Cricket: The 2006/2007 Ashes Thread

[Queenslander]

http://cricket.com.au/_content/image/00015213-image.jpg


2006/2007 Ashes Thread

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It wont be long now until we see full cricket stadiums, the barmy army, and the ashes back in our hands.

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Benaud backs battered England
From correspondents in London
July 26, 2006

RICHIE Benaud has insisted England can mount a successful defence of the Ashes when it travels to Australia this southern summer, despite its growing injury crisis.

http://www.news.com.au/files/benaud-hill400.jpg
Like minds ... Ponting and Benaud think England strong. Pic: Phil Hillyard

Michael Vaughan, the man who led England to a 2-1 Ashes triumph last year, has already been ruled out of the return series in Australia starting in November because of his long-standing knee injury.

Last week, all rounder and interim captain Andrew Flintoff was sidelined for the rest of the English season with an ankle problem.

He joined fellow Ashes-winning bowlers Simon Jones and Ashley Giles on England's list of long-term casualties along with reserve fast bowler James Anderson.

To make matters worse, today saw Durham paceman Liam Plunkett ruled out of England's second and third Tests at home to Pakistan with a side strain.

But former Australia captain Benaud, arguably now more famous as a commentator and TV pundit than he was as a Test all rounder during the 1950s and 1960s, insisted now was not the time to write off England's chances.

"There is so much time to go between now and the start of the Ashes (at Brisbane's Gabba in November). We are only just half-way through July. (England) might have 12 fit fast bowlers by the time the Ashes start.

"There is no point in anyone panicking. Eighteen months ago, I was saying that if England has a fully fit fast-bowling attack, they can easily regain the Ashes. Everyone laughed at me.

"The fast bowlers were the key then and they still are,'' he also told the London Evening Standard.

But Benaud admitted England would miss Vaughan, as much as for his leadership skills as his batting.

"It's a big blow for England not to have him. He was high-class last year. He had this very good control over the team and when they got into a tough situation he kept the players calm, which is not easy," he said.

Since the Ashes, England has won just two out of the 10 Tests it has contested.

"They made good progress in India, went a bit pear shaped against Sri Lanka. Now they are starting to play better again,'' Benaud said.

"We know already Vaughan is not going to make it but we hope Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles will be there.

"There has been enormous interest back home in the coming series. Ticket sales have been unprecedented and it promises to be a wonderful occasion.

"Home ground advantage is a big thing, although the Test match pitches in England are much more similar to Australia than they used to be."

One of Australia's stars during the last Ashes campaign was leg-spin bowler Shane Warne, who indicated at the time that it would be his final Test tour of England, although he would continue to captain English county Hampshire.

But Benaud said he'd told his fellow leg spinner to reconsider and make sure he was around for the 2009 Ashes series in England.

"When the last ball is bowled he will still only be 39. I said to him, 'You are bowling better than you have done for a considerable amount of time'. He said to me, 'Richie, I will give it some thought'."

As for his own career, Benaud wasn't about to call time on that either.

The 75-year-old is still the cornerstone of Channel 9's commentary team Down Under.

Although his 42 years of broadcasting in England came to an end last year when UK terrestrial station Channel 4 lost broadcast rights to Sky Sports, Benaud continues to write his weekly column for Britain's News Of The World Sunday tabloid.

"I have this year and next year (with Nine) still to do. I don't know what I will do then. It just depends what Channel 9 wants to do."

Agence France-Presse

[Steelers]

The only bad thing about the sudden extra popularity of cricket in Australia, is that some full-on and passionate supporters like myself didn't get tickets :( LOL

[~Wild Child~]

The only good thing about the off season of RL..:(..Is the start of the :win: cricket. :) Hope Flintoff recovers quickly :)...And Ritchie :)....Love his commentary, great guy :purdy:..:win: Keep up the good work :)

[Poida]

AUSSIES TO WIN NOT ENGLAND.lol

[~Wild Child~]

AUSSIES TO WIN NOT ENGLAND.lolAussie Aussie Aussie...:win:

[Poida]

Oi Oi Oi

[Social Loafer]

Richie is just giving English fans false hope, Can't wait to see the 5-0 series result ;)

[Poida]

um yeh id have to say at most 4-1.havent had a cleansweep for decades.

[novacastrian_panther]

I'm going for a 3-2 win to australia.

[Townsville Titan]

I'm going for a 3-2 win to australia.

5-0 for mine...

[Eel 33]

I don't care what the series result ends up, as long as the Poms are thrashed, belted, flogged and the Barmy Army is quietened, i'll be happy.

[nflin3]

I want it to be a good series. Just so happenes that a good series is when those poms are flogged and dont win a game. :)

[Dakink]

LOL - the only thing better than beating the Americans, is beating the Poms - at anything. Cricket is just even more fun!

[Steelers]

England are looking the goods leading into this series... don't write them off yet!

Source: www.foxsports.com.au


AUSTRALIA and England will start the Ashes series later this year as top two sides in the International Cricket Council Test championship table, the world governing body announced today.

Confirmation that the series will feature the world's two leading Test nations came after England defeated Pakistan by 167 runs in the third Test at Headingley overnight (AEST).

That victory, which ensured England held an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, saw the side regain second place in the table from Pakistan.

The gap between England and Australia ahead of the Ashes, which begins in Brisbane on November 23, is still to be decided but it could be as few as 11 rating points if England defeats Pakistan again at The Oval in the fourth Test, starting on August 17, and so claims a 3-0 series victory.

England's series win was its first since defeating Australia 2-1 last year to reclaim The Ashes.

Pakistan had not lost a series since losing all three Tests against Ricky Ponting's side in 2004-2005.

[Darren Lockyer]

Go England

[travop]

australia will come back with a win just like qld broke to origin drought ya no

[~Wild Child~]

LOL - the only thing better than beating the Americans, is beating the Poms - at anything. Cricket is just even more fun!:lol!: Could'nt have said it better :rotflmao:...Watching them loose...is such good fun cause...it's a long, slow defeat :nope:....More painful for 'em..:satan: = More fun for us..:satan:
:lol!: Just joking..:peace:....................*deletes the "just joking" part*...:)

[Brettymac]

Cant wait for the first time hayden puts Panesar deep into an Australian grandstand... and whilst Im on it, every subsequent time...

[Queenslander]

Tickets tip of the iceberg
By Adam Cooper and Laine Clark
August 31, 2006

CRICKET Australia expects to unearth more scalped tickets ahead of The Ashes series, and the organisation refuses to rule out mass cancellations and re-selling to fight the fiasco.

Already 1100 tickets for the five Tests have been cancelled after being identified as sold at inflated prices, but Cricket Australia cannot say how many other tickets are in the possession of scalpers.

Judging by the high volume of interest on auction website eBay, on which ticket packages attracted bids of up to $1000 today, Cricket Australia's investigation agency faces a big task before the series starts, in Brisbane on November 23.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland today warned that people who bought tickets from scalpers faced the prospect of having their ticket cancelled at the turnstiles.

"Where people purchase tickets from a scalper at a premium, they're in breach of the terms and conditions, and we will, where appropriate, cancel those tickets," he said.

The cancelled tickets were identified during Cricket Australia's online sales, which began in June.

Cricket Australia re-sold the 1100 tickets, but it is yet to decide what to do with 200 more tickets identified as being sold by scalpers.

The body will seek advice from other sporting codes, such as the AFL and the NRL, and concert promoters to determine the best course of action in dealing with scalped tickets.

Sutherland said it was "quite possible" that other scalped tickets had not been identified.

He also conceded that fans would be angry at having the tickets they bought at inflated prices cancelled - especially those travelling from England - but he said buyers had to beware.

"If you purchase tickets at a premium from other sources, you are at risk of that ticket (being) rejected at the gate," he said.

Sutherland accused eBay of doing little to help Cricket Australia while scalpers made a profit from sales.

"I can understand they're putting an argument to create a market, but from our position what we're trying to do is protect the ordinary punter who ... wants to purchase tickets, and scalpers have jumped in ahead of them," he said.

But eBay spokesman Daniel Fieler accused Cricket Australia of a failure to cooperate when the website site asked for the numbers of the cancelled tickets.

"Without Cricket Australia providing us with that information, we can't even take the first step to find out number one, if those tickets were sold on eBay, and number two, if those people are eligible for any form of recourse," Fieler said on ABC Radio.

"But if they were purchased on eBay, we have robust consumer protection programs in place and they may be eligible for a payment."

Fieler said Cricket Australia "only had itself to blame" for the ticket problem.

"They dumped hundreds of thousands of tickets onto the market place in one day, they set up this cricket family group which was an absolute free for all," he said.

Cricket Australia established the Australian Cricket Family to give registered Australian fans first crack at Ashes tickets, but many members were unable to get tickets.

It was also revealed that Cricket Australia failed to have the Boxing Day Test included on a list of major sporting events under which it is illegal by law to scalp tickets.

In Victoria, the AFL grand final, Commonwealth Games tickets and seats at next year's world swimming championships all fall under the Victorian Government's declared events.

The AFL, which has endured previous scalping battles, re-sells grand final tickets which have been scalped provided they are identified in time.

AAP

[Poida]

:lol!: Could'nt have said it better :rotflmao:...Watching them loose...is such good fun cause...it's a long, slow defeat :nope:....More painful for 'em..:satan: = More fun for us..:satan:
:lol!: Just joking..:peace:....................*deletes the "just joking" part*...:)
:lol!:

more better when warnie and macgill(hopefully) get into em

[Steve Dangerous]

This ticketing thing is great.

I loathe scalpers. They're a music fans number 1 enemy, and now they're trying to mess up our sport too!

[Poida]

whats scalping?

[Steelers]

The best way not to get caught if you buy scalped tickets (if you are that desperate) is to not buy tickets that have posted the exact seat number on ebay ;) :p

[Steelers]

whats scalping?
Buying tickets to a popular event and then selling them for ALOT more than you bought them for

[Social Loafer]

whats scalping?

Scalping is when you buy tickets for a popular event with no intention of going and just sell the tickets for a marked up price..

I have no problem with people who buy tickets to event with the intention of going, and then sell them because of a valid reason- e.g. their side doesn't make the grand final. But people who buy tickets to sold out events with the intention of just making a quick $$$ need to be shut down.

[Poida]

thanks.

[Queenslander]

Freddie 'will lead England'
By Toby Forage
From: FOXSPORTS.com.au

September 12, 2006

ANDREW Flintoff will be named as England captain for the Ashes series tonight, if reports coming from the Old Dart hold true.

UK tabloid The Sun claims Flintoff will be given the job of defending the little urn ahead of Andrew Strauss, who led England to a Test series win over Pakistan in the absence of the injured Flintoff.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced in July that Strauss would relinquish the captaincy to Flintoff after his rehabilitation from ankle surgery, and is sticking to that statement despite Strauss's recent success in the job against Pakistan.

Regular captain Michael Vaughan, who led England's charge to Ashes glory last year, is no chance of making the tour because of knee problems.

Selectors believe Flintoff's inspirational character will be further enhanced if he is allowed to lead England in its first Ashes defence Down Under since 1986-1987.

All rounder Flintoff was the man of the series in 2005 when England reclaimed the Ashes after 16 years of Australia dominance.

But former England captains Mike Atherton and Tony Greig are not so sure he should be given the responsibility of leading the team as well as inspiring it with his play.

The ECB's chairman of selectors David Graveney has always wanted Flintoff to lead the squad Down Under, while coach Duncan Fletcher was leaning towards opening batsman Strauss.

Greig, who has experienced the brutal demands of leading a Test side and being its key all rounder, said: "I have a problem with making Flintoff captain if he may not be fit.

"He's got a huge adjustment to make if he has an injury and has to worry about captaining the side as well.

"I can relate to the Flintoff scenario. His whole mind has to be wrapped around making a contribution in all areas.

"My inclination would be to go with Strauss, so they would be in a position where he can make sure Flintoff doesn't overdo things if he is struggling with injury at all."

Atherton, who has watched Flintoff's career from close range, as they were former Lancashire teammates, is hoping Flintoff is chosen as a player only.

"Flintoff is not certain to be fit and he has played precious little cricket this summer," Atherton said in England's Sunday Telegraph.

"His focus, as the key man in the team, is to ensure his ankle is sufficiently strong to withstand the rock-hard surfaces in Australia, not just for part of the series, but the full series.

"His style of leadership is quite different from Flintoff's ? less up-and-at-'em, more thoughtful and considered."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said in Malaysia yesterday he expected Strauss to be named captain, but it looks like he'll get a surprise later tonight when Flintoff is named top dog.

"There was a lot flying around when Flintoff captained some matches earlier this year, how much harder it was for him," Ponting said.

"He has a big job around the team anyway with bowling as much as he does and being one of their top-order batsmen."

England will announce its squad at The Oval on the anniversary of its Ashes triumph last year in a room - the Ashes Suite - named after the victory.

[Darren Lockyer]

he's good leader

[Larson]

Anyone else have tix? Myself and 3 mates have tix to Day 2 n 3 of the Gabba Test. I'm buzzing now, and yet we're 3 months away.

Got our tix the legit way too, which is great knowing, we'll be able to turn up at the turnstiles and not get the 'I'm sorry, but this ticket is invalid.' I'd be shattered

[Darren Lockyer]

i might go to the brisbane one

[Grimmace]

England 'better than class of 05'
From Chris Lines in London
September 13, 2006 ENGLAND'S squad for the approaching Ashes series is stronger than the one that beat Australia in 2005, says Shane Warne.

The Australia spin king has dismissed talk that England has gambled on too many injured players, and has backed the decision to appoint Andrew Flintoff as captain.

"One thing that leaps out of the squad is the number of players who are not fit at the moment, but I can't see why this is such an issue," Warne wrote in The Times.

"By my reckoning the first Test is 10 weeks away and with the cricket ahead, the break could be the best thing for the likes of Ashley Giles and Steve Harmison.

"I don't agree that England are weaker than a year ago.

"In a couple of areas I feel that England are actually stronger.

"Chris Read is the best wicketkeeper in the country and Monty Panesar is a more dangerous and aggressive spin bowler than Giles."

Warne agrees with the appointment of Flintoff to replace the injured Michael Vaughan as skipper ahead of present captain Andrew Strauss, and has likened the choice to the one between himself and Steve Waugh when Mark Taylor bowed out. "Freddie has become a good mate of mine and I know how much he wanted the job," Warne said.

"That is always a good start.

"He will lead by example and somebody of that ability is bound to have the respect of the team.

"The Flintoff-Strauss combination could be pretty effective.

"They remind me a bit of Laurel and Hardy - although I saw Fred at a charity event on Monday and I probably shouldn't say that because he is rapidly fasting away into a rake.

"I have some sympathy with Strauss as I know what it is like to be in the running for the job and then not get it.

"Initially I felt very down and wondered if I just wasn't good enough."

Another question mark over the England squad is the mental state of opening batsman Marcus Trescothick, who is currently on stress-related leave, and how he will be treated by Australia fans as a result.

"I don't think he will get a hard time in Australia," Warne said.

"But if the crowds do start to get on his back then he must try to ride it instead of letting it get under his skin."

AAP

[Queenslander]

Australia scared, says Beefy
September 14, 2006

IAN Botham claims Australia will be wracked by fear at the prospect of facing England's pace attack in the Ashes this summer.

The legendary all rounder also believes England's decision to make Andrew Flintoff captain for the tour, rather than Andrew Strauss, will have sent shockwaves through the Australia squad.

England's outstanding fast bowling paved the way for Ashes glory last year, with Simon Jones, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison and Flintoff proving a destructive force.

This series, England will tour without Jones, whose knee injury has sidelined him until next season, but the remainder of the attack remains intact, with Sajid Mahmood and James Anderson vying for the role of fourth seamer.

"I expect England to retain the Ashes this (northern) winter because our four-pronged pace attack will haunt Australia as much as they were unsettled in 2005," Botham told the Daily Mirror.

"I can't see how Australia's batsmen will be any better equipped to deal with 'Freddie' Flintoff's fab four quick bowlers this time round."

Botham, 50, added: "For me, if Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Sajid Mahmood stay fit and hunt as a pack, the Ashes will stay where they belong: right here (in England)."

Botham argued that Australia "must slay the demons" of its Ashes defeat, but predicted that with Flintoff at the helm England would be a daunting opponent.

"I notice Ricky Ponting was surprised by Flintoff's appointment as captain, which means the Aussies would have preferred to see Andrew Strauss get the job," Botham said.

"That's no reflection on Strauss, who did a terrific job against Pakistan this summer, but chairman of selectors David Graveney was right when he said the Aussies fear Freddie."

Flintoff himself said he'd draw on Strauss's tactical nous as much as possible, making the pair a potentially deadly leadership.

Ponting said yesterday he had expected England to hand the captaincy reins to Strauss on the back of his series win over Pakistan and the fact that Flintoff has been out injured for several weeks.

Opinion remains split on who should have been given the job. Significantly, though, Australia legend Rodney Marsh, who helped mastermind England's success last year as director of its cricket academy, believed the right choice had been made.

"He's a magnificent cricketer and a wonderful leader of men. Why wouldn't you pick him as captain?" Marsh said yesterday.

"It's exactly what I would have done if I'd been a selector.

"If I was in the England team I'd be very comfortable having him as captain.

"He's got everyone's respect in England, and I think he's got the respect of the Australian players as well.

Conversely, former England captains Mike Atherton and Tony Greig believe Flintoff, 28, could wilt under the relentless burden of being leader, key fast bowler, batsman and second slip fieldsman.

But Marsh disagreed with their assessment.

"Freddie's the sort of bloke who likes work and responsibility. The more you give him to do the better he goes," he said.

Press Association

[Queenslander]

Acid test looms for Ponting
By Jon Pierik
September 26, 2006

FORMER Australia captain Ian Chappell has expressed concerns about Australia's Ashes line-up and warned Ricky Ponting the spotlight will be on him more than ever this summer.

Just two months before the gold-plated Ashes series begins in Brisbane, Chappell has worries about Australia's batting order, says all rounder Shane Watson should not be picked and believes this will be the defining series for Ponting's captaincy.

Chappell was critical of Ponting's tactics and communal style of leadership in last year's losing Ashes battle.

While Ponting has since appeared to become more assertive, Chappell says England will provide the acid test.

"The real test for him is going to come if England put the heat on Australia again. That's when you will see whether he has changed that aspect of his captaincy a lot," Chappell said yesterday.

"He inherited a team that had a lot of senior players and he didn't want to offend any of them.

"I don't think you can captain like that. You have got to do it your way.

"That doesn't mean you have to be dictator. But you have to do it your way, particularly when it was compared to the way Michael Vaughan did in England. It looked as though one bloke was in charge and the other one was unsure.

"I don't think he is unsure but the perception is terribly important as a captain. If you give the slightest perception you are unsure, particularly against a good side like England in 2005, then it's a problem."

In his new book "A Golden Age, Australian Cricket's Two Decades at the Top", Chappell says there are still some "major concerns" about Ponting's team and is unconvinced the lessons of last year's series loss have been learnt.

Herald Sun

[Poida]

oh man this years series will be sweet.
aussie aussie aussie.........

[Queenslander]

50 Days to Go!!!

Players warned to keep cool
By Jon Pierik
October 04, 2006

AUSTRALIA'S top cricketers have been given a stern warning about their recent bad behaviour as they prepare for a summer of intense pressure against England.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has admitted he is concerned about the number of reports in the past year and has told captain Ricky Ponting and his team that expectations of how they handle themselves have risen.

Ponting has been the No.1 culprit, reported twice and found guilty of dissent towards an umpire by the International Cricket Council.

Vice captain Adam Gilchrist, as well as frontline bowlers Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, have also been in trouble with match referees.

"I know it's something the players have talked about in recent times, even at the camp to address areas of concern, areas of susceptibility," Sutherland said.

"I am sure they are making conscious efforts to keep the slate clean and play the game in the right spirit."

As Australia prepares to travel to India on Friday for the ICC Champions Trophy, Sutherland wants the players to keep their cool and live up to the "Spirit of Cricket" pact.

"In a broader sense, (the reports) are concerning," he said. "If you have a look at a case-by-case scenario, I think they have been relatively minor.

"I am not in any way condoning that behaviour, but they are level one.

"My strong feeling is that the bar has actually been raised a little bit by the ICC over the last 12 months, 18 months. Mentally we need to continue to keep up with that."

Sutherland, who will launch the domestic season in Sydney today, said the players were aware of their responsibilities.

"They are very aware it's more than just what you do out on the field. That has improved," he said.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Herald Sun, Sutherland said he wasn't worried about what appears to be a tense relationship between Shane Warne and Australia coach John Buchanan, and said he had no problems with Warne's comments about Buchcanan last month.

He also said finding a replacement for Buchanan was one of the major issues facing CA as it could impact heavily on the direction the team took in the next five years

www.news.com.au

[Queenslander]

Vaughan targets Ashes comeback
From Norman Dabell at St Andrews, Scotland
October 06, 2006

MICHAEL Vaughan, England's Ashes-winning captain, hopes to play in the final two Tests of this summer's Australia tour as his rehabilitation from a knee injury continues.

Vaughan, 31, has not played for England since the second Test with Pakistan in Lahore in December and has been cautious about the improvement in his knee after surgery, but overnight he dismissed reports his career could be over.

?Plans are in place ... and they will be activated when he is passed fit.? ? David Graveney England's chairman of selectors on Michal Vaughan

"At one stage it looked as though it would be the World Cup for the comeback, but now I am so ahead of schedule there is a possibility that I may be back in time for the last two Tests (of the Ashes)," said Vaughan at the Dunhill Links Championship, in which he is competing as an amateur.

"I am hoping to go down to Australia and play in a few matches of club cricket and then we'll take if from there."

England's selection chief David Graveney, however, has played down rumours of an Ashes return for his first-choice captain.

"We know his rehab is going well and that's great news but there is a lot of water to go under the bridge," Graveney told the BBC.

"He still hasn't had a bat. He is running but he hasn't twisted or turned on the knee."

Graveney refused to be drawn on plans to get Vaughan back in action in Australia.

"He's going to go as and when he is ready to play," he commented.

"Plans are in place - they are not for public consumption - and they will be activated when he is passed fit."

The first Ashes Test begins in Brisbane on November 23, with the fourth in Melbourne (from December 26) and the fifth and final Test in Sydney from January 2.

Vaughan has been out of the game for 10 months with a knee problem that required four operations and seemed to end his hopes of being part of the Ashes defence.

He's been playing golf this week at St Andrews at the Dunhill Links championship.

"I wouldn't play golf if it would in any way jeopardise my knee in any way," he said.

"I started running two weeks ago - only gentle running but that's a good sign.

"The real test will come when I start twisting and turning and sprinting."

In Vaughan's absence, England was led by Andrew Flintoff and then, after he too was injured, Andrew Strauss took over for the controversial 3-0 series win over Pakistan.

Flintoff has been named captain for the Ashes series.

Reuters

[Queenslander]

McGrath opens his big mouth again
By Ben Dorries
October 09, 2006

GLENN McGrath has wiped the egg off his face to predict Australia will smash England in a 5-0 Ashes whitewash this summer.

McGrath made the controversial declaration last night, sticking to his guns despite his ill-fated clean sweep forecast before England ended an 18-year Ashes drought to reclaim the urn 2-1 last year.

