Second ASHES Test (Lords in London)

FIRST INNINGS (425-10)
Well England have missed a huge opportunity in their innings to build a total of 500+ (in quick time too) and ensure an Ashes victory at Lords (something they haven't done since Verity spun them to victory in 1934). Unless the ball swings a lot more for Anderson and Co than it did for the Australians they will face a bitter fight for that most elusive of wins.

125-0 at lunch will bring memories back from Edgbaston in 2005 where an aggressive assault brought a similar score (eventually 408-10 on the first day). At this point England were in complete control. Cook was beaten by Johnson for 95 (147) from one of only a handful of test-worthy deliveries sent down by the left-armer, the rest were belted by the two openers in a massive 196 run stand.
Hilfenhaus was the only 'test' bowler on show and his dismissal of Bopara (222-2 strangely) showed impressive control of swing and seam. With Pietersen and Strauss still in at Tea, 500 was almost certain, however - as in Cardiff - a late day collapse handed the game back to the bowlers as 265-2 became 333-6 and 365-6 at the end of Day 1
Andrew Struass played brilliantly among the late-day wreckage and an England win will owe much to his batting, some of the best I have ever seen from him, as he compiled 161 (268).
For the Australians, the continuing b******* performance from Mitchell Johnson was a problem as he leaked 21.4-2-134-3 and looked overwhelmed by the Lords occasion as did most of the attack

Day Two brought quick success as Struass went and soon the score was 378-9 but was lifted to 425; I predict better bowling from the English attack may just bring them the desired victory though

More importantly with 365 runs on the first day, the series has (for me) come alive and I can't wait for the next installment in this compelling drama

SECOND INNINGS (215-10)
The England campaign begins to appear more and more like that of 2005 after the 196 stand by the openers and, more importantly, the bowling and fielding effort that cleaned up the Australian batting effort. The accuracy was much better than the Australian bowlers and the rewards were equally greater.
The only point of calm for the batting team was the 93 run partnership between Katich and Hussey, both playing very well until Katich was nicely caught by Broad in the outfield.

However the hook-shot that sent the ball to said fielder was both stupid and a sign of things to come as 'batsmen' Clarke, Haddin and Johnson all perished to ill advised shots trying to break out of the situation. It was irresponsible batting that has always reared its head when Australia have been in trouble (2005, 2001 etc).

England would be foolish to enforce the follow-on with just 215 as a lead (especially on the anniversary of a certain test in 1981 that had a team win after following on) and should build a 400-500 lead and bowl Australia out over 2 days.

THIRD INNINGS (311-6 dec)
Despite some good bowling by Hauritz (3-80) the English batsmen built an impressive lead before overdoing it late in the day as an opportunity to get a couple Australian wickets was missed.

FOURTH INNINGS (406-10)
M. Clarke - b. Swann - 136 (227). Graeme Swann had the courage to flight one more delivery to the best player of spin in the Australian line-up, quite set on 136, but nothing could stop England's march as Clarke was bowled and his departure signalled the end to Australia's chance of victory. I imagine Australia would have preferred to edge their way through the first hour on Day 5 but Andrew Flintoff's dismissal of Haddin in the second over seemed to shorten the pitch by 5 yards as all seemed unable to deal with his hostility.

Chasing 522 to win was never really on, certainly not when the score reached 128-5 after Broad had applied good pressure to bring about Ponting's dismissal for just 38 (69). The Australian captain looks in very good form this tour and if England can continue to dismiss him cheaply they may well regain the Ashes.

Clarke and Haddin's 185 run partnership took the game into the last day and many pundits were unsure of who would be victorious (including myself) but Flintoff completed figures of 27-4-92-5 (now the 6th player to appear on both Lords honours boards) and Swann 28-3-87-4 to finally beat Australia at Lords after 75 years.

THOUGHTS
For England:
The team can be happy that 400+ runs was followed up by a fine bowling and fielding effort this time. They dominated all but 3-4 hours on Day 4 and deserved the victory
While the opening stand of 196 was encouraging, the middle-order collapse that followed was reminiscent of Cardiff and England should look to avoid this in the remaining games if they wish to win the series. Of concern is the form of Bopara and Pietersen who both look unsure of how to play.
The bowling was a huge improvement with Broad and Swann impressing after poor performances at Cardiff. Anderson will feel better after 4 wickets in Australia's first innings while Flintoff, heroics aside, seems to have a hold on Phil Hughes which is protecting the other bowlers from the savagery that defeated South Africa.

