Cricket: England gain hold

Michael Clarke would be a very lonely man as all leaders of any loosing campaign could be. He has his plate full with things he got to do to salvage something out of the Ashes 2013 venture. There are simply too many reasons to restrict the causes that has made Australia look very ordinary over last few seasons. Cook on the other hand and go on to the field do whatever he likes and result seem to fall in his lap, straight away very easily. 

England are playing ruthless cricket for the moment. I thought a series will be a well fought one but what I see leaves me a bit bemused. Australia had set such benchmarks, leaving teams only to compete second, fitness of players, awesome batting line up where everyone had capability and record of turning the match on its head, scoring runs, taking catches, triggering collapses. The bowling was envy of all, a wizard of leg spin, three excellent front line bowlers, marginal decisions or the rub of the green was often with the baggy green corner.

 All this has been repeated ad-nauseum. It is history. If Australian cricket continues in its current state,they will be getting framed in an image. An image of being Once a great team. Its something how West Indies were in last fifteen years, they just fell from the roof tops.

Poms first.

Poms enjoying the Ashes, batsman are queuing up to score and bowlers even part timers are queuing up to bowl and claim prized scalps. They have taken a 2-0 lead and look good to hold on to the Ashes. Australia have come back from a deficit of two games to win the ashes just once but for that too happen someone has to play a Bradmansque series or perhaps Bradman would have more clues. 

England can claim lot of comfort from the fact the big three of Cook, Peitersen and Trott haven't really fired with the bat. But I guess for the moment its Bell, and the lower order thats firing on both sides. A striking feature that the best bats haven't dented this Ashes so far. Bell in the first test, Root in the second the fact that both these innings came while England were in a spot of bother would have made the England camp a very happy one. 

Anderson and Swann meanwhile have made a run away start. Broad is a handful on English conditions. Anderson claimed a bag full of wickets at Trent bridge, Swann took 9 in the match to skittle Aus out for 128. He scored some good runs with Broad at the end when Aus tried cleaning up the tail. The hung on and scored at a brisk rate to balloon English total to 360 instead of a subtle 325. 

Fans loving it when Australia keeps loosing it. 

The cricket fans who very often hard done by Aussies coming from behind and winning impossible matches or stringing consistency which was beyond imagination. I mean we grew up knowing Australia would win, they were hard to even compete. But no such complains any more. Cricket fans in places other than Australia are having such a jolly good time. It such a relief that they got battered by England in England, than England beat them in Australia than Saffers did it twice while visiting Australia. Yes India got blanked out Four Nil. Dhoni would have enjoyed a chuckle when Australia toured India and India turned the tables. Spinners doing the damage. Even Bhuvnesh Kumar new to test matches enjoyed bowling to Aussie batsman on placid Indian pitches. 

Its the snobbery and the sledging or the mental disintegration as suggested by Steve Waugh, now I am sure they wont have much to say about their current form and performance. There use to be a lot of lip and lot of swagger. 

Aussies use to be the big bullies. When they were winning series after series the tongues kept wagging and the juggernaut kept rolling. England didn't win a sniff for better part of twenty years till 2005. When Flintoff lead the bull charge. India did win at home against the Aussies at home. But now it seems all quiet on the field front. Pattinson did it last series against Graeme Smith with Aus hosted Safs. It was all in a bad taste, you play and play fair and you win gracefully Aus at times didn't do it right, there have been so many infamous incidents, often including Indian players. I guess when the Aussies started getting paid same coin and with same intensity, they didn't like their own medicine very much. There were numerous occasion in which players from all over get very partisan treatment from the Aussie fans and media and often that fueled the lip players would get on the pitch even more. Aussies at home were unbeatable. I would wonder why, know I am beginning to wonder what it would have been to form unrelenting gaze under which key players from opposition were kept under the grind the time they stepped on Aussie shores. 

