Cricket: The 2006/2007 Ashes Thread

[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.

[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