The veteran seamer believes he is on more solid ground this time, claiming an injury-ravaged England is creaking at the seams after an arduous year of poor results and non-stop cricket.

He insists Australia will not be caught with its pants down again and will flog the Old Enemy.

"I think it will be 5-0 this time," he chirped. "I am never going to predict that Australia is going to lose a Test.

"To say anything else would be negative. If we're going to win 2-1, or 3-2, which games are we going to lose?"

McGrath claims England is ripe for the picking after suffering injuries to key players, including captain Michael Vaughan and reverse-swing bowling specialist Simon Jones, which has forced it to blood several Ashes rookies.

He pinpointed batsmen Alastair Cook and Ian Bell - the latter not actually a rookie after playing in the last series - for a pace bowling blitz and claimed Australia's batsmen would go after promising spin bowler Monty Panesar.

The ageless quick told England's Mail On Sunday that England was nothing like the side it was during its Ashes glory days last year.

"England are not the same team as they were," McGrath said.

"I'm disappointed in them. I expected them to kick on after beating us and conquer the world but it just goes to show how losing players through injury can unsettle the side.

"But Australia are a lot stronger, and I'm fit, unlike last time.

"Put it this way, in the three Tests I played last time, we drew two and won one."

McGrath's fearless prediction came as England batting maverick Kevin Pietersen challenged Australia to be bold enough to maintain its Ashes friendships despite demands for a more ruthless edge.

Pietersen has asked his great mate Shane Warne to crack open the Ashes beers again, continuing the dressing room bond which highlighted the 2005 series.

His calls will go down like a lead balloon in some quarters as debate rages over whether Australia friendships with England players contributed to last year's shock Ashes defeat.

Australia selector Merv Hughes said this winter that the side was "too matey" and claimed its killer instinct and renowned toughness had to return in its bid for Ashes revenge this summer.

But Pietersen insisted Australia should resist the temptation to become more hard-edged and should work to ensure the gold-plated battle was played in the right spirit.

"That's what created such a buzz about cricket again because everybody was so hard on the field and shared a beer off the field in the last Ashes," Pietersen said.

"The sportsmanship between the two teams was amazing."

The Courier Mail

[Steelers]

It is that sort of ****y attitude that will lose us the Ashes again IMO.

[Queenslander]

This is really sad news, I am a huge fan of kasper and to see him not playing in this years Ashes series is disappointing :(

Kasper's Ashes dream over
By Jim Morton
October 09, 2006

A BAFFLING back injury has all but ruled veteran Queensland pace bowler Michael Kasprowicz out of the Ashes series, which begins in Brisbane next month.

Kasprowicz, who played two Tests in last year's series loss in England, will miss the start to the domestic first class season and is unlikely to return before the first Test in Brisbane, starting on November 23.

The painful injury, which has stopped the 33-year-old from running, is a reoccurrence of the disc trauma that forced him out of the third and final Test against South Africa in March.

But doctors have been unable to pinpoint the exact problem.

"It's proving a little bit hard to handle at the moment as far as pain," Kasprowicz said.

"The timing at this stage we don't know. The doctors are still investigating what it is and how to fix it."

Kasprowicz is maintaining a positive outlook, but the worrying problem couldn't come at a worse time leading into a condensed five-Test series.

He was in the running with Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson to fill Australia's contentious third seamer's position behind Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

"Three (first class) games for Queensland before any Test matches in Australia for me would have been an ideal preparation," he said at the Bulls season launch.

With Clark also battling his own injury problems, Kasprowicz backed fellow Queensland bowler Johnson to continue his charge and take the first-change role.

"Mitchell provides a point of difference to that attack too, being left-arm, being fast and he swings it," he said.

"That's something exciting that he brings to the (Australia attack)."

Deeply concerned Queensland skipper Jimmy Maher admitted the Bulls would have a huge hole to fill with Kasprowicz and possibly Johnson unavailable as they attempt to make a ninth straight Pura Cup final.

Youngster Nathan Rimmington has replaced Kasprowicz for season-opening limited-overs and four-day matches against Tasmania at the Gabba this week.

Queensland today also re-signed Terry Oliver for a further two years, which will make him the state's longest-serving coach (six seasons).

Current Australia coach John Buchanan led the Bulls for five seasons before taking over the national team in 1999 when Bennett King, now coaching the West Indies, took over for three highly-successful seasons.

Last season's Pura Cup triumph, Queensland's sixth in 11 years, was the first under Oliver.

All rounder Michael Buchanan, son of former Bulls now Australia coach John, has been selected in the XII and may make his limited-overs debut on Wednesday against the Tigers.

Tasmania has named rising batsman George Bailey as vice-captain and included veterans Adam Griffith and Michael Di Venuto despite both being under injury clouds.

Elegant batsman Martin Love, to play in the Pura Cup clash starting Friday, is on the verge of becoming Queensland's leading first class runs scorer as he is just 37 runs behind record holder Stuart Law.

AAP

[Poida]

It is that sort of ****y attitude that will lose us the Ashes again IMO.
nothing wrong at all with having confidence and talking up banter a bit. :) :) :)

[~Wild Child~]

FAT CHANCE
Gatting tries his best to derail Aussie Ashes Bid
Robert Craddock and Ben Dorries
Courier Mail Oct 11.

Mike Gatting has thrown his considerable weight behind Englands bid to retain the Ashes by firing the first shots in what promises to be a long, hot summer of psychological warfare.
The former England captain, and the last to lead the pom's to victory on Australian soil, sought to deflect attention from his own country's indifferent form, claiming Australia had major pre- Ashes problems and was being hurt by infighting.
Gatting has boasted England is the more settled side, that Australia has several key selection issues to sort out before the first test, and that the criticism of current players from former Test stars is a sign that nation is not as tight as it used to be.
Gatting has also suggested Shane Warne 'perhaps does,nt like having Stuart MacGill in the same side as him'.
'To me, they have alot of problems', Gatting said in London yesterday.
"we have a much settled side than they have at the moment. They are not quiet sure who the middle order are going to be or who will be the fourth or fifth bowler.
'They don't know if it's Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tate or Michael Kasprowitz. Or is it going to be Jason Gillespie who's been in or out?'.
Australian coach John Buchanan seemed non-pulsed by Gatting's opinions when told of them in India yesterday.
I had the oppourtunity to be with Gatt at Middles ex- we enjoyed a few sticky date puddings together' Buchanan said.
'He enjoyed a few more than I did'
Gattings assertion that Australia has most problems is surprising in the light of Englands long injury list which will decree six players- Ashley Giles, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett, James Anderson and Matthew Hoggard- will arrive in Australia having just recovered from ailments great and small.
Gatting was the last English captain to win the Ashes in Australia with a 2-1 win in '86-'87 but since then England, despite winning the Ashes at home last year, has been minced on Australian soil
It has managed just three wins in 20 Tests spanning four Australian tours since Gatting's victory and all of those came after Australia had secured the retention of the Ashes.
'They seem to have alot of in-fighting at the moment. Kim Hughes has said Shane Warne should never captain Australia for the way he has behaved in the past. Then you've got former batsman Greg Ritchie saying Shane Warne should be captain instead of Ponting'.
'That does'nt happen often over there. They are normally a pretty tight unit. It is usually the Aussies having a go at us for things we've done badly.'
Buchanan said: 'We will see pleanty of those quotes going back and forward which will be of little significance to the Ashes.'
'Thats all part of the building up to the series and that is fair enough.'
**********************************************

[~Wild Child~]

:rotflmao:
The English...sound worried to me. :laugh:

[Poida]

pfft i dont care if theyre worried or not lol.
i just hope it isnt just shane warne getting the wickets and runs.

[Titanium_BD1103]

Well Jaques, Dizzy and Tait are being considered for the Ashes, I like it, it means more depth and it's good depth too... :)

From: www.foxsports.com.au


Jaques, Tait get Ashes headstart
October 16, 2006

FRINGE Australia players Phil Jaques and Shaun Tait have been handed an extra opportunity to press for an Ashes berth in England's tour opener on November 10 in Canberra.

They have been named in the Prime Minster's XI for the Manuka Oval clash with veteran quick Jason Gillespie to lead the youthful outfit.

The team has an array of young talent from one-day international players Cameron White and Mark Cosgrove to little-known ACT swing bowler Adam Ritchard.

"This is an important game for England in the build up to the Ashes series and gives a great platform to some of our younger talented players," national chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

"Jason Gillespie has been one of Australia's greatest servants in the past decade and many of his finest moments have come against England.

"Apart from Jason we have picked a young side and we hope they display their talents against this high quality international side.

"There are some young players with international experience like Phil Jaques and Mark Cosgrove but we have some exciting young batting talent as well in Shaun Marsh, Travis Birt, Adam Voges and Tim Paine."

Gillespie played in Australia's last Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong in April but is understood to be well down the pecking order for the Ashes series starting November 23 in Brisbane.

"To be the leader of the first side to take on England at the start of what is shaping as a great series is a real privilege and one that I am sure will be a fantastic moment for the team and the Australian public," he said.

AAP




Prime Minister's XI

Jason Gillespie (c), Cameron White, Travis Birt, Mark Cosgrove, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phil Jaques, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Adam Ritchard, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, Mark Divin (12th man).

[Queenslander]

Furious Warnie on back foot
By Michael Horan
October 18, 2006

AN AMBUSH on Shane Warne by a female television reporter may have seriously set back plans for bold new Ashes coverage this summer.

Warne was confronted by a reporter from Channel 9 in Perth just after he had been dismissed while batting for Victoria in the Pura Cup match at the WACA Ground yesterday.

The star leg spinner had just left the playing arena and had not yet reached the team dressing room when the woman and a camera crew confronted him, asking the question: "Is it true you and your wife Simone are getting back together?"

A shocked and incensed Warne brushed past her and disappeared into the team dressing room.

Nine officials have been negotiating with Cricket Australia to have an "up front and personal" approach to the much-anticipated Ashes series, seeking interviews with players as they come off the ground and also placing cameras in the dressing rooms.

It was discussed with the Australia team at its recent "boot camp" in Queensland last month and received with mix feelings.

Yesterday's stunt came out of nowhere and the question naturally riled the world's leading Test wickets taker.

"He's not happy, not happy at all," Victoria coach Greg Shipperd said soon after the incident.

"He's just got out to an ordinary shot and before he can get to the dressing room a woman shoves a microphone up his nose and starts asking questions."

Victoria officials and Western Australia Cricket Association offcials both contacted Nine in Perth to lodge an official complaint.

It is believed the gerneral news reporter came to the ground and got in with a borrowed Cricket Australia media pass.

Cricket reporters at the ground had already requested to speak with Warne after play for comments on the drugs scandal embroiling Pakistan bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who were sent home from the Champions Trophy yesterday after testing positive for banned steroids.

But after the female reporter had riled him, Warne declined to speak to any sections of the media.

Warne was banned for a year in 2003 after a slimming tablet caused him to return a positive drug test just before the last World Cup.

www.foxsports.com.au

[zacaroo]

i dont like the idea of cameras in the change rooms and am sure cricket australia probly dont either.

[Queenslander]

Yobbos? just hit E for eject
By James Phelps
October 18, 2006 12:00am

SPECTATORS at this summer's Ashes Test at the SCG may be able to use mobile phones to have troublemakers kicked out.

Cricket Australia yesterday confirmed it was considering a proposal to have fans text message a security hotline to have unruly fans removed.

The dob-in-a-yob system would allow fans who felt threatened by misbehaving patrons to anonymously dob them in without fear of reprisal.

"We are reviewing all the security arrangements for this summer," a Cricket Australia spokeswoman said.

"We haven't finalised the details but it should be worked out by early November. The SMS system is on the agenda."

The dob-in-a-yob hotline has been used successfully in the UK to have football hooligans punted from soccer matches.

Patrons can send an SMS to a security number, which is displayed on the venue's big screen and on the back of tickets.

Offended parties must include the nature of the offence as well as a location. Once the message is received, stadium security use CCTV cameras to zoom in on the area and see if the complaint is legitimate.

The text hotline is expected to be introduced at the Gabba for the first Test.

Premier Morris Iemma said he would support the proposal.

"We will support any good idea they bring forward. Everyone wants this series to be remembered for what happens on the field," he said.

A spokesman for Telstra Stadium said NSW's biggest venue was also looking at the mobile phone technology.

"We are monitoring how the system performs," he said.

www.news.com.au

[zacaroo]

Yobbos? just hit E for eject
By James Phelps
October 18, 2006 12:00am

SPECTATORS at this summer's Ashes Test at the SCG may be able to use mobile phones to have troublemakers kicked out.

Cricket Australia yesterday confirmed it was considering a proposal to have fans text message a security hotline to have unruly fans removed.

The dob-in-a-yob system would allow fans who felt threatened by misbehaving patrons to anonymously dob them in without fear of reprisal.

"We are reviewing all the security arrangements for this summer," a Cricket Australia spokeswoman said.

"We haven't finalised the details but it should be worked out by early November. The SMS system is on the agenda."

The dob-in-a-yob hotline has been used successfully in the UK to have football hooligans punted from soccer matches.

Patrons can send an SMS to a security number, which is displayed on the venue's big screen and on the back of tickets.

Offended parties must include the nature of the offence as well as a location. Once the message is received, stadium security use CCTV cameras to zoom in on the area and see if the complaint is legitimate.

The text hotline is expected to be introduced at the Gabba for the first Test.

Premier Morris Iemma said he would support the proposal.

"We will support any good idea they bring forward. Everyone wants this series to be remembered for what happens on the field," he said.

A spokesman for Telstra Stadium said NSW's biggest venue was also looking at the mobile phone technology.

"We are monitoring how the system performs," he said.

www.news.com.au


sounds like a really smart idea..

[Poida]

FAT CHANCE
Gatting tries his best to derail Aussie Ashes Bid
Robert Craddock and Ben Dorries
Courier Mail Oct 11.

Mike Gatting has thrown his considerable weight behind Englands bid to retain the Ashes by firing the first shots in what promises to be a long, hot summer of psychological warfare.
The former England captain, and the last to lead the pom's to victory on Australian soil, sought to deflect attention from his own country's indifferent form, claiming Australia had major pre- Ashes problems and was being hurt by infighting.
Gatting has boasted England is the more settled side, that Australia has several key selection issues to sort out before the first test, and that the criticism of current players from former Test stars is a sign that nation is not as tight as it used to be.
Gatting has also suggested Shane Warne 'perhaps does,nt like having Stuart MacGill in the same side as him'.
'To me, they have alot of problems', Gatting said in London yesterday.
"we have a much settled side than they have at the moment. They are not quiet sure who the middle order are going to be or who will be the fourth or fifth bowler.
'They don't know if it's Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tate or Michael Kasprowitz. Or is it going to be Jason Gillespie who's been in or out?'.
Australian coach John Buchanan seemed non-pulsed by Gatting's opinions when told of them in India yesterday.
I had the oppourtunity to be with Gatt at Middles ex- we enjoyed a few sticky date puddings together' Buchanan said.
'He enjoyed a few more than I did'
Gattings assertion that Australia has most problems is surprising in the light of Englands long injury list which will decree six players- Ashley Giles, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Liam Plunkett, James Anderson and Matthew Hoggard- will arrive in Australia having just recovered from ailments great and small.
Gatting was the last English captain to win the Ashes in Australia with a 2-1 win in '86-'87 but since then England, despite winning the Ashes at home last year, has been minced on Australian soil
It has managed just three wins in 20 Tests spanning four Australian tours since Gatting's victory and all of those came after Australia had secured the retention of the Ashes.
'They seem to have alot of in-fighting at the moment. Kim Hughes has said Shane Warne should never captain Australia for the way he has behaved in the past. Then you've got former batsman Greg Ritchie saying Shane Warne should be captain instead of Ponting'.
'That does'nt happen often over there. They are normally a pretty tight unit. It is usually the Aussies having a go at us for things we've done badly.'
Buchanan said: 'We will see pleanty of those quotes going back and forward which will be of little significance to the Ashes.'
'Thats all part of the building up to the series and that is fair enough.'
**********************************************
:rotflmao:
whahahah is he still bitter about that leg break warne gave him in the 93 series lmao

[Poida]

Furious Warnie on back foot
By Michael Horan
October 18, 2006

AN AMBUSH on Shane Warne by a female television reporter may have seriously set back plans for bold new Ashes coverage this summer.

Warne was confronted by a reporter from Channel 9 in Perth just after he had been dismissed while batting for Victoria in the Pura Cup match at the WACA Ground yesterday.

The star leg spinner had just left the playing arena and had not yet reached the team dressing room when the woman and a camera crew confronted him, asking the question: "Is it true you and your wife Simone are getting back together?"

A shocked and incensed Warne brushed past her and disappeared into the team dressing room.

Nine officials have been negotiating with Cricket Australia to have an "up front and personal" approach to the much-anticipated Ashes series, seeking interviews with players as they come off the ground and also placing cameras in the dressing rooms.

It was discussed with the Australia team at its recent "boot camp" in Queensland last month and received with mix feelings.

Yesterday's stunt came out of nowhere and the question naturally riled the world's leading Test wickets taker.

"He's not happy, not happy at all," Victoria coach Greg Shipperd said soon after the incident.

"He's just got out to an ordinary shot and before he can get to the dressing room a woman shoves a microphone up his nose and starts asking questions."

Victoria officials and Western Australia Cricket Association offcials both contacted Nine in Perth to lodge an official complaint.

It is believed the gerneral news reporter came to the ground and got in with a borrowed Cricket Australia media pass.

Cricket reporters at the ground had already requested to speak with Warne after play for comments on the drugs scandal embroiling Pakistan bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, who were sent home from the Champions Trophy yesterday after testing positive for banned steroids.

But after the female reporter had riled him, Warne declined to speak to any sections of the media.

Warne was banned for a year in 2003 after a slimming tablet caused him to return a positive drug test just before the last World Cup.

www.foxsports.com.au

gees media is just annoying.
leave the guy alone

[Queenslander]

Hayden mauled by dog
Robert Craddock and Terry Smith
October 22, 2006 12:00am

MATTHEW Hayden has been attacked by a dog and Stuart MacGill suspended for misconduct in bizarre setbacks to Australia's Ashes preparations.

Hayden was attacked while out jogging on Friday during a visit to his parents property at Kingaroy and was taken by a neighbour to hospital with a gashed ankle.

Tests have revealed there is no tendon or ligament damage. But Hayden said last night the wound, about five centimetres long, would remain open for several days to minimise the risk of infection before being stitched.

"It was a vicious attack," he said.

"I was was out for a leisurely run. You are always a bit shocked by that sort of thing but I was more disappointed than anything.

"It just hasn't been my week."

Hayden was already out of cricket for a couple of weeks after breaking a finger taking a catch in last weekend's Pura Cup match against Tasmania.

"The hand injury would have kept me out for longer than this one anyway," said Hayden, who added there was no doubt surrounding his fitness for the first Test against England at the Gabba on November 23.

Meanwhile, Test leg-spinner MacGill has been suspended from the NSW team until November 2 after a run-in with an umpire in club cricket.

It leaves MacGill sidelined from Wednesday's day-nighter against Queensland at the Gabba, and the Pura Cup game against the Bulls starting on Friday.

The fiery leg-spinner pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly and improper conduct but has appealed against the severity of the sentence.

A Cricket NSW spokesman said the appeal was expected to be heard tomorrow.

The Blues leave for Brisbane on Tuesday.

If the appeal is upheld, MacGill could still fly to Brisbane for Wednesday's game.

He is desperate to press for an Ashes call-up, believing the Australians erred by not playing two spinners against England on last year's tour.

MacGill allegedly swore at an umpire while playing for Sydney University against Campbelltown-Camden at University Oval last week.

The flare-up occurred as MacGill took six wickets on the first day of the match. Neither umpire, Terry Keel nor Bill Hendricks, would comment yesterday.

MacGill looms as a key to this summer's Ashes campaign, when he could join forces with Shane Warne in a dual leg-spin attack.

He took a career best 8-108 against Bangladesh in April, taking his total Test wickets to 198.

The Sunday Mail

[~Wild Child~]

I hope that Hayden recovers quickly...As for Mcgill...after taking 6 wickets in a day's play( anyone would think he would end the day on a positive note)...big mistake to be swearing at an umpire and earning a misconduct charge. :whatd:

[Poida]

I hope that Hayden recovers quickly...As for Mcgill...after taking 6 wickets in a day's play( anyone would think he would end the day on a positive note)...big mistake to be swearing at an umpire and earning a misconduct charge. :whatd:

yeh an idiot he is for that.
bad enough for me to see it in footy let alone cricket.
i hope hayden recovers quickly too

[Grimmace]

Harmison 'England's weak link'
By Ben Dorries
October 23, 2006 THE fast bowler they call Grievous Bodily Harmison has been identified as a potential weak link in England's Ashes campaign.

Steve Harmison is way down on confidence after being hammered for 1-45 off 4.5 overs in England's meek Champions Trophy capitulation against Australia.

He appeared a shadow of the intimidating figure who savaged Australia with 17 Test wickets during England's famous 2005 Ashes triumph.

The giant fast bowler suffers from homesickness and is much better on English soil, performing well in the recent Test series against Pakistan.

Harmison has never had the heart for one-day cricket - but his terrible figures in Jaipur gave Australia's batsmen confidence they could target him Down Under this summer.

"If he comes to Australia and bowls that way we would be looking at doing exactly the same thing," skipper Ricky Ponting chirped.

England skipper Andy Flintoff claimed he wasn't worried that Harmison's unpredictable performances could lose the Ashes.

"Stevie's working hard at his game, so I've got no concerns," Flintoff said. "Every now and then it doesn't go your way.

"It's a collective effort and we don't point fingers."

While England has its problems with Harmison, Australia maintains it is not concerned by the unspectacular form of Glenn McGrath.

McGrath has rarely threatened since returning from compassionate leave - and was targeted by England for an early attacking onslaught.

He was belted for 0-27 from his initial four-over spell - before returning much better to finish with 2-36 off nine.

"He went for two boundaries from the first two balls he bowled and he came back reasonably well after that," Ponting said.

"His second and third spells were terrific for us, I thought. You don't end up having a lot of concerns about one of the greats of the game in Glenn."

Damien Martyn answered his knockers with a crisp 78 and then revealed he had longed to stride out against England again after being dropped following the Ashes loss.

"We've been waiting for this game for a long time," Martyn said. "We enjoyed the moment because we've had a lot of bad moments."


Source:Courier Mail

[Poida]

Warnie backs McGrath
Tuesday, 24 October 2006 @ 8:51 PM
sportal.com.au

Champion leg spinner Shane Warne has said Australia will need all the experience, guile and expertise that Glenn McGrath brings to the team if it is to win back the Ashes this summer.

McGrath has come under fire for his indifferent performances with the ball for Australia in its recent one-day matches since coming back from an eight-month break from the game.

But Warne said very little could be read into his form in the one-day version of the game and believes the pace bowler will be an invaluable part of the Australian line-up for the Ashes.

" wouldn't be writing Glenn McGrath off. He's a champion, I think Australia need Glenn McGrath," Warne told The Australian.

"By the time the first Test comes around I think he'll be ready to go."

Asked if Australia had gained an early psychological edge over England with the six-wicket win in the Champions Trophy in India Warne re-iterated that they are two very different forms of the game.

