The surprising ease of England’s triumph in the Ashes with one Test still to go tells two stories: that of Australia’s ageing team, exemplified by the retirement of the team’s captain, Michael Clarke; and of the rise of a young England, reflected in the fading away of the memory of Kevin Pietersen.
Not many in England genuinely believed in the team — even captain Alastair Cook admitted that he didn’t think his team could regain the Ashes. The decision of the new director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, to close the door on Pietersen was lambasted in the press and on social media, but many have been pleasantly surprised by the tenacity and skill of the young, inexperienced team. That Joe Root starred with a couple of tons came as no surprise, but the progress of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, the powerful comeback of Steven Finn, as well as the consistency of Moeen Ali and Mark Wood, helped experienced players like Ian Bell overcome mini-crises. Seniors like James Anderson and Stuart Broad sparkled. When there was immense pressure on England in the third Test after the disastrous one-sided loss in the second, Finn decimated Australia with a fiery five-wicket haul. As England racked up the wins, Pietersen retreated into the past.
