Weather played key factor in England’s historic Ashes victory, claims research
By ANISaturday, January 8, 2011
LONDON - England is much more likely to win in Australia during mild and humid summers, according to meteorologists, who have studied more than a 100 years of Test Matches.
Dr Manoj Joshi first discovered that the latest victory follows a remarkable pattern. He discovered that when playing Down Under, England’s chances are affected by a climate pattern known as the El-Nino southern Oscillation, The Telegraph reports.
The cycle, which lasts from two to seven years, alternates between El Nino years, when the Eastern Pacific is unusually warm and La Nina years when the Eastern Pacific is cool.
Dr Joshi found that during the El Nino years, which made the Australian weather warm and dry, the home team won 76 per cent of the series (13 out of 17) between 1882 and 2007.
“It is clear the conditions for the Test matches were much more favourable than they usually are in Australia,” said Dr Steve Woolnough at the University of Reading.
“It has been a phenomenally wet all over Australia this year. The weather has been on England’s side,” The Telegraph quoted Dr Woolnough, as saying.
Researchers believe that close conditions suit England bowlers who, brought up on mild and wet summers, tend to rely on ’swinging’ the ball in the air.
The Australians traditionally have a faster attack, which prefers more arid weather, aids bounce, and ball speed.
England has only won one Ashes series in Australia in the last 100 years during El Nino, the infamous Bodyline series in 1932/33.
Dr Joshi, who published his findings in the journal Weather, said that the climate probably had most affect on the condition of the pitch, which was known to be a significant factor in winning games. (ANI)