"We saw last year in the Ashes build-up England won a Twenty20 game at the Rose Bowl, it wasn't a psychological edge, they're two completely different games."

"You could lose a one day series every one of those games, 5-0, and still go out and win a Test."

Warne also said England's Test team this year would be tougher than last year's team that claimed the Ashes in England.

"I actually think they're stronger," he said. "In Australia you need your spinner, and you need your keeper performing well.

"They've strengthened their keeper department (with Chris Read) who I think is the best keeper in England, and their spin bowling department (with Monty Panesar)."

The Ashes kicks off at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 23.

[Queenslander]

Bowling Stone Jagger could come to Ashes
From Sydney Confidential
October 25, 2006 12:00am

YOU can't always get what you want but if Australian cricket circles have their way, Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger will be heading to Australia for this summer's Ashes series.

Whispers around the sport are Jagger - a cricket tragic - has been courted by series broadcaster Channel 9 to make a cameo appearance at at least one of the five Test matches between Australia and England.

A Cricket Australia insider said yesterday the network was behind a push to lure the veteran singer with the big lips out to Australia to further ramp up hype for the most anticipated Test series between the old enemies in years.

"I know it's something Channel 9 is working on,'' the insider said.

"It's pretty universally known that he is a massive cricket tragic.

"He went to one of the Test matches in the last Ashes series in England.

"It would be absolutely huge for us.''

A Nine spokesman yesterday denied the network was campaigning for Jagger to make the journey but said "it would be no surprise if he were to come out because he loves cricket''.

A few days of Jagger in the stands at the SCG would give cricket heavies plenty of satisfaction, with fellow rock superstar Elton John already rumoured to have planned his tour around the series and has tickets to every day of every Test.

Jagger, who has previously described himself as a decent cricketer, famously purchased the rights to use audio from a one-day tournament in Sri Lanka so he could get coverage of the series over the internet.

Imagine Mick and Warney on tour together.

www.news.com.au

[Poida]

From what I've seen of Mitchell Johnson he deserves a shot at this years Ashes

[Poida]

what makes these ashes exciting is the fact we are trying to get them back.it would be either way but us v them is better when we got more of a goal.

[jenny]

Under the pump

By Ben Dorries

November 07, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegrap

RICKY Ponting mocked England's most recent flop ? and accused the Old Enemy of "pumping up their tyres" ? after Australia plugged the only hole in their trophy cabinet.

Australia's eight-wicket Champions Trophy romp over the West Indies was a heart-starter for the Ashes summer and gifted Ponting another chance to land some pre-Ashes blows.

England failed miserably in the Champions Trophy ? plunging out of the Indian tournament in the group stage ? and Ponting needled them before flying home to begin full-blown Ashes preparations.

Ponting hasn't forgotten how a ****y England insisted their semi-final win over Australia in the 2004 Champions Trophy was a launch pad towards 2005 Ashes glory.

But the roles have been reversed after Ponting's men battered the Poms by six wickets in a group match in Jaipur last month ? and claimed a maiden Champions Trophy in a cakewalk.

"I know England have pumped their tyres up a bit, judging themselves against us in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy last time," Ponting chirped.

"It will be interesting to see if they make the same assessment of themselves after the last game we played against them.

"Winning does breed confidence and we'll go home nice and confident."

Ponting was quick to tell his players not to get bloated heads after the Champions Trophy win, insisting the one-day tournament has little relevance to the Ashes summer.

However Australia have taken great heart out of the last month in India and several players will now go into the Ashes feeling they are in peak form.

Comeback paceman Glenn McGrath (10 wickets at 15.8) and veteran batsman Damien Martyn (241 runs at 80.3) were prime movers in the Champions Trophy while the Ashes stocks of young firebrand Mitchell Johnson (five wickets at 22) also soared.

Johnson may have been the big winner to come out of India because he performed above expectations ? and Ponting loves the nippy left-arm variety he provides.

The Queenslander has been pencilled into Australia's first Test plans ? partially because Ponting learnt some bitter lessons from England's pace attack during the last Ashes. There is also a feeling that seamer Stuart Clark could miss out because he is a Glenn McGrath line-and-length clone.

"You always want variety in your attack. If you look back at the last Ashes series, that was England's great strength against us last time ? the variety they had," Ponting said.

"Although they had all right-arm bowlers, they were all very different.

"Matthew Hoggard swinging the new ball, Steve Harmison banging it into the wicket, Andy Flintoff doing a bit of both and Simon Jones bowling reverse swing very well.

"Mitchell Johnson is improving game by game."

And reborn Australian swingman Nathan Bracken also did his Ashes prospects no harm with 10 wickets at 19.4 while allrounder Shane Watson shone at times with both bat and ball.

Australia's experimentation for next year's World Cup, with Watson opening and McGrath tried at first-change, has so far proved a success.

[BrisbaneBroncosRule]

How would you guys have the ashes team?

M.Hayden
J.Langer
R.Ponting
M.Clarke
M.Hussey
A.Gilchrist
S.Watson
S.Warne
B.Lee
S.Tait
G.McGrath

D.Martyn
S.MacGill
N.Bracken
M.Johnson
S.Clark

^Thats my team.

[jenny]

Cheeky Beefy says we're creaky

By Jon Pierik

November 13, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



ASHES great Ian Botham has mocked Australia's ageing warriors who he feels could crack and not last the distance this summer.

Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer were yesterday dubbed "Dad's Army" in Britain's News of the World after the famous British comedy series set during World War II.

Australia may begin next week's first Ashes Test with their oldest Test side in 80 years, prompting Botham to attack Ricky Ponting's bunch of "colonial geriatrics".

"The Aussies are a year and a half older than when the teams clashed last time and they were creaking then ? especially in the bowling department," he said.

"If they go into a Test with Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Stuart MacGill and Damien Martyn, the Aussies will have seven players aged 35 and over.

"I can't imagine there has ever been a team that old in international cricket.

"True, age doesn't necessarily mean you're no good.

"Warnie took 40 wickets last time and still finished on the losing side.

"There are some great cricketers in that list, but when Father Time starts to call, it can all fall apart very quickly."

While Botham is a noted pot-stirrer, his claims have substance this time as there is a feeling the longer the series is "alive", the better a more youthful England's chances are of retaining the precious urn.

The five-Test series will be held in a little over six weeks, with back-to-back clashes to close the summer in Melbourne and Sydney particularly gruelling.

Botham also called on England skipper Andrew Flintoff to launch verbal hand grenades at the Australians.

Ponting and the likes of McGrath have gone on the verbal offensive since the tourists arrived, but the England camp ? with the affable Flintoff as its front man ? has largely been reserved.

"This bunch, led then by Michael Vaughan and now by Freddie Flintoff, are not scarred by Ashes failure. That's why I want to hear the England camp talking more positively," he said.

"I want to hear them saying how good they are and how p . . . poor the Dad's Army of Aussies are.

"That's the attitude they must have. If they allow the Aussies any psychological advantage, they might as well come home.

"I am fed up hearing things like 'if we are right' and 'if we have a little bit of luck'. That's bull. . . ..

"Lads, the Aussies are more than a year older than the team you beat last time. Start believing in yourselves.

"I wasn't worried about England not doing well in the Champions Trophy.

"If they are fit, and the bowlers are strong and up for 25 overs a day, England will keep the Ashes.

"If England pick their best bowlers, then they will win because they are better than Australia."

Botham, 50, also dismissed Australia's superb form since losing the Ashes, claiming they "haven't played anyone" despite winning 11 of their past 12 Tests.

[jenny]

Pick MacGill in Brisbane

Exclusive by Steve Waugh

November 14, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



LEG-SPIN is the Poms' achilles heel and it's our great fortune to have the two best exponents of this craft residing in Australia.

For that reason, I believe Stuart MacGill should join Shane Warne in the first Test line-up at the Gabba.

The single most important set of statistics in deciding Australia's first Test team belong to the Pakistan reject Mushtaq Ahmed.

During the English county cricket season he claimed a monumental 102 wickets ? 41 more than the next best, including 11 five-wicket hauls at an average of under 20 at a strike rate of one wicket every six overs.

The key to these impressive numbers is, wait for it . . . he bowls leg-spin! Combine this with Warne's 40-wicket standout performance during the last Ashes campaign and the selection dilemma is a no-brainer.

Forget MacGill's current form, his indiscretion with a grade cricket umpire or anything else for that matter, the guy was born to play at the top level and he loves the mental and technical examinations it presents. MacGill craves the challenge and enjoys the spotlight.

Much of the hype surrounding the first Test centres on the supposed favourable conditions that will present themselves for the pacemen with the extra bounce and pace in the pitch.

This will happen on the first morning but the more significant play will be the turn and bounce that Warne and MacGill would extract from the grooved and gouged footmarks as they dry out from the first few hours of wear and tear under the spikes of the quicks when the soil is moist.

Brisbane can be the best surface in Australia for the tweakers to prosper and a double barrelled assault against an unproven middle order could set the tone for the whole series.

Unfortunately, however, I do not believe this will happen as convention suggests the safer selection option rests with the pacemen who are queuing up, all with solid credentials.

Assuming Shane Watson has the No. 6 position wrapped up ahead of Michael Clarke, the tough call is who of the four outstanding candidates make the final XI.

Does Andrew Hilditch and company leave out the destructive talents of Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait, who could slipsream in behind Lee and blow England out of the water?

Or the mini McGrath, Stuart Clark, who has improved enough to suggest he's the real deal at this level?

Or perhaps the often neglected Bracken whose swing is something modern day batsman find tougher to conquer than a Rubicks Cube?

My gut feeling is Johnson will debut on his home ground and support Lee, McGrath, Warne and Watson and cause problems with his pace and movement away to the left-handers.

I put Johnson up there with Warne, Lee and Tait as guys who I felt exuded that something special when I first laid eyes on them.

On the batting side of things. it seems pretty straight forward with possibly the only change worth consideration is elevating Mike Hussey up to No. 4.

The Aussies look primed for a initial onslaught as England seem to be sluggish at present.

But very often the form book is an illusion at the top level as it is the will of the individual and the strength of the unit that drives success. I can't wait for that first ball to be delivered as the hush descends around the ground.

[Poida]

Lol at the crap this english mob over there is saying.
who cares if we got older players.
theyre in form

[Grimmace]

First Test team announced

November 16, 2006 12:00


STUART Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait will face off for the fourth Australian bowling spot with all being chosen in the 13-man Ashes squad for the first Test.

With three bowling spots to be occupied by Glen McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee, the trio of quicks will go head to head for inclusion in the final 11.

Left-arm Queenslander Johnson has come to prominence for the Brisbane fixture with a sizzling domestic form and a recent four wicket one-day international haul against India. Likewise, Tait?s impressive form for South Australia and firebrand bowling style make him a wild card option

However, Clark?s typically probing spell against the English this week, as well as his stunning start to his Test career, will put him at the forefront of the selector?s minds when the final team takes the field next Thursday.

As expected, Justin Langer held onto his opening spot despite the great form of NSW run-machine Phil Jaques. All-rounder Shane Watson will make his fourth Test appearance, replacing Michael Clarke in the middle-order.

Meanwhile, England have chosen Middlesex batsman Ed Joyce to replace Marcus Trescothick, who returned home yesterday suffering depression. Joyce was chosen ahead of Robert Key, Owais Shah and this year?s English County Player of the Year, Mark Ramprakash.

Australian squad:

Ricky Ponting (c) TAS
Adam Gilchrist (vc) WA
Stuart Clark NSW
Matthew Hayden QLD
Mike Hussey WA
Mitchell Johnson QLD
Justin Langer WA
Brett Lee NSW
Damien Martyn WA
Glenn McGrath NSW
Shaun Tait SA
Shane Warne VIC
Shane Watson QLD


Commenting on the squad selected for the first 3 mobile Ashes Test, NSP Chairman Andrew Hildtich said: "We?ve picked a very strong squad which reflects the fact that Australia has been successful at international level for some time.

"We are showing faith in those players who have contributed to that success, while at the same time injecting some youth into the squad with the inclusions of Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait.

?We believe this is a squad capable of winning back the Ashes. As far as Shane Watson is concerned we see his inclusion to the Test squad as an exciting development for Australian cricket.

"Shane has an outstanding first-class record with the bat, averaging over 45 and his bowling ability gives us the flexibility in our attack that we have been looking for. It will be interesting to see how he develops as a Test cricketer in this series.

?Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden as an opening partnership have been one of the most successful partnerships in Australian cricketing history. Matthew had a great international season last year and is in fine touch this year.

"Justin has started the domestic season strongly, averaging over 70 so far and he scored an unbeaten hundred against Tasmania in Western Australia?s recent Pura Cup clash. The performance of the opening pair in this series will be crucial against a classy English bowling attack.

?The inclusion of extra pacemen in the squad reflects one of the strongest starts to the domestic season of young talent in recent memory. It reflects the development of Mitchell Johnson in the past 12 months, some eye-catching fast bowling from Shaun Tait and the performance of Stuart Clark in South Africa and since his return from injury domestically.

?The selection of the final eleven will be a tough decision and will be made in Brisbane after assessing the conditions and the pitch. We intend to pick the best balanced side to represent Australia against England.?

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said: "Our last 12 months of Test cricket have been terrific, there?s been huge excitement, anticipation and build-up in this Ashes series and now that we?ve actually selected our squad we can relax a little bit, get on and prepare for this first Test match.

?We have got a well documented experienced team going into this series but I think historically what you want in any team is a good mix of youth and experience and I think we?ve certainly got that.

?Shane Watson?s cricket over the last 12 months has come along in leaps and bounds, he?s got a terrific record at first-class level with the bat and his bowling has really taken off, probably since Troy Cooley has been around the group.

?It?s really exciting as far as I?m concerned to have that depth of fast bowling talent around the country at the moment. You look at Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark who have all started this season off extremely well and are all putting their hands up for selection.

?This series is going to be huge, we?ve all been waiting for it for 14-15 months and the crowds around Australia have been exactly the same, there?s been huge anticipation for this series and the players are really excited about getting to Brisbane and getting our preparation under way. When we turn up at the GABBA, it?s a great ground and great stadium, it will be full and we?re looking forward to getting the show on the road.?

For information, the 13th man will return to home port no later than the morning of the first 3 mobile Test match and the 12th man will be released to play domestic cricket in the games commencing Friday 24 November.

Source: Daily Terlegraph

[Casey's Angel27]

no michael clarke?

[Titanium_BD1103]

Nope... Pup is a batsman and Australia decided to go with an allrounder in Watson... so Pup will just have to keep fighting hard like Jaques for NSW and hope for the best.... :)

[Robbie_Dee]

yeah and Clarke isn't all that consistent! If he's on his game he can be really damaging but when he's not he can be someone that could let Australia down. :dead: IMO smart move to leave Clarke out...as much as i like him...i think theres better men for the job ie, Watson;)

[Grimmace]

I like the squad good thing is if you dont perform someone can take your place.

However i hope they dont go with clark, If england can get settled against Mcgrath we are wasting a bowling spot so id either give it to tait or johnaon but id be more leaning towards tait.

[BrisbaneBroncosRule]

I thought we would have left out Martyn for Pup.

My team would be -

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Watson
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Tait
McGrath

[jenny]

Ashes star's private hell

By Robert Craddock

November 16, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



ENGLAND feared Marcus Trescothick was having a complete mental breakdown when the sobbing cricketer locked himself in his hotel room a day before his SCG dressing room meltdown.

Trescothick flew home on Tuesday after suffering a relapse of a stress disorder, hiding in a toilet and needing to be consoled by a team doctor for two hours.



The dramatic breakdown prompted Trescothick to abandon the Ashes tour, but it was revealed yesterday that team officials had already planned to send the mentally fragile batsman home before Tuesday.

The 30-year-old broke down in his hotel room a day earlier and teammates feared he was on the verge of a total breakdown.

Coach Duncan Fletcher admitted yesterday he had decided to send Trescothick home before the 76-Test star quit the tour.

"He was feeling pretty upset. He wanted to go back," Fletcher said.

"At first we decided maybe the best thing was to get his wife and family out here early but I wasn't too happy with that.

"I was going to speak to Marcus after the game and say we have a difficult tour here, and going to discuss whether he would fly back and not let his wife come out here.

"It was unpleasant in the change room. He was feeling pretty upset. He wanted to go back."

Trescothick's depressive illness is understood to be linked to travelling. He abandoned a tour of India last March after which he acknowledged he might not rescue his career.

Trescothick's departure from Australia was met with widespread sympathy yesterday, with the spotlight now on the increasingly common plight of depression in sport.

Sports psychologists confirmed more and more top athletes ? most notably in cricket and rugby ? are battling depression as they deal with pressures and expectations on the sporting field.

England selectors came under fire yesterday for choosing the mentally fragile Trescothick for such an important tour.

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell, who spent a night in a psych ward in Perth 12 years ago as he battled his own Ashes demons, questioned whether the ECB had monitored Trescothick properly.

"It beggars belief England have already lost an opening batsman barely a week into the tour," Tufnell said.

"Who was keeping an eye on him and monitoring his progress? This kind of illness is such a cloudy issue you'd have thought the management were keeping very close tabs on it.

"It's a shame England have lost Trescothick. He's fantastic against Shane Warne and can take the fight to the Aussies by scoring quickly and dominating."

Former England captain Geoff Boycott warned more cricketers face possible mental breakdown given the demanding touring schedule set down by cricket's bosses.

"If you think this is a one-off then think again. It is just the beginning and more players will crack up in the future," Boycott said.

"Sadly the game is led by people with one thing on their minds ? making lots of money. It means players are being worked into the ground and the burden of playing non-stop cricket is taking its toll.

"There is a quick and easy way of stopping this happening, but it would involve the game's administrators taking the one step that they dread ? cutting back on the amount of international cricket.

[Poida]

Watson in doubt for Ashes Test with hamstring injury
Fri 17 Nov, 8:34 AM


PERTH, Australia (AFP) - All-rounder Shane Watson injured a hamstring playing for Queensland in a domestic one-day game here and is in doubt for next week's first Ashes cricket Test against England.

Watson was bowling the first ball of his sixth over against Western Australia at the WACA Ground when he pulled up sharply, clutching the back of his right leg.

Looking concerned, Watson conferred with Queensland captain Jimmy Maher and team-mates before leaving the ground with the team trainer.

Watson was considered a certain selection to bat at six against England in next week's first Test at the Gabba, allowing Australia to go with four fast bowlers and play wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist at seven.

But if Watson is forced to withdraw Australia may look for a replacement all-rounder -- possibly Andrew Symonds -- pick five specialist bowlers, or another batsman.

The injury scare is the latest in a series of untimely set-backs for Watson, who has been restricted to three Tests since making his debut in January 2005.

After breaking into Australia's one-day team in 2002, stress fractures to his back at the start of 2003 forced him to miss the last World Cup.

Then last year he was drafted into the Test team with the intention of becoming the designated allrounder, but dislocated his shoulder diving to field in his second Test.

[BrisbaneBroncosRule]

Marcus North should be his replacement as another batter.

[jenny]

Cricket
Flipper is ready to tweak havoc

By Jon Pierik
November 20, 2006

SHANE Warne last night lobbed a hand-grenade into England's Ashes camp by declaring he had again mastered his deadliest weapon - the flipper.

In a warning which is sure to have the tourists sweating, the champion leg spinner has vowed to unleash the wicked under-spinner in his first over of the series opener, beginning Thursday at the Gabba.

But he refrained from disclosing which ball of the over it would be, adding more suspense to what promises to be an explosive Test.

"I am going to bowl one in my first over just to let them know that it's back," a pumped Warne said. "I was landing two out of five - now it's closer to three, even closer to four out of five.

"That's what I wanted. I haven't been able to bowl it much since I broke my spinning finger at Punt Rd (six years ago). But my finger and my shoulder now feel great."

As the Australia squad gathered in Brisbane yesterday, Warne revealed he had fine-tuned one of cricket's most venomous deliveries during the northern summer while playing for county side Hampshire.

In one innings against Middlesex he dismissed three batsmen leg before - part-time England players Owais Shah and Jamie Dalrymple and New Zealand all rounder Scott Styris - with the famed delivery which skidded through the best of defences in the 1990s.

He has continued to refine it this summer during Victoria's Pura Cup matches.

Warne has been unable to master the flipper since he broke his spinning finger while fielding at slip for Victoria during a one-day game at Punt Rd six years ago.

But, having grown more confident with his reconstructed finger and shoulder in the past year, cricket's greatest wicket-taker is ready to unleash mayhem.

"I am feeling really good about the flipper now," he said.

Warne spent years earlier in his career developing the flipper, a delivery that Cricket Australia had banned from junior coaching manuals because of the stress it creates on the bowling hand.

He spectacularly launched this hard-to-bowl ball against the West Indies in 1992-93 when it skidded on to master batsman Richie Richardson's off-stump. The vicious delivery also memorably befuddled dangerman Alec Stewart at the Gabba in 1994-95 when the Englishman shaped to cut but was fooled by the lethal underspin and was bowled.

Warne now has a full bag of tricks and looms as an even more dangerous proposition than when he tormented England with 40 wickets last year.

"I am bowling more wrong-uns now than I ever have. They are coming out well," he said.

The flipper can now safely sit alongside the zooter (a straight ball delivered out of the back of the hand), the slider (a straight ball delivered from the front of the hand), the conventional top-spinner, a wrong-un and the leg spinner, which can be imparted with little or maximum spin.

[Poida]

i knew warne would master it again.
its a great ball to use

[~Wild Child~]

i knew warne would master it again.
its a great ball to use
Woot.. Great news :D Go Warney :win:

[jenny]

England primed for Test opener

By Richard Earle
November 20, 2006

AMPED-UP England has declared it is ready for a first Test battle of Brisbane - armed with a truckload of confidence and rejuvenated spearhead Steve Harmison.

England's batsmen are well oiled following an impressive tour match with South Australia in Adelaide while fast bowler Harmison is over a side strain and wants to make its pace attack purr in the series opener from Thursday at the Gabba.

England's batting and bowling line-up is all but settled, with Ian Bell last night confirming he would be the tourists' No.3 on the back of his superb 132 here.

This was a move forced by Alastair Cook's promotion to open with Andrew Strauss following Marcus Trescothick's depression-induced departure.

Paul Collingwood will bat at No.4, Kevin Pietersen at No.5 and Andrew Flintoff at No.6.

Harmison, who withdrew on Friday from the tour game with a tight side muscle, backed his Saturday session in the Adelaide Oval nets by bowling for 40 minutes yesterday to prove his fitness.

The big Geordie missed England's one-day series with Pakistan in September due to his side ailment and has been lampooned in the press as a hero at home and liability on the road.

"I'm disappointed at the perception that there is a question over my commitment," said Harmison, in England's Daily Mail.

The in-touch Pietersen will be an explosive presence at No.5 - a strategic move to tackle Shane Warne head on.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar, who took 1-34 in SA's second innings, looks set for a first Test start ahead of Ashley Giles - a better bat but more pedestrian spinner.

The form of England's batsmen should confirm the gamble on the cult figure with the Indian background, gradually rediscovering the flight that made him such a force against Pakistan recently.

Resuming at 6-303 the visitors were dismissed for 415 in reply to SA's first innings 7-247(dec) - a lead of 168. SA was 2-164 when the game was called off at 4.30pm.

