Edgbaston. Third Ashes Test - day two
Preview
The match is only 30 overs old but Australia have already gained a major foothold and, if there is sufficient time, go on to win. The day has begun with sunshine, England once again look out of sorts and without inspiration. Why? I have had the suspicion that in the half hour before they walked out to field someone in the dressing room said the wrong thing.
Perhaps at the last minute he - and I have no idea who he might be - said they had the beating of Australia and frightened the younger players who are still finding their way in Test cricket. Perhaps some old grudge emerged; who can tell what may have taken the wind from their sails. We may never find out what it is, but as at Cardiff someone has made a wrong move.
To lunch
The most dramatic and decisive session in the series - but it has been coming. Australia must feel that after all their bad luck in the first three Tests the writing was on the wall and that the Ashes were about to disappear.
Graham Onions exploded the Australian innings with the wickets of Shane Watson and Mike Hussey from the first two balls. Ricky Ponting was another Onions victim at 163-4 and after Andrew Flintoff dropped Michael Clarke ,James Anderson had Clarke lbw. Marcus North was caught behind, Mitchell Johnson lbw first ball and Graham Manou bowled.
Australia had made 77 for the loss of seven wickets at lunch and four batsmen had fallen for four in 13 balls. If ever Englishmen had reason to celebrate it was todaywith the old enemy eight down for 207.
To tea
The last three Australians kept going for 70 minutes and added 60 runs; Anderson finished with five wickets - remember Michael's Vaughan's suggestion of 30 wickets in the series? - and Onions with four.
Faced with 263 England began disastrously. Alistair Cook, who has had a mixed series, went for nought in the second over and it was tempting to think of another low score. But Strauss played another immaculate innings and Ravi Bopara, calmer than usual matched him run for run.
Johnson was not trusted with the new ball and when he came on just before tea he sprayed the ball around like a novice with a Sten gun. By tea, with at least two and a half hours to go, England were assured and in command.
To close
Darkness killed the rest of the day's play with England 116-2, with Strauss looking as if he could bat forever, but without Bopara who played one more soft shot when the game was set up for him to make a century.
Bopara remains an enigma, like Cook, like Stuart Broad. We may view his career differently in ten years time but at the moment he is not the finished product. Ian Bell hit fluent shots and sent Nathan Hauritz for six; maybe his time in the wilderness has had the desired effect.
As for this match, everything depends on the weather, and once again the forecasters report unsettled weather in prospect.
Friday 31 July 2009
Thursday 30 July 2009
Strange England
Edgbaston. Third Ashes Test - day one
Preview
Well, here is a turn up for the 21st century. The dropping of Phillip Hughes - forecast by this blog soon after he turned up to play for Middlesex - was announced on Twitter.
Just how this came about is still not clear but it has turned several faces in the Cricket Australia offices puce, there has been a lot of talk about "official announcements" and excuses put forward because Hughes has not yet passed the age of consent. It is just one more sign of confusion in their camp; mainly because the side is full of novice Test cricketers.
Shane Watson takes Hughes' opening spot; what chances he finishes the Test with an injury?
Apart from that it is all about the weather. No play before lunch is the common wager, but in the likely event of more rain, there may be no play today.
To lunch
Not sure anyone deserves the lunch that begins at 12.50, except maybe the umpires Rudi Koertzen and Aleem Dar who makes several sorties into the field, agree to be interviewed and come to the conclusion that standing in the rain is an unnecessary form of water-boarding and that they should not subject the players to such torture. The prospects are far from bright.
To tea
I hated days like this when I was a full-time reporter. You arrive early full of hope, spend hours watching for rain or fair weather, while your concentration slowly ebbs away and then, and you are always surprised,they are out on the field and two or three wickets fall and you take an age to catch up.
I was talking to an old friend about the job a couple of days ago. "Marvellous," and "better than coal mining" and "what did we ever find to grumble about" but just like a day down the pit there are moments when you wonder why you ever joined and just how you can escape. Today is one like that.
To close
Two hours or 30 overs; Australia in the sunshine, England in the deepest gloom. After the toss Brad Haddin broke his finger but Andrew Strauss gave permission for Australia to field Graham Manou, their other wicket-keeper, Nice sportsmanship, Andrew, shame about the rezt of your leadership.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and Shane Watson and Simon Katich set off as if they were on fire. Sixty runs in the first hour, then off the last ball of Graeme Swann's first over Katich was lbw - and another 60 runs came in the second hour. Australia finished on 126-1.
Brilliant start. But explain to me why after taking 2-0-4-1 Swann never bowled again. Why he bowled with a defensive field. As for the rest of the team, they looked - as they did at Cardiff - as if they had no drive, no energy, no wish to be on the ground. Very strange.
Preview
Well, here is a turn up for the 21st century. The dropping of Phillip Hughes - forecast by this blog soon after he turned up to play for Middlesex - was announced on Twitter.
Just how this came about is still not clear but it has turned several faces in the Cricket Australia offices puce, there has been a lot of talk about "official announcements" and excuses put forward because Hughes has not yet passed the age of consent. It is just one more sign of confusion in their camp; mainly because the side is full of novice Test cricketers.
Shane Watson takes Hughes' opening spot; what chances he finishes the Test with an injury?
Apart from that it is all about the weather. No play before lunch is the common wager, but in the likely event of more rain, there may be no play today.
To lunch
Not sure anyone deserves the lunch that begins at 12.50, except maybe the umpires Rudi Koertzen and Aleem Dar who makes several sorties into the field, agree to be interviewed and come to the conclusion that standing in the rain is an unnecessary form of water-boarding and that they should not subject the players to such torture. The prospects are far from bright.
To tea
I hated days like this when I was a full-time reporter. You arrive early full of hope, spend hours watching for rain or fair weather, while your concentration slowly ebbs away and then, and you are always surprised,they are out on the field and two or three wickets fall and you take an age to catch up.
I was talking to an old friend about the job a couple of days ago. "Marvellous," and "better than coal mining" and "what did we ever find to grumble about" but just like a day down the pit there are moments when you wonder why you ever joined and just how you can escape. Today is one like that.
To close
Two hours or 30 overs; Australia in the sunshine, England in the deepest gloom. After the toss Brad Haddin broke his finger but Andrew Strauss gave permission for Australia to field Graham Manou, their other wicket-keeper, Nice sportsmanship, Andrew, shame about the rezt of your leadership.
Ricky Ponting won the toss and Shane Watson and Simon Katich set off as if they were on fire. Sixty runs in the first hour, then off the last ball of Graeme Swann's first over Katich was lbw - and another 60 runs came in the second hour. Australia finished on 126-1.
Brilliant start. But explain to me why after taking 2-0-4-1 Swann never bowled again. Why he bowled with a defensive field. As for the rest of the team, they looked - as they did at Cardiff - as if they had no drive, no energy, no wish to be on the ground. Very strange.
Wednesday 29 July 2009
Keep the faith
The result of the third Test - clearly a crucial match since England lead 1-0 in the five-Test series - is a matter of faith.
England plan to use Andrew Flintoff even though there are plenty of sensible people who believe that his knee may not last the full five days, He was the match-winner at Lord's. Can he repeat that trick again?
Australia will stick with Mitchell Johnson, who recently went 35 overs without taking a wicket which led us to suspect that maybe his skill had deserted him. Even against lowly Northants, Mitchell could only manage one tail-end wicket for a bucketful of runs. Ricky Ponting, the leader of the Johnson faith group, will not want a repeat of the performance.
There is another act of faith - in the weather. The British summer began with the suggestion that it would be suitable for daily barbeques. Now the Met Office has had a change of heart. The weather will be "unsettled." And we thought global warming was fact not faith.
One fact is indisputable. The England captain Andrew Strauss sometimes seems bewildered by the need to change bowlers, or fields, or strategy and there are those who wish Michael Vaughan was back, not matter how few runs came his way.
No need to worry about the Strauss run rate. Even as captain he has scored 1138 at 58.17 and only Graham Gooch has a better average with 58.72. If Strauss gets to fifty he usually presses on to 100 - the best conversion by any Englishman, and the best by any captain.
Oh, and by the way, Strauss rarely loses. In 14 Tests he has seven wins and one defeat; to West Indies this winter. At the same time he has made six hundreds and one fifty.
We may have to reassess his worth to the team particularly as the weathr forecasters suggest this match will be a draw, on a pitch the groundsman Steve Rouse says is like jelly already.
Keep the faith Steve; especially since I hear that today's rain may mean no play on the first day. It is still raining.
England plan to use Andrew Flintoff even though there are plenty of sensible people who believe that his knee may not last the full five days, He was the match-winner at Lord's. Can he repeat that trick again?
Australia will stick with Mitchell Johnson, who recently went 35 overs without taking a wicket which led us to suspect that maybe his skill had deserted him. Even against lowly Northants, Mitchell could only manage one tail-end wicket for a bucketful of runs. Ricky Ponting, the leader of the Johnson faith group, will not want a repeat of the performance.
There is another act of faith - in the weather. The British summer began with the suggestion that it would be suitable for daily barbeques. Now the Met Office has had a change of heart. The weather will be "unsettled." And we thought global warming was fact not faith.
One fact is indisputable. The England captain Andrew Strauss sometimes seems bewildered by the need to change bowlers, or fields, or strategy and there are those who wish Michael Vaughan was back, not matter how few runs came his way.
No need to worry about the Strauss run rate. Even as captain he has scored 1138 at 58.17 and only Graham Gooch has a better average with 58.72. If Strauss gets to fifty he usually presses on to 100 - the best conversion by any Englishman, and the best by any captain.
Oh, and by the way, Strauss rarely loses. In 14 Tests he has seven wins and one defeat; to West Indies this winter. At the same time he has made six hundreds and one fifty.
We may have to reassess his worth to the team particularly as the weathr forecasters suggest this match will be a draw, on a pitch the groundsman Steve Rouse says is like jelly already.
Keep the faith Steve; especially since I hear that today's rain may mean no play on the first day. It is still raining.
Tuesday 28 July 2009
Hopefully
Brett Lee, unlucky man, is out of the third Test - but what about Freddie Flintoff?
My household is divided. My partner, the renown Jo King, is convinced he will play in all the remaining Tests, because he is determined to win back the Ashes and set himself up for life by his Dunkirk, backs-to-the-wall, Horatio with his two mates on the bridge, last ditch, never-say-die, efforts.
I wish he would take a moment to rest. I did not like him playing at Lord's - where, he admits now, he was in "discomfort" and where, to my shame, he was man of the match.
I hope he is doing more to make sure of his fitness for the third match than strapping a machine from Outer Space to his knee every night as he mutters "hopefully" every 30 seconds.
He bowled at Lord's today and everyone watching his practice offered their own "hopeful" prayers.
The trouble is that such prayers are so common in sport I tend to yawn every time I hear the word.
Will he play? I don't know but if he does I trust and pray he will be properly fit and not just hopefully.
My household is divided. My partner, the renown Jo King, is convinced he will play in all the remaining Tests, because he is determined to win back the Ashes and set himself up for life by his Dunkirk, backs-to-the-wall, Horatio with his two mates on the bridge, last ditch, never-say-die, efforts.
I wish he would take a moment to rest. I did not like him playing at Lord's - where, he admits now, he was in "discomfort" and where, to my shame, he was man of the match.
I hope he is doing more to make sure of his fitness for the third match than strapping a machine from Outer Space to his knee every night as he mutters "hopefully" every 30 seconds.
He bowled at Lord's today and everyone watching his practice offered their own "hopeful" prayers.
The trouble is that such prayers are so common in sport I tend to yawn every time I hear the word.
Will he play? I don't know but if he does I trust and pray he will be properly fit and not just hopefully.
Monday 27 July 2009
Greg's at home
Greg here (from a secret location on Manley Beach, that's Sydney, just in case you did not quiet make out in geography),
Sorry I had to go home rather suddenly. The strife was getting too hot, specially from that lady in the cafe. No hearts broken, everything is apples, as we say Down Under, that person is not going to mourn very long, just tell the young boy to watch it; she is on the search.
But she tried the oldest girl con in the world - "I think I'm pregnant" she goes - but I'm not falling for that so I hop on to a plane like a demented wallaby, knowing she has more important bits of her life to tack together and she will not be following. But, look, a guy needs his freedom.
Anyway, I told Ted I was going and he says why don't I write a little about the Australian perspective from Oz, talk to the locals - he says! - as they head down to the Darling River on a personal suicide mission when they hear the lastest Mitchell Johnson bowling analysis. And chill.
I forecast a complete turnaround, Aussie win the next three Tests, run all the way back to Melbourne for a triumphal march, carrying Freddie Flintoff's knee warmer and Kevin Pietersen's Achilles tendons as the trophies of war.
See you the next time you're on Bondi,
Greg Orry
Sorry I had to go home rather suddenly. The strife was getting too hot, specially from that lady in the cafe. No hearts broken, everything is apples, as we say Down Under, that person is not going to mourn very long, just tell the young boy to watch it; she is on the search.
But she tried the oldest girl con in the world - "I think I'm pregnant" she goes - but I'm not falling for that so I hop on to a plane like a demented wallaby, knowing she has more important bits of her life to tack together and she will not be following. But, look, a guy needs his freedom.
Anyway, I told Ted I was going and he says why don't I write a little about the Australian perspective from Oz, talk to the locals - he says! - as they head down to the Darling River on a personal suicide mission when they hear the lastest Mitchell Johnson bowling analysis. And chill.
I forecast a complete turnaround, Aussie win the next three Tests, run all the way back to Melbourne for a triumphal march, carrying Freddie Flintoff's knee warmer and Kevin Pietersen's Achilles tendons as the trophies of war.
See you the next time you're on Bondi,
Greg Orry
Sunday 26 July 2009
Bell tolls zero
Long, long ago, when David Gower and Graham Gooch and other golden oldies were players not voices, there was a routine about my Sundays.
