The Ashes

Burnham club is well for recovery from The Ashes

2011-10-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

A TOWN rugby club is well for recovery after cut more than £ 5,000 worth of equipment in the shed burnt down.

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Burnham Rugby Club Blaze lost everything when the season begins in July before a storage container, but by week's footballers.

But Stephen Hull, club president, has not only by members of the club from the city's residents moved to fundraising efforts are appreciated.

He said, “We have had a great response since the fire, so many people have come forward in order to help and a lot of work has been done for free”.

“The fundraisers we have had have been fantastic and at the moment we are up to about £5,000, which is exactly where we wanted to be, but there is still about £1,000 to go.”

Ashes of the Glen Ridge High School (GRHS) Marching Band performed

2011-09-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ashes of the Glen Ridge High School (GRHS) Marching Band performed before a fall on the need to increase, as the band's new March contest season unfolds.

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Kevin Lagos, the GRHS band director said, "It's always sad to lay a great show to rest at the end of a season and then see our seniors graduate, but the anticipation of what new music our arranger, Darren Gage (GRHS Class of 1990), will create for us for the next season and welcoming the new freshmen into the band always lights a spark under us".

This year's show of magical birds Gage "Firebird Suite" is a musical based on the story, the phoenix.

This music is complex and difficult to manage that much more time, that a judge will recognize it as a challenge is set.

Melody of audience members can identify with Disney "Fantasia."

In addition to mastering the music, the Band and Color Guard for their March drill and dance on Saturday week will continue to improve.

"I can see improvement every day," says Jessica Cino (nee Sartori), assistant marching band director.

Cino, 2000 in Glen Ridge and served as a big drum, marvels at how students are aware of their weaknesses, are staying focused and are responding to the leadership provided by their captains and drum major.

"We're on fire," said Cino, barely able to suppress her flame of confidence. "I'm anticipating a win."

This year's show — which the students have titled, "Aaarrrgh, I'm on Fire…Bird!" — is the 'Ridgers two home football games in history have been performed. People already in attendance in a show can change focus. The opening has dramatically changed.

The Verona High School Band Festival and Competition will be held at Verona's high school stadium on Saturday, Oct. 1.

And Lagos, his trademark enthusiasm of Man exhibition, says the band "is so hot right now, they can't catch on fire…but the audience might melt."

The Glen Ridge March steps off at the Verona Band 6:15 pm.

Tickets are availble at the gate - cost at $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and $3 for children under age 12.

Ashes Test at the new-look stadium in 2013

2011-09-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

Old Trafford Test venue back into work as the government has started, writes Chris Ostick.

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Lancashire and already the potential for world famous stadium naming rights sponsors willing to buy something I'm interested.

After a long legal battle with rival manufacturers Holdings Derwent, Club land finally started to work on tomorrow's £ 32m redevelopment.

It's a state of modern international sporting venue capable of hosting 25,000 people at Old Trafford will change.

The club on or around September 22 if they find a new stadium in 2013 earned the right to stage an Ashes Test.

Lancashire’s chief executive Jim Cumbes said, “The name Old Trafford is such an important part of the club and the history of the game, we wouldn’t want to lose it”.

“It is also a world-wide brand and I am sure any future sponsor would want to keep it anyway to ensure a link with that brand.

“We have already had some interest in buying the naming rights, but we will ensure that any link will be a good fit for us.”

Cumbes just relieved to start work on the ground.

He said, “We have been looking forward to this happening for such a long time”.

“And now work has finally started.

“It is an exciting time for the club.”

England Test captain Andrew Strauss historic Ashes series against India

2011-07-13T04:55:00.000-07:00

England Test captain Andrew Strauss historic Ashes series against India as hard as I know the next series, but is banking on home advantage to the world's number one upstage.

Strauss ahead of the series starting July 21 at the Lord's said, "This series against India is certainly up there with the Ashes. I think the one thing we have in our advantage over the Ashes is home advantage".

He added, "We expect to beat any side at home - and so you should - because it is a substantial advantage. But you only have to look at what India have done in the last two years to know they will be incredibly confident".

Tough it might be but Strauss said top of the world to combat the potential to do very well motivated.

"They have a lot of good players and are heavily motivated to win. We will have to be at our best if we want to compete with them. We're under no illusions on that, but that excites us.

He said, "In international cricket, you always need challenges like this. I think we're better equipped than in 2007. We've had a lot of success recently and we're a more competent unit. We've been progressing every series we've played over the last couple of years".

Strauss added, "Over the next four Test matches we're more than capable of winning. That motivation of playing against the best side in the world is just what we need at the moment".

Strauss takes over from ODI skipper Alastair Cook. All three formats (Stuart Broad being in charge of the Twenty20 side) with the three captains of England talking about, Strauss said he is still adjusting.

He said, "The simple answer is I don't know how it will be".

"I have seen a few of the lads over the last couple of weeks and it didn't feel particularly different - but we never know how things are going to work out. You can't be sure and it would be arrogant for me to assume that it will be exactly as it was.