Dan Harris top-scored with 77 and Matthew Elliott made 55.

Australia hopeful Shaun Tait alleviated all concerns over his fitness, bowling six overs to finish with 3-87 after leaving the field with cramp late on Saturday night.

[jenny]

Chappell backs Lee & Tait combo


November 19, 2006

FORMER Australia captain Ian Chappell, the man who famously unleashed Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson on England in 1974-75, has called on the national selectors to do the same with Brett Lee and Shaun Tait in the first Test at the Gabba this week.

Citing their combination of extreme pace and late swing, Chappell said that the use of Lee and Tait in the eleven for Brisbane would be the best way to put England on the defensive, even if all rounder Shane Watson missed the match with a hamstring strain.

"Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were always certain selections for the Gabba but I would round out the Australian pace attack with the explosive Shaun Tait," Chappell wrote in London's Daily Telegraph. "Lee and Tait, L & T, pace and more pace."

"My mind wanders back to 1974-75 when another L & T combination, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, pace and more pace, produced a Brisbane blitz that quickly changed the dynamics of an Ashes series.

"The Gabba is the fastest and bounciest pitch in Australia and that is the ground where the Lee and Tait combination is most likely to work."

Chappell also pointed out that the use of Lee and Tait instead of the more disciplined line of Stuart Clark would have a flow-on effect for Shane Warne, with the English batsmen less likely to attack him if they saw scoring opportunities opening up against the quicks.

"With the loss of Watson, Australia are likely to opt for a more conservative pace attack of McGrath, Lee and Clark, one attacking bowler and two miserly metronomes," he wrote.

"This could force the England batsmen to attack Shane Warne, the correct way to play the champion leg spinner.

"However, play Tait instead of Clark and this means the balance is in favour of aggressive pace bowling and the requirement to score quickly off Warne won't be so great; push and prod at the leg spinner with a bit of bounce in the pitch and batting life expectancy recedes faster than Brisbane's twilight."

Tait today returned to the bowling crease after suffering from leg cramps late on day two of England's tour match against South Australia.

AAP

[BrisbaneBroncosRule]

I would love to see Lee & Tait steaming down at each end, and knocking the poms heads off :D

[jenny]

Cricket
England primed for Test opener

By Richard Earle
November 20, 2006

AMPED-UP England has declared it is ready for a first Test battle of Brisbane, armed with a truckload of confidence and rejuvenated spearhead Steve Harmison.

England's batsmen are well oiled after an impressive tour match with South Australia in Adelaide while fast bowler Harmison is over a side strain and wants to make its pace attack purr in the series opener from Thursday at the Gabba.

England's batting and bowling line-up is all but settled, with Ian Bell last night confirming he would be the tourists' No.3 on the back of his superb 132 here.

This was a move forced by Alastair Cook's promotion to open with Andrew Strauss after Marcus Trescothick's depression-induced departure.

Paul Collingwood will bat at No.4, Kevin Pietersen at No.5 and Andrew Flintoff at No.6.

Harmison, who withdrew on Friday from the tour game with a tight side muscle, backed his Saturday session in the Adelaide Oval nets by bowling for 40 minutes yesterday to prove his fitness.

The big Geordie missed England's limited-overs series with Pakistan in September because of his side ailment and has been lampooned in the press as a hero at home and a liability on the road.

"I'm disappointed at the perception that there is a question over my commitment," Harmison told England's Daily Mail.

The in-touch Pietersen will be an explosive presence at No.5, a strategic move to tackle Shane Warne head on.

Left-arm spin bowler Monty Panesar, who took 1-34 in South Australia's second innings, looks set for a first Test start ahead of Ashley Giles, who is a better bat but a less attacking bowler.

The form of England's batsmen should confirm the gamble on the cult figure, gradually rediscovering the flight that made him such a force against Pakistan recently.

Resuming at 6-303 the visitors were dismissed for 415 in reply to SA's first innings of 7-247declared - a lead of 168. SA was 2-164 when the game was called off at 4.30pm.

Dan Harris top-scored with 77 and Matthew Elliott made 55.

Australia hopeful Shaun Tait alleviated all concerns over his fitness, bowling six overs to finish with 3-87 after leaving the field with cramp late on Saturday night.

[~Wild Child~]

lol...Only a couple more sleeps to go :clap: :win:

[patrick]

3 more to go! :)

It will definately be out of either Shaun Tait or Stuart Clark for the last paceman spot in the side.

[jenny]

Cricket
Watson loses battle to play


November 21, 2006

AUSTRALIA all rounder Shane Watson has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England because of a hamstring strain.

Watson had wanted to bowl today in a bid to prove his fitness for Thursday's series opener, but was only able to run laps of The Gabba with team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

Kountouris and Watson then agreed the 25-year-old would only be able to have played at 70 per cent and decided it was not worth the risk.

Batsman Michael Clarke will come into the side.

The injury is the latest in a long line of problems for Watson, who had earlier this week given himself a good chance of recovering in time to play before a home crowd.

"I've done everything I can over the last three days to give it a shot but unfortunately I was only a few days away," he said.

"It's not a good feeling, it's something I've been working towards over the past six months.

"I feel my game has really improved and that I have earned a spot in this Australian cricket team."

Watson said he would now aim at recovering in time for the second Test in Adelaide, which starts December 1.

AAP

[BrisbaneBroncosRule]

poor watson

[bondititan]

one day to go :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win:

[~Wild Child~]

one day to go :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win: :win:
Woot...Won't be able to sleep tonight :p

[~lee~]

Woot...Won't be able to sleep tonight :p


When England win you wont be able to sleep for a longgggg time :box:

[patrick]

When England win you wont be able to sleep for a longgggg time :box:
REALLY?...your dreaming Lee! :spit:

[~Wild Child~]

REALLY?...your dreaming Lee! :spit:
lol...Yeah...he's caught up in an English Nightmare :D :spit:

Go Aussie :win:

[patrick]

lol...Yeah...he's caught up in an English Nightmare :D :spit:

Go Aussie :win:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

AUSSIES!!! :cool: :win:

[~Wild Child~]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

AUSSIES!!! :cool: :win:
I wonder if we would be allowed an Aussie v's Pommie sledging thread :lol!:
GO AUSSIES :win:

[patrick]

I wonder if we would be allowed an Aussie v's Pommie sledging thread :lol!:
GO AUSSIES :win:
I wish, but we're probably not allowed. :p
Sharing the same wonders as me Michel! :D

[~Wild Child~]

I wish, but we're probably not allowed. :p
Sharing the same wonders as me Michel! :D
lol...I'm gonna ask Grimmace :D

[Hoppy2007Dragons]

notl ong now, can't wait till the coin toss.

[jenny]

Aussie fans take on Barmy Army

November 22, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP



AUSTRALIAN and English fans are fighting out their own precursor to tomorrow's opening day's play in the Ashes series in Brisbane.
England's Barmy Army and Australia's Fanatics are playing a fans' own Twenty20 match - the Bashers Series - at Norths Cricket Club at Kalinga, in Brisbane's north.

The result is sure to fuel banter at tomorrow's series opener at the Gabba where around 1000 Fanatics will join thousands more local fans and attempt to out-sing 10,000 troops from the Barmy Army.

Meanwhile, organisers are reminding fans to arrive at the Gabba early tomorrow, where gates will open at 8.30am (AEST), and to use public transport.

Backpacks, alcohol, glass bottles, cans, metal knives and hard eskies will not be allowed into the ground.

Food and other items should be brought in a plastic bag or soft cooler bag.

Police have warned fans displaying offensive behaviour will be ejected with hundreds of officers, security guards, ushers and security cameras keeping watch on the crowd.

Fans can also use a 'dob in a yob' text messaging service to report offensive fans around them to security.

[jenny]

The Ashes
Give Johnson a go: Thommo

By Laine Clark
November 22, 2006

FORMER Australia tearaway Jeff Thomson has tipped Mitchell Johnson to pip Stuart Clark for selection as the current side's third paceman for the Ashes opener against England at Brisbane tomorrow.

Shaun Tait, who has been compared with Thomson due to his similar slinging action, was cut by Australia today, leaving Clark and rookie Johnson to fight it out for the last vacancy.

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting hinted today that he had finalised his team for the first Ashes Test against England, but he refused to reveal the make-up of the side.

Thomson said Clark was too similar to fellow seamer Glenn McGrath, and he believed Australia should hand lively Queensland left armer Johnson his Test debut.

"Put Mitchell Johnson in there and see how he goes,'' Thomson said of his fellow Queenslander.

"I know Clark hasn't done too much wrong but that left-handed variety gives Johnson the edge.

"Even if nothing is working for him, if he bowls gun-barrel straight he is still bowling across them. For mine, Clark is identical to McGrath.''

Thomson also questioned why a 13-man squad had been initially picked by Australia.

"It should have just been 12 blokes from the start,'' he said.

"I don't even know why they picked 13 blokes.

"You can't fit them all in, can you?

"Look, Tait has just got to wait his turn."

AAP

[bondititan]

3 hours to go

[bondititan]

2 hours to go

[Grimmace]

I cant believe we are playing clark instead of johnson and tait. As good of a bowler he is he doesnt bring anything new to the table.

[jenny]

Clark keeps Johnson out

AUSTRALIA will try to sentence England to death by suffocation at the Gabba by handing seamer Stuart Clark the prized final place in its Ashes pace battery today.

[bondititan]

both are good bowlers its the difficult thing about having soooooo much talent cricket is our national sport

[jenny]

Gabba buzzing before first ball


November 23, 2006

CROWDS and traffic are building up around the Gabba on the morning of the first Ashes cricket Test.

Long queues were forming outside the ground in fine, warm conditions.

Members began lining up for prime seats from before 6am and the area surrounding the ground was thick with traffic and pedestrians even before the gates opened at 8.30am local (0930 AEDT).

Local radio stations were broadcasting breakfast shows from temporary studios outside the ground. One even had a choir singing cricket-related songs.

Vendors were selling caps, flags and other memorabilia outside the ground, where English accents were only marginally outnumbered by Australian voices.

Both teams arrived at the ground soon after the gates opened and began fielding warmups on the outfield while ground staff put the finishing touches to the wicket.

Play starts at 10am (1100 AEDT).

The five-Test series is virtually a sellout, guaranteeing this will be the most watched cricket series ever.

AAP

[jenny]

Sydney live sites ready for Ashes :win: :win: :win: :win:

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP



CRICKET fans will be able to watch the Ashes on the big screen at three Sydney venues from today.

Ashes live sites have been erected at Circular Quay and Darling Harbour in the city, and at Bondi Junction mall in Sydney's east.

The venues will show five live test matches between England and Australia as the Ashes series begins in Brisbane today.

It is the first time free viewing screens have been erected in the city for the Ashes.

Live site organiser Phillip Cook said the screens would telecast cricket 12 hours a day for 46 days during the entire Ashes series.

?A lot of it depends on the series, but if it's anything like the last series, I imagine the crowds will come in great numbers,? Mr Cook said.

He said the Circular Quay site had been flooded with sports fans during Australia's Football World Cup campaign in June.

Australia was expecting 40,000 travelling English cricket fans for the Ashes series, he said.

?The reason we've chosen Bondi Junction is there's a pretty strong expatriate English contingent around the Bondi, Bronte and Coogee areas and Bondi Junction officially has the highest foot traffic in Sydney.?

Mr Cook said organisers were expecting a daily average of about 5000 viewers at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, 5000 fans outside the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay and about 1000 fans at Bondi Junction mall near Bronte Road.

Sydney company Screen Media Works has funded the live sites by selling broadcast advertising space for the telecasts.

In the days between test matches, Ashes highlights will be shown at the venues.

The screens will operate for 12 hours a day between 8am and 8pm (AEDT) for eastern states matches, and between 10am and 10pm for the Perth test.

[bondititan]

yeah there a bigg screen down from my house

[~lee~]

FIRST ASHES TEST, BRISBANE, DAY ONE: Australia v England
England made the widely predicted choice of Ashley Giles ahead of Monty Panesar for the first Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.

Spinner Giles has been out of Test cricket for a year following hip surgery but his extra batting ability won him the final place in the side.

Batsman Ian Bell was passed fit after a blow on the wrist two days ago.

[~lee~]

Very dissapointed with no panesar

[Capital_Shark]

The bloke on the radio has opened up the quotables with "if you score 420 at the GABBA history says: A. You don't lose and B. You quite often win."

[jenny]

yeah there a bigg screen down from my house
:yell: ^5

[jenny]

The bloke on the radio has opened up the quotables with "if you score 420 at the GABBA history says: A. You don't lose and B. You quite often win."
:( LOL!

[jenny]

The Queesland People ROCK....They get behind the NRL.....AFL....CRICKET etc!
They Out Do All States IMO! CONGRATULATIONS TO QUEENSLAND :beer:
The crowd is enormous!

[bondititan]

i think your wrong sydney goes balistic
world cup ru there was over 150000 in the streets
soccer wc there was a crowd of three hundred thousand in the streets

i think u have under estimated sydney jen

[jenny]

i think your wrong sydney goes balistic
world cup ru there was over 150000 in the streets
soccer wc there was a crowd of three hundred thousand in the streets

i think u have under estimated sydney jen
No i meant NRL........AFL.......CRICKET... BT!
I am A sydney gal...i know we packem out...but they Fill the grounds up here.
Melbourne doesnt even fill the stadium for an NRL game! Admittedly Sydney has alot more games going on there!
I'm just going on what i see on TV! Hey maybe i'm wrong! :dead:

[bondititan]

ok yeah though its easier to pack out 30000 then melbourne 110000 or sydneys 80000 and cricket sydney is the only place sold out for all days of the game in the new year

[DeeGan]

Have to be impressed with JL (Langer) this morning - he is under enormous pressure from Phil Jacques and he has come out swinging showing those fighting characteristics that I admire in him.

England look ordinary in the first session. Flintoff's 1000 field changes in the first hour don't exactly fill a Pom with confidence. Harmison's wayward first two overs don't help either.

I LOVE TEST MATCH CRICKET! This is great! :D

[bondititan]

deegan
i'm stoked your watching it so flintoff is making heaps of changes i can't wait till i knock off work at 4

[Poida]

Have to be impressed with JL (Langer) this morning - he is under enormous pressure from Phil Jacques and he has come out swinging showing those fighting characteristics that I admire in him.

England look ordinary in the first session. Flintoff's 1000 field changes in the first hour don't exactly fill a Pom with confidence. Harmison's wayward first two overs don't help either.

I LOVE TEST MATCH CRICKET! This is great! :D
yeh mate we got the poms under pressure lol.
right where we want them

[bondititan]

is langer an hayden dominating or just langer ???

cheers for this guys

[jenny]

is langer an hayden dominating or just langer ???

cheers for this guys
let you know when it comes up BT

[jenny]

Good start for Aussies in Ashes

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



AUSTRALIA have begun well in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba today

Steve Harmison kicked off the series with a first ball wide. He was subsequently removed from the attack after just 2 poor overs as Langer and Hayden went on the attack.

Despite some early edges, the Australian openers have looked in control and have scored at an astonishing rate of six runs per over.

For constantly updated scores click here.

The traditional Australia-England rivalry will reach unprecedented levels of rivalry today - it is the most-anticipated Ashes series ever held Down Under.

Opposing fan groups the Barmy Army and the Fanatics tuned up for the 40,000 Gabba sell-out with a friendly 20Twenty match in Brisbane yesterday.

But there will be no hit and giggle between the old enemies in the terraces, offices or pubs when the first thunderbolt is bowled at 11am today.

The painful wait since England regained the Ashes for the first time in two decades last year is over ? today's Ashes opener heralds the start of Australia's biggest summer of cricket in the modern era.

The opening days of all five Tests have been sold out since June. Prized tickets for today's play are fetching up to $500 on the scalpers' market.

TV audiences are expected to break all records, while bosses whose employees have internet access can expect regular breaks in work for live score updates.

Barmy Army head Paul Burnham told The Daily Telegraph he expected more than 3000 Englishmen at the Gabba today.

"It feels totally different because we've got the Ashes," Mr Burnham said.

"Everyone is so fired up. Normally we come here and there's an expectation among the Australian public and media that Australia will just win. That's not the case this time."

Ominously, the Barmy Army notched first bragging rights yesterday with a cracking batting performance against the Fanatics at Ian Healy Oval.

Not since the lusty days of Botham and Gower have English batsmen dined out so well.

In a clear round-one win for England, the Army's batsmen decapitated the Fanatics trundlers in the first 20Twenty "Bashes" match Down Under.

The Poms overturned decades of Aussie torment to set an imposing 212 runs for victory. Inexplicably, the visitors were spared from fielding first in the baking Queensland sun despite entering the match after a two-day lager bender around Brisbane's pubs.

Fanatics captain Steve Laffie defended his call to field on the basis that "our bowling is our strength".

Adding a touch of spice, Mr Laffie also accused the Army of enlisting two County cricketers.

Tourists Darren Clark and Gareth Bakewell ? who shared a blazing 130-run partnership, later admitted they had represented at provincial level.

[bondititan]

cheers i reckon hayden is a slow starter and will take at least an hour to start playing good cricket

[Poida]

is langer an hayden dominating or just langer ???

cheers for this guys
langer looks more dominant

[bondititan]

thought so whats his score

[jenny]

LIVE Scorecard: Australia v England

The veteran Australia opening batsman struck two more in Harmison?s next over ? both past gully ? as Australia reached 0-51 after 11 overs on what looks a belter of a Gabba pitch.

Flintoff removed his wayward spearhead after just two overs and brought on James Anderson, whose first ball was hooked by Langer to the boundary.

Your say

"I'll be dropping in comments on all the key moments, and you can fire back whenever you feel the need."
Toby Forage
FOXSPORTS.com.au editor
Comment now

Matthew Hayden also looked in good order, off-driving Matthew Hoggard to the fence in the fourth over of the day.

The hosts, looking to regain the Ashes after losing for the first time in nine series last year, settled on Stuart Clark as its third seamer ahead of 12th man Mitchell Johnson.

England chose to play veteran Ashley Giles as its left-arm spinner, relegating Monty Panesar to drink-carrying duties.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said: ?It might do a little bit early, but it's always a great place to bat first.

"Michael Clarke has trained hard and is looking forward to it. We've had a long time to think about that last series and now start focusing on this one.?

Giles has not played a Test for a year because of hip problems, but got the nod over Panesar, who has impressed throughout 2006.

It is understood Giles was preferred because of his better batting and fielding abilities over his rival, primarily to strengthen England's long tail.

Batsman Ian Bell was also passed fit to play after being struck on the wrist during the week.

England captain Andrew Flintoff was not overly bothered at losing the toss.

?Might be something in it first hour, but no too bothered," he said.

"Bell is fine and Ashley Giles is back,. He's been a solid member of the side with both bat and ball. It was a close call, but Ash got the nod.

?It's brought the team closer, and we've prepapred well over the past two weeks. As Ricky said, we hust want to get the cricket underway now.?

Crowds and traffic were building up around the ground from very early in the morning.

Long queues were forming outside the ground in fine, warm conditions.

Members began lining up for prime seats from before 6am and the area surrounding the ground was thick with traffic and pedestrians even before the gates opened at 8.30am local (0930 AEDT).

[jenny]

Australia wins toss, will bat

November 23, 2006 12:00


AUSTRALIA won the toss and will bat first in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat first in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

A huge roar from the Brisbane crowd greeted the two skippers to signal the start of cricket's most eagerly-awaited series, which has been looming since England beat Australia in 2005.

Australia will begin its innings in fine and sunny conditions and on a fast-paced wicket which should suit bowlers early before it dries out later in the day.

Good conditions are forecast for throughout the match.

Australia selected NSW paceman Stuart Clark as its third fast bowler behind Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

Clark pipped Queensland's Mitchell Johnson in a close selection tussle.

England chose Ashley Giles as its left-arm spinner, preferring him over Monty Panesar to bolster the tourists' lower-order batting.

The tourists also named batsman Ian Bell to play despite his injury scare during the week when he was hit on the wrist while batting.

Australia will start the series a warm favourite, having won 11 of its past 12 Tests since it lost the Ashes.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson (12th man).

England: Andrew Flintoff (capt), Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, James Anderson, Sajid Mahmood (12th man).

[jenny]

Australia v England (In Progress)
Ashes: November 23, 2006
Brisbane Weather: Fine, Hot
Pitch: Normal

AUS 0/57
Overs: 12.0

Wickets In Hand: 10
Current Run Rate: 4.75

Snapshot
Batsmen Runs Balls 4s 6s Run Rate
x Langer, J 38 41 7 0 92.68
Hayden, M 16 33 2 0 48.48
Partnership 57 74 9 0 77.0
Bowlers Wickets Runs Overs Maidens Strike Rate
x Anderson, J 0 17 4 1 70.83
Flintoff, A 0 6 1 0 75.00

Australia First Innings
Batsman Runs Balls 4s 6s S/R
Langer, J Not Out 38 41 7 0 92.68
Hayden, M Not Out 16 33 2 0 48.48
Ponting, R 0 0 0 0 0.00
Martyn, D 0 0 0 0 0.00
Hussey, M 0 0 0 0 0.00
Clarke, M 0 0 0 0 0.00
Gilchrist, A 0 0 0 0 0.00
Warne, S 0 0 0 0 0.00
Lee, B 0 0 0 0 0.00
Clark, S 0 0 0 0 0.00
McGrath, G 0 0 0 0 0.00
Extras b:0, lb:0, w:1, nb:2 3
TOTAL: 12.0 overs 0/57 Run Rate: 4.75/over

Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets R/100
Harmison, S 2 0 17 0 130.77
Hoggard, M 5 2 17 0 56.67
Anderson, J 4 1 17 0 70.83
Flintoff, A 1 0 6 0 75.00

Toss: Australia
Decision: Bat
Umpires: Bowden, B (NZ)
Bucknor, S (WI)
Parker, P (AUS)
Match Referee: Crowe, J (NZ)

[jenny]

Ill give scores as i do my House work for you guys who cant hear the game!

[jenny]

Let the sledging begin

By Paul Kent

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



THE Joke: "What's the difference between the Aussie cricket team and a pot of yoghurt?"

The punchline: "Yoghurt has more culture."

If August 29, 1882, marked the death of English cricket and the creation of the Ashes, then November 21, 2006 marks the death of English humour.

Australia's cricketers might be old, according to English hopes, but not nearly as old as their jokes.

The Ashes kick off in Brisbane today and thousands of Pommies will honour it by smothering themselves in coconut oil, aware the one crime greater than not returning with the Ashes is not returning with a tan.

The Poms have descended on Australia, in numbers.

And with all the false hope of a British heavyweight they are attempting to turn Australia's talent for the art of mental disintegration against us.

So the jokes have been whipped up in a crude attempt.

It began when news reached Australia that the Barmy Army was in a war room in London preparing its songbook for the 35,000-strong throng that will converge Down Under.

The Fanatics responded in kind, declaring they will take the Barmy Army on song for song. Clearly, this wasn't just a cricket series, but a concert in the round. Then The Sun launched its own campaign to rally against The Fanatics' 70,000-strong songbook.

The Sun launched its own songwriting campaign, complete with financial reward for all songs that got published in its fine publication.

It was spectacular in its failure. The last time anything this bad was launched from England it sunk in the Atlantic.

