Shane Warne, in his 4th Test commentary, was adamant that momentum had swung Australia’s way on the last day of the 3rd Test.  But how long will this persist?

Momentum, like most human and physical matters, is cyclical. For the last decade, Australia has experienced a Bull run of cricket success – until the likes of Warne retired. We have recently been seeing the signs of a Bear run – with losses to India and Sth Africa.  At the best, we have been zig-zagging.

In the current Ashes series, we appear to be in a very intense zig-zag formation, within whatever the overall trend may prove to be.  As stock market experts are presently pondering in relation to recent share market movements, are we really on the improve or just trying to find our feet – preventing further falls and hopefully finding a base for growth.

In the 1st Test we set the scene (a zig) but then a zag emerged with the English resistance to derive a draw. The zag continued right thru the 2nd Test and well into the 3rd Test. On the final day, however,  Australia again zigged. So we seemed to have the momentum for the 4th test, and so it proved to be. A magnificent win.

But was there evidence of another zag on the final day?  Was Englands outrageously aggressive resistance a pointer to a further momentum change? Could Broad and Swanns’ slaughter of Clark and co, be the signs of an Aussie demise at the Oval?

Tags: Ashes 2009, cricket tragic, Shane Warne