He added, "But it is not like we are doing radically different things. Alastair, myself and Stuart Broad, we are still operating within a general strategy which we have all had a hand in formulating".

Andrew Starauss has warned his players for Ashes celebrations

2011-05-30T03:35:00.000-07:00

Andrew Starauss revealed about Ashes celebrations that he has warned his players ended the day in Cardiff and work is behind.

Although today the first time in January, England's Test team heady days of the ancient white Sydney has been on display will be the captain insisted it is a homecoming parade.

Strauss and Andy Flower on their paymasters of the ECB made it clear that summer against Sri Lanka first Test match neither the time nor the place was reminisce about winter.

Instead, their entire focus is team and the next level by becoming the world's No.1.

And ease of Sri Lanka will take them a little closer to winning the No.2 South Africa leapfrogging.

Strauss said, “To be honest it is not a homecoming. If we were going to have a homecoming that would have taken place a long time ago. This is the start of a new cycle in a way.

“It is start of a very busy and difficult summer for us and it is obviously hopefully an opportunity for us to make a step forward to becoming No.1 in the world.

“That excites us and I think for us to be thinking too much back to what happened in Sydney at this stage is not helpful.”

It is unlikely his team won their feet off the gas will now take any of Ashes and there after that and move upwards by about players is positive. But it is only the first was on the other side are for.

Strauss and flowers for the challenge of ensuring that players or not they mean the same heights he had only six months ago that has continued to kill.

Strauss added, “The key is to get to No.1. We are some way off that and it might take us a long time to get there and certainly if we drift into the summer and don’t hit top gear straight away that could seem like a long way off.

“I will be very disappointed if any of the players are resting on laurels or anything like that. We need to hit ground running. We have got to learn lessons from what we did well in Australia and put those into practice again but our goals have shifted completely now.”

This time to encourage Strauss heard that Kevin Pietersen as their best for England once again set about to find out what was said.

Strauss in his recent book on the pop psychology Patterson tried a hand like a need to clear about, but captain on that pair recently spoke on the border and look forward to the England of Was on page.

He said: “KP just seems to be in a really good place mentally and he’s determined to enjoy his cricket.

“I like the fact that when he has that relaxed air about him plus that inner drive, that’s a good recipe for him to have a really good summer.”

James Erskine latest feature documentary from the Ashes

2011-04-02T04:10:00.000-07:00

Kaleidoscope Entertainment Director James Erskine latest feature documentary from the Ashes on 10th May, will continue with pride.

Covering most of English cricket comeback story ever. Erskine praised in the past serious feature documentary film One Night In Turin directed.

Kaleidoscope Entertainment Association's Ian Botham in the head nominated charity Leukaemia & lymphoma research with a special to Ashes, 100 in UK cinemas on May 10th 'One Night Only' digital world premiere screening will begin with .

Curzon Mayfair in London on a special Q & A to follow screening and Sir Ian Botham, Bob Willis MBE and great umpire Dickie Bird MBE will allow.

World premiere in attendance Sir Ian Botham charity special to both the original and the later high profile England cricket team and popular with members will be important.

Sir Ian Botham said, "This film brings back great memories, it was a fantastic time for English cricket and the team of 1981... we played a blinder.

"I am very pleased that the World Premiere will be in support of blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research and that it will help raise vital funds to beat childhood leukaemia."

Ashes from across the UK DVD on 10th May and 30th May is available in the cinemas.

Yorks is not willing to bid for upcoming Ashes Test

2011-03-01T06:09:00.000-08:00

Due to huge loss by organizing the neutral test match between Pakistan vs Australia, Yorks is not interested to bid for upcoming Ashes Series in 2013 or 2016.

Yorkshire chairman, Colin Graves had declared that his club will not bid for an Ashes Test against Australia because of financial concerns.

Yorkshire estimate that they lost £1m on hosting the
Australia v Pakistan Test at Headingley.

The estimated bid for an Ashes Test would be around £1.5 to £2.0 million. Chairman said that at this present time, they are not in a position to take such a big risk.

London honour for Ashes hero Cook

2011-01-14T03:27:00.000-08:00

England batsmen Alastair Cook has been awarded the the Freedom of the City of London for his spectacular performance in England's historic Ashes triumph in Australia.

The England hero made 766 runs in five Tests against the arch-rivals in the recent Ashes test series.The figures was revealed out when he was named man of the series because of this achievement.

The awards are presented to those people who had an outstanding contribution to London life.

'I am greatly honoured and privileged to be given the Freedom of London for doing something I love ...beating the Aussies,' Cook was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

England captain Andrew Strauss has been bestowed with the honour earlier.

IPL ignore England's Ashes superstars

2011-01-09T12:57:00.000-08:00

England after winning The Ashes hasn't able to impressed the billionaires who runs the IPL.

Out of two day,first day IPL auction held in Bangalore,three of the England Ashes were not selected by any league.Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson and Matt Prior were all unsold as Indian star Gautam Gambhir went for a record £1.5m. Even Kevin Pietersen (above) saw his value plummet. After going for £1m last year, KP was sold this time to Deccan Chargers for £425,000.

