Ask Onix
England suffer historic two-day Ashes defeat as Test cricket accelerates
England's crushing first-Test loss to Australia in Perth concluded in just two days-the fastest Ashes match in 104 years-raising questions about whether the series will follow a similarly rapid trajectory. With four Tests remaining before the urn's fate is decided in Sydney next January, the Perth collapse has reignited debates over the shrinking duration of modern Test cricket.
The shrinking Test match
Australia has become a hotspot for abbreviated Tests. Over the past three years, the country has hosted two two-day matches-a phenomenon unseen since 1931. Between 2000 and 2020, Australian Tests averaged 335.4 overs (nearly four days). Since the 2020-21 season, that average has plummeted to 278.1 overs, barely exceeding three days.
Batting averages and bowling strike rates tell the same story. In the two decades leading to 2020, batters averaged 35.1 runs, and bowlers took a wicket every 64 deliveries. Since 2020, those figures have dropped to 28.1 and 51.2, respectively-wickets are falling faster and more cheaply.
The Kookaburra effect
The Kookaburra ball, long considered less bowler-friendly than its Dukes or SG counterparts, underwent a critical redesign five years ago. The newer model, featuring a pronounced seam, now offers pacers sustained movement off the pitch-even after 50-70 overs. Traditionally, Australian conditions favored seam over swing, but the revised ball has amplified that advantage, prolonging the challenge for batters.
Since its introduction, the data is stark: cheaper wickets, fewer centuries, and quicker match conclusions. The shift has coincided with pitches growing faster, bouncier, and more unpredictable-a trifecta that tests batters' techniques and temperaments.
Pitches and perceptions
Australian surfaces, once criticized for being batters' paradises (as in the 2017-18 Melbourne Test, where 1,000 runs were scored for 24 wickets), have transformed. Over the past four years, they've ranked as the world's fastest, bounciest, and most inconsistent-a bowler's dream but a batter's nightmare. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has even flagged some for being "poor," though the definition of a "good" pitch remains subjective.
Former Australia opener Simon Katich praised the Perth strip as "brilliant," noting that Australia's chase of 205-completed with just two wickets lost-demonstrated its dual nature. "If you can wear the new ball down, you'll score quickly from 40 to 50 overs," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. England's failure to do so proved costly.
Batting's evolution: aggression over attrition
The rise of T20 cricket has redefined Test batting. Modern players, raised on switch-hits and six-hitting, often default to aggression even in hostile conditions. Former England batter Kevin Pietersen lamented this shift on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Batters grow up now to hit sixes... They don't grow up to build an innings and learn the art of survival."
England's James Anderson, reflecting on the 2010-11 Ashes, recalled how batting coach Graham Gooch warned against the cover drive on bouncy Perth pitches. "The players will be given licence to play how they want," Anderson said on the Tailenders podcast. "But it's up to them to adapt." With Australia's Travis Head (112 off 95 balls) showcasing how to counterattack, England's struggles-nine sub-40-over collapses in the "Bazball" era-highlight the risks of their high-octane approach.
What's next: more speed, more drama?
The second Test in Brisbane, a day-nighter, looms as another potential sprint. Last year's pink-ball Test between Australia and India ended in the first session of the third day, while Queensland's recent Sheffield Shield win over Victoria at the Gabba wrapped in under three days. If pitches remain bowler-dominated and batters persist with aggression, the series could continue at breakneck speed.
Australia, too, is vulnerable. Their first-innings collapse (32.5 overs) exposed frailties, though their solution-promoting Head and potentially drafting aggressor Josh Inglis-could further accelerate scoring and wickets. As Anderson noted, "I'd be surprised if England don't adjust, but I don't see them becoming cautious."
The Ashes may yet revert to "normal" Test cricket, but for now, the Flashes seem more likely than the Ashes.