At 9am I'd ring the home of David Field, who worked for the Exchange Telegraph, a sports news agency, and he would tell me the squad for the Test starting the following Thursday.
There was no public relations department with the Test and Country Cricket Board that then ruled the professional game; and David had the duty to ring the chairman of selectors at breakfast time - the only witness to the announcement.
By midday the team was on the BBC radio news but that was too late for the editor's conference at my paper and, as there was almost always a surprise among the 12 or 13 names, the story was highly rated.
Now, in the age of 24-hour news, we forget how staggeringly slowly stories emerged 20years ago. Now I can get the names of the England squad for the third Test at Edgbaston into this blog in seconds; but let me tell you about 1959 when I worked on a local evening paper.
At 5pm I left the office to cover an evening match. Yorkshire were winning against Sussex and on their way to the championship, but none of us on the York Rugby League coach travelling to Hunslet could find the result that night. No text messages, no late night news, no Ceefax; no news until the morning papers arrived.
Now the process is so well tuned, players, coaches and PR men are so glib and the journalists so accustomed to lies, damned lies and statistics that no-one is surprised when forecast announcements mean nothing.
Thus today's proclamation of the England squad: same again, even though Kevin Pietersen cannot play, even though there is a temptation to tinker, "never change a winning team." Ian Bell will step up as No.4, "we will assess the conditions", and "the side will be announced on the morning of the match".
Some PR person has missed a trick here. Once the same-again con has been tried once, no-one is fooled. The public sighs, the papers pretend there is a story when there is nothing and we all feel cheated.
As a tempter to those who want to witness the match that must be counter productive.
At 9am I'd ring the home of David Field, who worked for the Exchange Telegraph, a sports news agency, and he would tell me the squad for the Test starting the following Thursday.
There was no public relations department with the Test and Country Cricket Board that then ruled the professional game; and David had the duty to ring the chairman of selectors at breakfast time - the only witness to the announcement.
By midday the team was on the BBC radio news but that was too late for the editor's conference at my paper and, as there was almost always a surprise among the 12 or 13 names, the story was highly rated.
Now, in the age of 24-hour news, we forget how staggeringly slowly stories emerged 20years ago. Now I can get the names of the England squad for the third Test at Edgbaston into this blog in seconds; but let me tell you about 1959 when I worked on a local evening paper.
At 5pm I left the office to cover an evening match. Yorkshire were winning against Sussex and on their way to the championship, but none of us on the York Rugby League coach travelling to Hunslet could find the result that night. No text messages, no late night news, no Ceefax; no news until the morning papers arrived.
Now the process is so well tuned, players, coaches and PR men are so glib and the journalists so accustomed to lies, damned lies and statistics that no-one is surprised when forecast announcements mean nothing.
Thus today's proclamation of the England squad: same again, even though Kevin Pietersen cannot play, even though there is a temptation to tinker, "never change a winning team." Ian Bell will step up as No.4, "we will assess the conditions", and "the side will be announced on the morning of the match".
Some PR person has missed a trick here. Once the same-again con has been tried once, no-one is fooled. The public sighs, the papers pretend there is a story when there is nothing and we all feel cheated.
As a tempter to those who want to witness the match that must be counter productive.
Saturday 25 July 2009
Advertisements for myself
I told you so
You know
When Aussie Hughes flew in
Who can believe the din
"He'll suss our game
Oh the shame!"
I said: "We'll find him out
Beyond a doubt."
Now we all know
Lit by the Ashes glow
A short ball at his body
Makes him shoddy
Leaving Aussies in a dither
They don't know which from whither
We're on top
Hughes due for the drop
You know
When Aussie Hughes flew in
Who can believe the din
"He'll suss our game
Oh the shame!"
I said: "We'll find him out
Beyond a doubt."
Now we all know
Lit by the Ashes glow
A short ball at his body
Makes him shoddy
Leaving Aussies in a dither
They don't know which from whither
We're on top
Hughes due for the drop
Friday 24 July 2009
Path to riches
As soon as one of the really big stars ditches his Test contract and declares he will only play T20 cricket in future the rest will gallop after him.
Kevin Pietersen may be the first. Andrew Flintoff is clearly heading in that direction. Both of them have been severely injured by an international programme that is too crowded and remorseless.
There are plenty more in the wings. Sometime soon someone will lay down a new path to riches.
Start as a teenager in county, provincial or state cricket. Progress into the international sides. Establish your reputation and then move over to T20 cricket where the money is bigger, the workload is lighter, the chance of being injured is smaller and the time for recovery is greater.
It is no use the inner circle of cricket elite protesting that Test cricket is the true measure of a player's greatness. That may well be true but in a fast-moving, 21st century sports world the spectator's dollar, the sponsor's mega bucks and television's super cash demand a fast-moving game that can be nearly packaged as an evening's entertainment.
At the moment the gate is only half ajar. But my bet is that long before the next Ashes tour of England the path to T20 will be full of elite stars
Kevin Pietersen may be the first. Andrew Flintoff is clearly heading in that direction. Both of them have been severely injured by an international programme that is too crowded and remorseless.
There are plenty more in the wings. Sometime soon someone will lay down a new path to riches.
Start as a teenager in county, provincial or state cricket. Progress into the international sides. Establish your reputation and then move over to T20 cricket where the money is bigger, the workload is lighter, the chance of being injured is smaller and the time for recovery is greater.
It is no use the inner circle of cricket elite protesting that Test cricket is the true measure of a player's greatness. That may well be true but in a fast-moving, 21st century sports world the spectator's dollar, the sponsor's mega bucks and television's super cash demand a fast-moving game that can be nearly packaged as an evening's entertainment.
At the moment the gate is only half ajar. But my bet is that long before the next Ashes tour of England the path to T20 will be full of elite stars
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Quiet!
It's too quiet for my liking.
Silence about Kevin Pietersen's operation until it is over. Out for the rest of the series. That's a worry. Who takes his place? Why the secrecy? No problem, the doctors say. Fingers crossed.
No word about how Andrew Flintoff survives his big day. Must have done some damage, hasn't he. All those overs on the trot. He's a true star, a giant, if he survives. Isn't he?
There another subject which dare not speak its name. Andrew Strauss's captaincy. You should hear the wise guys in the media box. A dozen captains from England and Australia, all complaining. I count up 100 years of impressive leadership in one small area. "How can he be expected to bowl to a field like that," bellows one Aussie admirer of Graeme Swann.
Come on, fellas, Strauss wins a Test match and the toss in both Tests. What do you want? Hutton, Benaud, Brearley, Illingworth, Steve Waugh and Ian Chappell rolled into one?
Have a bit of sympathy for the lad. Jetted into the 2006 series against Pakistan when Michael Vaughan is injured and, encouraging Monty Panesar particularly, wins the series 3-1. Well, takes the series because its umpire Darrell Hair who decides the final Test which Pakistan are well on their way to winning when a big row breaks out, Inzamam-ul-Haq gets very cross and Hair says "Play or else" and awards the game to England.
Still, Strauss leads England to victory and we all say what a pity he wasn't in charge of the 2006-7 Ashes series which Flintoff leads - disastrously - instead.
Oh, and by the way, there is no-one else. The selectors won't sack him in mid-season even if he opens the bowling with Matt Prior and gives the gloves to the tea lady.
Mostly because there's no-one else. Who? Bring back Vaughan to replace KP and lead the side? Yeah, good idea. He who dares wins and I don't see Geoff Miller as an SAS hero. No-one in county cricket, the home of second class Springboks and third rate Irishmen.
It is all too quiet.
Silence about Kevin Pietersen's operation until it is over. Out for the rest of the series. That's a worry. Who takes his place? Why the secrecy? No problem, the doctors say. Fingers crossed.
No word about how Andrew Flintoff survives his big day. Must have done some damage, hasn't he. All those overs on the trot. He's a true star, a giant, if he survives. Isn't he?
There another subject which dare not speak its name. Andrew Strauss's captaincy. You should hear the wise guys in the media box. A dozen captains from England and Australia, all complaining. I count up 100 years of impressive leadership in one small area. "How can he be expected to bowl to a field like that," bellows one Aussie admirer of Graeme Swann.
Come on, fellas, Strauss wins a Test match and the toss in both Tests. What do you want? Hutton, Benaud, Brearley, Illingworth, Steve Waugh and Ian Chappell rolled into one?
Have a bit of sympathy for the lad. Jetted into the 2006 series against Pakistan when Michael Vaughan is injured and, encouraging Monty Panesar particularly, wins the series 3-1. Well, takes the series because its umpire Darrell Hair who decides the final Test which Pakistan are well on their way to winning when a big row breaks out, Inzamam-ul-Haq gets very cross and Hair says "Play or else" and awards the game to England.
Still, Strauss leads England to victory and we all say what a pity he wasn't in charge of the 2006-7 Ashes series which Flintoff leads - disastrously - instead.
Oh, and by the way, there is no-one else. The selectors won't sack him in mid-season even if he opens the bowling with Matt Prior and gives the gloves to the tea lady.
Mostly because there's no-one else. Who? Bring back Vaughan to replace KP and lead the side? Yeah, good idea. He who dares wins and I don't see Geoff Miller as an SAS hero. No-one in county cricket, the home of second class Springboks and third rate Irishmen.
It is all too quiet.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Sorry!
The cafe. Greg has joined the old guy, the lad and I and he is giggling the moment he enters the place.
As the drinks arrive, he stands up. "Mr.Corbett will now issue an apology to all the many fans of A F Flintoff, Esq, and look suitably embarrassed while he does so."
I don't stand up. I ignore the cat calls, the hisses, and the waitress who says "Ya, boo, sucks" very loudly. I say: "I make a mistake. It's what sports writers do. They make statements like 'Freddie should not play in this match because he is injured' and have to watch it all crash round their ears while everyone else on the planet goes 'I always knew he would win the match.' Wise after the event, I'd give it. I am sorry, though. I like Freddie. He has a touch of greatness and only Goughie in recent years has had that. Among all the fast bowlers, that is."
Greg goes: "Humble, grovelling apology accepted, right." He nods to the waitress who wanders back into the kitchen.
"Anyway," says the old guy, "one bowling spell does not a summer make and we don't know yet if he will be fit for Edgbaston or the rest of the series. Ted might still turn out to be right. I want to know how many pain killers he had that final morning, how he was the next morning. Andy Flower made a heavy point about Freddie not playing unless he was fully fit and I wonder if that was a warning."
The kid says: "I remember, when I was still at school, the England coach at the time saying that Neil Foster was fit enough to play for another two years and the day after that Test Foster retires."
The waitress comes back into the room, grinning and sits down next to Greg and - very ostentatiously I have to say - holds his hand.
"We're sort of engaged," she says. "I'm taking him home to meet my cat tonight."
"Yeah," says Greg. "See, romance is not dead." He looks straight across at me and winks.
I wonder. It's only yesterday he remembers some urgent business he has back in Sydney and tells me he is flying home tomorrow.
At least holiday romance is not yet dead.
As the drinks arrive, he stands up. "Mr.Corbett will now issue an apology to all the many fans of A F Flintoff, Esq, and look suitably embarrassed while he does so."
I don't stand up. I ignore the cat calls, the hisses, and the waitress who says "Ya, boo, sucks" very loudly. I say: "I make a mistake. It's what sports writers do. They make statements like 'Freddie should not play in this match because he is injured' and have to watch it all crash round their ears while everyone else on the planet goes 'I always knew he would win the match.' Wise after the event, I'd give it. I am sorry, though. I like Freddie. He has a touch of greatness and only Goughie in recent years has had that. Among all the fast bowlers, that is."
Greg goes: "Humble, grovelling apology accepted, right." He nods to the waitress who wanders back into the kitchen.
"Anyway," says the old guy, "one bowling spell does not a summer make and we don't know yet if he will be fit for Edgbaston or the rest of the series. Ted might still turn out to be right. I want to know how many pain killers he had that final morning, how he was the next morning. Andy Flower made a heavy point about Freddie not playing unless he was fully fit and I wonder if that was a warning."
The kid says: "I remember, when I was still at school, the England coach at the time saying that Neil Foster was fit enough to play for another two years and the day after that Test Foster retires."
The waitress comes back into the room, grinning and sits down next to Greg and - very ostentatiously I have to say - holds his hand.
"We're sort of engaged," she says. "I'm taking him home to meet my cat tonight."
"Yeah," says Greg. "See, romance is not dead." He looks straight across at me and winks.
I wonder. It's only yesterday he remembers some urgent business he has back in Sydney and tells me he is flying home tomorrow.
At least holiday romance is not yet dead.
The cure
Greg here,
Well, best to let Ted have the major say on the Test as soon as it became clear - like on day one - that England hold all the major cards, like winning the toss and making a few runs off Mitchell Johnson.
Mates, did you ever see such bowling in a Test match? He takes his 100th wicket in this match and if you didn't know better you will be convinced he is twins and that the ping pong player of the two goes: "Let me play at Lord's, please, double please, Mitch" and he is so bored with collecting big wickets that he goes "Oh, all right, junior, just this once, but don't tell anyone important" and the other twin plays.
Just a bit of fantasy, guys and gals, but you do see my point. Now Ricky Ponting will rush him off to Northampton - that is near enough to Leicester and just as boring - and the medical staff will give him bush tucker or a magic potion or some other voodoo and he will be right for the Test at Edgbaston. Twin flies home.
I don't reckon it's all over yet but there are times when I catch a glimpse of Ponting's face on a TV set and I think "Yes, mate, you know you have charge of the crappest side to leave Australia since convicts get the vote and that you are going to be the first Aussie captain for 100 years to lose two series in a row here."
On the other hand I am proud of the way the lads conduct themselves. Seriously bad umpiring decisions for England and against Oz, no Brett Lee, Johnson can't hit Ayres Rock from ten yards, new side bound to have hiccups now and again, and still fighting on the last day.
What's more, when they lose, they go "thank you" quite politely, "England is the better team", clap nicely and are very genteel when the Queen comes down their line, which if I am to believe what I read in the British nasty press, is more than her partner The Big Duke can manage when someone tries to make lunchtime conversation.