All that now seems to thing of the past. Yes as a marquee contest of the Cricketing world Ashes perhaps rules the roost, Indian and Pa fans may contest that, but its crickets oldest rivalry a fact which cannot be contested. Aussies seems to have fallen rather quickly from their all conquering ways. Its now time for us fans to pile on the dismay for the Aussies as Cricket Australia sees humbler days. Its not only that Australia have fallen, other teams have equally done well. Saffers have done well away from home, England have done well too, Pakistan is only playing away from home. Dhoni would look to build on, starting in limited overs format abroad, advantage at home and perhaps if his bowlers come of age than a run away from home in tests.

Tough road ahead.

The rot in performances, I mean the enormity and the rapidity with Aussies have fallen perhaps reflect the board,an odd blip in a series may be understandable but capitulation of this magnitude, tell us more about how cricket Aus have abandoned the grass roots, premier Big Bash, a T20 is played in prime cricketing season, in front of sparse crowds. In last handful of seasons no Aussie batsman has stamped his authority Aussie batting looks fragile, bowling looks decent but its hard to finish the marathon with a limp.

Aussies should have corrected their course before the end of previous Ashes, they didn't They were too large to fail, I don't know how players of over 35 years will take the Aussie cricket forward. Aus will be better fared if they threw the newbies in the bout and plan a road to recovery. For the time being, team selection, batting order, intensity, performances, camaraderie within in the team are few minor issues Cricket Australia and people who are well wishers of Australian cricket team would like to consider. 

England lead Australia by 2-0, three more tests to go.

 

Cricket: Poms cross the Trent Bridge

Stuart Broad not walking in the first test will come to the haunt England before this Ashes ends.

Stuart Broad edged one and held his ground. Yes he is entitled to stand in ground, Umpire Aleem Dar was perhaps right in his judgment, If only Australia had a review left. Its the tougher option and playing the match fair. Stuart Broad didn't he has sown the seed, he will reap it. Micheal Vaughan couple of Ashes ago use to hold on to his ground, technology was inconclusive he prospered in that. Haddin later stood his ground but stood his ground, England reviewed and won. England beat Australia by a close margin of 14 runs. England made it look a far even and keener contest than it should have been. Australian true to their character came back twice to almost even the battle but slipped on last pedestal

But thankfully thats wasn't the only thing riveting in this test. A wise Australian captain would take a lot of heart. Their bowlers can take 20 wickets and can score more, going by their performances Aus bowlers took wickets scored runs and did most of the donkey work obviousky batsmen should catch up sooner rather than later.

I don't know who is selecting the team but how many openers you want to play in one team? Aussie batting line up in Trent Bridge test was a line up of openers Watson, Rogers, Cowan, Hughes, and guess who scored the highest in either of the innings, Agar Ashton batting on debut at number 11 in the first innings. It was such a fabulous effort, considering he stepped in when the scorecard read 117/9, he turned the tide in favour of Australia. They should look to build on this innings. It was as if he was shielding Hughes, good enough to open in test matches. 

England seem to have run into a puddle as Australia took a very good lead for 65 runs. England then put their head down and chipped away the lead, though English top order should have done more and just batted Aus out of the game, but then pitched turned lower and slower as the game went on. Their top order got starts Pietersen and Cook should have scored more but Bell scored a ton and make sure there was no collapse and easy hunt for Australia in second innings. Bell, Ian bell of all batsmen scored a tough ton for England and make sure with ever passing over, hour, session, odd get stacked against Australia.

English top order, Anderson fitness and Swan's lukewarm performances a major worry going into the second test.

While Australia are doing everything that English would want them to, Warner is sent to an African Safari, couple of changes for Australia for sure. As I write, Usman Khawaja and Ryan Harris will replace Cowan and Starc.

It was something hard to say for the Aussies for the while they were on top,but common sense missing out of Aus cricket for now. May be Dhoni should give them a prep talk.

Cricket: Preview to Ashes 2013

The Ashes 2013 is starts today. England vs Australia the oldest and one of the fiercest rivalry the game of cricket will know. The pomp and pageantry and history and anecdotes and how the teams have fared over a period. The heroes, the villains the gripping plot the climax and the anti thesis. A drama that unfolds. It wasn't so when Australia were ascendancy few years back. In 1987 it started it all, when Allan Border, like Michael Clarke supposedly led the worst team to land on shores of England for the conquest of The Ashes.

