So, with the cricket world cup almost over, it’s time to start thinking about the main event of the cricketing summer: the Ashes! In the last installment England were once again soundly beaten down under, but they haven’t lost at home for 18 years. On paper both sides have some top players, so it looks like it could be the closest series since 2005. To ensure they come out on top England will need to sort some big issues at the top of their order.
Posts Tagged: Australia
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One-nil to the Aussies — game on
So the first test is over, and Australia maintained their long record of success at the Gabba to no great surprise here. So, what positives can we take from it?
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A game of nerve?
It’s that time again — the nights are long, the air is cold, but soon the radio will fire into life and bring the sounds of Australian summer to our ears. Will England come back from the previous whitewash with a win (as they did in 2010-11, or will Australia complete a 3rd whitewash in 4 series. I for one am betting it won’t be a draw!
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Professional England See Off Tigerish Bangladesh
Well done England on a professional ODI series victory against Bangladesh. The Tigers might not be viewed by all as the toughest opponents and the visitors will certainly face sterner tests – but any Asian opposition on home soil is anything but a pushover.… Read Full Article
2No Star Shines Bright for Either Side
So the Ashes are now at end with England the victors and Australia put back in their place. A 3–2 scoreline flatters the green baggied ones a little but in truth the last test was a dead rubber for England. They were never going to play to the same level on intensity as when they were trying to claim the little urn back from our Antipodean cousins.
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0Australia steam on in battle against Proteas
When England squared up to Australia in the last Ashes series I, like many, thought the visitors would retain the urn during the five match series. It was always going to a tougher battle than the summer showdown but victory was expected.
Player for player England were just too strong, weren’t they? At the time, with the standout exception of middle-order maestro Michael Clarke, a combined XI of the two sides would have been dominated by the three lions. Other than skipper Clarke who would have made the combined side? Perhaps David Warner for Michael Carberry? A fit Ryan Harris in for either Chris Tremlett or Tim Bresnan? Certainly the former, probably the latter. A place for Shane Watson? Maybe – but who would he replace? On the face of it, however, England certainly appeared the stronger outfit.… Read Full Article
0Ashes to Ashes, England to Dust
For what I am about to say may I be struck down from above…but I am glad that this Ashes series is at an end. Quite simply Australia have played far better than the sum of their individual parts and England have been, for the large part, absolutely diabolical.
As sure as night follows day the Aussies wrapped up a devastating 5–0 series win, yet again bowling England out for a pitiful total not worthy of an international line up. The visitors now need to go back, re-group and pick up the pieces from this potentially disastrous tour down-under.… Read Full Article
0Australia urn their easy Ashes victory
With a ruthless determination and a killer instinct worthy of a wolf chasing a wounded deer, Australia duly completed the rout of a demoralised England this morning.
England simply haven’t turned up this series and a rejuvenated Australia have preyed on every weakness and every failing to humiliate what is still a pretty good side.
Winning a fourth consecutive Ashes series was a pretty tall order and it was one that was beyond England. The urn now returns to Australia (figuratively speaking, anyway!) and we no doubt won’t hear the end of it from our cousins on the other side of the planet.
As Cook admitted in his post-match press conference, England have been outplayed in all areas and will, I suspect, claim a 5–0 triumph. It’s simply not their style to take their foot off the gas. The wolf has caught the prey, now he wants to finish every last tasty morsel.… Read Full Article
0First blow to England
So the Ashes are under way again with no great surprises so far. Australia won the toss and batted, England came out with the ball and made life difficult for a very average looking Australian batting line-up. The man of the day was without doubt Stuart Broad, who should have now silenced all but the most loud-mouthed of his critics.… Read Full Article
0England’s starting 11 picked by Michael Clarke
In a refreshingly candid interview Australian captain Michael Clarke has announced the England starting 11 for the first Ashes test. We’re not sure it’s a good thing that he seems to know the team, but the team he listed is the team we would have picked ourselves, so it could be just intelligent guesswork.
“The pink ball appears grey/blue in red/green deficient vision, depending on its severity. I did a simulation with colour blindness…”