"Enjoy your lunch, sir?"
"What a stupid question."
We won't try to teach the old boy good manners, but we will be ready to pounce on the first mistake made by England and see if they come up smiling in the next three Tests.
Oh, and by the way, well done Freddie Flintoff. Sorry you have to quit mate but we all love you to pieces and if you're ever in Oz do drop in. Ted's got the address and he says you're a nice guy and you'll be good with the kids and with the fans.
See you-all soon,
Greg Orry
Well, best to let Ted have the major say on the Test as soon as it became clear - like on day one - that England hold all the major cards, like winning the toss and making a few runs off Mitchell Johnson.
Mates, did you ever see such bowling in a Test match? He takes his 100th wicket in this match and if you didn't know better you will be convinced he is twins and that the ping pong player of the two goes: "Let me play at Lord's, please, double please, Mitch" and he is so bored with collecting big wickets that he goes "Oh, all right, junior, just this once, but don't tell anyone important" and the other twin plays.
Just a bit of fantasy, guys and gals, but you do see my point. Now Ricky Ponting will rush him off to Northampton - that is near enough to Leicester and just as boring - and the medical staff will give him bush tucker or a magic potion or some other voodoo and he will be right for the Test at Edgbaston. Twin flies home.
I don't reckon it's all over yet but there are times when I catch a glimpse of Ponting's face on a TV set and I think "Yes, mate, you know you have charge of the crappest side to leave Australia since convicts get the vote and that you are going to be the first Aussie captain for 100 years to lose two series in a row here."
On the other hand I am proud of the way the lads conduct themselves. Seriously bad umpiring decisions for England and against Oz, no Brett Lee, Johnson can't hit Ayres Rock from ten yards, new side bound to have hiccups now and again, and still fighting on the last day.
What's more, when they lose, they go "thank you" quite politely, "England is the better team", clap nicely and are very genteel when the Queen comes down their line, which if I am to believe what I read in the British nasty press, is more than her partner The Big Duke can manage when someone tries to make lunchtime conversation.
"Enjoy your lunch, sir?"
"What a stupid question."
We won't try to teach the old boy good manners, but we will be ready to pounce on the first mistake made by England and see if they come up smiling in the next three Tests.
Oh, and by the way, well done Freddie Flintoff. Sorry you have to quit mate but we all love you to pieces and if you're ever in Oz do drop in. Ted's got the address and he says you're a nice guy and you'll be good with the kids and with the fans.
See you-all soon,
Greg Orry
Monday 20 July 2009
Lord of Lord's
Lord's. Second Ashes Test - day five
Preview
I hope you are feeling strong this morning because I have a shock for you. I think Australia deserve to win. They have overcome the absence of Brett Lee, the retirement of so many former stars, the presence of Mitchell Johnson, a new ball bowler who performed as if he had never played cricket before, several rotten umpiring decisions and the cat-calls of a crowd bent in reducing Ricky Ponting to a quivering wreck.
Yet they still have an outside chance of winning with a world record score and with style. In more than 300 Tests I have rarely seen a better backs-to-the-wall innings than Michael Clarke's stylish century nor a more punchy knock than Brad Haddin's.
To victory
Andrew Flintoff, pushing his dodgy knee to one side, bowled all the morning, snapped up three more wickets to give England their first victory over Australia at Lord's since 1934. It took a big man to grab such a moment and, of course, Freddie did it in style.
He finished the innings and his final appearance in a Test at Lord's with five wickets in the innings - only his third at that - and promised us all that he would be back for the third Test at Edgbaston in nine days time.
He had Haddin beautifully caught in the slips by Paul Collingwood, and bowled Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle and, as the crowd rose to its feet to salute him, stood with his arms stretched out as if to embrace them all, his admirers.
Graham Swann lured Clarke down the pitch and bowled him and took the final wicket by bowling Mitchell Johnson who had played a fine cameo innings.
But make no mistake it was Flintoff's day. And to think there have been suggestions since he announced his retirement that England would be just as strong without him. "Magnificent" said Strauss and of course Freddie was man of the match.
Australia didn't win but on this form they can be expected to put up another big fight at Edgbaston starting July 30. By the way Greg Orr, presently weeping into a plastic bucket, will be here tomorrow to explain it all away. (It's a very nice plastic bucket with an Australian flag the bottom.)
Bit like Greg really!
Preview
I hope you are feeling strong this morning because I have a shock for you. I think Australia deserve to win. They have overcome the absence of Brett Lee, the retirement of so many former stars, the presence of Mitchell Johnson, a new ball bowler who performed as if he had never played cricket before, several rotten umpiring decisions and the cat-calls of a crowd bent in reducing Ricky Ponting to a quivering wreck.
Yet they still have an outside chance of winning with a world record score and with style. In more than 300 Tests I have rarely seen a better backs-to-the-wall innings than Michael Clarke's stylish century nor a more punchy knock than Brad Haddin's.
To victory
Andrew Flintoff, pushing his dodgy knee to one side, bowled all the morning, snapped up three more wickets to give England their first victory over Australia at Lord's since 1934. It took a big man to grab such a moment and, of course, Freddie did it in style.
He finished the innings and his final appearance in a Test at Lord's with five wickets in the innings - only his third at that - and promised us all that he would be back for the third Test at Edgbaston in nine days time.
He had Haddin beautifully caught in the slips by Paul Collingwood, and bowled Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle and, as the crowd rose to its feet to salute him, stood with his arms stretched out as if to embrace them all, his admirers.
Graham Swann lured Clarke down the pitch and bowled him and took the final wicket by bowling Mitchell Johnson who had played a fine cameo innings.
But make no mistake it was Flintoff's day. And to think there have been suggestions since he announced his retirement that England would be just as strong without him. "Magnificent" said Strauss and of course Freddie was man of the match.
Australia didn't win but on this form they can be expected to put up another big fight at Edgbaston starting July 30. By the way Greg Orr, presently weeping into a plastic bucket, will be here tomorrow to explain it all away. (It's a very nice plastic bucket with an Australian flag the bottom.)
Bit like Greg really!
Sunday 19 July 2009
Whose victory now?
Lord's Second Test - day four
Preview
Showers swept across the ground, causing the start to be put back 15 minutes, it was cloudy overhead and without pause for more than a moment's detailed consideration Strauss declared, leaving Australia to make 522 to win although their vice captain Michael Clarke , searching for a positive outlook, claimed records were made to be broken. Where did he read that I wonder?
Two no doubt interrupted days with conditions favouring swing seemed to set up an England win long before 188 overs had been completed but - no I cannot believe the Aussies can save the game, much less win.
To lunch
In the short term, England had taken the wickets of the openers and conceded just 76 runs but in the long term Andrew Flintoff, who had had both Simon Katich and Phillip Hughes caught had had to go off for treatment. His spell finished with a considerable limp and there has been a fear throughout this series that his good days might be outweighed by the injury moments.
Whether Strauss's decision to bowl him for seven successive overs was a good one remains to be seen. Both dismissals were controversial. Katich, caught in the gully, may have been out to a no-ball, and Hughes, to a ball which appeared to touch the ball as Strauss caught it.
Ricky Ponting began sketchily and he was hit on the hand but he was in control by the interval and Michael Hussey survived readily.
To tea
When Ponting was out - for another low Lord's score - bowled from an inside edge off Stuart Broad there were immediate signs that an Australian defeat might come today. Two more wickets fell to Graham Swann's off spin: Hussey caught at slip even though TV technology claimed the ball did not hit the edge and Marcus North bowled by a quick ball.
England led at the interval by 178, conditions were helping their bowlers and all the luck was going their way; but Michael Clarke lived up to his pre-innings interview with a series of superb shots through the offside.
To close
Clarke continued down his chosen path and with Brad Haddin put on 185 for the sixth wicket so that when bad light stopped play with the Lord's lights blazing Australia were 313-5, 209 behind and giving every cricket lover the suspicion that there might be a magnificent finish to this extraordinary Test.
They kept the scoreboard ticking by refusing to be daunted by the huge task and taking every single on offer.
England are still favourites although they had to be assembled for a rousing huddle by Strauss as the second new ball was taken. If the Australians win, as they might, it will be a record to end all records and continue the sequence at Lord's in which they have not been beaten since 1934.
Flintoff and Pietersen both finished the day limping; how will they finish the series, if at all?
Preview
Showers swept across the ground, causing the start to be put back 15 minutes, it was cloudy overhead and without pause for more than a moment's detailed consideration Strauss declared, leaving Australia to make 522 to win although their vice captain Michael Clarke , searching for a positive outlook, claimed records were made to be broken. Where did he read that I wonder?
Two no doubt interrupted days with conditions favouring swing seemed to set up an England win long before 188 overs had been completed but - no I cannot believe the Aussies can save the game, much less win.
To lunch
In the short term, England had taken the wickets of the openers and conceded just 76 runs but in the long term Andrew Flintoff, who had had both Simon Katich and Phillip Hughes caught had had to go off for treatment. His spell finished with a considerable limp and there has been a fear throughout this series that his good days might be outweighed by the injury moments.
Whether Strauss's decision to bowl him for seven successive overs was a good one remains to be seen. Both dismissals were controversial. Katich, caught in the gully, may have been out to a no-ball, and Hughes, to a ball which appeared to touch the ball as Strauss caught it.
Ricky Ponting began sketchily and he was hit on the hand but he was in control by the interval and Michael Hussey survived readily.
To tea
When Ponting was out - for another low Lord's score - bowled from an inside edge off Stuart Broad there were immediate signs that an Australian defeat might come today. Two more wickets fell to Graham Swann's off spin: Hussey caught at slip even though TV technology claimed the ball did not hit the edge and Marcus North bowled by a quick ball.
England led at the interval by 178, conditions were helping their bowlers and all the luck was going their way; but Michael Clarke lived up to his pre-innings interview with a series of superb shots through the offside.
To close
Clarke continued down his chosen path and with Brad Haddin put on 185 for the sixth wicket so that when bad light stopped play with the Lord's lights blazing Australia were 313-5, 209 behind and giving every cricket lover the suspicion that there might be a magnificent finish to this extraordinary Test.
They kept the scoreboard ticking by refusing to be daunted by the huge task and taking every single on offer.
England are still favourites although they had to be assembled for a rousing huddle by Strauss as the second new ball was taken. If the Australians win, as they might, it will be a record to end all records and continue the sequence at Lord's in which they have not been beaten since 1934.
Flintoff and Pietersen both finished the day limping; how will they finish the series, if at all?
Saturday 18 July 2009
Stranglehold
Lord's. Second Ashes Test - day three
Preview
Remember what Michael Vaughan said just before he retired. Someone should remind James Anderson what the effect would be - for him as well as the team - if he took 30-plus wickets in this series. He should make big inroads into that total in the next 48 hours which will mean England have made considerable strides towards winning back the Ashes.
I will remind what I said: that Australia were, like the 1985 squad, not as good as everyone thought and that England would win by going from strength to strength.
I also like the idea of an Andy - Flintoff, Strauss, Flower and now Anderson - playing a major part. Lets see.
To lunch
England found a dry, batsman's pitch and needed an hour to get the last two wickets -to Graham Onions - while Australia took advantage of the absence of a third man to add 54 runs.
Naturally Andrew Strauss decided not to enforce the follow-on and, with Mitchell Johnson bowling in a way that gave drains a bad name, 57 were added without loss and or difficulty. Half way through the match England had the game in their hands although second innings wickets may be a problem.
Johnson took his 100th Test wicket in the first innings as he ceded a run a ball but there must be serious doubts about his place on the tour. He seemed to be a real find right up to his arrival in this country. Now Ricky Ponting must wonder to get rid of this wayward paceman.
To tea
Strauss and Cook went in successive overs from Nathan Hauritz soon after lunch and Ravi Copara and Kevin Pietersen batted so slowly that both appeared to be totally out of form. Ponting missed the stumps when trying to run out Pietersen and four balls later dropped Bopara.
Then, in the final over of the session, a low catch to Hauritz off the struggling Johnson was turned down. England were so far on top, 350 in front with eight wickets left, that they did not want to give Australia too much time in the fourth innings unless they dreamed of winning.
Ponting was operating on such limited bowling resources that he had to go back to Johnson for all the left arm swing bowler looked as if he was a nervous debutant rather than a top-class wicket-taker.
To close
Matt Prior, Paul Collingwood - already a candidate for man of the series - and Andrew Flintoff all followed the lead set by Pietersen and Bopara so that at the end England were 311-6, with a lead of 521 and the only concerns about the weather and the perfect time to declare.
There was no point in closing the innings tonight as rain approached - and eventually stopped play - and now Strauss has to decide if he bats on in the morning or decides he has enough.
No side has come close to winning with 521 in the fourth innings of a Test but it is easy to understand a caution. An Australian side scored 404-4 to beat England at Headingley n 1948 and no-one in this country at that time could see anything but an England victory.
Records are made to be broken, Strauss will think tonight, and he is right. So a few more minutes batting and a few more runs and an awkward declaration are on the cards.
Preview
Remember what Michael Vaughan said just before he retired. Someone should remind James Anderson what the effect would be - for him as well as the team - if he took 30-plus wickets in this series. He should make big inroads into that total in the next 48 hours which will mean England have made considerable strides towards winning back the Ashes.
I will remind what I said: that Australia were, like the 1985 squad, not as good as everyone thought and that England would win by going from strength to strength.
I also like the idea of an Andy - Flintoff, Strauss, Flower and now Anderson - playing a major part. Lets see.
To lunch
England found a dry, batsman's pitch and needed an hour to get the last two wickets -to Graham Onions - while Australia took advantage of the absence of a third man to add 54 runs.
Naturally Andrew Strauss decided not to enforce the follow-on and, with Mitchell Johnson bowling in a way that gave drains a bad name, 57 were added without loss and or difficulty. Half way through the match England had the game in their hands although second innings wickets may be a problem.