They lost the previous Ashes which was played in Australia was lost primarily due to Ponting's obstinacy more than anything else. Aussies found themselves in a quagmire which cost them the series. But then this time around after getting steam rolled in India perhaps a more Aussie like display would helped Aussies the most. Mickey Arthur sacking may have helped them in that direction.

Aussies the challengers

The Aussie player to watch are, the batter of fast bowlers Pattinson, Siddle, Starc, Harris, Watson with the happy knack of picking wickets. Lyon and Steve Smith with spinning capabilities. The bowlers look to get wickets, but its the batting they seem to bring on to the pitch. Aussies need to get back to the drawing board playing cricket, build partnerships play out sessions and look for safety first and perhaps English tendency to collapse in heaps probably will assist them. Warner and Watson have to come good if Aussies have to put a brave challenge. Clarke may be should bat at number four. Haddin as a keeper batsman will make the batting order.

Batting is a bit of a lag for the Aussies on current form. It will be very interesting what eleven plays for Aussies in the first test and how they sort their batting woes, perhaps will set the tone for the series. I wonder if they play both Watson and Steve Smith, gives them more options. They should probably look at what SAfs did in England and look to build. But I dont think Poms will offer those kind of pitches to Australia.

England's Ashes to loose.

Poms seems to have most bases covered. A test opener, a nibbler in form of Trott, Jet booster in form of Pietersen. A touch player in Bell. I am no fan of Bell he is the most incomplete batsmen in history, Warne use to invite him to bat and claim his wicket on will. But I guess Warne wont be bowling in this series. Prior remains a hand with the bat and English tail wags when required and fends off attacks when it come to saving tests, they saved a couple of those when Australia played last in England. Monty Panesar being the hero with the bat in the Cardiff test which was drawn. Broad is a bowler to watch. He is lethal in English conditions.

I have been not so good in predicting the series. Last few have been awful especially since India lost home and away test to England. Aussies are chasing the ghost a little bit. Aussies must resolve to put up a good fight.

The men who may matter.

The players to watch out for during the series are, Pietersen, Clarke, Watson, Starc, Warner, Clarke, Trott, Broad, Root, Anderson. Also the man on the button taking calls on DRS referrals.

Cricket: And how the Ashes were won

It struck a chord with me when Ponting said all credit to the English team. Obviously the winner gets the loudest toast, the biggest cheer and most accolades. I won’t mince words for Ponting, I like him rather grudgingly as a player for the tones of runs, and he has scored. But I don’t think he has been the best captain Australia ever produced. Most avid Indian cricket fan remember him from the Sydney fiasco. It is easier to say bygones be bygones. I don’t know how many would savour an English win but many of us are in absolutely ecstatic when we realize that Aussies have lost. It is a similar high to when Indian team wins. The worry for Ponting the captain is that he seems to be out manoeuvred rather easily, Dhoni did it, Smith did it, Strauss has now done it.

I don’t think Ponting will enjoy tomorrow, especially if it were to rain all day at the Oval.

The Game, the review.

The do or die match. The pace and bounce of the Oval was to be grounded to a dust bowl, I would love to see that kind of a pitch when Indians or Pakis or Lankans visit England. Well it is just a wish. The Poms, huffed and puffed, to 325 + a respectable total, not considering what was to come. At 70 odd for none, the Aussies wouldn’t have imagined what was to come. They beat the English record of sorts for the series, earlier in the series; last 10 Pom wickets fell for 102 runs. The Aussies returned the favour when their last 10 wickets that fell for less than 90 runs. Poms with a lead of more than 170 runs, with 3 more days of cricket left, the result was written on the wall.

Broad just widened the gap with a stellar performance, Trott just added some more sugar on the cake, the cherry on the top moment was still to come. All though, Pom were struggling 57 for 3, Strauss the man in charge and Trott on debut resurrected the Poms ship and kept on pilling the agony for Aussies, Strauss out on a crucial moment, before the English, tail wagged and almost sung a fairy tale of sorts, Swann and Trott stealing 70 runs in 9 overs at one stage. Trott completed a magnificent century on debut. By the end of the Pom innings, the writing on the wall became firmly fixed in the minds of both the teams. It was the matter of time.