For Australia:
Australia will feel somewhat pleased that they mustered 400+ in the 4th innings but in retrospect this match was decided when they rolled over for just 215 on Day 2.
With the exception of Hughes, the batting is largely in-form with runs for all the batsmen so far in this series - they just need to put together a couple partnerships like that of Clarke and Haddin.
However, to win a test requires the taking of TWENTY wickets and unless Mitchell Johnson gets his line/length sorted this will be as difficult at Edgbaston, Headingly and the Oval as it has proven in Cardiff and Lords

Overall:
Although Flintoff took the Man-of-the-Match award it was Andrew Strauss who deserves the praise for this victory. His 161 (268) was a captain's innings of the highest quality and his field placings in Australia's first innings were spot on. In terms of captaincy the score is 1-1 but the scoreline that counts reads 1-0 to England.
This was a fine example of the drama available in the longer form of the game and anyone who thinks test cricket to be dead need only listen to the roar when Flintoff runs in to take his 5th wicket - you don't get that in a slog fest, you get that from 75 years of waiting, 5-0 in 2006/07 and 4 proceeding days of building up the tension.
Long may it continue

First ASHES Test (Cardiff)

FIRST INNINGS
England were in huge trouble at lunch with the top 3 wickets gone after Australia bowled very accurately. After lunch Pietersen and Collingwood brought back memories of Adelaide in 2006 with a 138 run partnership that began to dominate after Tea. The last session saw a fight back from Australia as both batsmen were dismissed to leave things balanced but England took the upper hand with a blistering attack by Prior and Flintoff that threatened to boost the total to 400 in 1 day. This could have been possible even after Flintoff was out to Siddle but England tripped when a nightwatchman was sent in that put pressure on Prior - ultimately he was dismissed too; 330 for 7 and honours even.
Day Two saw some lacklustre Australian bowling punished by Swann, not to be underestimated with the bat (one lofted drive will linger in the memory), and the total was suddenly 435 all out. England will be happy with that total on a slow pitch but they must bowl well and inflict dents to the Australian batting confidence (their most experienced facet) if they want to win the test and eventually the series.

SECOND INNINGS
I admit I didn't see that coming - 674 for 6! Some may recall 2006/07 when Australia posted over 600 in Brisbane or perhaps back to Lords in 2001 where Gilchrist blasted them to an impressive lead like Haddin did but for me you have to go back to the 1989 series to understand what Australia are doing. They have no Warne or McGrath so runs become the pressure and a normally aggressive lineup has changed its method in order to crush England the 'old fashioned way'.
There were 9 centuries in that innings: Katich (122), Pointing (150), North (123*), Haddin (121) and then 5 English bowlers that conceded hundreds. The lead is 239 and unless rain takes out a couple of sessions, England will struggle to get out of this hole

THIRD INNINGS
That is more like it! The contest finally began with a frenetic last day's play and memories of Old Trafford (2005) or Adelaide (2006) were on everyone's mind as Paul Collingwood defied the Australian attack for 5 hours and 44 minutes to score 74 (245) after England looked like they would capitulate at 70-5. The tailenders did their part too as they blocked out the last 11.3 overs and with just 1 wicket the difference, the score line remains 0-0

THOUGHTS
Although England will feel better having drawn a thriller, they really are in trouble for the following reasons:

• Despite good form leading into the Test, Cook looks out of sorts and his early dismissals put pressure on Bopara
• Pietersen had no form before this game and it showed with too terrible misjudgements accounting for his wicket in this game
• The highly-rated spin attack returned appalling figures of 73-12-246-1 on a turning wicket
• To expand on this point, in the game, England took only 6 Australian wickets. This was largely due to the failure of Anderson and Broad to trouble the batsmen for any length of time. I had doubts over Broad's ability at this level to open the attack and these were largely confirmed
• the only positives were that any swing that was obtained still troubled all the Australian batsmen and don't expect them to concede 674 again in the series.
• Flintoff may develop a hold over Hughes (similar to Gilchrist in 2005) which will be crucial because the bowling of the other paceman simply feeds is offside play

For Australia:

• The bowling of Hilfenhaus and Hauritz will be reassuring. They were accurate and picked up wickets despite being written off before the game began (Boycott claimed, at age 69, he could bat against the latter). They picked up figures of 42-8-124-5 and 61-13-158-6 respectively.
• They had FOUR centuries in just one innings - more than they scored in the whole 2005 series. Ponting's form in particular should be a worry for England after the way he mauled them personally in 2006/07
• Johnson is the main concern as his ability to swing the ball both ways has not yet eventuated and his control of the Duke ball is in question.
• Hussey's form problem has not yet been rectified either
• For Lords I would recommend keeping an eye on Siddle. He was a bit expensive in this game but the slope at the Home of Cricket should assist his bowling

Overall:
England need to lift their intensity with bat and ball if they want to win this series and they had better do it soon because the next test begins in just 3 days but more frighting - it's at LORDS

Ashes Preview

Hello and welcome back to my blog

I will be putting my weekly entries on hold until the end of the second Ashes test so I can concentrate on the series (I will be providing almost daily updates on the day's play and any important points that I notice). For today I will provide a preview of how I believe the series will go.

The Cardiff Test:

• The pitch is rumoured to be slow and spin friendly (although some have questioned whether this will be so on July 8th)
• Australia should play Hauritz (although they should have brought a different spinner in the first place - a leggie at least given English problems against them)
• England may pick Panesar as well as Swann but either would be fine in my opinion - both are finger spinners which Australian batsmen traditionally have trouble with
• England should be favourites for this test given their better spin options

The Lords Test:

• If Stuart Clark plays and can replicate McGrath then this could be another Australian Lords victory

The Edgbaston Test:

• England's favourite hunting ground - even if they are 2-0 down coming here you wouldn't bet against them

The Headingly Test:

• Ponting has scored a century each time he has batted here (1997 and 2001) so perhaps he can do it again

The Oval Test:

• Traditionally a spinners pitch but does provide some bounce as was seen during the 20/20 World Cup
• Hopefully this game will decide the series

The Players:
ENGLAND

• Struass and Cook are established openers and I don't see the Aus bowlers picking both of them up cheaply
• Bopara should struggle outside off-stump to the likes of Clark and Siddle I think
• Pietersen saves his best for Aus but poor form may hinder this England ace
• Paul Collingwood should struggle like Bopara against the accuracy of Clark and the bounce of Siddle
• If Flintoff is fit he should be a key player as the Aussies will remember from 2005 - especially with all of the top-order left-handers to bowl at
• Prior's batting will be crucial in holding the lower-order together and is a similar player to Haddin
• I like the look of Swann as a bowler, he flights the ball very well and can maintain good accuracy and on a bouncy track he may do well
• Broad hasn't shown his ability to get regular wickets yet and he will be targeted in this series but Australia should be careful of the bounce he should get
• Anderson may be brilliant or terrible - enough said
• They should have picked Steve Harmison!!!

AUSTRALIA

• The baggy green team have some new players that England haven't seen yet which, historically, has often done well for them (Bradman, Warne, Lillee and Thompson etc)
• Hughes is one, impressive early season form brought Bradman comparisons but the short ball seems to trouble him
• Katich will be looking for a better series than in 2005 - he will face less reverse-swing when opening so he should be consistent
• Ponting is the key batsman and his average of 42 in England will not be enough to carry the team this time
• Hussey needs to rebuild and keep his head if the top falls over - Damien Martyn failed at this in 2005 - and has the technique (and record) to excel in English conditions
• Clarke, like Katich will look to improve on his 2005 effort - he is a much better batsman now
• North has hit form at last but his bowling may be more crucial if Hauritz is not picked or is taken to
• Haddin will fill the same role in the lower order as Prior
• Johnson got hammered in the practice match but David Lloyd revealed today that he was bowling the ball cross-seam during the game so he is keeping his best for the Tests - just like Warne in 1993. He is a key player with bat and ball and if he can swing the ball, England will be in trouble
• Siddle and Clark should be the other bowlers with their height and accuracy they will balance the attack well

Sundry

• England have a fairly young team (ages in the mid to late 20s) while Australia have a team of mature players (late 20s to early 30s).
• Reverse swing will destroy the batting of both sides so the question is which bowlers can do it? We know Flintoff and Lee can (the latter is injured for most of the series) but who else will?