Johnson took his 100th Test wicket in the first innings as he ceded a run a ball but there must be serious doubts about his place on the tour. He seemed to be a real find right up to his arrival in this country. Now Ricky Ponting must wonder to get rid of this wayward paceman.
To tea
Strauss and Cook went in successive overs from Nathan Hauritz soon after lunch and Ravi Copara and Kevin Pietersen batted so slowly that both appeared to be totally out of form. Ponting missed the stumps when trying to run out Pietersen and four balls later dropped Bopara.
Then, in the final over of the session, a low catch to Hauritz off the struggling Johnson was turned down. England were so far on top, 350 in front with eight wickets left, that they did not want to give Australia too much time in the fourth innings unless they dreamed of winning.
Ponting was operating on such limited bowling resources that he had to go back to Johnson for all the left arm swing bowler looked as if he was a nervous debutant rather than a top-class wicket-taker.
To close
Matt Prior, Paul Collingwood - already a candidate for man of the series - and Andrew Flintoff all followed the lead set by Pietersen and Bopara so that at the end England were 311-6, with a lead of 521 and the only concerns about the weather and the perfect time to declare.
There was no point in closing the innings tonight as rain approached - and eventually stopped play - and now Strauss has to decide if he bats on in the morning or decides he has enough.
No side has come close to winning with 521 in the fourth innings of a Test but it is easy to understand a caution. An Australian side scored 404-4 to beat England at Headingley n 1948 and no-one in this country at that time could see anything but an England victory.
Records are made to be broken, Strauss will think tonight, and he is right. So a few more minutes batting and a few more runs and an awkward declaration are on the cards.
Thursday 16 July 2009
Majestic Anderson
Lord's. Second Ashes Test - day two
Preview
Will it rain all day? If not, will England reach 500, which is at the top of Andrew Strauss's wish list? Will Strauss reach a huge score? He probably needs to if England are to hit the 450 mark which is his minimum requirement. Will Nathan Hauritz play any further part in the match? One piece of good news - start on time.
To lunch
Jimmy Anderson's morning. He - with tremulous assistance from Graham Onions put on 47 for the last wicket after three wickets had fallen in the first three overs. Strauss left a ball that was too close to the off stump, Stuart Broad, played on, and Graeme Swann was caught in the slips.
Anderson hit intelligently and Onions streakily to take the score to 425 just as the Queen was arriving for her annual visit. Not that her presence helped but Anderson made it a Royal occasion by taking the wickets of Phillip Hughes and Ricky Ponting. Umpire Rudi Koertzen probably mistook the noise of Ponting's bat on his boot as an edge but all the technical evidence suggested Ponting did not touch the ball. I'd say "Hard luck, Ricky, mate" but I'd be a hypocrit if I did.
So as the teams paraded for the Queen Australia were still more than 400 behind after a dozen overs of struggle. I bet England thought the interval, extended to take in all the handshaking, would never end.
To tea
A wretched couple of hours, twice interrupted by rain, but at the end Simon Katich and Michael Hussey had restored a solid feel to the Australian innings.
To close
England took complete command. Led by their four pace bowlers - Anderson, Flintoff, Broad and Onions - they sent Australia toppling as six wickets fell for 53. At the close, after 20 minutes play under lights, Australia were 156-8 and the debate in Strauss's mind could only have been about sending them in again tomorrow morning, perhaps 240 behind.
It was the decision by Flintoff to pitch the ball further up that seemed to unsettle the Australians. Katich and Hussey were going well at 103 for two when Flintoff led the charge for wickets on a pitch that was in favour of bowlers, under a sky to fill the heart of a quick bowler with pleasure and backed by some of the finest England fielding. Anderson,with four wickets, must be sure a place on the honours board is waiting.
Broad snatched a brilliant running catch to get rid of Katich and from that moment everything Strauss tried worked. It is too early to count chickens but the smell of the first England victory over the Aussies at Lord's since 1934 was in the air.
Preview
Will it rain all day? If not, will England reach 500, which is at the top of Andrew Strauss's wish list? Will Strauss reach a huge score? He probably needs to if England are to hit the 450 mark which is his minimum requirement. Will Nathan Hauritz play any further part in the match? One piece of good news - start on time.
To lunch
Jimmy Anderson's morning. He - with tremulous assistance from Graham Onions put on 47 for the last wicket after three wickets had fallen in the first three overs. Strauss left a ball that was too close to the off stump, Stuart Broad, played on, and Graeme Swann was caught in the slips.
Anderson hit intelligently and Onions streakily to take the score to 425 just as the Queen was arriving for her annual visit. Not that her presence helped but Anderson made it a Royal occasion by taking the wickets of Phillip Hughes and Ricky Ponting. Umpire Rudi Koertzen probably mistook the noise of Ponting's bat on his boot as an edge but all the technical evidence suggested Ponting did not touch the ball. I'd say "Hard luck, Ricky, mate" but I'd be a hypocrit if I did.
So as the teams paraded for the Queen Australia were still more than 400 behind after a dozen overs of struggle. I bet England thought the interval, extended to take in all the handshaking, would never end.
To tea
A wretched couple of hours, twice interrupted by rain, but at the end Simon Katich and Michael Hussey had restored a solid feel to the Australian innings.
To close
England took complete command. Led by their four pace bowlers - Anderson, Flintoff, Broad and Onions - they sent Australia toppling as six wickets fell for 53. At the close, after 20 minutes play under lights, Australia were 156-8 and the debate in Strauss's mind could only have been about sending them in again tomorrow morning, perhaps 240 behind.
It was the decision by Flintoff to pitch the ball further up that seemed to unsettle the Australians. Katich and Hussey were going well at 103 for two when Flintoff led the charge for wickets on a pitch that was in favour of bowlers, under a sky to fill the heart of a quick bowler with pleasure and backed by some of the finest England fielding. Anderson,with four wickets, must be sure a place on the honours board is waiting.
Broad snatched a brilliant running catch to get rid of Katich and from that moment everything Strauss tried worked. It is too early to count chickens but the smell of the first England victory over the Aussies at Lord's since 1934 was in the air.
Aussie hit back
Lord's. Second Ashes Test - day one
Preview
I hear that, after three injections into his injured knee, Andrew Flintoff is to play in this match. England have made themselves a hostage to fortune; I hope Freddie comes to no harm. We must look for the side that reacts best to Cardiff which must have taken plenty out of both sides on the last day alone.
To lunch
Can you ask for anything more. Lord's full to the brim, a lovely cool English summer's day and England 126-0. Alistair Cook, first to fifty, and Andrew Strauss, just short of his half century, not blasting away but carefully accummulating the runs on offer.
There were plenty of runs available too. You know what I thought of the Australian attack before Cardiff; now we were seeing the shortcomings. Funnily enough, the one bowler I expected to perform, was Mitchell Johnson, who has hardly put a ball in the right place throughout the first six days of the series. He bowled short and wide; an exhibition of how not to bowl on the first morning of a Test and England took advantage.
It all seemed too much for Ricky Ponting who persisted with Johnson too long and then went to strange fields for Nathan Hauritz when he came on 25 minutes before the interval. I cannot remember seeing so many fours hit on the opening session of a Test.
To tea
Australia might have got the wickets of Cook, 95, and Ravi Bopara but they would have swapped both for a fit Hauritz who dislocated his off spinning finger trying to catch a fierce drive from Strauss. Hospital X-rays showed no break but clearly his effect in this match is curtailed and with Johnson conceding 77 runs in 11 overs their attack was crippled.
Kevin Pietersen simply supported Strauss on his way to an 18th Test hundred but by tea England were 255-2 and in a position to control the Test. Remember they won only once against the Aussies at Lord's in the 20th century.
This performance was much more clinical than the dreadful show at Cardiff; difficult to see where England had found their extra confidence. Perhaps the Andy factor - Strauss, Flower and Flintoff - had worked magic because after only two sessions it was clear that even if it rained as hard as the forecasters suggested on day two England had the momentum. Australia were dreading another stroke of bad luck.
To close
The final session was a disaster for England. Strauss batted on and on but four wickets fell for 109. Pietersen, Collingwood, Prior and Flintoff were all out without giving their captain the support his undefeated 161 deserved and he could be seen shaking his head when Collingwood spooned a feeble catch to mid-on.
Perhaps the tail, so magnificent in Cardiff, will take the score beyond 450 but that is not good enough after England reached 196-0. Johnson was so cheered by the revival that he bowled well with the new ball.
The worst news to the superstitious England dressing room must have been that the second wicket fell at 222 and the sixth at 333, two of their devil numbers. It will take a strong-minded authority figure to convince the players that the gods have no ill wishes for them and that an unlucky defeat is not just around the corner.
Preview
I hear that, after three injections into his injured knee, Andrew Flintoff is to play in this match. England have made themselves a hostage to fortune; I hope Freddie comes to no harm. We must look for the side that reacts best to Cardiff which must have taken plenty out of both sides on the last day alone.
To lunch
Can you ask for anything more. Lord's full to the brim, a lovely cool English summer's day and England 126-0. Alistair Cook, first to fifty, and Andrew Strauss, just short of his half century, not blasting away but carefully accummulating the runs on offer.
There were plenty of runs available too. You know what I thought of the Australian attack before Cardiff; now we were seeing the shortcomings. Funnily enough, the one bowler I expected to perform, was Mitchell Johnson, who has hardly put a ball in the right place throughout the first six days of the series. He bowled short and wide; an exhibition of how not to bowl on the first morning of a Test and England took advantage.
It all seemed too much for Ricky Ponting who persisted with Johnson too long and then went to strange fields for Nathan Hauritz when he came on 25 minutes before the interval. I cannot remember seeing so many fours hit on the opening session of a Test.
To tea
Australia might have got the wickets of Cook, 95, and Ravi Bopara but they would have swapped both for a fit Hauritz who dislocated his off spinning finger trying to catch a fierce drive from Strauss. Hospital X-rays showed no break but clearly his effect in this match is curtailed and with Johnson conceding 77 runs in 11 overs their attack was crippled.
Kevin Pietersen simply supported Strauss on his way to an 18th Test hundred but by tea England were 255-2 and in a position to control the Test. Remember they won only once against the Aussies at Lord's in the 20th century.
This performance was much more clinical than the dreadful show at Cardiff; difficult to see where England had found their extra confidence. Perhaps the Andy factor - Strauss, Flower and Flintoff - had worked magic because after only two sessions it was clear that even if it rained as hard as the forecasters suggested on day two England had the momentum. Australia were dreading another stroke of bad luck.
To close
The final session was a disaster for England. Strauss batted on and on but four wickets fell for 109. Pietersen, Collingwood, Prior and Flintoff were all out without giving their captain the support his undefeated 161 deserved and he could be seen shaking his head when Collingwood spooned a feeble catch to mid-on.
Perhaps the tail, so magnificent in Cardiff, will take the score beyond 450 but that is not good enough after England reached 196-0. Johnson was so cheered by the revival that he bowled well with the new ball.
The worst news to the superstitious England dressing room must have been that the second wicket fell at 222 and the sixth at 333, two of their devil numbers. It will take a strong-minded authority figure to convince the players that the gods have no ill wishes for them and that an unlucky defeat is not just around the corner.
Wednesday 15 July 2009
Farewell, Freddie
Andrew Flintoff has announced that this summer is his last in Tests and that in future he will concentrate on one-day and T20 cricket.
It was inevitable. All he has been through, in hospital operating theatres, on physio's benches, running, jumping, skipping and hopping - not to mention resting restlessly at home - in the last five years has been of no avail.
No matter how long he takes to get fit, no matter how hard he and his personal guru Dave Roberts - the England physio at the time Flintoff first made the Test team - the result always has been the same. Another injury or the same injury repeating itself, another trip to the specialist, another operation, more weeks of physical activity designed to strengthen a joint that had not enough sinew left to ensure complete recovery.
He says it has been clear to him for some time that he must quit. "My body has been telling me that," he says and like the big man he is Freddie has decided that he will go after the Ashes.
What have we lost? A giant spirit, a fast bowler who at his best was the most destructive member of that clan in the world and a batsman who hit the ball long and hard and often.
During David Lloyd's time as coach 15 years ago he answered a press conference question by posing another. "I don't know if any of you lads have heard of a teenage all-rounder called Andrew Flintoff?" he mused. "Well, he's got all the signs of a Test player. I think we are going to hear a lot of him."
So we did. Bobby Simpson was the Lancashire coach at that time and told with an air of wonder about this kid who smashed the ball from one side of the ground to the other. Freddie - after Fred Flintstone - was rarely out of the headlines. He was as heavy as the world heavyweight boxing champion, he was amusing, he was a great fielder - with hands like buckets so he should have been - and not long after he made the England team he married one of the beautiful girls who used to look after us in the press box.
I am glad to tell you he never changed. He drank too much at times; what else was new? His best pals outside the dressing room and his family were the press lads he knew as a youngster at Old Trafford.
One of them is about to write yet another Flintoff book; another gets a regular call. I always felt happy to see Freddie in a restaurant any night, any place in the world, because I knew he would come over for a chat, Lancashire accent as thick as ever, glass in hand and as curious about how I and my partner Jo were as he was to talk about the cricket.
Sorry it has worked out this way, Fred. Inevitable that in the days of non-stop Tests, of two or three one-day games a week, of all that travel, a 16st body, wrapped around 6ft 5in and propelled about the cricket arenas as if tomorrow would always be too late, would one day baulk at the strain.
It is most difficult to understand why the medical staff are contemplating putting Flintoff in the side, Surely he needs the rest, surely just having announced his retirement he is not in the right mental state to play and it would be a chance to try the side without him.
He's an all-rounder, for heaven's sake. There is immense strain on such men and his body cannot take it any longer. Why take the risk, especially now that he is on his way out by his own admission.
Don't tell me the ECB in all its forms is about to make another ghastly mistake.
It was inevitable. All he has been through, in hospital operating theatres, on physio's benches, running, jumping, skipping and hopping - not to mention resting restlessly at home - in the last five years has been of no avail.
