Vincent Aceling
Ashes whitewash!
November 13th 2006 09:07
In a couple of week’s time Australia and England will resume their battle for the Ashes in Brisbane. It’s hard to believe that the baggy green are actually looking to win it back this time. Under Steve Waugh they managed to win 9 Ashes series in a row before faltering to an emerging English side last year. Undoubtedly one of the biggest rivalries in world sport, the battle against the old enemy will be fuelled with controversy.
England played their first tour match against the Prime minister’s XI and there was absolutely nothing to write home about. They were convincingly out played in every facet of the game and look beaten before the Ashes series has begun. Injury plagued and without key players from their last win in Jones and Vaughan. It’s hard to see a younger and very much inexperienced English side win on Australian soil. Although I’m very much backing the Aussies in this one, I’m hoping a contest evolves and not another whitewash that seems apparent.
Recently both Justin Langer and Damien Martyn have been under scrutiny due to their age and the possibility of not being able to perform on the world stage. I find that to be quite a ridiculous summary of two players who have consistently performed and both average over 45 in test cricket. The Aussies are still the one’s to beat and it could be that way for years to come, form and age cannot be compared until Langer or Martyn start failing.
The ashes will deliver a fascinating contest, hopefully one that lives up to the last series where England narrowly overcame a raging Shane Warne.
England played their first tour match against the Prime minister’s XI and there was absolutely nothing to write home about. They were convincingly out played in every facet of the game and look beaten before the Ashes series has begun. Injury plagued and without key players from their last win in Jones and Vaughan. It’s hard to see a younger and very much inexperienced English side win on Australian soil. Although I’m very much backing the Aussies in this one, I’m hoping a contest evolves and not another whitewash that seems apparent.
Recently both Justin Langer and Damien Martyn have been under scrutiny due to their age and the possibility of not being able to perform on the world stage. I find that to be quite a ridiculous summary of two players who have consistently performed and both average over 45 in test cricket. The Aussies are still the one’s to beat and it could be that way for years to come, form and age cannot be compared until Langer or Martyn start failing.
The ashes will deliver a fascinating contest, hopefully one that lives up to the last series where England narrowly overcame a raging Shane Warne.
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Comment by punk
I believe they're still in party mode from last year's win, by the looks of them anyway.
Get a grip of yourselves fellas! You're pro-cricketers!
Comment by incognito
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Comment by Silky
What I do notice about the Aussies is their arrogance! It is fair that they deserve world recognition because of their amazing talent on the field. When off the field however, these guys need to "get a grip" (using your words Punk) and start recognising that they're not gods. They should respect other cultures and other peoples if they expect to be respected in return.
This is a bit judgemental and perhaps doesn't refer to the whole Australian Cricket team but as Russell Peters says "I don't make the stereotypes, I just see them"
Comment by Silky
What I do notice about the Aussies is their arrogance! It is fair that they deserve world recognition because of their amazing talent on the field. When off the field however, these guys need to "get a grip" (using your words Punk) and start recognising that they're not gods. They should respect other cultures and other peoples if they expect to be respected in return.
This is a bit judgemental and perhaps doesn't refer to the whole Australian Cricket team but as Russell Peters says "I don't make the stereotypes, I just see them"
Comment by incognito
incognito
There was a time when Australia was the place of ‘choice’ when it came to players from other countries. Recently matches have been marred with racial remarks and abuse towards opposing players. I mean yeah we're good but are we that good??
Comment by Silky
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Comment by Silky
Comment by incognito
incognito
They did lose to England last year and that wasn't much of a wake up call.. I think it's more when Australia plays on home soil that they start losing control. The crowd's and the atmosphere don't help their cause..
Comment by a cricket virgin
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incognito
The ashes were collected after a game in 1882 when Australia beat England for the first time at the Oval. The English media then labelled the 'ashes' a symbol that resembled the death of English cricket. The rest is history!
Comment by Homer
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incognito
The English do look a but underdone and underprepared and that is suicide againste the best team in the world. A definite whitewash for me..
Comment by punk
Anyone got any thoughts on Trescothick, and the unfortunate events that have ocurred?
Comment by incognito
incognito
Apparently he has gone home due to a stress related illness and thats about all the media have released.
Comment by StephenP
I wouldn't be writing off the Poms just yet - I don't think any touring team does well in the warm up games, especially when you consider the climate difference between Australia and England.
The key to the Ashes in my opinoin, is how well Flintoff, Harmison, Hoggard and Panesar perform - if they can continually bowl us out for moderate scores, than that offers the Pommie batsman a huge chance of posting competitive totals.
But in saying that, I think the Aussies will win in Brisbane, and Perth, with Sydney Adelaide and Melbourne being toss of the coin jobs.
I reckon - Australia 2-1.
Cheers,
StephenP
Comment by incognito
incognito
I think England’s bowling will hold together but their batting could be exposed. Although in the recent tour match against South Australia Bell got a few and England posted over 400, Adelaide is a batsmen’s deck and most touring sides do perform a little better there. I guess it will be interesting to assess England’s depth moving forward.
I do hope I’m wrong in proposing a ‘whitewash’ as the last series did live up to all its hype and the first day of the first test match was brilliant. I can’t wait till it starts and hopefully Thursday provides a similar contest.
Comment by StephenP
I think Bell will be the key for England - while everyone will be focussing on the exploits of Flintoff and Pietersen, Bell is the one needs who needs to shine.
Cheers,
StephenP
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Comment by StephenP
I may retract that comment about Bell now - it seems that Anderson may have broken his wrist in the nets today.
If he plays, see the above comment, if he doesn't than there is alot of pressure on Flintoff to lead from the front!
Cheers,
StephenP
Comment by incognito
incognito