But it hasn't even taken an iceberg to sink these bombs, the wounds entirely self-inflicted. With three million readers and financial rewards to stir them from their slumber, Tuesday's eight-page Ashes liftout kicked off with: "Shane Warne was a spinner, He was a different class, But now he's had so many pies, His a . . . drags on the grass!" Yep. That was the best of it. Enough said, really.

Elsewhere, the jokes have been so hard to come by the Poms have had to even resort to stealing Australian jokes and turning them around.

The joke: What do you call an Aussie with 100 runs against his name? The punchline: A bowler.

We have been getting away with that one in Australia for years, but even then only in desperation.

Still, at least it was true. In days past, when England had a fine reputation for cutting edge humour, every comic could tell you the first rule of comedy was that the joke must contain some element of truth. To steal a joke like that is plain wrong.

So with no obvious humorous intellect to call on, the half-cooked comedians have gone back to their two old faithfuls to inflict a bit of zing in their routine: calling us convicts and saying we lack culture.

Convicts we'll take. The poor saps don't even understand that we wear it as a badge of honour. England is so depressing a place no crime is too small it is not worth committing to get out.

Just quietly, it showed we were the smart ones; our trip was free, these saps have paid their way Down Under.

Less palatable are the attacks on this perceived lack of culture.

One English cricket writer, currently moisturising his sunburn, sent a story home recently describing the Opera House and the beauty he could see from his hotel window ? as a preamble to what a miserable place it was.

Because, he said, it lacked culture. For anybody that has spent any amount of time in England, as I am being forced to right now exactly what culture we lack is a little confusing.

After all, once it gets dark at 4.30pm all we are left to do is head inside and watch Booze Britain. Here a film crew walks into a pub ? trust me, it could be any pub ? and boozy 20-somethings are interviewed about how they love nothing better than a boozy night out.

It always ends in the same time-honoured manner; a kebab that comes back about 15 minutes later.

And this is the women.

An ITV study last week showed that men started drinking earlier than women, the women drink more regularly.

The health system is in disarray, education standards are crashing, prisoners are actually being let out of prison early because it is too full to bring in any new ones.

And where Monty Python once ruled the TV now we get a former Big Brother contestant who, after musing that Rio de Janeiro was a soccer player, was considered such entertainment she was given her own TV show.

A lack of culture? From moi?

I'm dead-set thinking about pinching a loaf just to get out of here.

[jenny]

AUS 0/71
Overs: 15.3

Wickets In Hand: 10
Current Run Rate: 4.58

Snapshot
Batsmen Runs Balls 4s 6s Run Rate
x Langer, J 45 54 8 0 83.33
Hayden, M 19 41 2 0 46.34
Partnership 71 95 10 0 74.7
Bowlers Wickets Runs Overs Maidens Strike Rate
x Harmison, S 0 19 2.3 0 118.75
Anderson, J 0 22 6 2 59.46

[bondititan]

go langer get fifty

[jenny]

go langer get fifty
just got it :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

[Poida]

damn flintoff

[bondititan]

what flintoff do ???

[Poida]

got hayden out for 21 caught at slip :(

[bondititan]

oh :') :')
who caught him ???
collingwood usaully plays there ???

[jenny]

Australia brings up 100

Updates by Tom Sangster

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph

AUSTRALIA has reached 1/109 at lunch on the first day of the of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Justin Langer has notched up a brisk 68 in a classy display.

Despite some streaky moments early, Langer has looked to impose himself on the English bowlers, scoring at close to a run a ball.

He was brutal on anything wide, hitting a number of boundaries square on the off side.

Hayden edged a seaming ball from Flintoff to second slip immediately after Langer brought up his fifty.

Ricky Ponting has started comfortably, hitting a few early boundaries and moving his score to 11.

The England team was ragged early but improved as the session wore on.

All England bowlers have been expensive.

Harmison has bowled particularly poorly, going for six runs an over and hurling down some wild deliveries including a first ball wide that went straight to slips.

Matthew Hoggard has been the best of the English bowlers, going for three runs an over and producing a number of edges that did not go to hand.

England have also been ragged in the field, the lowpoint being four overthrows that were conceded after Hayden stole a short single.

[jenny]

Old one-two still lethal

By Jon Pierik

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



THE men who have provided the greatest one-two punch in cricket history had a bold message for England yesterday - we are not finished yet.

Australia's very own dynamic duo, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, will step out for their 100th Test playing together at the Gabba today, a bond which has yielded an astonishing 66 wins and just 18 losses.

Their partnership rates as the most exalted bowling union in Australian Test history, far outstretching the iconic figures of Lindwall and Miller and Lillee and Thomson.

Commentators such as England legend Ian Botham have questioned whether McGrath, at 36, has much left in the tank, but the most prolific fast bowler in Test history yesterday fired back ahead of the Ashes opener.

"He (Botham) has got a few doubts I can make it through the series, has he ? well, that's the least of my worries at the moment," McGrath told The Daily Telegraph.. "I have never felt better."

McGrath ? who hasn't played a Test in 11 months ? declared he was primed for a profitable Ashes opener.

Then, in jest, he added: "After a five-for in the first innings, we'll go from there."

Warne, 37, was nonplussed by the latest attack from England's master stirrer, who had claimed the Australian side ? which could have an average age of 34 in the first Test if Stuart Clark plays ? was a cricketing version of the iconic television series, Dad's Army.

While they may ply different trades ? McGrath is the complete fast bowler with every weapon save for blinding pace and Warne the dazzling leg-spinner with an amazing array of prodigiously spinning deliveries ? McGrath says their success is due to a common theme.

"We are similar bowlers. We are both fairly accurate and build pressure," he said.

"If the wickets aren't falling at my end, they are falling at Shane's end. I credit Warney with a lot of my wickets."

Warne, Test cricket's leading wicket-taker with 685, was equally as magnanimous.

"I have publicly said a lot of times a lot my wickets I wouldn't have if it wasn't for Glenn McGrath at the other end," he said.

"One of the things that happens when we bowl together is that something actually happens ? whether that be the runs dry up, or wickets fall.

"I feel we have control of the game. There are times when it hasn't worked, but through 100 Tests there aren't many.

"He is the best fast bowler I have played with for Australia."

McGrath joined Warne in the Australian side 13 years ago for the first Test against New Zealand at the WACA.

The lanky quick took three wickets on debut and Warne, already in his 13th Test, only added the one, but the first seeds of what was to become one of cricket's most feared double acts were planted.

"It's not hard to remember the first one," McGrath said.

"I just remember meeting the guys. Everything was new. To look back now, and here we are 13, 14 years down the track, we have played our 100th match together, it's a massive honour."

Warne had a more colourful recollection of the first meeting.

"Pidgeon's pants were half way up his shins," he said. "He had the straight fringe as well. Things have changed now. He even dyes his hair.

"Maybe we have been hanging around too long together!"

Australia, no doubt, hopes they can continue to hang there for some time yet.

[jenny]

Langer leads Aussie charge

By Scott Heinrich
FOXSPORTS.com.au
November 23, 2006

JUSTIN Langer struck an unbeaten 68 as Australia took the upper hand at lunch on day one of the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane.

The hosts, who won the toss, reached 1-109 at the first break with Matthew Hayden the man out, caught at second slip off England captain Andrew Flintoff (1-18) for 21.

LIVE Scorecard: Australia v England

Australia?s shotmaking wasn?t always crisp, but it was usually decisive. Langer, in particular, left nothing to chance with 10 boundaries in a display of attacking front-foot batting on both sides of the wicket.

He was particularly harsh on the disappointing England fast bowler Steve Harmison, whose six errant overs went for 37 runs.

Your say



The first ball of the day, delivered by Harmison, was a wide which wound up in the hands of Flintoff at second slip. Two Langer boundaries made it nine runs for the over.

The veteran opening batsman struck two more in Harmison?s next over ? both past gully ? prompting Flintoff to remove his wayward spearhead after just two overs.

Harmison was replaced by James Anderson, whose first ball was hooked by Langer to the boundary, and Hayden chimed in with an off-driven boundary off Matthew Hoggard in the fourth over of the day.

It amounted to a very bright start for Australia and Flintoff brought himself on after 11 overs, at which point Australia had eased to 0-51.

Andrew Flintoff

Breakthrough ... Freddie to the rescue Pic: afp

Langer registered his 30th Test fifty with a nudged single before Flintoff, switched to over the wicket after two unthreatening overs, hit the right spot next ball to provide England with its much-needed breakthrough.

Trapped motionless on the crease by Flintoff?s exquisite length, Hayden angled aimlessly at the ball with the resultant edge winding up in the safe hands of Paul Collingwood at second slip.

The strike energised England ? its players and its many fans inside the ground ? but Harmison, back in the attack from a different end, failed to keep the pressure on.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting announced his arrival at the crease with successive fours off Harmison, one pulled through midwicket and the other slashed over extra cover.

He was unbeaten on 11 at the first break.

The hosts, looking to regain the Ashes after losing for the first time in nine series last year, settled on Stuart Clark as its third seamer ahead of 12th man Mitchell Johnson.

England chose to play veteran Ashley Giles as its left-arm spinner ahead of Monty Panesar, with Sajid Mahmood given drink-carrying duties.

Crowds and traffic were building up around the ground from very early in the morning, with long queues forming in fine, warm conditions.

Members began lining up for prime seats from before 6am and the area surrounding the ground was thick with traffic and pedestrians even before the gates opened at 8.30am local (0930 AEDT).

[bondititan]

hay its back on ????

[Capital_Shark]

hay its back on ????

It certainly is mate.

[bondititan]

yes whats the strike rate like for langer ???

[jenny]

AUS 1/135
Overs: 28.0

Wickets In Hand: 9
Current Run Rate: 4.82

Snapshot
Batsmen Runs Balls 4s 6s Run Rate
x Langer, J 82 95 13 0 86.32
Ponting, R 23 29 4 0 79.31
Partnership 56 58 9 0 96.6
Bowlers Wickets Runs Overs Maidens Strike Rate
x Flintoff, A 1 24 7 0 53.33
Anderson, J 0 42 8 2 85.71

[Poida]

langer out 82

[jenny]

Langer gone for 82

[Capital_Shark]

Bugger

[bondititan]

well lets see how dr martyn goes

[Poida]

lol dr martyn . good one.
i hope he does well since to be honest i was one who didnt think he should be in the test side

[jenny]

Flintoff takes Langer

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP


JUSTIN Langer has been dismissed for a well-made 84 in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

The Australians continued on where they left off in the first session, with Langer and Ponting hitting early boundaries after lunch. Langer is closing in on a hundred.

Langer square drove Anderson for two boundaries in a wayward first over after lunch.

While the English had success against Langer in last year?s Ashes by bowling straight, they have bowled to wide at him today and Langer has punished them.

For constantly updated scores click here.

Similarly, Ponting signalled his ominous form by straight driving Flinfoff and on-driving Anderson.

But just as a hundred was beckoning, Langer cut a wide ball from Flintoff into the hands of gully.

The pitch has lost its early juice and flattened out considerably.

Its fast pace is conducive to strokeplay, with the Australian?s rolling along at more than four and a half an over.

Damien Martyn is the new batsman.

Lunch report

AUSTRALIA seized early control of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba by racing to 1-109 against England's erratic and over-awed bowling attack.

Only a great delivery from England skipper Andrew Flintoff, which squared up Matthew Hayden and had him caught at second slip, impeded Australia's progress on the first morning after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss.

Opener Justin Langer was unbeaten on 68 at lunch on day one ? his first half-century in six Tests ? and Ponting 11 not out after coming in when Hayden was dismissed for 21 after a 79-run opening stand.

England's bowlers produced a nightmare start in the series opener, and Steve Harmison's first delivery of the match typified the tourists' early jitters, as it travelled so wide Flintoff took the ball at second slip.

Harmison's waywardness, James Anderson's inability to bowl a ball on a good length and a lack of swing for Matthew Hoggard compounded Flintoff's worries, and Langer and Hayden added 57 in the first hour.

The dodgy start came despite a Pommy attempt to lower Aussie morale with trickery last night.

A London TV company beamed enormous images of England players Monty Panesar and Andrew Flintoff on to the Harbour Bridge. Officials are investigating today whether the stunt broke any laws.

The trick did little good down on the pitch today.

The start of play was reminiscent of England's struggles with the ball at the Gabba four years ago, when Australia made a flyer and reached 1-125 at lunch. The difference this time was Flintoff lost the toss.

Harmison lasted just two overs from the Stanley Street while conceding 17 runs and even a change of ends later in the session did not help him.

The big strike bowler, who made such a telling impact on the first day of the 2005 series, went for 0-37 from six overs.

Flintoff (1-18) kept his side in the contest with a beauty to dismiss Hayden, caught by Paul Collingwood, and the skipper's pumped-up celebration told of a big release in pressure for the visitors.

Langer began his innings streakily, with a couple of edged boundaries either side of gully and another slash over the top of the cordon.

But the veteran opener settled into the groove and would have been delighted with his strong start given the recent pressure he has faced from aspiring opener Phil Jaques.

Ponting also looked in fine touch, and struck Harmison for successive boundaries, one a pull shot and the next an elegant drive through the covers off the back foot.

Australia, as expected, selected Stuart Clark to play as the third paceman instead of Mitchell Johnson, who was named 12th man.

England selected Ashley Giles as its left-arm spinner ahead of Monty Panesar, and the veteran was already into the fray, by bowling the final over of the session.

Ponting had no hesitation batting first on a wicket which was expected to be one of the quickest produced at the Gabba, although Flintoff said at the toss he was unfazed with a first chance to use the conditions.

But the skipper aside, the tourists' lack of the spark with the ball was a major worry, most notably Harmison's shocking start.

[jenny]

2/143

[bondititan]

dr martyn has had a low though if you changed your line up people would hardly ever know the team :music:

[jenny]

we are 2/168

[jenny]

Current status

Australia 1st Innings: 2/170 overs(38)
Batsmen Runs Balls Mins 4s 6s SS SR
Ponting, R Not Out 45 57 94 8 0 18 78.95
Martyn, D Not Out 11 31 44 1 0 4 35.48
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets r/100
Giles, A 1 0 1 0 16.67

[bondititan]

great stuff jenny only 1 hr left and i'll be sprawled on the couch watching cricket

[jenny]

great stuff jenny only 1 hr left and i'll be sprawled on the couch watching cricket
good stuff... :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :naughty:

[jenny]

Australia 1st Innings: 2/174 overs(39)
Batsmen Runs Balls Mins 4s 6s SS SR
Ponting, R Not Out 46 60 101 8 0 19 76.67
Martyn, D Not Out 14 38 51 1 0 5 36.84
Bowler Overs Maidens Runs Wickets r/100
Giles, A 1 0 1 0 16.67

[bondititan]

go rickey

[Poida]

martyn dismissed for 21

[Hoppy2007Dragons]

that was a good delivery and catch by the poms, hopefully they can continue to put up more of a fight.

[bondititan]

dr martyn nooooooooooooooooooooo

oh well 23's not bad

[jenny]

Cricket
Andrew Flintoff and Justin Langer

Lone furrow ... Flintoff is doing it all on his own in Brisbane Pic: AP
Ponting ton punishes England

By Scott Heinrich
FOXSPORTS.com.au
November 23, 2006

RICKY Ponting struck his 32nd Test century as Australia turned the screw on the day one of the first Ashes Test against England.

Australia was 3-277 midway through the evening session in Brisbane, with skipper Ponting unbeaten on 101 and Ashes debutant Mike Hussey 30 not out.

LIVE Scorecard: Australia v England

Ponting?s superb hundred, scored off 136 balls and including 15 boundaries, saw him equal his predecessor Steve Waugh?s record number of tons for an Australia player.

It was all Australia in the first part of the final session after England had hit back with two wickets in the afternoon.

[jenny]

Cricket
Andrew Flintoff and Justin Langer

Lone furrow ... Flintoff is doing it all on his own in Brisbane Pic: AP
Ponting ton punishes England


RICKY Ponting struck his 32nd Test century as Australia turned the screw on the day one of the first Ashes Test against England.

Australia was 3-277 midway through the evening session in Brisbane, with skipper Ponting unbeaten on 101 and Ashes debutant Mike Hussey 30 not out.

LIVE Scorecard: Australia v England

Ponting?s superb hundred, scored off 136 balls and including 15 boundaries, saw him equal his predecessor Steve Waugh?s record number of tons for an Australia player.

It was all Australia in the first part of the final session after England had hit back with two wickets in the afternoon.


Captain Andrew Flintoff was the clear pick of the England attack, boasting figures of 2-40 off 13 overs after removing Australia?s opening batsmen either side of lunch.

Having earlier removed Matthew Hayden for 21 ? England?s only strike of the morning ? Flintoff had Justin Langer caught for 82, a blustery 98-ball knock that included 13 boundaries.

Ashley Giles, preferred to left-arm spin colleague Monty Panesar, struck 30 minutes before tea when Damien Martyn (29) offered Paul Collingwood his second catch of the day.

Australia, which settled on Stuart Clark as its third seamer ahead of Mitchell Johnson, won the toss earlier in the day with Ponting electing to bat.

Justin Langer

Top knock ... Langer should have scored a ton Pic: Reuters

The first ball of the day, delivered by the disappointing Steve Harmison (0-52), was so wide it wound up in the hands of Flintoff at second slip. Two Langer boundaries made it nine runs for the over.

The veteran Australia opening batsman struck two more in Harmison?s next over ? both past gully ? and Flintoff removed his wayward spearhead after just two overs.

Harmison was replaced by James Anderson, whose first ball was hooked by Langer to the boundary, and Hayden chimed in with an off-driven boundary off Hoggard in the fourth over of the day.

It represented a very bright start for Australia, and Flintoff brought himself on after 11 overs, with the score 0-51.

Langer registered his 30th Test fifty with a nudged single before Flintoff, switching to over the wicket, hit the right spot next ball to provide England with a much-needed breakthrough.

Trapped motionless on the crease by Flintoff?s exquisite length, Hayden angled aimlessly at the ball with the resultant edge winding up in the safe hands of Collingwood at second slip.

The strike energised England ? its players and its many fans inside the ground ? but Harmison, back in the attack from the other end, failed to keep the pressure on with Ponting taking him for successive boundaries on the stroke of lunch.

Australia plundered 109 runs in the first session and picked up where it left off after the break.

Ponting clubbed Flintoff to the long-on fence and Langer unfurled a number of crunching cover drives to punish Anderson.

But again it was Flintoff to the fore. Two balls after Ponting had cut him uncomfortably close to the outstretched hands of gully, Langer tossed his wicket away to a similar shot.

Kevin Pietersen, whose first Ashes campaign last year was blighted by dropped catches, made no mistake at point to oust Langer 18 runs short of a 23rd Test century.

England looked to build on the strike but the pendulum swung back Australia?s way when Flintoff replaced Anderson with Matthew Hoggard and himself with Harmison, whose first delivery in the afternoon was slashed by Martyn to the third-man fence.

It took the unlikely figure of Giles to keep Australia under wraps. Martyn, cutting late, thick-edged the ball with Collingwood diving to his right and taking an assured two-handed catch.

Hussey marked his arrival in Ashes cricket with a thumping straight-driven boundary off Flintoff, one delivery after leaving a ball which missed the top of off-stump by millimetres.

The tea break, which Australia reached on 3-217, did nothing to suppress Ponting?s hunger.

The Aussie skipper went after Anderson in no uncertain fashion, driving and cutting for successive boundaries in the session?s first over before pulling violently to the fence for the shot of the day.

All the while Giles maintained a good line and gave the ball plenty of air, at one stage having a very good leg before shout that Ponting survived owing to the good stride he got in.

Flintoff turned to the part-time medium pace of Ian Bell, but it will take more than that to undo Ponting in his current mood.

[jenny]

Australians embrace pact mentality

By Dan Koch
November 23, 2006

AUSTRALIA'S cricketers will arrive at the Gabba this morning ready to deliver on a promise they made to each other on their brutal pre-season boot camp.

The pact came on the final night, after five gruelling days, when the players, huddled together in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, vowed to commit hemselves to the team for the summer and to ensure the lessons learnt were not left on the mountain ranges.

"There had been a lot of great work done to that point in breaking down barriers between different members of the squad, especially the older and younger guys," said Grant Doyle, a manager of operations and training at BLP Group - the company that oversaw the running of the camp and is in charge of security for Cricket Australia.

"But you can talk and talk all you want and it doesn't mean much if you walk away and say, 'oh, but my priorities are different now'.

"But they committed to make things real. The bond within that group at the end of the camp and the strength of their convictions left me in no doubt they are ready to do something special."

A veteran of more than 20 years in the army before linking with BLP Group, Doyle said he had been stunned by the mental strength and physical performances of the squad over the five days.

According to one source, the performances of the cricketers easily surpassed those of NRL premier Brisbane, whose players were put through a similarly demanding experience in the lead-up to their 2006 campaign.

"I think a number of the camp organisers were surprised with the tenacity and physical robustness of the group," Doyle said.

"Their overall standard of fitness and endurance was outstanding, but I think their mental strength was what leapt out.

"From top to bottom they were relentless and they dragged each other along at different stages."

Leading the way was captain Ricky Ponting, whom Doyle labelled as "inspirational".

"I watched Ricky in action first-hand and he is a guy who leads by example and has the respect as a leader of all the players, coaches and management," Doyle said.

"He is the governor.

"He is the sort of man you want at the front. He is prepared to listen to those around him but still makes his own decisions.

"He will put the group's goals ahead of his own and it is an example the rest of the team follows."

Leg spinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill were among a number of players who expressed reservations in the lead-up to the camp, which was designed by Eben Jefford, a former member of the SAS, in co-ordination with Australia coach John Buchanan.

Players were deprived of food, sleep and water before being put through a series of complex tasks. Names were replaced with numbers in a bid to strip the team back to its most basic framework, removing the pre-existing hierarchy and rebuilding it again.

"There was a core group of guys which had been part of the team for a long time, and another group of guys who were in the younger age bracket, and this just allowed them to break the barriers down and bridge the gap which existed," Doyle said.

"When you do something that is so tough and so demanding as a group, it gives you that shared experience which brings you closer together and the players and staff who were part of the camp certainly left a tighter unit than they arrived."

[jenny]

Mr Cricket piles on the runs

November 23, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP

MIKE Hussey has put in a clinical display to post his fifth Test half century at the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

Hussey's half-ton took 92 balls and included 4 boundaries.

He has been reluctant to take risks, but has still scored quickly by picking gaps in the well spread field.

Running between wickets has been a feature of his innings.

England must now look to the second new ball as they try to break a brilliant partnership between Mike Hussey and Ricky Ponting.

The game appears to be slipping away from England, with Australia now in an extremely strong position, nearing 350 runs with 7 wickets in hand.

For constantly updated scores click here.

Earlier in the session, Ponting brought up his 32nd international century. His hundred took 136 balls and included 15 boundaries.

Ponting?s display has been dominant, with his pull shot and on-drive particularly punishing.

None of the English bowlers have looked threatening on a pitch that is now perfect for batting.

England look sluggish, with an extremely slow over rate meaning play will be extended for almost an hour.

Brett Lee is padded up as nightwatchman to shield Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist from the second new ball.