No matter how long he takes to get fit, no matter how hard he and his personal guru Dave Roberts - the England physio at the time Flintoff first made the Test team - the result always has been the same. Another injury or the same injury repeating itself, another trip to the specialist, another operation, more weeks of physical activity designed to strengthen a joint that had not enough sinew left to ensure complete recovery.
He says it has been clear to him for some time that he must quit. "My body has been telling me that," he says and like the big man he is Freddie has decided that he will go after the Ashes.
What have we lost? A giant spirit, a fast bowler who at his best was the most destructive member of that clan in the world and a batsman who hit the ball long and hard and often.
During David Lloyd's time as coach 15 years ago he answered a press conference question by posing another. "I don't know if any of you lads have heard of a teenage all-rounder called Andrew Flintoff?" he mused. "Well, he's got all the signs of a Test player. I think we are going to hear a lot of him."
So we did. Bobby Simpson was the Lancashire coach at that time and told with an air of wonder about this kid who smashed the ball from one side of the ground to the other. Freddie - after Fred Flintstone - was rarely out of the headlines. He was as heavy as the world heavyweight boxing champion, he was amusing, he was a great fielder - with hands like buckets so he should have been - and not long after he made the England team he married one of the beautiful girls who used to look after us in the press box.
I am glad to tell you he never changed. He drank too much at times; what else was new? His best pals outside the dressing room and his family were the press lads he knew as a youngster at Old Trafford.
One of them is about to write yet another Flintoff book; another gets a regular call. I always felt happy to see Freddie in a restaurant any night, any place in the world, because I knew he would come over for a chat, Lancashire accent as thick as ever, glass in hand and as curious about how I and my partner Jo were as he was to talk about the cricket.
Sorry it has worked out this way, Fred. Inevitable that in the days of non-stop Tests, of two or three one-day games a week, of all that travel, a 16st body, wrapped around 6ft 5in and propelled about the cricket arenas as if tomorrow would always be too late, would one day baulk at the strain.
It is most difficult to understand why the medical staff are contemplating putting Flintoff in the side, Surely he needs the rest, surely just having announced his retirement he is not in the right mental state to play and it would be a chance to try the side without him.
He's an all-rounder, for heaven's sake. There is immense strain on such men and his body cannot take it any longer. Why take the risk, especially now that he is on his way out by his own admission.
Don't tell me the ECB in all its forms is about to make another ghastly mistake.
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Following Collie
I told you about Collie weeks ago
(Not that I thought you wouldn’t know)
“Never known to knock; always ready to go”
Was I right or was I right?
Six hours defiance but he was cross
He’d finish the job to show who was boss
Now we need others to follow
(“You know who I mean; his average looks hollow)
Old Bend and Sway; get me off the mark quick
If you’re at the other end you’d better be slick
Six to a century, sweep from the off
Try a little Collie; he’s never one to cough
He’s our Man of the North
Concentrating all he’s worth
A working class hound,a high stepper,
Salt of the earth, with a touch of pepper
I've said this before, but believe me
The Aussies would love him and so must we.
(Not that I thought you wouldn’t know)
“Never known to knock; always ready to go”
Was I right or was I right?
Six hours defiance but he was cross
He’d finish the job to show who was boss
Now we need others to follow
(“You know who I mean; his average looks hollow)
Old Bend and Sway; get me off the mark quick
If you’re at the other end you’d better be slick
Six to a century, sweep from the off
Try a little Collie; he’s never one to cough
He’s our Man of the North
Concentrating all he’s worth
A working class hound,a high stepper,
Salt of the earth, with a touch of pepper
I've said this before, but believe me
The Aussies would love him and so must we.
Out!
Deal with it. Andrew Freddie Flintoff will not play in the second Test, no matter how many times the ECB magic medical men proclaim that they will "assess" and "monitor" his injury.
In fact the selectors are damned if they do -because that will impede his play in the remainder of the series - and damned if they don't - because that will be seen as a serious blow to England's chance of winning at Lord's.
My radio tells me that he has had a scan and a cortizone injection. I hope the scan shows very little wrong but I wish they had found another method of curing his knee because in a long life in sport I have never heard players speak well of cortizone and met many who curse it.
I guess those backroom boys are trying everything in order to get him on the field on Thursday. Or maybe they just want to show they are trying everything.
Instead of crying let us - and here again I am forced to reach for the ECB Book of Obligatory Cliches - find the positives in this situation. My statistically-minded pals tells me she believes James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowl better when Flintoff is absent; since someone remembered the word "talisman" his shadow has become too large for any young paceman to blossom alongside him.
So, if Steve Harmison, the biggest Mr. If in cricket, bowls as he has for the Lions and Durham and the younger quicks grow up, Flintoff's absence may yet bring joy.
Speaking of blossoming, where is Andy Flower? I saw him at Cardiff, his face set in the same sort of protest pose that Ricky Ponting did not achieve until the end of the match but since the draw, not a word.
Strange!
In fact the selectors are damned if they do -because that will impede his play in the remainder of the series - and damned if they don't - because that will be seen as a serious blow to England's chance of winning at Lord's.
My radio tells me that he has had a scan and a cortizone injection. I hope the scan shows very little wrong but I wish they had found another method of curing his knee because in a long life in sport I have never heard players speak well of cortizone and met many who curse it.
I guess those backroom boys are trying everything in order to get him on the field on Thursday. Or maybe they just want to show they are trying everything.
Instead of crying let us - and here again I am forced to reach for the ECB Book of Obligatory Cliches - find the positives in this situation. My statistically-minded pals tells me she believes James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowl better when Flintoff is absent; since someone remembered the word "talisman" his shadow has become too large for any young paceman to blossom alongside him.
So, if Steve Harmison, the biggest Mr. If in cricket, bowls as he has for the Lions and Durham and the younger quicks grow up, Flintoff's absence may yet bring joy.
Speaking of blossoming, where is Andy Flower? I saw him at Cardiff, his face set in the same sort of protest pose that Ricky Ponting did not achieve until the end of the match but since the draw, not a word.
Strange!
Monday 13 July 2009
Cheating!
The cafe.
"Cheating, cheating, cheating Pommie bastards!" says Greg as he forgets himself sufficiently to pay for all the drinks as well as winking at the waitress.
"Funnily enough," says the old player, "I agree with the sentiments even though I wish to express them more politely. That business with the gloves and that, shall we say, unfit looking physio, made me very uncomfortable. Ponting was right. Not within the laws or the spirit of the game. So yes, cheating, gamesmanship, call it what you will."
He takes a sip of the young lad's tea latte. "That is disgusting," he says.
"So were England's ideas of time wasting," I say. "The good thing is that Ponting cannot present a case. His wee face screws up and as he tries to be what he imagines is diplomatic he loses his audience. I also hope someone slaps a few wrists over that business. It was not just cheating, it was unnecessary and it spoiled a wonderful fight."
"I'm cheering the tail-enders," says the waitress. "Saved us from an innings defeat. But what will the selectors do? Drop Panesar, one of the heroes, maybe? Shunt off Broad, another batting hero? There is a case for an unchanged side as there was in 2005 after the heavy defeat at Lord's."
"Selectors earn their money today," says the old fella. "Are they brave enough for the task? We'll see. You're very quiet," he says to the youngster.
"I know," says the lad. "You drank my tea latte which I rely on for building up my inner strength. I'm gutted." He looks close to tears.
"Cheats, all of you," goes Greg. "Cheats never prosper. Ashes stay with Australia. I'm just disappointed your lot cheat."
The rest of us cannot resist the temptation and place a five each on the table. "Make yourself a fortune," says the old guy. "Our nice waitress lady can hold the stake."
"Not bloody likely," says the waitress, "I want my share. You lot know nothing. I'm backing the Aussies."
* Oh, no. Freddie is injured again. That's the news as Steve Harmison is recalled to take over the Flintoff bowling role in less than 72 hours. Back-to-back Tests are partially responsible for these injuries. Now it is down to the team management to fulfil their part of the bargain by finding a solution to the wear and tear now being suffered by all the players. Whether it will be in time to save Flintoff's career is the big question.
"Cheating, cheating, cheating Pommie bastards!" says Greg as he forgets himself sufficiently to pay for all the drinks as well as winking at the waitress.
"Funnily enough," says the old player, "I agree with the sentiments even though I wish to express them more politely. That business with the gloves and that, shall we say, unfit looking physio, made me very uncomfortable. Ponting was right. Not within the laws or the spirit of the game. So yes, cheating, gamesmanship, call it what you will."
He takes a sip of the young lad's tea latte. "That is disgusting," he says.
"So were England's ideas of time wasting," I say. "The good thing is that Ponting cannot present a case. His wee face screws up and as he tries to be what he imagines is diplomatic he loses his audience. I also hope someone slaps a few wrists over that business. It was not just cheating, it was unnecessary and it spoiled a wonderful fight."
"I'm cheering the tail-enders," says the waitress. "Saved us from an innings defeat. But what will the selectors do? Drop Panesar, one of the heroes, maybe? Shunt off Broad, another batting hero? There is a case for an unchanged side as there was in 2005 after the heavy defeat at Lord's."
"Selectors earn their money today," says the old fella. "Are they brave enough for the task? We'll see. You're very quiet," he says to the youngster.
"I know," says the lad. "You drank my tea latte which I rely on for building up my inner strength. I'm gutted." He looks close to tears.
"Cheats, all of you," goes Greg. "Cheats never prosper. Ashes stay with Australia. I'm just disappointed your lot cheat."
The rest of us cannot resist the temptation and place a five each on the table. "Make yourself a fortune," says the old guy. "Our nice waitress lady can hold the stake."
"Not bloody likely," says the waitress, "I want my share. You lot know nothing. I'm backing the Aussies."
* Oh, no. Freddie is injured again. That's the news as Steve Harmison is recalled to take over the Flintoff bowling role in less than 72 hours. Back-to-back Tests are partially responsible for these injuries. Now it is down to the team management to fulfil their part of the bargain by finding a solution to the wear and tear now being suffered by all the players. Whether it will be in time to save Flintoff's career is the big question.
Sunday 12 July 2009
Two unlikely heroes
Cardiff. First Ashes Test. Fifth day.
Preview
The morning newspapers are full of negative, finger-crossing hopes centred on the possibility of rain. The truth is that if England put up a serious fight, as forecast by Paul Collingwood last night, they can go to Lord's for the second Test on Thursday, not just all square, but with the last laugh. And you know that true blue, knuckle scraping, heads down Aussies cannot endure being laughed at.
To lunch
No sign of a long term recovery as Kevin Pietersen was bowled not playing a shot, as Andrew Strauss was caught behind trying out his favourite square cut and Matt Prior played a rank bad shot at a wide ball and was caught in the slips. Thus 102-5, still 137 behind despite a sturdy knock from Paul Collingwood and quiet good sense from Andrew Flintoff.
Defeat was inscribed on every delivery as the faster trio bowled straight and the spinner Nathan Hauritz - remember what a bad rap he got at the start of the series - caused grunts and sighs and shouts - why? - of "catch it" almost every ball. Now, even if these two bat until tea, the Aussies will still expect to win and if they don't it could be a long, hard summer ahead, with the critics in full voice and the spectators wishing they had spent their entrance money on a fishing rod, a new bike or paying their overdue rates.
To tea
There was too much time left for England to hold out but Australia needed an hour to get rid of Flintoff and another to dismiss Stuart Broad. Flintoff had to ask Ponting if he was happy he had held a low catch - how old fashioned was that - but Broad was clearly unhappy about a plumb lbw decision. Graeme Swann was hit three times in two overs but nothing disturbed Collingwood who had been batting four hours when England escaped to the dressing room with only three wickets left.
Collingwood was in the midst of a special innings, unfazed by all the action and the chatter around him, in his own zone of total concentration, an example to any young cricketer trying to keep his side intact. In his heart he must have guessed it was impossible; but no. I don't think the word impossible is in his vocabulary.
To close
Swann bore his blows bravely for an hour and when he went Collingwood, cool, shrewd and apparently without nerves batted until it seemed he would never be out. He fell, with runs still needed, to a juggling catch, leaving England's fate to the permanent nightwatchman James Anderson and the perpetual No.11 Monty Panesar.
Incredibly, they survived for 69 deliveries, added 19 runs that took England into the lead and, at 6.43 with no time to start a fourth innings, forced Ponting to shake hands on a draw that ranks with any epic match in the Ashes series.
Just as important, the Welsh crowd backed England with a passion that brought back the spirit of '05 and that may be more important than all their heroics when the Ashes come to be decided.
Preview
The morning newspapers are full of negative, finger-crossing hopes centred on the possibility of rain. The truth is that if England put up a serious fight, as forecast by Paul Collingwood last night, they can go to Lord's for the second Test on Thursday, not just all square, but with the last laugh. And you know that true blue, knuckle scraping, heads down Aussies cannot endure being laughed at.
To lunch
No sign of a long term recovery as Kevin Pietersen was bowled not playing a shot, as Andrew Strauss was caught behind trying out his favourite square cut and Matt Prior played a rank bad shot at a wide ball and was caught in the slips. Thus 102-5, still 137 behind despite a sturdy knock from Paul Collingwood and quiet good sense from Andrew Flintoff.
Defeat was inscribed on every delivery as the faster trio bowled straight and the spinner Nathan Hauritz - remember what a bad rap he got at the start of the series - caused grunts and sighs and shouts - why? - of "catch it" almost every ball. Now, even if these two bat until tea, the Aussies will still expect to win and if they don't it could be a long, hard summer ahead, with the critics in full voice and the spectators wishing they had spent their entrance money on a fishing rod, a new bike or paying their overdue rates.
To tea
There was too much time left for England to hold out but Australia needed an hour to get rid of Flintoff and another to dismiss Stuart Broad. Flintoff had to ask Ponting if he was happy he had held a low catch - how old fashioned was that - but Broad was clearly unhappy about a plumb lbw decision. Graeme Swann was hit three times in two overs but nothing disturbed Collingwood who had been batting four hours when England escaped to the dressing room with only three wickets left.
