Only two said it was, they were probably right
I've looked at the Tests from this 3rd Test onwards, and Australia are closing in on a 3-1 lead in the last six Ashes Tests.
I say the 3rd Test was the turning point, but here's the player stats to show if that is fair in terms of player performances. I'll do last three Ashes Tests in England first, then consider if it is worth extending that to include the first two of the 13/14 series (as if it were the Ashes played across those five Tests)
England (3rd-5th Tests, Ashes 2013)
Cook : 194 runs @ 32.33
Root : 118 runs @ 23.60
Trott : 187 runs @ 31.17
Pietersen : 303 runs @ 50.50
Bell : 245 runs @ 49.00
Bairstow : 64 runs @ 21.33
Prior : 94 runs @ 23.50
Woakes : 42 runs @ 42.00 & 1 wkt @ 96.00
Bresnan : 58 runs @ 29.00 & 6 wkts @ 39.67
Broad : 57 runs @ 14.25 & 18 wkts @ 23.89
Swann : 88 runs @ 29.33 & 13 wkts @ 36.00
Anderson : 23 runs @ 7.67 & 9 wkts @ 45.89
Kerrigan : 1 run @ n/a & 0/53
Pietersen and Bell scoring runs with little noticeable decline, Cook and Trott on a modes average and the rest of the batting pretty modest. Broad bowling well, the rest not great although Swann was taking wickets just not very cheaply and Anderson likewise except a few less wickets
Australia (3rd-5th Tests, Ashes 2013)
Rogers : 278 runs @ 55.60
Watson : 309 runs @ 51.50 & 1 wkt @ 91.00
Warner : 138 runs @ 23.00
Clarke : 279 runs @ 69.75
Khawaja : 46 runs @ 11.50
Smith : 272 runs @ 54.40 & 0 wkts
Haddin : 120 runs @ 24.00
Faulkner : 45 runs @ 22.50 & 6 wkts @ 16.33
Siddle : 52 runs @ 13.00 & 6 wkts @ 43.50
Starc : 103 runs @ 51.50 & 6 wkts @ 37.00
Harris : 73 runs @ 18.25 & 17 wkts @ 22.00
Lyon : 12 runs @ 6.00 & 9 wkts @ 33.67
Bird : 1 run @ n/a & 2 wkts @ 62.50
Definite signs of aussie batsmen hitting form, although Warner wasn't yet hitting the runs after his recall. Bowlers also struggling, Faulkner I assume must be injured or I don't know why he hasn't featured since. Johnson has taken over from Harris as the destroyer with the ball, Harris is still bowling well enough though.
I've looked at the Tests from this 3rd Test onwards, and Australia are closing in on a 3-1 lead in the last six Ashes Tests.
I say the 3rd Test was the turning point, but here's the player stats to show if that is fair in terms of player performances. I'll do last three Ashes Tests in England first, then consider if it is worth extending that to include the first two of the 13/14 series (as if it were the Ashes played across those five Tests)
England (3rd-5th Tests, Ashes 2013)
Cook : 194 runs @ 32.33
Root : 118 runs @ 23.60
Trott : 187 runs @ 31.17
Pietersen : 303 runs @ 50.50
Bell : 245 runs @ 49.00
Bairstow : 64 runs @ 21.33
Prior : 94 runs @ 23.50
Woakes : 42 runs @ 42.00 & 1 wkt @ 96.00
Bresnan : 58 runs @ 29.00 & 6 wkts @ 39.67
Broad : 57 runs @ 14.25 & 18 wkts @ 23.89
Swann : 88 runs @ 29.33 & 13 wkts @ 36.00
Anderson : 23 runs @ 7.67 & 9 wkts @ 45.89
Kerrigan : 1 run @ n/a & 0/53
Pietersen and Bell scoring runs with little noticeable decline, Cook and Trott on a modes average and the rest of the batting pretty modest. Broad bowling well, the rest not great although Swann was taking wickets just not very cheaply and Anderson likewise except a few less wickets
Australia (3rd-5th Tests, Ashes 2013)
Rogers : 278 runs @ 55.60
Watson : 309 runs @ 51.50 & 1 wkt @ 91.00
Warner : 138 runs @ 23.00
Clarke : 279 runs @ 69.75
Khawaja : 46 runs @ 11.50
Smith : 272 runs @ 54.40 & 0 wkts
Haddin : 120 runs @ 24.00
Faulkner : 45 runs @ 22.50 & 6 wkts @ 16.33
Siddle : 52 runs @ 13.00 & 6 wkts @ 43.50
Starc : 103 runs @ 51.50 & 6 wkts @ 37.00
Harris : 73 runs @ 18.25 & 17 wkts @ 22.00
Lyon : 12 runs @ 6.00 & 9 wkts @ 33.67
Bird : 1 run @ n/a & 2 wkts @ 62.50
Definite signs of aussie batsmen hitting form, although Warner wasn't yet hitting the runs after his recall. Bowlers also struggling, Faulkner I assume must be injured or I don't know why he hasn't featured since. Johnson has taken over from Harris as the destroyer with the ball, Harris is still bowling well enough though.