Aussies started again solidly, Katich and Watson looking good, but as in the case of most test matches, the first hour is crucial, two early wickets, made the task that bit jittery and all that Ponting and Hussey could do were to put their hands down and test the English patience.

The moment - “The red cherry on the top.”

It is amazing how little moments in everyday life lay claim to be turning points of history. This run out was one of those moments which would be remembered for the Ashes 2009. It occurred when the result of the game was a fore gone conclusion; it was just the matter of how and not when. The moment came, when Hussey played down to Mid on, and Ponting was caught on his heels, big man Flintoff scooped down and whipped it back to claim a direct hit, Ponting, was short by a foot or more. It was hara-kiri. The moment symbolized how Ponting gave it all that he could, but still fell short of the mark and how Flintoff could inspire the Poms even with shear presence. There have been many a glorious exits of the game, Flintoff wasn’t to have one. He laboured all along the series made sure Poms won the Ashes back only to bow out of tests.

All the numbers and times of victory.

Aussies bowlers took more wickets, their batsmen score more, centuries, looked more daunting. The Pommies hold fort, looked conventional, bore the Aussies out of the skin. While Poms looked to be doing all the catching up to done, Aussies will look back long and hard at lot of things including how and why the Ashes were lost. One of the reasons I think is Aussie rate of scoring runs. While not all bowlers looked threatening for an appreciable time, the Aussies didn’t exactly run away at the usual 3.5 to 4 an over run rate, the deciding factor of the series. Yes the Aussies did score runs, but perhaps a touch too leisurely I guess. The Poms managed to score 4 an over 5 times (not including a 3.9) in the series, the Aussies managed it just once. Well we can analyse or dig deep into what was done, but the fact remains, that poor team selection that the Aussies did make their task that bit harder. It would also be easier to say that’s high fliers like Clarke, North, Ponting and Haddin, files in just couple of times in the series, and the Ashes was won. Hussey didn’t give much to cheer except helping himself with a century in a losing cause that helped me take his head off, from the chopping board. One can dig as deep into the numbers the deeper you go into the number the more you would realize that the result was fair. I for once wish to say that Poms won the Ashes, instead of Aussies losing it.

Strauss, the man of the season.

He led the series for the Poms and looked the best player by far. Strauss may not have the charisma and may not stand out as a natural leader. He chose to stamp his authority not by his demeanour and presence but through his performance. The master stroke in the whole series was to rest Flintoff. He might have said to the team, that the challenge is to beat Aussies without Flintoff and Ashes is ours for the taking, if we lose, then we would have one more chance to beat the Aussies. Yes it was gamble to be taken, but Aussies took the bait. Strauss lost the battle to win the war and reduces the Aussies chances retaining the Ashes on a dusty oval pitch. He made a few daring calls, he managed to pull them off and reaped rewards.

The Challenge for Poms is now beat Australia in Australia and retain the Ashes.

Cricket: Ashes still in balance

There are clichés in cricket none more apt for good or bad as Aussies are favourites to win. It is pretty much obvious, more so against England. But you must know that the Ashes is still is still in the balance and it might take some thing heroic, from Flintoff and a few others to guide it for England while the whole Aussie team, would be striving hard to win the Ashes, Ponting, George Bush of cricket would be trying is hardest.

Why English cricket is in dismay?

I know there is lot of pride the English have over traditions, everyone should, but ideals/principles have to be worked upon and then accepted, they can’t just be dreamt, you need grit to fight it out. I mean thinking of recalling Ramprakash was a horror, why not dig WG Graces, grave and ask him to bat again, there are a few ex-cricketers, Gower, Botham, Lloyd, Willis doing commentary who know how to do it, why not ask them? I have nothing against Ian Bell, but to simply say this he is the most incomplete batsman the history of cricket has ever seen. I don’t think any Aussie bowlers, even the ones playing county cricket, would love to bowl to a batsman who precedes Bell, its bowl one out get one for free. He scored runs today, yes he was the highest scorer for them today, but that not convincing, that score of 72 would take the team anywhere. The other equally unconvincing is Collingwood batting down the order. The last position he can bat is one down. It would give immense impetus to everyone in the team. He has done his job till know, otherwise for all to know, first test at Cardiff could have easily gone to the Aussies, and the Ashes would be pocketed by now.

