UK press praise 'clinical' England

With an emphatic third-Test victory in the bag and a 2-1 series lead secured, the British press are calling for England to ‘finish off’ Australia and bring home the urn.

While some members of the press – namely former Test batsman Geoffrey Boycott – could not help letting Australia know how disastrous Edgbaston had been for the visitors, much of the coverage following England’s eight-wicket win has focused on the home side’s positive performance.

Officially the most inconsistent team in Test history – thanks to a WLWLWLW record in their last seven matches – England’s output against Australia was praised by legendary allrounder Sir Ian Botham.

“Just one word to describe England’s performance at Edgbaston – clinical,” Botham wrote in The Mirror.

“From start to finish, they bossed the game and outperformed Australia in every department and that is how you win Test matches in two-and-a-half days.

“The Australians will jump all over you when they get on top and they are not shy in letting you know about it, so the best way to stop them is to not let them get there in the first place.”

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Boycott, never shy of offering his opinion, could not resist levelling some spirited criticism at Australia in The Telegraph.

“Australia’s batting against swing and seam was pathetic,” Boycott said. “It was inexplicable how bad they batted.

“Poor shot selection, flashing at wide balls and no discipline or idea how to play on such a surface.

“This Australian batting side is okay on flat pitches similar to what they play on at home. They do not look to me as if they have the stomach or technique against the moving ball.”

Boycott also criticised Australia's bowling on the BBC, saying he was "amazed at how badly" Mitchell Starc had bowled.

With Australia needing to avoid defeat in Thursday’s fourth Test at Trent Bridge to keep the series alive, Boycott said it was time for England to finish off the visitors.

“In this topsy turvy series it would be great for the neutrals if Australia win at Nottingham and then we go to the Oval all square,” Boycott wrote.

“But it would be even better if England win at Trent Bridge and the Oval sending these Aussies home with their tail between their legs.

“They did lots of crowing when they were beating us 5-0 on the last tour 18 months ago.”

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In The Daily Mail, Martin Samuel questioned Australia and Michael Clarke’s tactics, saying although England’s victory was deserved, the visitors had helped their cause.

“In years to come, one glance at the scoreboard will suggest England coasted to victory here,” Samuel said. “Don’t you believe it.

“England have had too many traumas to feel assured with 121 needed and Mitchell Johnson steaming in; thankfully, by the time Michael Clarke deigned to use him, the match was as good as over.

“There were 47 runs on the board when Johnson appeared, and just one wicket down. At what point does funky as in cool become funky as in stinks? Clarke’s captaincy may have jumped that particular shark.

“Johnson hasn’t opened the bowling in any Test of this series so far, but there was surely a case for a change of plan here. It was the equivalent of leaving Tiger Woods out on the course as anchor man at the Ryder Cup.”