Collingwood was in the midst of a special innings, unfazed by all the action and the chatter around him, in his own zone of total concentration, an example to any young cricketer trying to keep his side intact. In his heart he must have guessed it was impossible; but no. I don't think the word impossible is in his vocabulary.
To close
Swann bore his blows bravely for an hour and when he went Collingwood, cool, shrewd and apparently without nerves batted until it seemed he would never be out. He fell, with runs still needed, to a juggling catch, leaving England's fate to the permanent nightwatchman James Anderson and the perpetual No.11 Monty Panesar.
Incredibly, they survived for 69 deliveries, added 19 runs that took England into the lead and, at 6.43 with no time to start a fourth innings, forced Ponting to shake hands on a draw that ranks with any epic match in the Ashes series.
Just as important, the Welsh crowd backed England with a passion that brought back the spirit of '05 and that may be more important than all their heroics when the Ashes come to be decided.
Saturday 11 July 2009
Five gallons please!
Cardiff. First Ashes Test Day four
Preview
It's fine but we are expecting - indeed hoping - for rain or wondering if Jimmy Anderson could be right about taking a bunch of early wickets and then running up a big score. I used to go to Burnley, his home town, a lot and never quite understood their sense of humour, so I could be missing something here. England are now 66-1 to win this match and a draw would appear to be our only prospect. And, by the way, thanks for all those nice people who have already reminded me of my 3-1 forecast. Still time; but if we are to overcome those odds Anderson has a major part to play.
To lunch
Once again Australia did not lose a wicket in this session, Marcus North made a debut Ashes century and Brad Haddin reached fifty. England's out-cricket varied between bad and appalling and there was just brief spell of spin bowling by Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann when they threatened to get on top. At that point Swann had to go off with a finger injury and Andrew Strauss took the new ball.
Throughout this match the Aussies have played the more intelligent cricket. This sixth wicket pair never saw the need to attack as they reached 577-5 to lead by 142. Plenty of time to win the match. The rain stayed away and, as for the theory that a bunch of wickets might fall, it was more like the work of Hans Christian Anderson than a product of the brain of an experienced cricketer.
To tea
Ricky Ponting even seemed reluctant to declare when Haddin was out after scoring the fourth century of the innings of 674-6dec; a lead of 239 setting a long battle for England. Especially as the forecast rain did not appear. Five England bowlers conceded 100 runs. It is known in the trade as a "gallon" because at one time a bowler with such bad figures had to buy a gallon of beer for the fielders. The ale won't cause the headaches but the bowling will leave bowlers and selectors with a big pain between the ears. In seven overs to the interval, with the lights on and rain arriving, Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara were lbw and the writing on the wall was in big, black capitals.
To close
So at 20-2 the day ended. There are 98 overs on day five; plenty of time for England to lose and Australia to take the remaining eight wickets. Looks like a day for a captain's innings, Strauss. The weather forecast is for sunshine all day but only if you are an Australian.
Preview
It's fine but we are expecting - indeed hoping - for rain or wondering if Jimmy Anderson could be right about taking a bunch of early wickets and then running up a big score. I used to go to Burnley, his home town, a lot and never quite understood their sense of humour, so I could be missing something here. England are now 66-1 to win this match and a draw would appear to be our only prospect. And, by the way, thanks for all those nice people who have already reminded me of my 3-1 forecast. Still time; but if we are to overcome those odds Anderson has a major part to play.
To lunch
Once again Australia did not lose a wicket in this session, Marcus North made a debut Ashes century and Brad Haddin reached fifty. England's out-cricket varied between bad and appalling and there was just brief spell of spin bowling by Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann when they threatened to get on top. At that point Swann had to go off with a finger injury and Andrew Strauss took the new ball.
Throughout this match the Aussies have played the more intelligent cricket. This sixth wicket pair never saw the need to attack as they reached 577-5 to lead by 142. Plenty of time to win the match. The rain stayed away and, as for the theory that a bunch of wickets might fall, it was more like the work of Hans Christian Anderson than a product of the brain of an experienced cricketer.
To tea
Ricky Ponting even seemed reluctant to declare when Haddin was out after scoring the fourth century of the innings of 674-6dec; a lead of 239 setting a long battle for England. Especially as the forecast rain did not appear. Five England bowlers conceded 100 runs. It is known in the trade as a "gallon" because at one time a bowler with such bad figures had to buy a gallon of beer for the fielders. The ale won't cause the headaches but the bowling will leave bowlers and selectors with a big pain between the ears. In seven overs to the interval, with the lights on and rain arriving, Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara were lbw and the writing on the wall was in big, black capitals.
To close
So at 20-2 the day ended. There are 98 overs on day five; plenty of time for England to lose and Australia to take the remaining eight wickets. Looks like a day for a captain's innings, Strauss. The weather forecast is for sunshine all day but only if you are an Australian.
Friday 10 July 2009
Tipping point
Cardiff. First Ashes Test. Day three
Preview
One day of the dreaded Aussie is as much as we need so I have sent him back to the terraces to sing with his pals. I will tell you whether England can follow the scenario sketched by Andrew Flintoff last night when he called for a re-enactment of the spirit of '05. He refuses to follow the lead of Graeme Swann who claimed "the wind had been knocked out of the England bowlers." Flintoff told the team: "It takes just one good spell to bring us right back into the game." We will see.
To lunch.
There seemed to be some purpose to the England bowling. Flintoff put the ball where his mouth was and although he did not take another wicket he showed Jimmy Anderson the way to the wickets of Simon Katich and Mike Hussey before, near lunch, Monty Panesar forced Ricky Ponting to chop the ball on to his stumps. It was too close to him; a strange misjudgement when he was 150, The Aussies will be pleased with their morning's 99 runs; near enough to the England total and still in with a chance of building a good-sized lead before the week-end rains.
To tea
Fifteen minutes before tea ten runs came off an over from Flintoff and Australia were in the lead. By the interval they were 23 in front and Michael Clark and Marcus North had batted the full two hours. Ominous. The Aussies were in a position to dominate the rest of the game and England were beginning to look as if they did not know which way to turn. Andrew Strauss crouched at slip, bewildered; and you will not be surprised to know I was looking round the field for Michael Vaughan. No sign of him nor of Steve Harmison and Marcus Trescothick while Simon Jones will, presumably, never play in another first class match. I know these men cannot be returned to the England side magically; but by the beard of W G Grace we miss them.
To close
Not surprisingly, on the wettest ground in British cricket, rain brought an early finish with Australia 44 in front. Stuart Broad, who had hardly put a foot right on the whole innings, produced a sharp bouncer to get rid of Clark who is still without a century in at Test in this country. When the heavy shower finished the game continued under lights, another first for a venue where England have little if any control and face an unexpected defeat.
Preview
One day of the dreaded Aussie is as much as we need so I have sent him back to the terraces to sing with his pals. I will tell you whether England can follow the scenario sketched by Andrew Flintoff last night when he called for a re-enactment of the spirit of '05. He refuses to follow the lead of Graeme Swann who claimed "the wind had been knocked out of the England bowlers." Flintoff told the team: "It takes just one good spell to bring us right back into the game." We will see.
To lunch.
There seemed to be some purpose to the England bowling. Flintoff put the ball where his mouth was and although he did not take another wicket he showed Jimmy Anderson the way to the wickets of Simon Katich and Mike Hussey before, near lunch, Monty Panesar forced Ricky Ponting to chop the ball on to his stumps. It was too close to him; a strange misjudgement when he was 150, The Aussies will be pleased with their morning's 99 runs; near enough to the England total and still in with a chance of building a good-sized lead before the week-end rains.
To tea
Fifteen minutes before tea ten runs came off an over from Flintoff and Australia were in the lead. By the interval they were 23 in front and Michael Clark and Marcus North had batted the full two hours. Ominous. The Aussies were in a position to dominate the rest of the game and England were beginning to look as if they did not know which way to turn. Andrew Strauss crouched at slip, bewildered; and you will not be surprised to know I was looking round the field for Michael Vaughan. No sign of him nor of Steve Harmison and Marcus Trescothick while Simon Jones will, presumably, never play in another first class match. I know these men cannot be returned to the England side magically; but by the beard of W G Grace we miss them.
To close
Not surprisingly, on the wettest ground in British cricket, rain brought an early finish with Australia 44 in front. Stuart Broad, who had hardly put a foot right on the whole innings, produced a sharp bouncer to get rid of Clark who is still without a century in at Test in this country. When the heavy shower finished the game continued under lights, another first for a venue where England have little if any control and face an unexpected defeat.
Thursday 9 July 2009
Still the boss
Cardiff. First Ashes Test - day two
Preview
Greg here: Good as gold Ted says for me to write everything today so at last you are going to get some straight. First day even in my opinion and today the Aussies need the Dardenelles spirit, show the Poms what we are made of, trust the good people of Wales get behind us 'cos they hate the English more than we do. They have their own language on traffic signs so the Poms will get lost, Poms have to pay to get into the country and having listened to a couple of them in a pub last night they are not too thrilled to have the Queen's eldest boy as their Prince. I reckon they will run the Barmy Army out of Cardiff by the third day.Bloody brilliant
To lunch
Brilliant! Phillip Hughes throwns it right back to the Poms and sends me for a plate of leeks - traditional Welsh tucker so I hear - with a smile on my face. Got to say the Poms were giggling all day with good reason. That Jimmy Anderson was there hero. I mean we know that Graeme Swann has a decent idea of batting but Anderson has so much in the way of guts I reckon he has a bit of Aussie dog in this make-up. They put on nearly 100 in the first 80 minutes before lunch and all I can say is that the two attacks don't have half an idea between them. Right at the end along comes Hughes and lashes the ball everywhere from third man to extra cover. Never seen an opening bat do that before; and that wild backlift, and that strange stance. Still he seems to get the ball to the pickets all right. Might have a chance although when the Aussies grin there seems to be an air of resignation.
To tea
Everything going Australia's way. Oh, yeah, Freddie Flintoff got rid of Hughes when it looked as if the little fella was going to score a very rapid century and I have to say Freddie bowled beautifully. Yeah, beautifully which meant that Andrew Strauss kept him on a lot longer than he should have done and put the big fella and his injury-hit body at risk. Not that we Aussies wish him any harm. We love him to pieces and if he takes every wicket to fall in this seris, good on him. We can afford to be generous jsut a few runs behind, only one wicket down and me in charge of telling the tale without any bias. (Ted's been hit by his old enemy gout, leave the red wine alone, Ted and learn to live the simple life.)
To close
Oz 249-1, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting both with centuries, only 186 behind that big England score; something for every true born Aussie to celebrate led by the old Prime Minister John Howard. Typical, he watches with his old smug expression as if he was responsible for every run. No longer in charge of the government but the same old polly. Still he is entitled to sit in the reserved seats looking pleased; even if none of us cares for him. We are too busy loving Katich and Ponting, true heroes who have turned this Ashes battle upside down. Bit of sympathy for the Poms. The ball didn't swing, I'm sure Stuart Broad was injured because he hardly bowled a ball and the half chances never went near a fielder. Australia have to be careful because this is a topsy turvey Test and it's not all over yet.
Preview
Greg here: Good as gold Ted says for me to write everything today so at last you are going to get some straight. First day even in my opinion and today the Aussies need the Dardenelles spirit, show the Poms what we are made of, trust the good people of Wales get behind us 'cos they hate the English more than we do. They have their own language on traffic signs so the Poms will get lost, Poms have to pay to get into the country and having listened to a couple of them in a pub last night they are not too thrilled to have the Queen's eldest boy as their Prince. I reckon they will run the Barmy Army out of Cardiff by the third day.Bloody brilliant
To lunch
Brilliant! Phillip Hughes throwns it right back to the Poms and sends me for a plate of leeks - traditional Welsh tucker so I hear - with a smile on my face. Got to say the Poms were giggling all day with good reason. That Jimmy Anderson was there hero. I mean we know that Graeme Swann has a decent idea of batting but Anderson has so much in the way of guts I reckon he has a bit of Aussie dog in this make-up. They put on nearly 100 in the first 80 minutes before lunch and all I can say is that the two attacks don't have half an idea between them. Right at the end along comes Hughes and lashes the ball everywhere from third man to extra cover. Never seen an opening bat do that before; and that wild backlift, and that strange stance. Still he seems to get the ball to the pickets all right. Might have a chance although when the Aussies grin there seems to be an air of resignation.
To tea
Everything going Australia's way. Oh, yeah, Freddie Flintoff got rid of Hughes when it looked as if the little fella was going to score a very rapid century and I have to say Freddie bowled beautifully. Yeah, beautifully which meant that Andrew Strauss kept him on a lot longer than he should have done and put the big fella and his injury-hit body at risk. Not that we Aussies wish him any harm. We love him to pieces and if he takes every wicket to fall in this seris, good on him. We can afford to be generous jsut a few runs behind, only one wicket down and me in charge of telling the tale without any bias. (Ted's been hit by his old enemy gout, leave the red wine alone, Ted and learn to live the simple life.)
To close
Oz 249-1, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting both with centuries, only 186 behind that big England score; something for every true born Aussie to celebrate led by the old Prime Minister John Howard. Typical, he watches with his old smug expression as if he was responsible for every run. No longer in charge of the government but the same old polly. Still he is entitled to sit in the reserved seats looking pleased; even if none of us cares for him. We are too busy loving Katich and Ponting, true heroes who have turned this Ashes battle upside down. Bit of sympathy for the Poms. The ball didn't swing, I'm sure Stuart Broad was injured because he hardly bowled a ball and the half chances never went near a fielder. Australia have to be careful because this is a topsy turvey Test and it's not all over yet.
