The Ashes Diary - Day One Old Trafford Test

What’s common to Michael Vaughan, VVS Laxman, Brian Lara, Jacques Kallis and forget not Sachin Tendulkar? The answer is simple the have a good bank account of runs to a very mean and examining Aussie bowling attack. They not only score they score big. They also happen to be middle order batsmen. I still think it will make a lot of difference is Vaughan has to open. There is often a chance when one dishes out something out of the woods to Aussies.
If you all remember VVS Laxman came one down and wrote a script of an epic innings. This is the inning which has gone done in Wisden as the top 5 innings of all time ever recorded long form of the game. I would like to reiterate what I have already said. Aussies will bog down and may be even have there shoulder sagging a bit if batsmen stick around and cash in the second new ball. This implies you need to play at-least for more than a day. It is as good as saying climb Mount Everest and then try a bungee jumping for the peak!!
But this can be done. India did it during their last tour down under. Sehwag decimated the bowling attack, Dravid grounded the bowling toothless; Laxman and Tendulkar put to sword then second new ball. Only one thing McGrath and Warne were missed due to injuries.
Vaughan did a first in this Ashes. He is the first batsman from either side to register a tonne. The best thing of his batting is its always very fluent. His has good range of shots. He also plays spin well. He can drive as well as cut and pull. He also has a good appetite for Aussie bowling. Will he come well against Indian bowling in Indian condition is worth watching for!!
I hope the English don’t have their traditional collapse and kick on in positive territory in days to come. McGrath did what Steve Waugh did during the last Ashes series. He ruled out of series due to “triple ligament tear”. He came back and scored one of the most emotional centuries of his outstanding career. What will McGrath do? A bag full of wickets in the match may be!! The Aussies always happen to suddenly come out of a night mare like injury and make a remarkable come back.
Steve Waugh scored a century every time he came back from injury. If you talk of centuries one batsman, out of sorts like King of Torts, Matthew Hayden. He just has to stick around and be there on the pitch. This is the only way to score runs.
The English will look towards Harmison and Flintoff to inspire them when Aussie come out to bat. The fact remains that England needs to repeat their performance second time too. Shane Warne will turn the ball like a top. Ladies and Gentlemen hold your seats to what will be a great display of traditional leg spin bowling. The Aussies will pocket this match if he bowls well. Will Shane Warne set ablaze the pitch where he bowled the ball of the century? He bowled Mike Gatting by a dream ball. The ball pitched way outside leg stump and claimed his off stump. Gatting expression said it all. Will Warne set the pitch on fire and draw one closer for Aussies in Ashes?