Tea Report

SPINNER Ashley Giles justified his selection in the first Ashes Test with a key Australian wicket to bring England back into the contest at the Gabba.

Australia was well-placed at 3-217 at tea with skipper Ricky Ponting in blistering touch, but Giles' wicket of Damien Martyn gave the tourists hope of working their way back into the match after a nightmare start with the ball.

Giles got the nod over Monty Panesar as England's left-arm spinner despite being the more conservative option with the ball, but in his fifth over he got one to hurry and bounce on Martyn, who was out cutting to slip for 29.

Paul Collingwood took a sharp catch moving to his right to end a partnership of 57 which was looking ominous for England.

Ponting, who pulled and drove elegantly on his way to a classy 63 not out, loomed as the key batsman for his country entering the final session.

But there were further signs of optimism for England as Steve Harmison began to find his rhythm after a disastrous first session, when he sent the first delivery of the match so wide it was taken by second slip and was wayward throughout.

Harmison's better efforts in the second session, when he bowled a respectable spell of 0-15 from six overs, came on the back of another big effort from captain Andrew Flintoff, who removed Justin Langer for 82 with the score on 141.

Langer had batted beautifully and was closing in on his first century in over a year when he cut a wide delivery straight to a grateful Kevin Pietersen at point.

Flintoff had figures of 2-40 having removed Matthew Hayden (21) in the first session, while had Giles 1-23 and Harmison 0-52 from 12 overs after his first six cost 37 runs.

Australian Mike Hussey (10 not out) showed no signs of nerves in his Ashes debut with a straight drive for four and a couple of nice clips through mid-wicket.

England also encountered an injury scare just before tea, when Pietersen hurt his left knee going knee-first into the ground to field a ball.

Pietersen reached for his knee as soon as he got up and was treated for a few minutes by team physiotherapist Kirk Russell before he walked unaided off the ground.

He was replaced by Ed Joyce.

The incident rekindled memories of the severe injury England's Simon Jones suffered when his knee plugged in the Gabba turf four years ago, which ended his tour.

England's jittery bowling in the first session was also reminiscent of the 2002-03 opener, although the tourists were able to call on Flintoff's inspiration this time before Giles struck.

[Grimmace]

AT stumps on day one we are 3/346

[Robbie_Dee]

Thats such a good score! good to see Ponting doing so well! Hussy also doing an awesome job! I smell a first innings declaration coming :chef:

[Poida]

lol not for a long while yet.

[Capital_Shark]

Bring on tomorrow! I forgot how much I've missed test cricket!

[Grimmace]

Hey guys what did you think of CH 9's coverage today ?, and what did ya think of that hot spot cam.

[jenny]

Hey guys what did you think of CH 9's coverage today ?, and what did ya think of that hot spot cam.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD! and THAT HOT SPOT CAM IS GREAT!

[Capital_Shark]

Hey guys what did you think of CH 9's coverage today ?, and what did ya think of that hot spot cam.

Great coverage I thought. Pitty they can't do as good with league games. The hot spot cam is one of the best things I've seen in a long time in any sport. Not only can it detect whether or not the ball caught an edge of the bat (seemingly flawlessly too I might add) but you can see just which part of the bat they used to hit the ball.

[jenny]

The Ashes
Ashes fans caught out by bag ban

By Evan Schwarten
November 23, 2006

HORDES of Ashes cricket fans were caught out today by tough new security measures banning backpacks from the Gabba.

Many angry first Test patrons missed the first ball of the long awaited series while waiting to drop their bags off at a cloakroom established by organisers.

"We've missed what we came here for, the first ball, the atmosphere, we've missed it all," Brisbane fan Jason Davie said.

Mr Davie had packed soft drinks and food to avoid stadium prices but ended up transferring the items to plastic bags as he waited 45-minutes in the cloakroom queue.

"The Cricket Australia website is going to crash tonight with complaints," he said.

Queensland Cricket spokesman Steve Gray said the new guidelines had been well-publicised.

"There was an enormous amount of publicity but there is always going to be people caught out the first time," he said.

"It's (the backpack ban) here to stay and I think you will find it becoming the standard across the country."

Mr Gray said gate staff managed to clear all queues into the ground before the first ball was bowled, despite a record Test crowd of 40,000.

That was of little comfort to Gold Coast fan Graham Barrett who was forced to change his clothes in a park outside the grounds after being told he couldn't take his backpack inside the venue.

"I brought a change of clothes . . . I just flew in from Adelaide so I had work clothes on and I had to change in the bloody park," he said.

The bag ban was part of a zero tolerance security policy set up in response to poor crowd behaviour which marked the 2005-2006 cricket series against South Africa.

AAP

[jenny]

Ponting hails Langer's blistering start



November 23, 2006 - 9:05PM


First-day hero Ricky Ponting has marvelled at under-pressure opener Justin Langer's character in answering his critics to lay the foundations for a mammoth Australian total at the Gabba.

Ponting played down his own unbeaten 137 as the world champions charged to 3-346 on the opening day of the series but paid immense credit to Langer for giving them the "exact start".

The left-hander's rollicking 82 off 98 balls set the tone for Australia's batsmen and immediately rejected calls for the inclusion of NSW run-machine Phil Jaques.

The West Australian's innings knocked the stuffing out of England's nervous pace attack and provided the platform for Ponting and Mike Hussey to cash in with a 148-run fourth-wicket stand.

"It was brilliant," Ponting said of Langer's free-wheeling knock that featured 13 boundaries.

"It was exactly what we needed, what he needed.

"I know he's been under a little bit of pressure ... and said he felt it, and for him to come out and play the way he did today shows the sort of player he is and the sort of character he is.

"That's exactly the reason he's in the side. He's a fighter and you know he's going to give 100 per cent every time he walks out to the middle and today was a great knock that got the momentum in the Test match going our way and it was unfortunate he didn't go on and get a hundred."

Langer wasted a prime chance to register his 23rd Test ton when he mistimed a cut off Andrew Flintoff to Kevin Pietersen at point.

But the damage had already been done to England which never recovered after Langer, who turned 36 on Tuesday, hit four boundaries within the first two overs.

It was a far cry from his last Test in South Africa when Makhaya Ntini's first-ball bouncer knocked him out, prompting questions about his future and making him contemplate retirement.

It was Langer's 10th Test innings without a 50 at the time, a rut in stark contrast to Jaques' domestic exploits in Australia and England.

"His absence from Test cricket is longer than most and his last ball he faced was a sickening one," said Ponting.

"He seems for 10 years of his career been trying to prove someone wrong and he's done it yet again today and gave us the exact start we needed in this Ashes series.

"Whenever he feels he needs runs he just gets out there and does it."

There was a touch of luck for Langer as a couple of early edges went through the cordon and one drive just flashed past point but his start signalled a long, hard day for the deflated tourists.

He and Hayden brought up the 50 within 11 overs and Langer went to lunch unbeaten on 68, giving the world champions the whip hand at 1-109.

A streaky boundary through point off Matthew Hoggard that took him to 30 saw Langer pass David Boon (7422) as Australia's sixth most prolific Test run-scorer.

A testament to his 101-Test career, Langer's average (45) is almost a full two runs better than that of Boon who was considered Australia's No.1 batsman in the early 1990s.

? 2006 AAP

[Robbie_Dee]

Hey guys what did you think of CH 9's coverage today ?, and what did ya think of that hot spot cam.It was fantastic as always! i'm liking the new layout of the information how it comes up during the game! Thought it looked a lot better than previous years!

[Grimmace]

Bring on tomorrow! I forgot how much I've missed test cricket!
HAHA there are two seasons in Australia Footy Season and Cricket Season.Trust me your not the only one who forgot how much they like their cricket, best thing on the T.v in the summer time.

[jenny]

Aussies ride on Punter power

By Scott Heinrich
FOXSPORTS.com.au
November 23, 2006

RICKY Ponting struck his 32nd Test century as Australia took complete control on day one of the first Ashes Test against England.

Australia eased to an imposing 3-346 at stumps in Brisbane, with skipper Ponting unbeaten on 137 and Ashes debutant Mike Hussey 63 not out. The pair's unbroken stand for the fourth wicket stood at 148 runs.

LIVE Scorecard: Australia v England

Ponting?s wonderful innings, scored off 206 balls and including 16 boundaries, was packed with glorious drives and pull shots and saw him equal his predecessor Steve Waugh?s record number of tons for an Australia player.

He swooshed his bat in the air jubilantly upon reaching his hundred after tea. On such an important day, in such an important series, this was a knock that signalled Ponting's intent - he will not let England keep the Ashes without a fight.



Captain Andrew Flintoff was the clear pick of the England attack, boasting figures of 2-48 off 16 overs after removing Australia?s opening batsmen either side of lunch.

Having earlier removed Matthew Hayden for 21 ? England?s only strike of the morning ? Flintoff had Justin Langer caught for 82, a blustery 98-ball knock that included 13 boundaries.

Ashley Giles, preferred to left-arm spin colleague Monty Panesar, took what would be England's last wicket of the day when just before tea Damien Martyn (29) offered Paul Collingwood his second catch of the day.

Australia, which settled on Stuart Clark as its third seamer ahead of Mitchell Johnson, won the toss earlier in the day.

Justin Langer

Top knock ... Langer should have scored a ton Pic: Reuters

The first ball of the series, delivered by the disappointing Steve Harmison (0-52), was so wide it wound up in the hands of Flintoff at second slip. Two Langer boundaries made it nine runs for the over.

The veteran Australia opening batsman struck two more in Harmison?s next over ? both past gully ? and Flintoff removed his wayward spearhead after just two overs.

Harmison was replaced by James Anderson, whose first ball was hooked by Langer to the boundary, and Hayden chimed in with an off-driven boundary off Hoggard in the fourth over of the day.

It represented a very bright start for Australia, and Flintoff brought himself on after 11 overs, with the score 0-51.

Langer registered his 30th Test fifty with a nudged single before Flintoff, switching to over the wicket, hit the right spot next ball to provide England with a much-needed breakthrough.

Trapped motionless on the crease by Flintoff?s exquisite length, Hayden angled aimlessly at the ball with the resultant edge winding up in the safe hands of Collingwood at second slip.

The strike energised England ? its players and its many fans inside the ground ? but Harmison, back in the attack from the other end, failed to keep the pressure on with Ponting taking him for successive boundaries on the stroke of lunch.

Andrew Flintoff

Lone furrow... Freddie has to go it alone at the Gabba Pic: ap

Australia plundered 109 runs in the first session and picked up where it left off after the break.

Ponting clubbed Flintoff to the long-on fence and Langer unfurled a number of crunching cover drives to punish Anderson.

But again it was Flintoff to the fore. Two balls after Ponting had cut him uncomfortably close to the outstretched hands of gully, Langer tossed his wicket away to a similar shot.

Kevin Pietersen, whose first Ashes campaign last year was blighted by dropped catches, made no mistake at point to oust Langer 18 runs short of a 23rd Test century.

England looked to build on the strike but the pendulum swung back Australia?s way when Flintoff replaced himself with Harmison, whose first delivery in the afternoon was slashed by Martyn to the third-man fence.

It took the unlikely figure of Giles to keep Australia under wraps. Martyn, cutting late, thick-edged the ball with Collingwood diving to his right and taking an assured two-handed catch.

Hussey marked his arrival in Ashes cricket with a thumping straight-driven boundary off Flintoff, one delivery after leaving a ball which missed the top of off-stump by millimetres.

The tea break, which Australia reached on 3-217, did nothing to suppress Ponting?s hunger.

The Aussie skipper went after Anderson in no uncertain fashion, driving and cutting for successive boundaries in the session?s first over before pulling violently to the fence for the shot of the day.

All the while Giles maintained a good line and gave the ball plenty of air, at one stage having a very good leg-before shout that Ponting survived owing to his lengthy stride down the pitch.

England turned to the part-time bowling of Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen, the latter given an extended spell and gaining decent turn with his off breaks.

But Flintoff brought himself back on when Australia had clicked past 300 after 72 overs, but only for two overs before returning later to take the new ball with six overs remaining.

By then, however, Australia was finding things all too easy, and the fourth-wicket duo was content to see out the remaining overs with a platform already laid.

[DeeGan]

Looking forward to today's play.

We should declare around 20 minutes before tea, have 10 minutes at them with the new ball before the tea break and the have the final session - testing time for England's batsmen who are under enormous pressure after being let down by their bowlers excluding Andy Flintoff and to an extent Ashley Giles.

I hope Ponting goes on to get a massive double hundred today and as well see Mike Hussey get another Test tonne.

Looking at the pitch, England are in all sorts of trouble when Warne is bowling, especially the second innings. Look for a massive wicket haul this test IMO.

Glen McGrath I think will enjoy this wicket too - he looks good value at $4.50 for most wickets in the Test. He ranks behind Warne paying $2 odd and Brett Lee at around $3.50.

The first hour today is all important for England ... if they cannot break this partnership 550-600 is on the cards for Aussies! :D

[jenny]

Husseys gone :curse:
86 runs

[bondititan]

for how much ???

[jenny]

for how much ???
4/407
Hussey 86 :naughty:

[bondititan]

thats not bad another 150 and we can declare :box:

[jenny]

thats not bad another 150 and we can declare :box:
4/417 ;)

[jenny]

The Ashes
Stephen Harmison

First Test ... First ball - Harmy sends it wide.Pic:Reuters
England endangered by GBH

By Peter Lalor
November 24, 2006

CONSENSUS has it that there is nothing like the first session of an Ashes Test. Yesterday was, fortunately for Australia, nothing like the first session at Lord's, 2005.

Nothing like the first day either for that matter.

Back then, a rampant Stephen Harmison destroyed Australia by taking five wickets, leaving scars in the process that flared through the rest of the series; one in particular taunts Ricky Ponting every time he looks in the mirror.

Justin Langer said recently that he remembered the big Durham man tearing in and how it became immediately obvious that this was a different England outfit.

The ball smacked into wicketkeeper Geraint Jones' gloves with a chilling thud, Harmison followed through and finished his run-up right under the nose of the Western Australia opener.

"And I thought, 'these guys mean business'," Langer said recently.

"They were really up for it."

The next delivery hit the batsman near the elbow and hatched a subcutaneous egg.

Not that many overs later, Harmison crashed a ball into Ponting's helmet, forcing the grille into his face, splitting the cheek and forcing the captain to spend time at a plastic surgeon.

By lunch, Australia was reeling at 5-97. By tea, it was all out for 190 and Harmison had 5-43. While the home side eventually lost the Test, it had at least served some notice of intent.

Yesterday, the tall England bowler they call Grievous Bodily Harmison tore in and threatened physical damage from ball one again. The problem for England was it was his second slip who was in danger; indeed a startled captain Andrew Flintoff took the ball as it veered wildly off the pitch.

It might have been a good ball had Langer been facing up at the East Brisbane Primary School next door.

The England team was positively awful in the morning. If it served notice of anything, it was that it was overwhelmed and underdone.

Disappointed captain Andrew Flintoff was forced to remove Harmison - the main offender - after just two overs.

It's a surprise he didn't ask the police to escort him from the ground.

By the end of the first hour, Flintoff had used his four front-line bowlers and the sight of Ashley Giles - his fifth - bringing out the old English dart in the last over before lunch showed just what a difference there was between 2005 and 2006.

Giles did not bowl a ball in the first innings against Australia at Lord's. He wasn't needed.

The green-topped Gabba pitch should have offered England's fiery pace quartet so much but, rather than drawing Australian blood, the visitors bled runs. Nay, haemorrhaged.

Australia brought up its 50 in a fraction over 50 minutes, and Langer did most of the damage, leading the way as he and good mate Matthew Hayden got the scoring rolling with six consecutive fours.

In the first hour, Langer and Hayden moved at almost a run a minute. While the run rate slowed with the departure of the Queenslander, Australia had 109 by lunch.

Brisbane police showed that there was still a little bit of Joh in the state by throwing out the Barmy Army's entertaining and classically trained trumpet player, but the policeman could have shown some humanity by removing the poor bugger before he witnessed the first session.

For the record, the first day at Lord's closed with Australia lifting itself back off the canvas.

Glenn McGrath took five for next to nothing and Brett Lee picked up his second wicket by knocking Giles over with the last ball of the day.

Oh, and back then, Harmison knocked learner captain Ponting over for a measly nine runs.

[jenny]

:yell: IT WAS PROBABLY DRIVING PEOPLE CRAZY :dizzy:
Barmy Army bugler says police heavy handed

November 24, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP



A BARMY Army fan ejected from the first Ashes Test at the Gabba for playing his bugle has accused police of being heavy handed.
Bill Cooper, who had been playing along to Barmy Army songs, was escorted out of the stadium by a police officer after lunch yesterday.

"It was all a bit heavy-handed, really," he told ABC Radio.

"He threw me out of the ground for the rest of the day."

Mr Cooper said he has been allowed back into the Gabba today but has been told if he brought his bugle, he would be arrested.

He said he was told there was a rule at the Gabba which prohibited whistles and horns.

The Barmy Army member who has played his bugle at cricket matches all around the world, gave a brief rendition to the ABC of the theme from the movie, The Great Escape.

"That is probably what England are going to do this session," he said.

Mr Cooper said he had played tunes through the first session yesterday as a nearby policeman looked on.

"About an hour into the game, (England player) Paul Collingwood was fielding on the boundary and gave a sign to make some noise - he made a trumpet sign.

"We played a few tunes and had a bit of a singsong and there were a few Aussies with us, so we played Neighbours."

But after the lunch break, a different police officer told him to accompany him out of the stadium and issued him with an order to move on.

[jenny]

Ashes sees internet traffic increase

November 24, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP


CRICKET fans stuck at work during the first day of the Ashes series have followed the action online, with news websites experiencing unprecedented popularity.

Internet content delivery firm Akamai said Australian news websites received more than 126,000 visitors per minute yesterday - a 70 per cent increase in traffic to those sites.

That is nearly four times the amount of people who attended the Gabba in Brisbane to watch the action live.

?Across the board, Australian news websites experienced an immediate four fold increase in visitors just before the first Ashes ball was bowled,? Akamai Asia Pacific director Stuart Spiteri said.

?Following this initial spike, Australians continued to follow the game ball by ball in growing numbers.?

Mr Spiteri said cricket fans were attracted by real time information such as online score boards, live typed commentary and audio streaming.

[Poida]

:):) Ponting on fire.

[jenny]

A titanic tussle, but Flintoff has that sinking feeling



Peter Roebuck
November 24, 2006


TWO proud captains dominated an entertaining opening day played before a large and sporting crowd. Both carried a considerable weight and wore it lightly. Both understood the importance of the opening exchanges. Both wanted to impose themselves on the series.

Andrew Flintoff tried to rouse his struggling side with long and fierce spells, while Ricky Ponting put his head down and went in search of the hundred needed to set the tone of the campaign. Neither man spared himself. Every ounce of energy, every shred of strength was committed to the cause. It was a tussle between powerful forces. To the victor went the spoils.

Having lost the urn in 2005, Ponting wants it back. He strode to the wicket with a purposeful air and did not miss a step. From the first ball he faced to the 136th, a delivery tucked off his pads that brought the three runs needed to take him to three figures, the Tasmanian was in command of himself and his opponents.

He hardly missed a ball, hardly endured an appeal, edged a stroke or misjudged a run. It was a masterclass, an expression of skill and willpower, and also a message to his opponents: England have a fight on their hands to take his wicket, let alone to retain the Ashes.

Ponting's footwork was as sharp as a military haircut and as precise as a logarithm. Anyone seeking an insight into the state of his mind had only to watch the quickness of his pedals as they danced forward or back, always with catlike tread.

As soon as the ball landed a fraction short, he moved swiftly into position whereupon he searched for any hidden dangers before choosing his shot. Any delivery demanding respect was given its due. Everything else was dispatched with aplomb.

Repeatedly, he pulled forward of square, sending the ball speeding away over the heads of fieldsmen or between them. Not once did he appear hurried or in danger of losing control. Not once did the ball miss the meat of the bat. Sometimes, the home captain had so much time on his hands that he pulled off the front foot. Jimmy Anderson's short deliveries were treated with particular disdain. Ponting looked at them, poured himself a mug of tea and then belted them over mid-wicket. His best shot, though, was a back-foot force hit on the top of the bounce that sent the ball to the extra-cover boundary.

Australia's first drop can be vulnerable to swing early in his innings, but Anderson and Matthew Hoggard just could not move or change the ball and, thereafter, their goose was cooked.

[jenny]

Aussies
4/443 :win:

[Poida]

ponting lbw 196 :(

[Poida]

gilchrist lbw for nought :(:(:(

[jenny]

:win:
Don of a new era

By Robert Craddock in Brisbane

November 24, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph


STEVE Waugh last night declared Ricky Ponting will make 50 Test centuries and be rated Australia's best batsman since the great Don Bradman.

Tormented by becoming the first Australian skipper in 20 years to lose the Ashes, Ponting smashed a brutal first-day 137 not out yesterday as Australia galloped to 3-346 at stumps.

Ponting joined his predecessor Waugh as Australia's most prolific ton-maker with 32 centuries. "I have no doubt he will finish as our best batsman after Bradman," said Waugh.

"Averages now are probably five to seven runs higher than they used to be because boundaries have been brought in, but I still think Ricky is the most mentally tough batsman in the world at the moment," Waugh said.

"He has an insatiable appetite for runs and he knows how to get them."

Ponting's stunning form surge peaked with an Ashes ambush of England yesterday on a first day that could set up the series for Australia. With nine centuries in his last 12 Tests, Ponting had no idea he had equalled Waugh's century mark but said: "What's even nicer is we are 3-340 at the end of the day ? that's what I'm most pleased with."

Far from the hostile welcome that greeted Australia at Lord's in the first Test last year, England's bowling attack was down on form and confidence and their body language was conspicuously timid.

Ponting said the fact the ball did not swing for England in the first session enabled the Australians to back their instincts and attack.

"England's bowlers had the knack last series of coming on and getting a breakthrough and putting the pressure back on us and we just didn't let that happen today," he said.

More than 14 months of Ashes soul-searching was released in jubilant scenes when Ponting waved his bat at his teammates like a punch-drunk fighter on reaching 100.

Ponting's steely fibre is reflected in the fact that he now has more than 1600 runs at an average of 85 since the loss of the Ashes.

England finished the day with serious question marks over their pace attack with spearhead Steve Harmison bowling just 12 overs, including one of the most embarrassing deliveries ever seen in Test cricket ? the first ball of the series which captain Andrew Flintoff took at second slip. "I think he was nervous ? we all were," England spinner Ashley Giles said of Harmison.

[jenny]

Gilchrist lean patch continues with duck


November 24, 2006 - 4:27PM


A third-ball duck for Adam Gilchrist gave the star Australian wicketkeeper more reason for concern against England's pacemen going around the wicket this summer.

Gilchrist was unable to cash in on his side's run-spree on day two of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba because he was adjudged leg before to Matthew Hoggard during the middle session on day two.

Gilchrist's failure continued his bad run of outs since the start of last year's Ashes, but England would have taken great delight at removing him in the manner it did.

Hoggard got his man angling the ball in to the left-hander from around the wicket, which was a ploy Andrew Flintoff used so successfully against Gilchrist in England last year.

Flintoff dismissed his rival four times bowling around the wicket in 2005 and troubled him throughout and Gilchrist's forgettable tour yielded only 181 runs at 22.63.