I don’t think Cook is in the best of form, Strauss has done well with the bat, the only centurion for Poms. But considering is last 12-15 years the best batsmen have occupied the one down or the number three slot, Dravid, Ponting, Kallis, Mohammed Yousuf, being the point in case. I don’t think Bell is in the same class. Bell at 4 or 5 down may be just slightly ever so better than Bell at one down that all the concession that he would is I may. If Bell is worthy to be in that eleven then the Aussies deserve to win the Ashes. It is my firmly believe that if anyone wants to win against Aussies, you need to field your best eleven on the basis on class, form and fitness. I will place class first.

They might not is the Tsunami called Andrew Flintoff crashes the Aussie boat. He is standing tall between Aussies and the Ashes. Cricket is a team game and all that will go one. It is right that no one individual can dictate the game, but there will always be times when an individual influences and control the moment. It’s precisely that moment which defines the person. Flintoff has done it once can do it again. Flintoff is just 31; his worthiness is much more than three thousand odd runs and two hundred odd wickets. His brute pace and variety and control almost made him unplayable even today. On current form, not many top batsmen (including Bell) would queue to bat Flintoff. He did spend a lot of time on the injury list, but I won’t be surprised if he is recalled for the next Ashes, if Ramprakash’s name can pop up then, Flintoff too deserves a rethink.

Ponting wants to win

Ponting put the English attack to sword and thwarted any moves possible which would have allowed England to come back. The Poms surrendered with in three days ands the Ashes went back in the balance, locked at 1-1. On the first day England did make 307 for 8 at the end. It is tempting to say that Aussies are firm favourites. But there are a few againsts, standing in front of Ponting and Aussies. One of them being they have never come from a game down to win the series, then there is Flintoff. All it needs is one simple batting collapse and the English take a decent lead of say 50 to 60 runs. But it won’t be still enough, Poms would need t bat well again, something they haven’t done enough.

I still feel that if Ponting wins it he would thoroughly deserves the Ashes. But history counts for nothing. Ponting knows it. Aussies lost to Poms, first time in 75 years. My sense is, Poms would cave in this time, and I am expecting a classic, Test match in the making. The pitch is very interesting and Flintoff would not want any excuse. It is building to be Flintoff Ashes because of the precedent and the presence of the man.

Men other than Flintoff.

I don’t know what Warne thinks of only pace attack. England has Swann, who spins and seems to be a good traditional off spin bowler. Off spinners have traditionally done well against Aussies. But key members from this point of time seem to be the back up bowlers. Anderson has already delivered the goods, Harmison the hero of Poms last Ashes victory seem to be just there. He has to put his hand up. Collingwood should say to everyone I want to bat the Aussies out the second innings. If there is some positive out of the series, then it has to be the fact that English tailed has wagged and wagged more at least more effectively then the top order. Broad too doesn’t look all that sharp on form. Swann holds the key.

Cricket: Flintoff vs Aussies

The drama continues to unfold as Aussies and Poms lock horns for the third test over the series. It’s an observation of mine, that both Aussies and Poms have had similar nature of problems, similar nature of performances. The injuries to Lee and to Pietersen, the fragile top order, lack luster performance of frontline bowlers, Broad and Johnson, the performance of the offies, Haurtiz and Swann, the centuries by captains, Strauss and Ponting. But I think the Aussies have a better middle order. I think both teams reluctance to beef up bowling i.e. both Stuart Clark, and Harmisson are busy chit chatting on the sidelines. So if someone said it has been an even contest,then the preceding are some proof of that.

The only differentiating the two teams is the colossal persona of Andrew Flintoff who like Ursa Major seems to be guiding the English Ashes conquest.

