Monday 17 August 2009

Jonathan Trott relishing debut against Australia in fifth Ashes Test


Jonathan Trott announced his arrival in the England Test side by declaring it will be the Aussies under forces this week not him.
Trott is confident he can make the transition from county pro to Ashes hero when he mall out on his start to bat for England in place of the axed Ravi Bopara.
And in the winner takes all Fifth npower Test he can be accurate of a typically in yourface Aussie welcome at the Brit Oval on Thursday.
"There is a lot of pressure on the Australian side to retain the Ashes," said Trott. "We're going out there to play for the win, and having a positive mindset hopefully we'll come out on top.
"Any match that you make your first introduction in is going to be huge really and I've got a good one.
"I'm beatify as damnation. It is something I've worked really difficult for and I've been playing pretty well this period so I hope it can continue and I can play well this week
"When I go out to bat I feel a lot calmer than when I'm waiting to bat so it will be interesting to see how I feel. I'm going to stay as relaxed as possible, because when I was a bit younger I used to get up tight in wanting things to happen rather than letting nature take its course."
It is the same advance that the chooser have taken. Rather than go for anything imaginative or emotionally charged, they have stuck with consistency.
They've picked the next batting cab off the rank and even though they are looking for a No.3 they've ended up with a middle order batsman forcing them to move the seemingly unreliable Ian Bell back to first wicket down.
This game though will tell us whether the conclusion to go with agreement above everything else is a good one. The thing that a selection policy like this accommodate is something to hide behind when it goes wrong, but there can be no hiding place next week.
"It is a big Test and we've got to win it," said national selector Geoff Miller. "There are always options to go in all kinds of directions, but we are a consistent selection team and we have a consistent selection policy.
"Having been part of the squad at Headingley, Jonathan was the next batsman in line in our view and this rewards him for the good form he has shown.
"Ravi has been struggling for form in the Test matches and that is why we've relieved him, but he is a quality player and I've no doubt that he will be back."
Trott has been picking the brains of his county team helper Bell over what is in store for him and England fans will be hoping that he is a natural when it comes to Test cricket.

Thursday 13 August 2009

Thomson: England have no chance of winning the Ashes


London, Aug 13 (PTI) Legendary Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson has ruled out any chance of England winning the Ashes bowl despite the return of Andrew Flintoff who has been declared apposite for his swan song Test."England have no chance of winning the Ashes -? because the Aussies no longer fear Freddie Flintoff," Thomson said."Bringing Flintoff back for the final Test at The Oval next week won't fool our blokes. They know England are pinning all their hopes on a saviour charging in to bowl on one leg," he wrote in his column in the 'Daily Mirror'.He added, "the fact is his knee is crocked. England have to take 20 wickets next week to save their skins and, Flintoff or no Flintoff, they haven't got the bowlers to do it"

Saturday 8 August 2009

Ashes entry over Clark's late







SYDNEY — Australia's players were taken to task by the Australian press Saturday after Stuart Clark's devastating return to the bowling lineup helped rout England in the fourth Ashes Test.
Ricky Ponting's team, trailing 1-0 in the five-match series, roared back into contention, bowling out England for 102 and establishing a 94-run lead with their 196 for four by stumps on the opening day of the Headingley Test.
Peter Siddle was photograph five wickets for 21 runs in 9.5 overs and Clark three for 18 in 10 overs as the Australians had their best as compare to England and it was best day of the series since dominating the opening Cardiff Test.
But it was the belated appearance of 33-year-old Clark, playing in his first Test since elbow surgery last December and it was seriously injured , who captured the headlines with a controlled line of attack that Australia's bowling has missed in this series.
"The selectors' inexplicable resistance to Clark prior to Headingley could not have been more emphatically highlighted as a most serious error as England were unable to survive more than 33 overs," The Sydney Morning Herald's Jamie Pandaram said.
"Clark's comeback could not have been more emphatic; 10 overs for 18 runs and three scalps. He was at his miserly best and the game was going on best, conceding his first run after 17 deliveries, and beating the bat repeatedly."
The best figures although Siddle produced, the Herald's Peter Roebuck said Clark was the pick of the Australian bowlers.
"Belatedly recalled and keeping an unerring length, the old trouper probed constantly, making the batsmen play, always asking questions," he said.
"Clark looked his old self, denying the batsmen soft runs, squeezing them tight, drawing them into prods and taking outside edges."
The Daily Telegraph said Clark "stuck it up" the players with his mesmerising spell.
"Clark had been the invisible man of Australia's Ashes campaign, inexplicably overlooked for the first three Tests as Mitchell Johnson and Peter fear for the England and suddenly struggled and went for more than four runs an over," The Telegraph's Ben Dorries said.
"He was back with a vengeance and created the suffocating pressure that Australia has been sadly lacking in England because they will come back."
ABC radio commentator Jim Maxwell said Clark's overdue return refreshed the tourists' bowling attack
. "In a stunning shift of momentum, triggered by Andrew Flintoff's withdrawal and Matt Prior's back spasm that delayed the toss, England had its worst day of the series," Maxwell said.
"If it can muster a 150-run lead, Australia should be levelling the series on Monday because they are fear," he said.
The Herald said it was difficult to see England recovering from their first innings debacle.
"It's difficult to see England climbing out of this, having taken so many confidence-shattering blows from Australia, who are finally living up to their number one ranking," it said.
The Australian press was tempered in its reaction to the booing of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, this time by the Headingley crowd.
"Ponting was booed again as he walked out to bat as Headingley fans ignored the pleas of England cricket bosses to show the Australian skipper some respect," The Daily Telegraph said.
"However, he received warm applause when he walked off the ground as his innings (of 78) lit up the day."