Since then Gilchrist has averaged 27.27 - which included a match-winning 144 in Bangladesh in April, his only century of the leanest patch of his career.

Since the start of the 2005 Ashes, Gilchrist's batting average has steadily dropped from 54.73 to 48.33.

The manner of Gilchrist's latest dismissal ensured the tourists will doubtless continue to bowl at Gilchrist from around the wicket - either angling the ball in, or putting it outside off stump - for the remainder of this series in an attempt to again curb his influence.

? 2006 AAP

[jenny]

McGrath ... high-quality bowling and tactics.
How's that for openers?

By Andy Withers
FOXSPORTS.com.au
November 24, 2006

GLENN McGrath has pressed home Australia?s advantage in the second post-tea session of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, dismissing England?s opening batsmen in two balls to reduce the tourists to 2-28.

Andrew Strauss was the fist man out, for 12, Michael Hussey taking a great catch at square leg, running round from mid-wicket, after the tourists? vice-captain had mistimed a hook shot to balloon the chance.

Hussey displayed great concentration to take the catch as he must have sensed Brett Lee also closing on the ball from fine leg, and Lee was left with a cut on his left knee after a minor collision.

If that dismissal took some of the wind out of England?s sails ? as the opening batsmen seemed to have made a solid start, playing with controlled aggression ? the loss of Alastair Cook from the next ball for 11 left the tourists in the doldrums.

Bowling from around the wicket, McGrath produced a ball that straightened towards off stump, squaring Cook and inducing an edge to Shane Warne at second slip.

England needs to score 403 runs to avoid the follow-on after Ricky Ponting declared Australia?s innings at 9-602.

Ponting, himself, provided the heartbeat around which his side built its imposing total, making 196 before England swing bowler Matthew Hoggard trapped the Australia captain leg before in the afternoon session.
Hoggard bowled a ball that moved slightly in the air and jagged back off the pitch to leave Ponting playing down the wrong line.
"To get that close to a double hundred and miss out is disappointing," Ponting said at the tea interval.

"I got out the way I knew he was trying to get me out, too."
Ponting, whose previous best score against England was his heroic 156 that was the cornerstone of the effort to save the third Ashes Test at Old Trafford last year. had seemed set for his fifth double hundred, as he had been in imperious form, hitting bad balls for boundaries but maintaining patience and concentration in the face of a better display by England's pace quartet.

But his wicket was perhaps just reward for Hoggard, who performed much better today as the bowlers benefited from the increased humidity that facilitated more swing.

Certainly, batting seemed to become more difficult in the afternoon session - at least until the tail-enders swung their bats in cavailier fashion to further injure England in boosting the home side's total to 9-602 declared.

"They definitely bowled better today," Ponting said of England's attack.

"They bowled better areas and made us work harder for our runs.

"They were more disciplined.

"There's just enought in that wicket ... with this sort of total, I think we're in a pretty good position."
Having dismissed Ponting, Hoggard trapped Adam Gilchrist leg before for a three-ball duck to continue the Australia vice-captain's poor run of form against England, but umpire Steve Bucknor may have erred in giving the dismissal as the ball pitched a long way outside off stump and seemed to be travelling down the leg side.
Gilchrist struggled against England's tactic of bowling to him from around the wicket in the 2005 Ashes series, and once again the idea of restricting his space to swing his arms reaped a rich reward.
Hoggard's double strike reduced Australia to 6-467 and the Yorkshireman was unlucky not to claim a third wicket when he induced a false stroke from Shane Warne, who chipped the ball to long-on, where a diving James Anderson failed to get a hand on the leather.
Warne went on to make 17, adding 33 runs for the seventh wicket with Michael Clarke, before he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, gloving an attempted hook shot off errant England spearhead Steve Harmison.
Clarke, playing at the Gabba only because of the hamstring injury sustained by all rounder Shane Watson, meanwhile compiled an innings that could give the selectors troubling moments when they decide the side for the second Test in Adelaide.
He was fortunate to survive his first ball at the crease - a brilliant off cutter from Andrew Flintoff just missing the inside edge on its way through to Jones - but he moved to 56 in quiet and unassuming fashion before Anderson induced an edge to Strauss at first slip with the last ball before tea.
Ponting sent Lee and Stuart Clark out to swing hard after the break, and the latter took his captain's instructions to heart - making 39 off 23 balls, including two big sixes off Anderson - before Flintoff bowled him off his pads from just short of a yorker length.
Lee continued to flail his willow, hitting a series of measured upperuts, as he made 43 not out before Ponting declared the innings closed.
McGrath was eight not out.
Hussey was the only batsman dismissed in the morning session, bowled by Flintoff for 86 from around the wicket.
The England captain, who beat the batsman for pace with a ball that moved both through the air and off the pitch, was clearly the best of the bowlers once again, but he has been given support today.
Hoggard and Anderson produced early movement through the air to cause Ponting and Hussey more problems than they experienced yesterday, and Anderson thought he had trapped the West Australian leg before with the first ball of his first over.
The Lancastrian drew Hussey forward and rapped his front pad, but umpire Billy Bowden was unmoved and television replays suggested the ball was perhaps just missing leg stump.

The introduction of Harmison for the seventh over of the day brought ironic cheers, and the England spearhead?s heart must have slumped when he delivered another wide with his first ball of the day.

Harmison bowled another wide in the over, but he also beat Ponting for pace outside stump to show just what he can do when he discovers his radar.

The Durham man, however, generally failed to trouble the batsmen in his six overs this morning - the fact that he conceded only 19 runs a result of his bowling a majority of balls that the Australians could not reach - and he was recalled to the attack only when Warne was the first of Australia's bowlers to arrive at the crease.
Flintoff's decision to introduce himself into the attack in the morning almost brought an immediate reward, as he was convinced that he had dismissed Ponting for 167, caught behind by Jones.
Flintoff delivered a ball reminiscent of his best efforts of the 2005 Ashes series, the leather spitting off a good length to leave Ponting leaping as he fended outside off stump, but Bucknor was unconvinced by the appeal.
The England captain got his reward in the next over, bowling Hussey.

[Robbie_Dee]

Australia are goin awesome! The Poms have no chance!

[patrick]

What an entertaining day!!! :clap:
Shame Punter didn't reach his double century... :(
And Gilly's duck... :(
Great go by the lower order batsmen though!
Brett Lee did well for 43, and Stuart Clark did great too!
The Poms cannot reach the required total, with the wickets that we have taken very early. Glenn McGrath with two great wickets in a row.
:clap: :clap: :clap:

[Titanium_BD1103]

GO AUSSIE GO... :D :D

I really am proud of the boys for the work they are doing, I mean how unlucky was Punter to not get 200, Hussey to not get 100, and how crazy but exciting was Clark's innings... :)

I think though the bowling tonight showed just how big the gap is currently in the bowling ranks, I mean McGrath was just Glenn, brilliant as usual, but Clark has shown he is ready to take the next step and become a real star of the Australian Team, with consistent line and length and an accuracy that Australia will relish having after a spell of McGrath... :)

England are in real trouble here and will need something special to get out, and I don't think they can, poor Flintoff will be dead tired after 2 days of carrying the bowling attack and whilst Petersen looks good, he needs someone on the other end to support him and at this stage, it seems he is running out of options.

[jenny]

Daylight saving changes Perth Test times



November 24, 2006 - 7:17PM


The advent of daylight saving in Western Australia has forced Cricket Australia to delay the start and finish of the play in the third Ashes Test match in Perth by an hour.

West Australians will be putting their clocks forward by one hour on December 3, after parliament this week decided on a three-year trial period of daylight saving, followed by a referendum.

The third Test at Perth's WACA Ground starts on December 16, and Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said play would now start at 11.30am local time (1.30pm AEDT).

The afternoon session will now begin at 2.10pm local time, with team to stumps to run from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

Sutherland said the decision was made after consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including the WACA, Channel Nine and the ABC.

"The decision to introduce daylight saving has a significant impact on several million Australian cricket fans, as well as international broadcast partners who take the game to billions of viewers and listeners offshore," Sutherland said.

"By moving playing hours by one hour, we can offset this by ensuring those fans will still be able to enjoy the cricket at the advertised times.

"I hope WA fans understand our need to make this change, and I apologise if it causes any inconvenience."

No change has been made to the playing times for the one-day international fixtures, Sutherland said.

Gate opening times will remain the same as advertised, with the general public able to be admitted at 8:30am and gates open for WACA Members at 7:30am.

? 2006 AAP

[jenny]

Steve Waugh's Ashes column. First Test - Day Two

By Steve Waugh
Friday, November 24, 2006 at 07:13pm

From: www.foxsports.com.au


Under Pressure It might seem easy walking in to bat with the team 4 for 407 with your partner 150 plus not out. But when your position in the team is vulnerable,the mind lethargic from the heat and lengthy wait combined with the popular notion swirling around in your head that someone has to fail in such a large total nagging away, the task suddenly becomes daunting.

This was a true examination for Michael Clarke both mentally and technically with Flintoff charging in sensing an opportunity to gain a pyschological advantage.
Fifty six runs later the selectors had viewed a mature innings played by a guy many see as a future test captain in years to come.

England Attack

The resiliance and heart that this English team has become known for in recent years came through with Flintoff again leading the way in a series of inspirational spells. Thankfully Hoggard showed why he has over 200 test wickets at under 30 by hitting the wicket harder and swinging it fractionally later whilst Harmison got through 30 overs and will benefit next time he bowls as his rhythm and stamina come together.
It was a much more formidable and together combination that should get better from the hard yards they had to put in.

Gilly

Being an emotional cricketer he will need to not over analyse the obvious plan England adopt against him by bowling around the wicket in the quest to stop him freeing his arms. He is not used to failure as all great players aren?t but he needs to formulate a plan to counteract this ploy by playing straighter and tightening up his defence by minimising his backswing marginally.

Umpires

Often maligned and rarely acknowledged both Bucknor and Bowden excelled in a number of close L.B.W. shouts proving that the best in the black pants also lift when the stakes are highest. The decision by Bucknor on Clarke first ball could have easily been given on emotion and adrenalin but instead composure allowed him to correctly assess that the ball struck the pad marginally outside the line of off stump.

The Old Fox

Just when it looked as if Cook and Strauss were in complete control and McGrath seemingly extracting neither lift or sideways movement he deceived Strauss with a quicker short one and then squared Cook up the very next ball with a delivery that straightened from around the wicket to continue Australia?s dominance. Normal business had resumed for the patent holder of line and length.

What England Need

Two of Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Flintoff and Jones have to make centuries or else the match will be over with a day to spare. This is shaping up as the single most important day of the tour for if England don?t stand up they may be unable to reverse the considerable momentum Australia already has and be blown off the park this summer

[DeeGan]

Looking forward to today's play.

We should declare around 20 minutes before tea, have 10 minutes at them with the new ball before the tea break and the have the final session - testing time for England's batsmen who are under enormous pressure after being let down by their bowlers excluding Andy Flintoff and to an extent Ashley Giles.

I hope Ponting goes on to get a massive double hundred today and as well see Mike Hussey get another Test tonne.

Looking at the pitch, England are in all sorts of trouble when Warne is bowling, especially the second innings. Look for a massive wicket haul this test IMO.

Glen McGrath I think will enjoy this wicket too - he looks good value at $4.50 for most wickets in the Test. He ranks behind Warne paying $2 odd and Brett Lee at around $3.50.

The first hour today is all important for England ... if they cannot break this partnership 550-600 is on the cards for Aussies! :D

Hope you all got on Pigeon here for this bet - I have $25 on him for most wickets at the GABBA and he is looking very much in the mix with Shane Warne ;)

[Titanium_BD1103]

Steve Waugh's Ashes column. First Test - Day Two

By Steve Waugh
Friday, November 24, 2006 at 07:13pm

Jenny, Source please.... ;)

As for DeeGan, hope you got some money from that, there is some nice predicting there... you almost got it right too, had Ponting not decided that he wanted to make the Poms suffer a little longer that whole prediction could have been 100%.... :)

I agree with you though DeeGan, Warne is going to love this wicket, if Mr Petersen can get the ball to curve, and he's a parttimer, imagine what Warne could do... I can't wait for tomorrow... :clap:

[Poida]

Jenny, Source please.... ;)

As for DeeGan, hope you got some money from that, there is some nice predicting there... you almost got it right too, had Ponting not decided that he wanted to make the Poms suffer a little longer that whole prediction could have been 100%.... :)

I agree with you though DeeGan, Warne is going to love this wicket, if Mr Petersen can get the ball to curve, and he's a parttimer, imagine what Warne could do... I can't wait for tomorrow... :clap:
:clap: :clap: :win: :win: :) :) yeah mate warnes gonna be devastating.
he almost got peterson first ball which was a good flipper

[Grimmace]

Jenny, Source please.... ;)

www.foxsports.com.au

[jenny]

www.foxsports.com.au
Sorry TJ...Thankyou Grimmace! :) :)

[jenny]

Pigeon plots Poms' demise

By Ben Dorries

November 25, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph



GLENN McGrath warned England's frazzled batsmen that his best was still to come as he predicted he would plunge them into an early Ashes grave today.

Australia's pigeon warrior will work at leaving a new wave of England batsmen heading for the psychologist's couch after his Test career roared back to life at the Gabba.

The Poms' plan to target the 36-year-old paceman was turned upside down in a dramatic two-ball spree which decimated doubts about his effectiveness in his first Test in 10 months.

McGrath pinched 2-25 as a shellshocked England (3-53) let their grip on the Ashes urn slip further as they confronted Australia's massive 9-602(dec). More sleepless nights ahead for the Poms.

"I think I can really nail it tomorrow," McGrath declared last night. "I'm 95 per cent happy with the way I bowled, I'm that close to being exactly where I want to be.

"I never had any doubts I could perform but to get a couple of wickets early on does wonders for the confidence.

"We couldn't ask for a better start and we'll be trying to drive it home.

"A lot of times in Australia when we go one up, there's not too many series that we lose."

When he had prime target Andrew Strauss caught hooking and Alastair Cook caught at slip next ball with a terrific seamer, McGrath returned with a vengeance from a long compassionate leave.



Forlorn England were warned of a McGrath-Shane Warne extravaganza today as the Australia's terrific twosome celebrate their 100th Test together.

Cracks are widening on a Gabba pitch tipped to make batting a challenge for the rest of the match.

Warne sent down a two flippers in his only over to good mate Kevin Pietersen and Australia believe he will be impossible to hold out on the ground where he has a magnificent record of 64 Test wickets at 19.

"Maybe we can create a few new scars," McGrath needled. "With the way Warney should bowl out there I think he can build on it even further."

Australia lost the two 2005 Ashes Tests McGrath missed through injury but his paper-thin shadow is now lurking ominously over this series.



Even if his bowlers skittle England cheaply, Ponting may not enforce the follow-on because he is wary his bowlers have to battle through back-to-back Tests and a gruelling schedule of five Tests in seven weeks.

In anticipation of more Gabba carnage today, bookmakers wound England's price to win the Test out to $67.

[jenny]

Freddie the flag-bearer

By Jon Pierik

November 25, 2006 12:00
Article from: The Daily Telegraph


CAPTAIN Andrew Flintoff refused to turn the blowtorch on his teammates despite being stranded as a one-man band as England fried under the strain of Ashes expectations and a burning Brisbane sun.

Flintoff, for the most part, was the lone soldier with the ball in taking four first-innings wickets but that wasn't enough to stop the Australians from amassing 9-602 (dec) ? the fifth highest Ashes total in Australia.

In reply, the tourists slumped to 3-42 and will resume day three at the Gabba today on 3-53, with the follow-on target of 403 as far away as a cold English winter.

Apart from a late burst from swing bowler Matthew Hoggard who collected the late scalps of Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist in the same over, Flintoff ? the hero of last year's stunning series win ? was given no help with the ball.

Flintoff has been determined to give little away to the press this tour, and last night claimed he had no issue with his disappointing teammates.

"Not at all ? it came out all right for me," he said.

"The lads have given everything they had. Ashley Giles worked hard. I thought Jimmy Anderson was good in patches too, as with Matthew Hoggard taking quick wickets. All in all, I was pleased with the lads."

Flintoff refused to blame spearhead ? and best mate ? Steve Harmison for the dire predicament his team finds itself in.

It felt like Groundhog Day yesterday when Harmison's first ball was called a wide, and his opening over was an entire mess.

Harmison clearly has much work to do in the nets after finishing with the terrible figures of 1-123.

"It's not been from a lack of trying or effort. He's given everything he's got," Flintoff said. "He's just struggled with his rhythm."

While Harmison melted under the strain, the same couldn't be said of his counterpart, Glenn McGrath.

After months of scrutiny over his place in the team, the veteran paceman ? playing his first Test since January ? proved there was plenty of bounce left in his 36-year-old legs when he found himself on a hat-trick late in the day.

He surged through the tourists' opening combination of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, before watching as his cricketing clone, Stuart Clark, shaped a lovely outswinger and tickled the edge of Paul Collingwood's bat.

Brett Lee was nursing a minor cut on his left knee last night after escaping what potentially was a disastrous mix-up with Mike Hussey at fine leg.

Hussey had dashed across from deep backward square leg to fine leg to accept the catch off Strauss' mistimed pull shot but, in doing so, his spikes nicked the left knee of Lee, who had run in from fine leg and was sliding to the turf as his teammate ran by.

Lee went off to have treatment from the team physiotherapist and doctor but returned soon after.

Cook found himself on strike as the batsmen had crossed, but his stay was over next ball when the left-hander was squared up from around the wicket and provided a thick edge to Shane Warne at first slip.

Suddenly McGrath, urged on by most of the record crowd of 39,315, was lining up for his second Test hat-trick. McGrath opted for a delivery just short of a length but it lacked the magical touch with Collingwood defending it easily.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting last night warned treacherous times lay ahead on pitch starting to crack and provide bounce and spin for Warne, who stated his intentions by bowling a dangerous flipper in his first over.

"There's just enough in that wicket . . . with this sort of total, I think we're in a pretty good position," he said.

Hussey appeared set to join the rare club to notch a ton on Ashes debut until a superb inswinger from the inspirational Flintoff smashed his stumps.

Michael Clarke was determined to rubber-stamp his spot for next week's second Test ahead of the recuperating Shane Watson. Although he crafted a clever half-century, Clarke faces a nervous few days once this Test is finished.

The contest turned slightly when the spirited yet wicketless Matthew Hoggard stormed through with the scalps of Ponting and Adam Gilchrist in four balls.

He outfoxed and trapped Ponting leg before by tempting him into a risky slash through mid-wicket, and backed up by dismissing Gilchrist in the same manner.

Gilchrist has averaged about 25 since last year's Ashes series and appears a shadow of the once mighty blaster who tormented world attacks.

[Robbie_Dee]

another opportunity gone begging with stuarts dropped sitter! but i aint worried, the australian bowlers are doing a beautiful job!!! Mcgrath and Lee both bowling awesome!

[Poida]

hehehe our lethal weapon still to come. warnie

[Grimmace]

Flintoff and Piterson are out the current socre is 5/89

[DeeGan]

Come one McGrath! 3 of the 20 wickets on offer - look forward to picking up my $100+ from my SportsTab bet. He ain't oo bad for an old boy hey Botham? ;)

[jenny]

Welcome to the Gabbattoir

DAD'S army apparently has nuclear capabilities. Mocked for their selection of ageing batsmen, and questioned for placing faith in a 36-year-old paceman, Australia's veteran team has responded by systematically dismantling their younger English rivals over the past two days and, in the process, inching closer to Ashes redemption.

Australia called a close to their innings at 9(dec)-602 - their fourth highest total in Ashes matches played on home soil, and 215 runs more than Australia's highest team total in the 2005 Ashes series - after Ricky Ponting (196) and the lower order ran roughshod over England's insipid attack for the better part of five sessions.

And no sooner had the tourists' weary fieldsmen assumed their positions in the dressing room than the grand old man of fast bowling, Glenn McGrath, had them scrambling to strap on the pads, reducing England to 3-53 at stumps.

At this rate, McGrath will be completely unplayable by the age of 50. After months of reports suggesting that he was a fading force in the game, McGrath gave every indication that, in fact, he was better than ever, removing Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook with consecutive deliveries.

Stuart Clark then compounded England's misery by claiming the late wicket of Paul Collingwood, and Shane Warne, brimming with confidence, opened his Ashes campaign with a flipper to part friend-part foe Kevin Pietersen. The Australians bared their teeth. And they didn't fall out.

"I never had any doubts that I could perform," McGrath said. "We want to go out there and nail it tomorrow and show them why we are the best team in the world."

As imposing as the Australians were, they were often assisted by England's gaffes. In the batting department, that came when Strauss played a reckless pull shot off McGrath, which was eventually caught by Michael Hussey after an outfield collision that left Brett Lee with a wound to his knee. Strauss, a senior batsman in a line-up still reeling from the late withdrawal of Marcus Trescothick, will surely be chastising himself for his stroke, although after almost two days in the field, fatigue could have been a factor.

England's bowling was another matter altogether. With Steve Harmison struggling to find the pitch, Matthew Hoggard struggling to find his swing, and James Anderson struggling to find the ball, which kept disappearing into the stands, the tourists' pace attack bore no resemblance whatsoever to the fearsome foursome that tormented Australia's batsmen last year. Short of Tony Blair's rushing through radical stem cell legislation in the next few days to allow England to clone the mercurial Andrew Flintoff, there appears no obvious solution to their woes.

Source:www.smh.com.au

[DeeGan]

Two things:

1. Can we get a source and

2. Can you please just name the thread as per the article heading. Naming it 'lol' is rather frustrating. Can we keep this in mind when posting in the future as well - in particular the Titanium Forums.

Regards,

[jenny]

Two things:

1. Can we get a source and

2. Can you please just name the thread as per the article heading. Naming it 'lol' is rather frustrating. Can we keep this in mind when posting in the future as well - in particular the Titanium Forums.

Regards,
Sorry deegan. i thought i posted it in the ashes thread! :dead:

[DeeGan]

Where is the source?

Please edit your post accordingly.

[Future Star]

its gonna be a long summer for the poms.

[jenny]

Daily Telegraph
Cricket
Boycott blasts coaching staff

By Jon Pierik
November 25, 2006

TEST great Geoff Boycott unleashed his fury at England's coaching staff as the Gabba nightmare continued for paceman Steve Harmison yesterday.

Harmison must have felt trapped in his own version of Groundhog Day, after his embarrassing start to the first Test on Thursday when his first ball flew to second slip.

"I was interested to see nine men in tracksuits taking the field for England yesterday (Thursday) before the anthems. What I want to know is, how are all these backroom staff earning their money?" Boycott said.

"I mean, here we have Steve Harmison, the one man with the talent to win this Ashes series for England, and on the first day of this series he is still bowling as poorly as he has been for the past few months.

"Isn't there somebody in that dressing room who can sit him down and sort him out?"

Harmison was ignored when the second new ball was taken on Thursday.

"It has come to something when your best fast bowler sends down the first ball of a big series like this one and he can't hit the cut strip," Boycott wrote in England's Daily Telegraph.

Boycott's concerns were backed by former Australia fast bowlers Damien Fleming and Jeff Thomson.