I have been dearly following and blogging cricket for some amount of time, I haven’t seen too many ex-captains playing in an Aussie team. I mean Indian test team has Tendulkar and Dravid also when Ganguly was also playing, they were all their (and will be there for some time at least) in the playing eleven led by Dhoni, there is Lankan team right now (playing ODIs) where Jaywardene and Jayasuriya both ex-captains are currently playing in the eleven, take Pakis for example in they have had such similar teams. But not Aussies, they keep captains till they retire or get/ forced dropped. I don’t mean that Ponting should be dropped or ex communicated. He is a terrific player, but he is one of the generation kind of Aussie captain who regularly gets beaten in tactics and seems to have just one plan.

I mean Punter is Punk’d. Flintoff retirement was surprise for most, but Ponting is not good at trademark Aussie verbatim, the entire barrage you associate with Aussie cricket players. He is undermining his own case; I wonder if he (Ponting) surely understands the gravity of the situation of this series. Why do you want to incite someone like Flintoff for any reason? Flintoff has been on and off the field with injuries, but when he is on song, he is the best bowler in the two teams combines and looks very lethal on top of his bowling mark with the red cherry in his hand. He won the last test doing it a la Botham style, on the very day, Botham eclipsed Aussies at a test in Headingley (1981), Aussies enforced the follow on and went on to lose (they have been the only team to do so and lose), Botham smacking a century and Bob Willis scything the Aussies bats. The test is remembered as Botham's test and the series the Botham’s Series. The clock did finally turn after 27 years as Flintoff completed the turn by blasting through the Aussies batting on teh final day of the Lords test. Flintoff not only defeated the Aussies, but also history in some ways, as Poms posted there first victory over Aussies at Lords in over 75 years, the home of Cricket’s Holy Grail, The Ashes and also home of English Cricket.

Flintoff isn’t far off, I wonder if he would make a century in this series for the remainder of the three matches (this one included in three)

The series could be more riveting if both captains chose team on merit of abilities. Stuart Clarke and Watson are a must for this Aussie team. Watson seems to have funk you need in cricket, he get something extra to bring it on the table. Harmisson should be there his pace and bounce will upset the Aussies, and also will cut down on load from Flintoff, this making the Pom bowling attack shaper. Swann will play coz Aussies have been traditional very ordinary to off spin bowling, like the English have been to seam and spin bowling.

Let the Test begin and may best team win.

Second edit.

Cricket: Spirit sorcery and Ponting

Ponting has been a good batsman. He has been lucky one too,for a while he use to come one down following a swash buckler like Langer or the Big Oak like Colossus in Hayden. One loves to hate him and grudgingly accept that he has done well. He likely to zoom past Tendulkar’s record in test cricket on current form. His record as a batsman and his fielding skills will remain enviable for the next couple of years.

Ponting now has to steer a ship in the absence of big sails like Hayden, McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist, Langer and Martyn, who have retired from the game that’s a tough task in itself. But absence of these once in a generation players proves how much the team he use to captain was pretty much on auto pilot. India having dented Aussies in Australia, Ponting has turned from being excellent batsmen to a decent captain, to a poor sorcerer,he has started invoking spirit of the game at wrong points in time.

I mean to hell with the spirit of the game, most fans who have followed Australia have explored too deep in the new territories pushed the envelope a bit too far. Peter Roebuck had something nasty to say about him when India lost the infamous test which Steve Bucknor won’t forget any easily either. I think that whole match was a turning point in starting of descent of Ponting & Co. The subsequently lost to SAFs.The fallout of that was Andrew Symonds who was mentally disintegrated.

The following season Indian tour gave Ponting enough opportunity as a leader who could challenge none other than George (W) Bush himself to some of the most bizzare, un Aussie like judgments. I think it is from that point onwards that I started to believe that if anyone can give George W Bush a run for his money it has to be Ricky Ponting. I won’t be surprised if they both go for it and it is photo finish. Ricky Ponting has to be what Bush is/was to politics. You want to disavow what he said or does but wanna have a hearty laugh as well

I think he tried to provide every justification is Australia losses other than accepting the fallacy of him as the captain. Sorry Ricky just gets on with the game. Invoking spirits of the game wont help, you made horrendous tome of it some of the decision by leaving out Stuart Clarke one of the things that decided the out come of the game. Aussies would have done anything if they were in the spot which English found or almost forced themselves into. Bopara is good (no doubt?), but Collingwood should be batting one down, he is the best English batsmen on current form. Pietersen being the stroke player will get you runs make foundation of scoring big and quick but it is people like Collingwood that will finish it for England.

