The Ashes Diary - Trent Bridge Test

I won’t call this exactly a preview. The match is already underway as I sit and write the preview of the Fourth Ashes Test, Trent Bridge. The news of England may beat Australia if sold as hot breads and cakes by the media. The contest is even, as not seen by many. The injury and out of form worry are much to nuisance of Aussies. Not a welcome change they would say. I think Shane Warne got it right. The Aussies have nothing to prove. They need to just win one of the two matches and they will go home teasing the English. Once again they will take home the Ashes along with English pride. The ball is in English courts. They need to put their head down and do some good work for winning back their pride.
The English must ensure they must win the next two tests or win one of the tests and draw the other. The series as usual will go down the wire as some of the tests have. The series will throw up a few surprises as ten days and thirty sessions are remaning to be unfolded.
Shane Warne seems to be enjoying both of bowling and batting. He is scoring runs and adding to his wickets. It’s the runs which he has score has saved the Aussies of some blushes. He almost won them a match and helped save one. The next time around he must ensure that he finishes through. The momentum is with him. You can expect another thrilling display by him.
The pitch on which cricket is played will come into focus of many pundits, punter and crickets fans. The difference between a pundit, a punter and a fan is as follows. The pundits speak in such a manner that whatever the result in the end he will say “I said so” .
The punter measures every thing on the scales of odd and evens of the betting market.
The fan like me has a few wishes and hopes which may come true.
As for the pitch, as the Aussies have a best all round attack i.e. A highest wicket taking spinner in history of the game along, with one of the faster bowling “cannon” and a good seamer. The best seam bowler one will find is out of foray due to injury niggles.
The pitch is as flat as any you will see. Even an out of form and out of sorts Sourav Gangly can come home with a century on this pitch. When was the last time we saw the Indian Captain hit a test match century? The batsmen will give a head and a toe to bat on this. One can expect big scores from skill-full batsman to stick in and make it count.There was rain for last few days. It may just dampen a few spirits. I will keep my fingers crossed for the rain to stay away.
The Ashes has ignited interest across the cricket fans of world. I hope it lives up to the expectation. Whose hope of winning the Ashes turn to ashes? Will there be a new dawn for cricket writers? Or the Aussies are holding few aces and trumps up their sleeves.