Fleming, a master bowling coach, said Harmison had his non-bowling arm in the wrong spot at delivery and he didn't have a stock ball to revert to when under pressure.

Thomson was concerned the bowler would be mentally scarred for the rest of the series.

"Harmison couldn't hit the side of an elephant from 20 yards," he said.

[Robbie_Dee]

Score Update

England 5/118 at the lunch break

[Grimmace]

Score Check after Lunch

England are 6/126

IF i was australia i wouldnt make them follow on

[jenny]

LOL...McGrath walks off holding his back ...Pretending to be injured :spit:

[Grimmace]

England are all out for 157 and Australia have not forced the follow on.

[Social Loafer]

:laugh:

Ponting should take the piss and declare @ 0/1.

[Titanium_BD1103]

LMAO it's funny.... but sad at the same time...WTF was Giles thinking with that last shot to get out... he only had to block it... :laugh:

I reckon Australia will bat again, as much as it would be fun to bowl the Poms out again, it's hot and getting another 100 will put England back at having to chase 600, a number that would scare them to death if it happened again.

With so much time, I reckon bat half a day, try to get an extra 100-150 and send the Poms in with 2 days to go and a mountain to chase.... ;)

Great work by Australia, and WELL DONE to Stuart Clark, he is definitely showing he deserves to stay in the test side... :)

EDIT: Well as expected no follow on, nah Schifty, it's more funny for Ponting to get to 200 and not declare, then declare at 201, like when they got to 600 in the first innings, grind the English Spirit, or what little they have left into the ground... :D :D

Question for all, can Steve Harmison bowl if given the chance, the first new ball of the Australian 2nd Innings for a wide AGAIN... :lol!:.... I'd have money on it.

[Grimmace]

Your being nice Tj we should score another 200 and make them get a total of 800 runs make them do a mission impossible.

[Poida]

then theyd get defensive and play for a draw :(

[jenny]

Barmy Army 'should be given a fair go'

November 25, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP
Daily Telegraph


GIVE the Barmy Army a fair go, says Tourism Australia.

Fans of the English cricket team are high yield tourists and should be encouraged to attend the tests, said Tourism Australia chairman Tim Fischer.

"It should be remembered the Barmy Army are 'ticket paying', high yield tourists, and should be allowed to sit together within reason and should be given their trumpet back for subsequent tests," he said.

The call comes after Barmy Army founder Paul Burnham threatened to cancel Barmy Army activities for the current Ashes series over scattered ticket allocation and the confiscation of an English fan's trumpet.

"Yes, everyone wants to focus on the cricket and enjoy the cricket, but the over-reaction at the Gabba has destroyed a great deal of atmosphere.

"Combined with the stuff up with the tea-time entertainment, the cricket and ground authorities really need to ensure all goes well at the Adelaide Test and subsequent tests."

The Barmy Army needs to be cheered up to ensure they stay for the rest of the Ashes Test series, Mr Fischer said.

The third day of the Ashes is continuing today in Brisbane.

[Future Star]

Hayden is 4 Monsta!

Theres no stopping us now! :win:

[Grimmace]

Tea time:

Aus are 0/33 and we lead by 477 runs.

[jenny]

Fox Sports
Cricket
Harmy missing inspirational Cooley

By Jim Morton
November 25, 2006

BOWLING expert Troy Cooley's defection to his native Australia has been seen as the secret behind Steve Harmison's embarrassing Ashes failure.

Former Test spearhead Darren Gough believes England's inability to retain Cooley as its pace coach has led to Harmison's bowling yips.

The 41-year-old Tasmanian switched camps after the England Cricket Board refused him a pay rise after last year's Ashes success.

Under Cooley's coaching, Harmison (17 wickets at 32) played a key intimidating role as the English pace attack bankrolled the 2-1 series upset.

But, with Cooley now Australia's bowling coach, the lanky 28-year-old has battled technical and mental problems in a dreadfully wayward start which saw him grab just one soft tailend wicket in 30 expensive overs.

Gough, who took 229 wickets in 58 Tests for England, said new bowling coach Kevin Shine couldn't give Harmison the support the "inspirational" Cooley provided.

"Troy was a great bloke and he had a really positive effect on Harmy," Gough told England's The Sun newspaper.

"He was a hands-on coach and gave Steve a lot of confidence. He was inspirational.

"Kevin Shine is more of a computer coach, he does more of his work on the computer screen, which seems to be the modern trend."

Australia coach John Buchanan needled England before the series by questioning whether the tourists could overcome the loss of Cooley.

"I think it's a major blow because Troy's a very skilled coach, very good with his bowlers, worked very hard with the English group and beyond that was Australian so he brought that notion of what it like to be in an Australian dressing room into that English camp," Buchanan told AAP.

Harmison's campaign got off to a nightmare start when his first ball of the Gabba Test went straight to captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip.

He again bowled a wide with his first ball on day two. In all, he bowled six wides in his return of 1-123.

Things got little better today, falling for a duck and suffering the indignity of being overlooked for the new ball as Australia opted against enforcing the follow-on.

Former Australia swing bowler Damien Fleming and Cooley's predecessor at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence said technical problems had caused major head issues.

"He needs to answer the questions of the little man in there," Fleming said on ABC Radio.

"There's no doubt the little man is in there and he's not happy. He's not happy with the preparation, not happy with the technique."

Bob Cottam, England's bowling coach for three years before being dumped in 2001, has emailed head coach Duncan Fletcher suggesting ways of correcting the bowler's action.

Cottam felt Harmison's lack of bowling this year had led to a poor technique on delivery.

"His wrist action was also all over the place and as a result, he couldn't control the ball. That meant that Australia got after him and his confidence suffered," Cottam told The Daily Telegraph.

"If you get the technical aspect right then the mental side will also be right. If England can get his grip sorted out then they will get results."

Harmison's wonky radar has turned the attention on Shine who pre-Ashes confidently predicted "the best bowler in the world" would get it right on the night despite injury troubles and confidence issues.

AAP

[Poida]

hayden run out

[jenny]

Aussies turn Englands hopes to Ashes! :guit:

[Titanium_BD1103]

Another day another rout... and the most embarassing part, Australia passed the English 1st Innings total with ease and without the Poms getting a wicket through bowling... :lol!:... Now that's embarassing.... :laugh:

Great work by Langer once more and Punter, superb bowling by Clark and Pigeon and marvellous fielding by Australia all round, England look all at sea and it will just be a case of when Australia decides to declare tomorrow....

At least Harmison looked slightly better in the 2nd innings, here's hoping he can make this series competitive in upcoming test matches along with Freddy Flintoff.

GO AUSSIE GO.... It's looking good.... :D :D

[Grimmace]

Highlight of the day was seeing Flintoff get out for a duck and Mcgrath getting a standing obvation from the crowd.

Offtopic: i love how solo are promoting their Lemon and Lime tang with their Jingle: Go the Green and Gold.

[jenny]

Highlight of the day was seeing Flintoff get out for a duck and Mcgrath getting a standing obvation from the crowd.

Offtopic: i love how solo are promoting their Lemon and Lime tang with their Jingle: Go the Green and Gold.
They were my highlights too Grimmace...What about McGrath walking like an old Man! :satan: Love Him!!!

[jenny]

www.smh.com.au
Beefy Botham burns 'undercooked' Poms



November 25, 2006 - 6:00PM
AdvertisementAdvertisement

Ian Botham has blamed an "undercooked" England's limited preparation and defensive selections for its nightmare Ashes start.

Former England captain and star all-rounder Botham panned the touring side's decision to play just one first-class match before the five-Test series.

England played South Australia in a three-day game in the only "serious" warm-up match after choosing to play 14 men against NSW and a one-day match against the Prime Minister's XI.

"I think they're undercooked," Botham said on the Nine Network.

"They only played one warm-up game and then a 14-a-side game. I just don't think it's enough."

England's batsmen failed to improve on the forgettable efforts of their bowlers by making a mere 157 in their first innings at the Gabba.

The tourists conceded a 445-run lead to Australia (9dec-602) - the fourth-highest first-innings margin in Ashes history.

Botham admitted England were unfortunate to lose key men Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones to injuries and Marcus Trescothick to depression.

But he also took aim at coach Duncan Fletcher for the "defensive" selections of wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, for his batting, ahead of Chris Read and spinner Ashley Giles over Monty Panesar.

"Chris Read I think is unlucky. He averaged 42 in Test cricket last year and has been left out in the cold," Botham said.

"They've said he didn't play very well in the ICC Trophy but unless I'm mistaken England didn't play very well in the ICC Trophy.

"And Monty Panesar I believe is the best finger spinner in world cricket.

"He gets turn, he gets massive bounce and to win Test matches, yes you need to get runs, but at the end of the day you have to take 20 wickets."

? 2006 AAP

[Robbie_Dee]

Highlight of the day was seeing Flintoff get out for a duck and Mcgrath getting a standing obvation from the crowd.LOL! my highlight of the day was Billy Bowderns marvelous piece of fielding!!!:D:D:D and his expressions as he got to his feet! :p:p:p

Priceless!!!!!

[Future Star]

LOL! my highlight of the day was Billy Bowderns marvelous piece of fielding!!!:D:D:D and his expressions as he got to his feet! :p:p:p

Priceless!!!!!

That was Hilarious - if he spun the other way he wouldve dodged it all together.

[Robbie_Dee]

Maybe if it hit him on his finger it would have bent it back straight!!! :satan: One can only dream :rolleyes: :laugh:

wait a minute! that would be dreadful! i love the finger!!! :win:

[patrick]

LOL! my highlight of the day was Billy Bowderns marvelous piece of fielding!!!:D:D:D and his expressions as he got to his feet! :p:p:p

Priceless!!!!!

Yeah it was great, absolute classic! :) :clap:
I'll say once again, NEWSFLASH - he's pushing for selection for the NZ Black Caps in the Chappell Hadley series with that fielding.

If only he caught it!!! :)

[jenny]

QLD Cricket apologises to Barmy Army
Daily Telegraph
November 25, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP



AS the first Ashes Test splutters to a smouldering pile, war has broken out where the English may be more competitive with Australia: the crowd.

Queensland Cricket has apologised to English fans after a song derogatory to the poms was played during a tea break at the Gabba, and has promised, under pressure, not to do it again.

And the Barmy Army has complained about their treatment at the hands of the people who run the Gabba, after the army's bugler was ejected from the ground and his instrument confiscated.

So appalled have been the English fans at their treatment that Tourism Australia, with an eye on the cash, has called for the Army to be given a fair go.

"It should be remembered the Barmy Army are `ticket paying', high yield tourists, and should be allowed to sit together within reason and should be given their trumpet back for subsequent tests," Tourism Australia chairman Tim Fischer said.

"Everyone wants to focus on the cricket and enjoy the cricket, but the over-reaction at the Gabba has destroyed a great deal of atmosphere.

"Combined with the stuff up with the tea-time entertainment, the cricket and ground authorities really need to ensure all goes well at the Adelaide Test and subsequent tests."

The Army is coming under friendly fire, too, with England cricket chiefs accusing them today of infringing copyright.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesman Colin Gibson said his organisation had written to the Barmy Army questioning use of the EBC logo and the term "Ashes" on merchandise.

Gibson denied a report the ECB had taken legal action over the issue, but refused to rule it out if the situation was not resolved.

"We have written to them pointing out breaches of our IP (intellectual property) and are waiting for their response," he told news agency AFP.

"No one wants legal action if possible."

How one writes to a mob in the outer was not spelt out.

The Barmy Army's Australian equivalent, the Fanatics, had its own copyright problems in the lead up to the series when recording giant EMI complained about the use of several of its artist's tunes in a group songbook.

EMI dropped its objections, however, after the Fanatics accused them of being "un-Australian".

The apology from Queensland Cricket came after the Barmy Army claimed to have been offended by lyrics sung to the tune, The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The lyrics implied the English were whingeing, unhealthy and unwashed.

The parody, written and performed by musician and "Coodabeen Champions" radio personality, Greg Champion, was part of official Tea entertainment organised by Cricket Australia.

But Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Graham Dixon said there was no place for this in cricket. The song will not be played during future tea breaks.

Barmy Army members reportedly had threatened to boycott the series, watching it in the pub instead.

But the lure of the willow proved too great: over the three days of Australian domination so far, they've been at the Gabba in rowdy force.

Army founder Paul Burnham himself was at the ground, and was not talking about boycotts when contacted by AFP.

"We're just here to watch the cricket," he said, as another English wicket fell. "Not that we'll be doing that for much longer if it keeps on like this."

[Poida]

woot good 100 by justin langer

[Robbie_Dee]

Ponting declared after langer made his century, Australia finished at 1/202

EDIT: Score Update

Poms are 3 for 117

[Poida]

aussies need a wicket now and fast. this game could be a draw and thats a waste

[Williams]

Poms are starting to hit some balls :p

[Poida]

yes and trying to and getting stumped like bell on 96 woot woot

[Robbie_Dee]

They said for casted rain tomorrow which would be a nightmare for Australia! this could actually end up a tie!!! Which would not serve justice for Australia's effort!!! But IMO Ponting declared too late! As if England were going to get 550 anyway! there would have been no harm done by playing it a bit safer, even if it meant leave off some runs for Australia.

We really need some wickets before this partnership gets any stronger!!! We need to take at least one of em down before end of play tonight, and get the other one early tomorrow! once we got 5 out, the wickets will start falling much easier!

BTW, i hope Ponting fully recovers:D

[patrick]

Good day again today by Australia!!!

Well done Justin Langer for your century! :clap:
Well done Warney for your 4 wickets! :clap:

We did pretty well, but hopefully Punter will be better tomorrow.
England were a tiny bit better today lol, and it was good we took Collingwood just before he reached his century. Freddy didn't last long again, and Bell got a duck! :) :) :)

Pietersen to go first ball tomorrow! ;)

[jenny]

The Melbourne Age
Ponting in some doubt for second Test


November 26, 2006 - 7:04PM


A mysterious lower-back complaint has Australian skipper Ricky Ponting in some doubt for the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

Ponting sent a scare through the world champion team's camp when he appeared to sustain the injury while batting on Sunday and failed to reappear during England's second-innings fightback at the Gabba.

He required some treatment during his 24 minutes at the crease and stayed in the dressing room to receive more manipulation from team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris as Adam Gilchrist led the side in his place.

With the second Test at the Adelaide Oval starting on Friday, the in-form No.3 batsman may be facing a battle to make a full recovery to ensure he can last the five days.

It's understood team management doesn't believe the injury will threaten Ponting's availability but a more definitive assessment will be made on Monday.

He suffered a similar problem during the second Test of the 2004 tour of Sri Lanka which saw Adam Gilchrist promoted to No.3 but the Tasmanian played out the series.

England's counter-attack on day four also put the heat on veteran spearhead Glenn McGrath who will have to back up in Adelaide with a heel injury which required a pain-killing injection.

The national selection panel is also facing a major dilemma due to the form of first-change quick Stuart Clark.

Clark backed up his impressive first-innings cameo of 3-21 by being the pick of the bowlers as England's middle-order battled bravely on a wearing pitch.

Asking questions of all the batsmen with potent precision, he grabbed the key wicket of anchor man Andrew Strauss (11) with a short ball that was hooked to deep fine-leg.

Clark's selection for the Gabba Test was originally seen as a one-off with the four-man panel keen to play leg-spinner Stuart MacGill in tandem with Shane Warne on the dry Adelaide surface.

Playing two wrist-spinners would surely see all-rounder Shane Watson, who has overcome a hamstring strain, return as pace back-up to McGrath and Brett Lee.

Lee has only taken one wicket at the Gabba but his position isn't in question.

Clark does enjoy a fine record at Adelaide with 26 wickets at 26, including 6-39 against South Australia earlier this month.

Helping his cause is the form of NSW teammate Michael Clarke who hit his third consecutive half-century against the tourists with a crisp 56 in the first innings.

Although the Australians are wary about Clarke's ongoing back problem, his ability to bowl left-arm spin could present tempting option to keep both he and Clark in the side.

[jenny]

The Melbourne Age
England fights back



Brett Lee's frustration shows after being belted by Kevin Pietersen.



November 26, 2006 - 6:43PM
Scores at Stumps on the fourth day of the cricket Test between Australia and England at the Gabba.

Australia 1st innings 9(dec)-602
England 1st innings 157
Australia 2nd innings 1(dec)-202

England 2nd Innings Mins Balls 4s 6s
A STRAUSS c sub(Broad) b Clark 11 51 31 1 -
A COOK c Hussey b Warne 43 129 94 4 -
I BELL lbw b Warne 0 11 4 - -
P COLLINGWOOD st Gilchrist b Warne 96 227 155 12 2
K PIETERSEN not out 92 226 152 14 -
A FLINTOFF c Langer b Warne 16 38 26 4 -
G JONES not out 12 39 27 1 -

Sundries (8b 5lb 1w 9nb) 23
Five wickets for 293
Fall: 29 (Strauss), 36 (Bell), 91 (Cook), 244 (Collingwood), 271 (Flintoff).
Bowling: B Lee 17-0-81-0 (5nb), G McGrath 12-2-30-0 (3nb), S Clark 19-5-56-1, S Warne 31-7-108-4 (1w 1nb), M Hussey 1-0-5-0.
Batting time: 351 mins.
Overs: 80.

An overdue England fightback made for a welcome change in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba today, but Australia is still headed for a big win.

The Barmy Army finally found voice as England launched a brave counter-assault against Australia on day four, after three days of battering from the home side.

The tourists reached 5-293 in their second innings at stumps, after Paul Collingwood (96) and Kevin Pietersen (92 not out) took calculated risks which produced thrilling results.

England remained 355 runs shy of a remote victory target.

However with victory out of the question from day one, England must now hope Pietersen can orchestrate a performance which betters his heroics from The Oval last year, and that tomorrow's forecast thunderstorms arrive earlier than expected.

Although Collingwood and captain Andrew Flintoff both paid the price for taking their adventurous batting too far, the sight of the tourists going out swinging made a great change to what had been a lopsided start to the series.

Collingwood and Pietersen abandoned the cautious route after tea and the results were dazzling in a 153-run stand at better than a run a minute.

The pair was prepared to take all of Australia's bowlers on and the brave stand only came to an end when Collingwood chanced his arm one time too many and was stumped off Shane Warne's bowling, four runs short of his century.

Warne finished with figures of 4-108 despite a mixed day at the office, as he bowled several loose balls and full tosses, but benefited from England's profligacy.

Australia also experienced a major injury scare, as captain Ricky Ponting did not field because of a back injury he suffered while batting during the first half hour of the day.

Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist took charge in Ponting's absence, while veteran bowler Glenn McGrath also spent time off the ground to have a heel problem treated.

Collingwood cut a forlorn figure as he trudged off the field, having also thrown away a century against Pakistan in Lahore a year ago, when he paid the price for a rash shot going for broke.

Warne claimed a fourth wicket when Flintoff (16) attempted to slog over mid-wicket but got it wrong and picked out Justin Langer at deep mid-on.
Pietersen's counter-attacking was reminiscent of the Ashes-winning century he struck in the final Test at The Oval last year, and even included a heated exchange with his friend Warne, who at one stage hurled the ball back at the batsman's head.

Pietersen deflected the ball away with his bat and then gave Warne a serve.

Ponting and Langer batted on at the start of the day so the veteran opener (100 not out) could reach his century.

Ponting, who made 60 not out, declared at 1-202, which set England a victory target of 648.

Australia looked like it could wrap up the match early after it removed Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell cheaply, and England was 2-43 at lunch.

But Alastair Cook (43) applied himself and Collingwood scrapped, before Pietersen's arrival at the crease inspired Collingwood to bat more positively.

Strauss was caught by substitute fielder Ryan Broad, who spent the entire Australian innings on the ground in Ponting's absence.

Warne's wicket of Flintoff gave him 300 Test wickets in Australia, the first man to achieve that mark.

[patrick]

Yeah, I hope they keep Sarfraz in the side, and Pup has done good too, with is half century and very good fielding. :)

[jenny]

Yeah, I hope they keep Sarfraz in the side, and Pup has done good too, with is half century and very good fielding. :)
Pontings in Doubt for the second Test! :(

[Future Star]

BUT!! NO!! they cant do that.... Punter ROX!!!

[jenny]

BUT!! NO!! they cant do that.... Punter ROX!!!
FS...Read 5 posts down! :(

[jenny]

The Sydney Morning Herald
England hang on for another day

By Adam Cooper

November 26, 2006 12:00
Article from: AAP



ENGLAND has fought back but are still at very long odds to save the first Ashes Test, with the team 5/293 at stumps on the fourth day.
The Barmy Army finally found voice as England launched a brave counter-assault against Australia on day four, after three days of battering from the home side.

The tourists reached 5-293 in their second innings at stumps, after Paul Collingwood (96) and Kevin Pietersen (92 not out) took calculated risks which produced thrilling results.

England remained 355 runs shy of a remote victory target.

However with victory out of the question from day one, England must now hope Pietersen can orchestrate a performance which betters his heroics from The Oval last year, and that tomorrow's forecast thunderstorms arrive earlier than expected.

Although Collingwood and captain Andrew Flintoff both paid the price for taking their adventurous batting too far, the sight of the tourists going out swinging made a great change to what had been a lopsided start to the series.

Collingwood and Pietersen abandoned the cautious route after tea and the results were dazzling in a 153-run stand at better than a run a minute.

The pair was prepared to take all of Australia's bowlers on and the brave stand only came to an end when Collingwood chanced his arm one time too many and was stumped off Shane Warne's bowling, four runs short of his century.

Warne finished with figures of 4-108 despite a mixed day at the office, as he bowled several loose balls and full tosses, but benefited from England's profligacy.

Australia also experienced a major injury scare, as captain Ricky Ponting did not field because of a back injury he suffered while batting during the first half hour of the day.

Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist took charge in Ponting's absence, while veteran bowler Glenn McGrath also spent time off the ground to have a heel problem treated.

Collingwood cut a forlorn figure as he trudged off the field, having also thrown away a century against Pakistan in Lahore a year ago, when he paid the price for a rash shot going for broke.

Warne claimed a fourth wicket when Flintoff (16) attempted to slog over mid-wicket but got it wrong and picked out Justin Langer at deep mid-on.

Pietersen's counter-attacking was reminiscent of the Ashes-winning century he struck in the final Test at The Oval last year, and even included a heated exchange with his friend Warne, who at one stage hurled the ball back at the batsman's head.

Pietersen deflected the ball away with his bat and then gave Warne a serve.

Ponting and Langer batted on at the start of the day so the veteran opener (100 not out) could reach his century.

Ponting, who made 60 not out, declared at 1-202, which set England a victory target of 648.

Australia looked like it could wrap up the match early after it removed Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell cheaply, and England was 2-43 at lunch.

But Alastair Cook (43) applied himself and Collingwood scrapped, before Pietersen's arrival at the crease inspired Collingwood to bat more positively.

Strauss was caught by substitute fielder Ryan Broad, who spent the entire Australian innings on the ground in Ponting's absence.

Warne's wicket of Flintoff gave him 300 Test wickets in Australia, the first man to achieve that mark.

[patrick]

Yeah, I hope they keep Sarfraz in the side, and Pup has done good too, with is half century and very good fielding. :)

Pontings in Doubt for the second Test!

I knew that! Read the second post from the top! :)