I think the first test was drawn because of improper team selection.

I think more drama is expected in this Ashes series.

This was a second edit.

The Ashes Diary: Brisbane Test, Day One.

The first test of The Ashes series went underway at `Gabba, Brisbane. The first test of Aussie summers is always played here. The `Gabba pitch is traditionally a very complete pitch. It is complete in the sense that it offers something for everybody. It offers pace and bounces for the seamers, spin for the spinner, true bounce for the batsmen to play some rich strokes. It is obviously remember it for a gritty and rare Ganguly century and his exaggerated show of accomplishment which went onto to become his signature.

Visiting teams and injured members.

I still have no clue of this, but I think of a tour by a team and I think injuries, for example, Yuvraj missing tour to SA and Marcus Trescothick finds playing away from England a precarious situation. I think he should not play cricket outside Lord’s, Head Quarters of ECB. I don’t know what it is but that nothing short of insane. One has to obviously remember that Vaughan and Simone Jones are already there on the list. Micheal Vaughan only churned out century when he toured last. He is obviously been missing.

The Teams; English and the Aussies.

I think the batting order for England is quiet decent in the prevailing circumstances. Collingwood could have been at three, Pietersen at five and Flintoff at six add to the options. It is the matter of being consistent.
The Aussies have packed themselves with 7 batsmen and 4 bowlers. I think if any team can withstand the barrage of these supreme quality bowlers then there is a chance for anyone to extend the test match to 4 innings and 5 days. But as everyone knows that’s something rare. McGrath, Warne, Lee, Gillespie, they were there too last time, but this time Aussies are playing in their own backyard and English have not won a series since 87 (or 89?) .

The First test, dubious record, Aussies in control.

Ricky Ponting made a bold statement and further ads to the good work of Langer and Hayden. He made a brilliant century. He looks like climbing on to top Tendulkar; one can say that at least on current form. If one tends to fine one of the Aussie has superlative years scoring well beyond the benchmark 1000 runs and then seem to loose steam, sufferers could be a list of present Aussie team with bright exception of Ponting. Hayden, Glichrist, Martyn, Clarke, and Langer. It is weird. In the last Ashes which were played in England we had to wait till the fourth Test to see an Aussie hundred, this time round thankfully it is on first.
It is a bit very early to say but the English have always lost the first test at least in the last four concluded Ashes test. I think English will have a very bright chance on retaining the Ashes is they take this test into 4 inning and fifth day. I think this test would be no exception. I would be last one to be surprised in Aussie don’t pull of this test. But cricket is a weird game.

But cricket is a weird game.

India is such a brilliant team* in both forms of the game. The team carried its rich form of bizarre display of batting, ordinary bowling and one shot the batsmen played was to inside edge the ball onto the stumps, clear sign of lack of footwork and excessive bounce, Tendulkar was lucky to survive a leg before appeal. He did not manage for much long. I think India should have batted the second time as well. I am sure even in the second time they would not have come close to a moderate total of 248. Indian bowlers failed to impress with Munaf only managing some respectability in terms of bowling figures. If Indian batsmen find hard times on seamer friendly pitches then Indian bowlers struggle too to get the opposition out. Kumble has to come in at someone’s expense. Dinesh Mongia came in too late. I don’t know if he will score. Kaif was caught of a rising Pollock delivery, not many would have lined up after Kaif to play that one. Tendulkar was bowled so was Dravid. Raina has a lot to prove. I think the way Raina is playing should make Ganguly happy as it increases his chance of making it back to the Indian team.
I hope this performance is not a sign of things to come as the conditions as things only get bizarre, weird and tough.

* Only home conditions apply.