5 Things We Learned From The First Ashes Test

3. Jason Gillespie's 'Dad's Army' Comments Might Be Correct

Before the start of the first test, former Australian fast bowler (and double centurion) Jason Gillespie referred to this Australia squad as resembling Dad€™s Army because of the average age. Australia Coach Darren Lehman and captain Michael Clarke laughed this off, and it wasn€™t really given much credence by anyone else. After four long days in Cardiff there seems to be some weight behind his words. Chris Rogers (37) may have scored seven test fifties in a row, but he hasn€™t converted these to the big scores required to win matches and his fielding is almost a liability. Brad Haddin (37), long-time nemesis of England and one of the key differences between the two sides in the last series, looked a shadow of himself behind the stumps. Even if you take his dropping of Root out of the equation, Haddin let 24 byes pass him and looked vulnerable with the bat. Even before a ball was bowled, Ryan Harris (35) admitted defeat in his career long battle with his knees. Adam Voges (35) only recently made his debut and became the oldest test debut centurion in a long time, but his two dismissals in Cardiff were dismissals of a batsman out of his depth. Australia have younger options available in the squad. Shaun Marsh could replace Rogers, but as Rogers has already said this will be his final series will sentimentality get in the way? Peter Nevill is in the squad as back up wicket keeper, but is yet to make his test debut. Is an Ashes series the right time to do so? His words may have been dismissed before the series began, but maybe Jason Gillespie was right.