Many Australian journalists will be billing this whitewash as a return to the glory days post-1989, where Australia were the best team in the world and England failed to win the Ashes for 16 years. But arrogance and hubris aside (and England have plenty of those things too), there is one crucial difference between England then and England now: now it is much harder to get dropped. Before the days of central contracts, England would select and drop players seemingly on a whim. Players were not given the stability they needed to develop at Test level, nor the time to adjust or readjust to Test conditions after time away in county cricket. It was a foolhardy system, but the new system has become just as foolhardy. While I have nothing personal against, say, Jonny Bairstow, his performances do not indicate he has a Test temperament or technique. Notwithstanding his stand-in wicket-keeping in this most recent series, he should have been dropped after the home Ashes. Bringing in new players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes lifts the team, adding a frisson of internal competition as older players gently compete to save their place. No-one can play for ever, and having a bright young lad pounding on one's door can lead to a late-period surge in one's career. It also allows England to rest their most experienced bowlers: the likes of Anderson and Broad can play when it matters most and provide support behind the scenes when the stakes are not so high.
Freelance copywriter, film buff, community radio presenter. Former host of The Movie Hour podcast (http://www.lionheartradio.com/ and click 'Interviews'), currently presenting on Phonic FM in Exeter (http://www.phonic.fm/). Other loves include theatre, music and test cricket.
