Australia vs England fifth Test day 2 cricket scores, results, start time, wickets, teams, how to watch, Sydney Test, SCG

On the eve of the match at the SCG, Australia’s assistant coach and decorated former spin bowler Daniel Vettori shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of defeat for his art.

It was becoming increasingly clear that the hosts would ignore Todd Murphy’s attacks for the second time in a row and the fourth time in their last six games.

While it is not unheard of for teams to occasionally go full speed in Brisbane or Melbourne, the decision to leave out spin at the SCG of all places should be cause for great introspection across the country.

Cricket in Australia hasn’t always been about pace. This country has been a breeding ground for spin bowlers for decades. Not just for their value in countries like India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, but also for their ability to be game-changing and entertaining here.

There was once a figure in whom Sir Donald Bradman described the best kind of cricket as follows: “The epitome of great cricket is the best batsman batting against a third-finger leg-spinner. That is the best cricket you will ever see.”

Read Daniel Brettig’s full article here.