselves out of the side except for Burns. Will just have to see how they begin the home season. I'd include Maddinson as a candidate with Warner, Khawaja, Burns, Renshaw, Bancroft and Harris.