Wednesday 8 July 2009
Pulverising start
Cardiff. The first Ashes Test - day one
Preview
I just hope that the decision by the ECB - the England and Wales Cricket Board here of course - to hold this important match on a ground making its Test debut does not rebound on the team. Defeat for England here would send out so many and varied messages and cause such a war of words that whether the board did it to spread the game or to trouser £3m will hardly matter.
This Australian side is their weakest since 1985 and the sooner they are told so the easier it will be for England to win back the Ashes. Then they can open a new era based on the young ones backing up Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen - Alistair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad and James Anderson.It is a bigger opportunity than 2005 and all they need to back their own efforts is a mighty chorus from the Barmy Army, a force dreaded by authority but crucial if England are to prosper.
To lunch
To mark the arrival of Test cricket in Wales the day began with a short Eisteddfod: Land of My Fathers, God Save the Queen, Advance Australia Fair and Jerusalem. As much music as at Jacko's funeral.
For the next two hours the funeral theme kept recurring. Andrew Strauss won the toss, Ricky Ponting admitted, crestfallen that he would have batted. Alistair Cook was first out to a flying catch in the gully by Mike Hussey. Ravi Bopara began nervoously but Strauss managed to field the strike so that it looked as if the Australians had missed their way. Bopara settled, produced a searing stroke to mid-wicket for four but then Strauss on 30 hooked and was caught by Michael Clark at first slip. Bopara, seeming to be going well at 35, skied the ball to gully. Both fell to Mitchell Johnson and his left-arm sling shot so that at lunch England were an unsatisfactory 97-3 and Australia chuckled all the way to the pavilion.
I suspect first Test nerves played a part and it may be that Kevin Pietersen's stop-go start unsettled Bopara.
To tea
We all missed Shane Warne in the second session. Warne would have bowled cleverly on this slow pitch and he would probably have dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood. The man who needed him most was Ricky Ponting. Surely Warne would not have remained silent while Ponting allowed Nathan Hauritz and Michael Clark bowled together.
Pietersen and Collingwood just batted until the seriously bad ball came along. In contrast Ponting applied no pressure while they took the score to 194-3 and laid the foundation for a respectable score. It was a reminder of their great stand in Adelaide two years ago.
I have often wondered how Australia overturned their Test defeat at home with a win in South Africa. This afternoon's lacklustre bowling and captaincy have made the answer no clearer and I found myself wondering if Ponting had decided his team could not win and was simply determined to get through the series with as little damage to his reputation as possible.
To close
Collingwood received the best ball of the day and KP, the daft lad, played the worst shot since 1877 before Matt Prior and Andrew Flintoff raced along at a run a ball. Flintoff played on, Prior got another decent ball and at the end England on 336-7 were marginally on top.
Australia will feel they ought to have capitalised on a pitch that brought regular swing; every England batsman got a start and someone - Pietersen what in the name of decency were you thinking about trying to sweep a ball two feet outside the off stump? - should have made a century. KP for instance.
But if, as I suspect, this is going to be a low-scoring match, England have the edge and, bless 'em all, it has been a pulverising beginning.
Preview
I just hope that the decision by the ECB - the England and Wales Cricket Board here of course - to hold this important match on a ground making its Test debut does not rebound on the team. Defeat for England here would send out so many and varied messages and cause such a war of words that whether the board did it to spread the game or to trouser £3m will hardly matter.
This Australian side is their weakest since 1985 and the sooner they are told so the easier it will be for England to win back the Ashes. Then they can open a new era based on the young ones backing up Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen - Alistair Cook, Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad and James Anderson.It is a bigger opportunity than 2005 and all they need to back their own efforts is a mighty chorus from the Barmy Army, a force dreaded by authority but crucial if England are to prosper.
To lunch
To mark the arrival of Test cricket in Wales the day began with a short Eisteddfod: Land of My Fathers, God Save the Queen, Advance Australia Fair and Jerusalem. As much music as at Jacko's funeral.
For the next two hours the funeral theme kept recurring. Andrew Strauss won the toss, Ricky Ponting admitted, crestfallen that he would have batted. Alistair Cook was first out to a flying catch in the gully by Mike Hussey. Ravi Bopara began nervoously but Strauss managed to field the strike so that it looked as if the Australians had missed their way. Bopara settled, produced a searing stroke to mid-wicket for four but then Strauss on 30 hooked and was caught by Michael Clark at first slip. Bopara, seeming to be going well at 35, skied the ball to gully. Both fell to Mitchell Johnson and his left-arm sling shot so that at lunch England were an unsatisfactory 97-3 and Australia chuckled all the way to the pavilion.
I suspect first Test nerves played a part and it may be that Kevin Pietersen's stop-go start unsettled Bopara.
To tea
We all missed Shane Warne in the second session. Warne would have bowled cleverly on this slow pitch and he would probably have dismissed Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood. The man who needed him most was Ricky Ponting. Surely Warne would not have remained silent while Ponting allowed Nathan Hauritz and Michael Clark bowled together.
Pietersen and Collingwood just batted until the seriously bad ball came along. In contrast Ponting applied no pressure while they took the score to 194-3 and laid the foundation for a respectable score. It was a reminder of their great stand in Adelaide two years ago.
I have often wondered how Australia overturned their Test defeat at home with a win in South Africa. This afternoon's lacklustre bowling and captaincy have made the answer no clearer and I found myself wondering if Ponting had decided his team could not win and was simply determined to get through the series with as little damage to his reputation as possible.
To close
Collingwood received the best ball of the day and KP, the daft lad, played the worst shot since 1877 before Matt Prior and Andrew Flintoff raced along at a run a ball. Flintoff played on, Prior got another decent ball and at the end England on 336-7 were marginally on top.
Australia will feel they ought to have capitalised on a pitch that brought regular swing; every England batsman got a start and someone - Pietersen what in the name of decency were you thinking about trying to sweep a ball two feet outside the off stump? - should have made a century. KP for instance.
But if, as I suspect, this is going to be a low-scoring match, England have the edge and, bless 'em all, it has been a pulverising beginning.
Tuesday 7 July 2009
Cold comfort
When I was a 'prentice hand, learning how journalism and life worked, one of my main tutors was an old Irish cavalryman - he had ended his Army days with one of those weird ranks like Corporal of Horse - whose life was governed by cute sayings he had picked up around the world.
The first sign of winter always brought out the same quote: "Jeez, if it isn't cold enough for two chinstraps."
I was reminded of that phrase when I saw the weather forecast for Cardiff over the next five days. The temperature will vary from 13C to 18C and you can bet your last Aussie dollar that the news has not been popular among Ricky Ponting's troops..
Australians hate the cold. I landed in Sydney, having been baked in India and sweated in Singapore for four months, to hear a radio DJ tell his audience: "I'm afraid the best on offer in the next 24 hours is 19C."
In other words don't head for the beach this week-end, wrap up warm for the footie and forget the suncream; mate, it's bloody freezing.
So you can forget the absence of Brett Lee, the poor form of Mitchell Johnson, the fallible spin of Nathan Horwitz, Ponting's no-show in the batting averages and Phillip Hughes' reluctance to face up to the quick bouncer and put the pennies from your children's piggy bank right on England for the first Test.
Andrew Strauss and his pals are used to cricket in April so five days in the below 20 of Wales will not mean a thing. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann always bowl with their fingers blue, Steve Harmison, Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff see two sweaters as a minimum requirement and the batsmen often look on the protective armour as an addition layer of clothing.
If you want a line of form on the way the Australians will treasure the idea of a few hours play in sub-Arctic Wales think back to 1991 when West Indies did everything except hoist a white flag over Headingley. Cold? My partner Jo King wore gloves, a scarf and an overcoat - and she was scoring in the press box!
So there is no need to panic over the result. The weather is just further proof that high above us the Archangel Gabriel and the Clerk of the Weather are not just cricket fans but England fans too.
Cold enough for two chinstraps? Those Australians had better sew an extra button on their long johns if they want to be comfortable in cold, cold Cardiff.
Greg here: Don't weep for the Aussies, mate, we will survive. You're right about one thing though. When I heard the news about Brett Lee I was sure it must be a scam. What is going on, the guys looks ok at Worcester, bowls too quick for your lot and now he is out of the first two Tests and one website says he could be out of the tour. There ain't no justice any more. But the rest will see us through and Horwitz will make you eat all those nasty words you write about him. Don't say I didn't tell you as the Aussies win 3-0 or even 4-0.
The first sign of winter always brought out the same quote: "Jeez, if it isn't cold enough for two chinstraps."
I was reminded of that phrase when I saw the weather forecast for Cardiff over the next five days. The temperature will vary from 13C to 18C and you can bet your last Aussie dollar that the news has not been popular among Ricky Ponting's troops..
Australians hate the cold. I landed in Sydney, having been baked in India and sweated in Singapore for four months, to hear a radio DJ tell his audience: "I'm afraid the best on offer in the next 24 hours is 19C."
In other words don't head for the beach this week-end, wrap up warm for the footie and forget the suncream; mate, it's bloody freezing.
So you can forget the absence of Brett Lee, the poor form of Mitchell Johnson, the fallible spin of Nathan Horwitz, Ponting's no-show in the batting averages and Phillip Hughes' reluctance to face up to the quick bouncer and put the pennies from your children's piggy bank right on England for the first Test.
Andrew Strauss and his pals are used to cricket in April so five days in the below 20 of Wales will not mean a thing. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann always bowl with their fingers blue, Steve Harmison, Stuart Broad and Andrew Flintoff see two sweaters as a minimum requirement and the batsmen often look on the protective armour as an addition layer of clothing.
If you want a line of form on the way the Australians will treasure the idea of a few hours play in sub-Arctic Wales think back to 1991 when West Indies did everything except hoist a white flag over Headingley. Cold? My partner Jo King wore gloves, a scarf and an overcoat - and she was scoring in the press box!
So there is no need to panic over the result. The weather is just further proof that high above us the Archangel Gabriel and the Clerk of the Weather are not just cricket fans but England fans too.
Cold enough for two chinstraps? Those Australians had better sew an extra button on their long johns if they want to be comfortable in cold, cold Cardiff.
Greg here: Don't weep for the Aussies, mate, we will survive. You're right about one thing though. When I heard the news about Brett Lee I was sure it must be a scam. What is going on, the guys looks ok at Worcester, bowls too quick for your lot and now he is out of the first two Tests and one website says he could be out of the tour. There ain't no justice any more. But the rest will see us through and Horwitz will make you eat all those nasty words you write about him. Don't say I didn't tell you as the Aussies win 3-0 or even 4-0.
Monday 6 July 2009
Lee out of first two
Australia suffered a new setback 48 hours before the first day of the Ashes when Brett Lee, their in-form, bristling and experienced fast bowler, was ruled out of the first two Tests with a rib injury.
The news was such a shock that at first I wondered if the trip to London for a scan was a ploy put together to wrong-foot England; but the news that drifted back to Cardiff was much worse than his six-wicket performance against England Lions at Worcester last week suggested.
Lee is a sunny cricketer and far from the single-minded, inward-looking character like so many of his calling. He has always been interested in the rest of the world and relaxes on long tours, home and abroad, by singing to his own guitar and playing in small groups. The England players were shaken enough by the ruling to send good wishes by way of his special mate Kevin Pietersen.
This is another hammer blow to the Australian side already rebuilding after the retirement of so many stars, with Ricky Ponting criticised at home and lacking runs in this tour and with doubts about the quality of their spin attack.
Ricky Ponting may go into the match with one of the weakest attacks of his 56 Tests as captain, a figure which takes him level with Steve Waugh. Lee's absence will give him an excuse, if he needs it, not to ask England to bat.
He last put a side in at Edgbaston in 2005 when his plot went disastrously wrong because Glenn McGrath was injured just before play began. Ponting has not dared try the same trick again.
Sunday 5 July 2009
Selectors right!
Now the talking has to stop, time for action, team named at 10am and, er, no action at all. Nothing to get one's teeth into, steady as she goes, all's right with the world, why change anything, keep a winning team and, to be honest, as they say in dressing rooms round the world, the selectors have probably got it dead right.
So no big Steve Harmison, a vote of confidence in Graham Onions, much on the shoulders of Stuart Broad and James Anderson and the spinning probably left to Graeme Swann. The batting is in good shape - FOR or Full Of Runs - from No. 1 Andrew Strauss to No. 6, Matt Prior.
I watched as the Australians struggled at Worcester and unless they are playing games they will struggle at Cardiff. I cannot agree with those who suggest Nathan Hauritz is anything but an ordinary off-spinner; he lacks control and spinning power. I suspect they will use four seamers and not even think about spin until the game is slipping out of their control.
I am not even sure this series is going to be the tour de force promoted by the TV commentators and, the sooner everyone puts Ashes 2005 to the back of their minds the sooner England will lay down a solid basis from which to win the trophy again.
So no big Steve Harmison, a vote of confidence in Graham Onions, much on the shoulders of Stuart Broad and James Anderson and the spinning probably left to Graeme Swann. The batting is in good shape - FOR or Full Of Runs - from No. 1 Andrew Strauss to No. 6, Matt Prior.
I watched as the Australians struggled at Worcester and unless they are playing games they will struggle at Cardiff. I cannot agree with those who suggest Nathan Hauritz is anything but an ordinary off-spinner; he lacks control and spinning power. I suspect they will use four seamers and not even think about spin until the game is slipping out of their control.
I am not even sure this series is going to be the tour de force promoted by the TV commentators and, the sooner everyone puts Ashes 2005 to the back of their minds the sooner England will lay down a solid basis from which to win the trophy again.
Saturday 4 July 2009
England 3-1
Quite suddenly, with the force of a tsunami, the answer was clear. England will beat a weak Australia side, after a struggle in the first three Tests, and recover the Ashes by 3-1.
It has worried me for a week. Good independent judges declared their hands and left us none the wiser. Mickey Arthur, coach of a winning South African side, said it was too close to call but on balance he fancied Australia. Mike Atherton, so fiercely even-handed that it is clear that he has - as he claims - shrugged off his record-breaking stint as captain, found it difficult to predict the result; Michael Vaughan, in a thoughtful piece, said England could win but that they were not favourites.
