Well, where can we start? I just want to end already, to be honest. It started badly, and got gradually worse. Here is the scorecard, although I warn you as an England fan that it makes for some painful reading (Australia won by 405 runs).
http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2015/engine/match/743965.html
Good Analysis from Ian Chappell:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/903055.html
The problem in this game was that we were fighting to stay in it right from the first innings. Anderson did not pick up any wickets, although did not bowl badly. Indeed, Root and Broad were the only 2 bowlers to really give Australia pause. Moeen Ali went at 3.8 runs per over and conceded 138. I'm still not convinced he should be our main spinner - he is easy to milk runs from, bowls too many bad balls and only looks like taking wickets when Australia really go after him.
Australia ended up getting 566-8 dec. with the main highlights being a typically pragmatic and dynamic 173 from Chris Rogers and an unorthodox but magnificent 215 from Steve Smith. As it turned out, this truly mammoth total was easily enough, and Australia need not have batted again.
England's dubious selection of players like Ballance and Bell near the top of the order did not pay off at all. We made a fighting total of 312, with Alastair Cook falling 4 runs short of another memorable century at the Home of Cricket. Ben Stokes also made a fine, counter-attacking 87 from 128 balls. Even this decent innings though was never enough to trouble the visitor's massive effort, and we were still 254 runs behind. Australia decided not to enforce the follow-on though.
The bowlers did not all turn up either in the second innings, allowing Australia to pile on the misery with another 254 runs. The final innings was then a disaster, with England being bowled out for 102 in just 37 overs. Mitchell Johnson was chief among the Australian wicket takers, taking 3-27 and a total of 6-80 in the match. His full-pitched and short bowling were both typically fast and furious, and England really struggled against it. Particular low-lights were falling to 64-7 with a Moeen Ali duck and a bizarre, lazy Ben Stokes run-out, also without troubling the scorers.
England must pick themselves up for the third Test at Edgbaston starting on Wednesday. Ballance has been replaced by Bairstow in the squad, the latter looking in fine form, and England will need him to put that to good use. Bell and Buttler must also be under pressure now, the former maybe getting another chance at his home ground, the latter experiencing an uncharacteristic lull in form. Bowling wise, England will hope Anderson can return to good bowling form with plenty of wickets, seeing as Broad has done more than his fair share in the series thus far. In truth though, who wins the toss and undoubtedly bats first may well have a big advantage in the game.
Team ratings
Ratings Explained: 1-3 very poor, 4 poor, 5 average, 6 OK, 7 good, 8 very good, 9 excellent, 10 unbelievable
England - Overall rating: 5
Cook*- 7
Lyth - 4.5
Ballance - 5
Bell - 4.5
Root - 5.5
Stokes - 6.5
Buttler+ - 5.5
Moeen Ali - 5.5
Broad - 7
Wood - 6
Anderson - 5.5
Australia team rating - 8.5
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