The final score line:
I think 2-1 with England winning Edgebaston and Australia winning at Lords. Headingly and the Oval will be the deciders while Cardiff may well be a draw if it is slow

I'm not favouring a team this time round but look forward to competitive cricket (test cricket badly needs it to be honest)

Well that's it from here and I hope you join me again
It's good bye for now

XI men of the Empire

Team of the Week

I apologise for the delay in posting my best England XI but the sheer volume of talent produced in 130 years of test cricket from this nation made choosing 11 men very difficult. Having said that, I am very happy with my picks:

The Team

1. J. Hobbs
2. H. Sutcliffe
3. W. Hammond
4. D. Compton
5. W. G. Grace
6. I. Botham (c)
7. A. Knott (wk)
8. J. Laker
9. F. Tyson
10. F. Trueman
11. S. F. Barnes
12. 12th Man: M. Brearley

Explanations

• The Yorkshire pairing of Hobbs and Sutcliffe was legendary in the mid 1920s (70 consecutive matches without defeat and then another run of 58). They translated their success to Test cricket where they averaged 56 and 60 respectively. Combined they scored 10,000 test runs and 111,000 first class runs with 31 test hundreds and over 300 first class hundreds
• Hammond beat off the likes of Pietersen and Hutton for the crucial No. 3 position due to his scoring 7 hundreds in Australia (4 in 1928/1929) and averaged 51 against them.
• Compton holds a middle order position due to his dominance of the late 1940s despite the success of Bradman's Invincibles. He has the record for fastest first class TRIPLE century (3 hours and 1 minute) and averaged 50 despite WW2 taking his best years (aged 21-27)
• The No. 5 spot is reserved in many England XI sides for WG who revolutionised batting with greater discipline between front-foot and back-foot play. Grace plundered county attacks during the 1870s and his poor test record is somewhat explained given his advanced age when playing them. I have no doubt that his talent would translate to similar success in any area just as Bradman's would.
• Note that both Hammond and Grace provide part-time bowling options (the latter took 2800+ wickets in first class cricket @17.92!)
• The selection of Ian Botham as the all-rounder of the team is not surprising given his 5000+runs, 383 wickets and 120 catches. At his best he was nothing short of brilliant (his best years were 1977-1982 culminating in the 1981 Ashes series labelled 'Botham's Ashes')
• Controversy will appear due to my picking Botham as the captain of the side though. His was not an enjoyable nor successful captaincy but most writers suggest that he would captain a team of Bothams well i.e. he struggled when leading less talented players. I would at least pick him as captain of this most talented team to prove this theory true or false
• Any fan of English cricket holds Alan Knott as the best keeper in the game. He created a brilliant partnership with Underwood in the 60s and 70s and provided numerous counter attacks for England with the bat (he scored over 4000 runs and 5 centuries)
• I picked Laker as the spinner over Underwood because the I believe the removal of uncovered pitches would not change his record as much as Derek. It is also difficult to get around Laker's 19 wickets in the Manchester test match in 1956 (9-37 and 10-53)
• The pace attack will be led by Trueman and Tyson, two of the fastest men in the game's history and with Botham to exploit any swing available the new ball attack is very strong. Trueman was the first to take 300 test wickets and Tyson was able to bowl even faster than him
• The bowling attack is completed and enhanced by the inclusion of one S. F. Barnes who is sometimes rated as the best paceman in the history of cricket. He played all his cricket before footage could be taken of his craft but his record is so outstanding as to bypass all but the most cynical: in just 27 test matches he took 189 wickets @ just 16.43 but more incredibly, he completed 24 FIVE wicket bags and 7 TEN wicket matches. He was a master of fast-medium bowling and the others would only benefit from his experience
• The 12th man position would be Mike Brearley due to his ability to help in the human aspects of captaincy that Botham might lack - the combination could be very successful
• Just to clarify, Kevin Pietersen is not in the XI ... yet. I don't think his record yet warrants his inclusion ahead of Hammond, Compton or Grace but by the end of his career he may well be included. Also the likes of Hutton and Ken Barrington are not included due to their defensive batting styles which bored crowds for over a decade. I would not wish either to represent my best England team

Well there you have it. A selection of England players that was difficult to make and will no doubt invite critique from many of you. I invite your comments and will duely reply to them.

Join me next Thursday for my South African XI