Until the revelation hit me this morning I could not find a result in logic, the runes nor the statements of the men who will begin the battle on Wednesday in Cardiff.
Thus a stalement. Then I remembered 1985 when a series of minor miracles enabled England to win late in the series on the back of superb batting by the captain Gower, Gooch, Robinson, Gatting and Botham; by the fast bowling of Botham, still a fearsome competitor; and Richard Ellison, briefly the finest bowler of fast medium outswing in the world.
Australia, without Chappell, Marsh and Lillee who had retired, with Thomson 35 during the final Test, and with Border settling into the captaincy reluctantly and grumpily, had only McDermott to confront England. Lawson faded, Holland's leg spin was briefly dominant at Lord's - where Australia won as usual - and the wicket-keeping of Wayne Phillips was so confused that he later dreamed Wisden might alter the figures of the bowlers off whom he had spilled too many chances.
England grabbed hold of the Ashes after one bizarre moment at Edgbaston when, after a long break for rain - while such stars as Gower, Edmonds and Gooch reached back to their childhood via Watch With Mother (so Edmonds told me) - Gower caught Phillips off Lamb's boot. You can still find a fighting opponent in any Nullabar bar by declaring that was legitimately out; Border said the batsman should have had the benefit of the doubt; today it would have been 'decided' by 10,000 TV replays.
No such concept existed then but it, and the clearing weather, enabled me to write that God must be an Englishman. By the end of the sixth Test England were so much in the ascendency that we assumed they might go on to triumph in the West Indies. Instead they lost 5-0.
Those of us who still believe in that God is partisan will expect Him to intervene as he did 24 years ago and return the world's tiniest trophy to the hands of another fair-haired England, captain Andrew Strauss, backed up by the strong batting of Cook, Bopara, Pietersen, Prior and Flintoff, also still a fearsome bowler; plus a constantly shifting mix of Broad, Anderson, Onions, Sidebottom, Harmison, Swann, Rashid and Panesar. I hope Bresnan will play the part of Ellison.
They say you never learn anything from history; I have tried. We will soon know if I have learnt the right lessons. Just five days to go.
It has worried me for a week. Good independent judges declared their hands and left us none the wiser. Mickey Arthur, coach of a winning South African side, said it was too close to call but on balance he fancied Australia. Mike Atherton, so fiercely even-handed that it is clear that he has - as he claims - shrugged off his record-breaking stint as captain, found it difficult to predict the result; Michael Vaughan, in a thoughtful piece, said England could win but that they were not favourites.
Until the revelation hit me this morning I could not find a result in logic, the runes nor the statements of the men who will begin the battle on Wednesday in Cardiff.
Thus a stalement. Then I remembered 1985 when a series of minor miracles enabled England to win late in the series on the back of superb batting by the captain Gower, Gooch, Robinson, Gatting and Botham; by the fast bowling of Botham, still a fearsome competitor; and Richard Ellison, briefly the finest bowler of fast medium outswing in the world.
Australia, without Chappell, Marsh and Lillee who had retired, with Thomson 35 during the final Test, and with Border settling into the captaincy reluctantly and grumpily, had only McDermott to confront England. Lawson faded, Holland's leg spin was briefly dominant at Lord's - where Australia won as usual - and the wicket-keeping of Wayne Phillips was so confused that he later dreamed Wisden might alter the figures of the bowlers off whom he had spilled too many chances.
England grabbed hold of the Ashes after one bizarre moment at Edgbaston when, after a long break for rain - while such stars as Gower, Edmonds and Gooch reached back to their childhood via Watch With Mother (so Edmonds told me) - Gower caught Phillips off Lamb's boot. You can still find a fighting opponent in any Nullabar bar by declaring that was legitimately out; Border said the batsman should have had the benefit of the doubt; today it would have been 'decided' by 10,000 TV replays.
No such concept existed then but it, and the clearing weather, enabled me to write that God must be an Englishman. By the end of the sixth Test England were so much in the ascendency that we assumed they might go on to triumph in the West Indies. Instead they lost 5-0.
Those of us who still believe in that God is partisan will expect Him to intervene as he did 24 years ago and return the world's tiniest trophy to the hands of another fair-haired England, captain Andrew Strauss, backed up by the strong batting of Cook, Bopara, Pietersen, Prior and Flintoff, also still a fearsome bowler; plus a constantly shifting mix of Broad, Anderson, Onions, Sidebottom, Harmison, Swann, Rashid and Panesar. I hope Bresnan will play the part of Ellison.
They say you never learn anything from history; I have tried. We will soon know if I have learnt the right lessons. Just five days to go.
Friday 3 July 2009
Jimmy's riddle
The cafe. The veteran, the daft lad and I. In agreement for once.
"You know there is something everyone in this country can do to bring back the Ashes," I say.
"What," says the daft lad, absorbed in drinking his tea latte. "Pray, burn incense, join the British Legion?
"No," says the veteran, "I know what he's on about. Stop talking about how lovely everything was in 2005." We've been talking about it."
"Right," I say. "That's history, done with, lets move on. But this week at least one paper has gone on about 2005 as if the game was invented that year. A big piece every day."
"I know," says the lad, "my dad kept going on about 1981, and Headingley, and Brearley and Botham. Just the same. We do love to live the the past, us."
"So," I say, all strategic. "Lets make a pact. No 2005, no Flintoff, no Pratt's run-out, not talk of the bad behaviour at No.10 Downing Street. And, by the way, unless I have a brainwave, this series is too close to call. So no bets all right."
The daft lad grins. "I want to back Jimmy Anderson to be top wicket-taker, both sides. He's all right is Jimmy. He says to me - I' like 70 not - 'my yorker is the key ball' but I take no notice and next ball he hits me on top of the helmet with a bouncer. Still I go on past hundred and he says 'you took no notice of me saying about the yorker' but then he bowls me one and I block it. No, he's all right is Jimmy."
"No he's not," says the waitress. "He comes in here and says to me, cheeky like, 'Is it you that has been making that young lad drink tea latte and serving him slops.' Then he runs out. At least I think it was Jimmy Anderson."
"Rubbish," says the daft lad. "You wouldn't pull a trick like that!"
"No," the rest of us say in chorus. "Cause she wouldn't"
"You know there is something everyone in this country can do to bring back the Ashes," I say.
"What," says the daft lad, absorbed in drinking his tea latte. "Pray, burn incense, join the British Legion?
"No," says the veteran, "I know what he's on about. Stop talking about how lovely everything was in 2005." We've been talking about it."
"Right," I say. "That's history, done with, lets move on. But this week at least one paper has gone on about 2005 as if the game was invented that year. A big piece every day."
"I know," says the lad, "my dad kept going on about 1981, and Headingley, and Brearley and Botham. Just the same. We do love to live the the past, us."
"So," I say, all strategic. "Lets make a pact. No 2005, no Flintoff, no Pratt's run-out, not talk of the bad behaviour at No.10 Downing Street. And, by the way, unless I have a brainwave, this series is too close to call. So no bets all right."
The daft lad grins. "I want to back Jimmy Anderson to be top wicket-taker, both sides. He's all right is Jimmy. He says to me - I' like 70 not - 'my yorker is the key ball' but I take no notice and next ball he hits me on top of the helmet with a bouncer. Still I go on past hundred and he says 'you took no notice of me saying about the yorker' but then he bowls me one and I block it. No, he's all right is Jimmy."
"No he's not," says the waitress. "He comes in here and says to me, cheeky like, 'Is it you that has been making that young lad drink tea latte and serving him slops.' Then he runs out. At least I think it was Jimmy Anderson."
"Rubbish," says the daft lad. "You wouldn't pull a trick like that!"
"No," the rest of us say in chorus. "Cause she wouldn't"
Thursday 2 July 2009
Why Wales?
You may be interested to know that Cardiff will be the 100th venue when the first Test begins in seven days.
I am still not clear - apart from the money, I mean - why the city was given the most important Test of this summer anyway. I know Welsh men and women who support Glamorgan wherever they play but I wonder if they will turn up for this match. I would also like to know how the pitch will play and I worry that if England lose the match they might be 2-0 down by the end of the second Test.
England never win at Lord's against Australia; well, once last century
I guess a lot of people were concerned about the choice of Melbourne in 1877 when the first Test was staged on what old pictures suggest was an open field with one small stand. Of course it was not called The First Test until later.
But you would think that with all the tradition, all that history and all those records the first Test of 2009 might have been played at Lord's.
I am still not clear - apart from the money, I mean - why the city was given the most important Test of this summer anyway. I know Welsh men and women who support Glamorgan wherever they play but I wonder if they will turn up for this match. I would also like to know how the pitch will play and I worry that if England lose the match they might be 2-0 down by the end of the second Test.
England never win at Lord's against Australia; well, once last century
I guess a lot of people were concerned about the choice of Melbourne in 1877 when the first Test was staged on what old pictures suggest was an open field with one small stand. Of course it was not called The First Test until later.
But you would think that with all the tradition, all that history and all those records the first Test of 2009 might have been played at Lord's.
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Unsteady Freddie
Greg here,
All right, guys, so you have had your bit of fun with me and the switch hitter in Brighton and you have gone tut-tut every time Andrew Symonds has been mentioned by name.
So what about Andrew Flintoff, great bowler, once a fantastic hitter, wonderful fielder and - how can I put this without causing the Royal family to throw a six - a lover of fine wines. Just like the dear old Queen no doubt.
He is, to our certain knowledge, Brahms and Cysts at a fielding practice in Oz, he is under the weather on a pirate pedalo in the Caribbean and now he misses a stand-to-attention-and-pray for-the-lost-soldiers trip to a World War I battlefield. I almost tut-tutted myself.
However, the England captain, says it is not an issue and that it has been dealt with "and now we move forward."
True it is not an issue if Andrew Strauss says it is not but apparently it is an issue that Samit Patel is overweight, that Michael Vaughan is too old and out of form and that Monty Panesar cannot buy a wicket.
So the only issue is whether Flintoff can bat, bowl and field and drink. Strauss says he will drop him if he goes for it too heavily during the Ashes. After a hat trick or a century? Even if England have won the last three Tests? Even if he is last man standing?
Better get it sorted soon, my cobbers, or you are going to have a big issue long before the little urn is raised aloft.
All the best sports,
Greg Orry
PS Who got the idea of the visit to a battlefield? Don't I remember the Aussies did something similar a little while back? What do they say about imitation and flattery?
All right, guys, so you have had your bit of fun with me and the switch hitter in Brighton and you have gone tut-tut every time Andrew Symonds has been mentioned by name.
So what about Andrew Flintoff, great bowler, once a fantastic hitter, wonderful fielder and - how can I put this without causing the Royal family to throw a six - a lover of fine wines. Just like the dear old Queen no doubt.
He is, to our certain knowledge, Brahms and Cysts at a fielding practice in Oz, he is under the weather on a pirate pedalo in the Caribbean and now he misses a stand-to-attention-and-pray for-the-lost-soldiers trip to a World War I battlefield. I almost tut-tutted myself.
However, the England captain, says it is not an issue and that it has been dealt with "and now we move forward."
True it is not an issue if Andrew Strauss says it is not but apparently it is an issue that Samit Patel is overweight, that Michael Vaughan is too old and out of form and that Monty Panesar cannot buy a wicket.
So the only issue is whether Flintoff can bat, bowl and field and drink. Strauss says he will drop him if he goes for it too heavily during the Ashes. After a hat trick or a century? Even if England have won the last three Tests? Even if he is last man standing?
Better get it sorted soon, my cobbers, or you are going to have a big issue long before the little urn is raised aloft.
All the best sports,
Greg Orry
PS Who got the idea of the visit to a battlefield? Don't I remember the Aussies did something similar a little while back? What do they say about imitation and flattery?
View from Down Under
It is always interesting to know how the folks back home regard a touring side:
Jeff Thomson is in no doubt; he has never been a fan of Ricky Ponting as a captain and he spells it out. Those of you who have never been Down Under may not be surprised at the strength of the language but this extract is taken from the ABC website. ABC is the Oz equivalent of the BBC and always known as The ABC.
"I thought Ricky was crap when he was first captain in 2004 and nothing much has improved since then," said 58-year-old Thomson at a lunch to launch the Ashes. "I'm not the only one who thinks that. I've always bagged him and everyone at home thinks he's s*** at the captaincy.
"He's a great player but captaincy is a totally different thing. I couldn't believe it when he'd been picked as captain. There was no-one else to pick but Ponting still had no experience. He'd only captained one side ever before. How did he get to lead Australia with that sort of experience?
He was in a side that had very good players and now he's got a side that has average players.
"The choices he makes, his field settings and the things he does are never right. England have the edge in the captaincy department. But while England have a better captain, Australia have a better line-up."
Thanks for letting us know, Tommo. Perhaps we have half a chance after all and that is a tonic seven days before the Ashes.
Jeff Thomson is in no doubt; he has never been a fan of Ricky Ponting as a captain and he spells it out. Those of you who have never been Down Under may not be surprised at the strength of the language but this extract is taken from the ABC website. ABC is the Oz equivalent of the BBC and always known as The ABC.
"I thought Ricky was crap when he was first captain in 2004 and nothing much has improved since then," said 58-year-old Thomson at a lunch to launch the Ashes. "I'm not the only one who thinks that. I've always bagged him and everyone at home thinks he's s*** at the captaincy.
"He's a great player but captaincy is a totally different thing. I couldn't believe it when he'd been picked as captain. There was no-one else to pick but Ponting still had no experience. He'd only captained one side ever before. How did he get to lead Australia with that sort of experience?
He was in a side that had very good players and now he's got a side that has average players.
"The choices he makes, his field settings and the things he does are never right. England have the edge in the captaincy department. But while England have a better captain, Australia have a better line-up."
Thanks for letting us know, Tommo. Perhaps we have half a chance after all and that is a tonic seven days before the Ashes.
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