Stuart Broad was bought by Kings XI Punjab for £265,000, Eoin Morgan to Kolkata Knight Riders for £240,000 and Paul Collingwood to Rajasthan Royals for £170,000.

At least England coach Andy Flower will be pleased that some of England's stars will not be playing in the IPL.

"The IPL is a tricky subject for us," said Flower. "I don't blame any of the players for wanting to go play. But it is tricky because the schedules are so heavy and rest is sometimes as important as the hard training we put them through."

Alastair Cook is the main man this Ashes series.

2011-01-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

Alastair Cook has been named the highest English runscorer in a single Ashes series for 40 years.

It was the fifth time when Cook has passed 50 this winter.At the finish of the second day of the fifth and final Test at the SCG, England closed on 167 for three, 113 runs behind Australia’s first-innings total.Cook was not out on 61.

It has been an outstanding series for the Essex left-hander. He has not looked back since he struck a barely-believable 235 not out during the first Test in Brisbane.

Four years ago his technique was picked apart by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne but this time his average is a stunning 127.60.

The Ashes England's test of character

2010-12-29T14:50:00.000-08:00

For the first time in 24 years, the England cricket team will return from a tour of Australia still in possession of the Ashes. A win or a draw in the fifth and final Test in Sydney will ensure that they win the series as well – as they deserve to, after outplaying their opponents in every match except one. As David Cameron said yesterday, it is a welcome late Christmas present for the English supporters, and a testament to the preparedness and fitness of the team.

With the urn safe for another two years, England’s emphatic victory in Melbourne showed why it is now more an expectation than a hope that they can achieve the ultimate prize of actually winning an Ashes series in Australia by avoiding defeat in the last Test.

Without them, Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett would not have been able to perform at the war footing they did and ensure England did not suffer the loss of Stuart Broad and Steve Finn, the attacks enforcer and leading wicket-taker respectively.

After the humiliating 5-0 defeat inflicted on England the last time they toured Australia, this retention of the urn is sweet indeed – even if the opposition is no longer as formidable as it once was. It was a wonderful day, as well, for England's extraordinary band of travelling supporters, who have followed the team through thick and thin (with rather more of the latter than the former, as Jim White points out opposite). Even if the antics of the hard-core fans, known as the Barmy Army, divide opinion, at least they guaranteed a proper celebration – one we hope will be repeated in Sydney.

The Ashes 2010: A message from the International Cricket Council ICC

2010-12-22T03:20:00.000-08:00

Kevin Pietersen says, "England will cope with Mitchell Johnson's swing".

"I haven't seen or heard anything different to anything that's happened in the first two Test matches let alone last year in England. There's not really any big chirpers or big sledgers. It's just England versus Australia, it's an Ashes series. Blokes get a bit of red mist occasionally. It's historic, it's huge, but there's nothing that's been overboard and if things go overboard, match referees deal with stuff like that".

According to the David Hopps report, Dependable Tim Bresnan to lead England fightback.

Mike Selvey on Mitch: "Hurricane Johnson may already have blown his worst. Without the wind to assist him at the MCG, Mitchell Johnson may not pose the threat to England that he did in Perth"

Now the reports Andy Wilson: "MCG pitch won't be like Perth, say English groundsmen."

A message for the International Cricket Council ICC, the Chris Hurst collective communication manager has been in touch with the couple of judgment that you may like: Use this predictor to work out how the Test rankings will be affected by this series (and the one going on in South Africa). I'm presuming that it will continue to work for future series too.

Look at the voting options, the team of England there are few excellent players but they players are moving to the precious England team.

Swann To Face Drink Drive Trial

2010-12-08T05:49:00.001-08:00

Ashes hero Graeme Swann's failed to thrown out the drink-drive charge- just hours after bowling England to victory against Australia - allegation out of the court.

Swann lawyer tried a lot to dismissed the case on legal technicalities but a judge ruled that it should go ahead.

District Judge Julia Newton said: "There is a case to answer, in my view."

The case was adjourned for a two-day trial in February, which Swann is due to attend.

Strauss And Cook Partnership, Gives England Great Strength

2010-11-28T08:27:00.000-08:00

On the day four of 1st test match of The Ashes Series 2010 where England was looking under pressure in front of big trail but the English batsmen Strauss and Cook keep there nerves calm and both the batsmen played a sensible knock and take england to a strong position at the end of the 4th day.

Andrew Strauss who got out at the score of 110 but his partner Alastair Cook still on the crease with the score of 132 with not out Trott currently playing at the score of 54. The both will start the play of 5th day.

Warne backs Hauritz for Ashes spot

2010-11-16T21:45:00.000-08:00

Shane Warne backed Hauritz after endorsing his selection over Tasmania's Xavier Doherty for the first Ashes Test, he needs to prove that he is number one spinner in the country

On Monday an extended 17 man squad was announced and Doherty, who bowls left-arm orthodox, was a surprise inclusion,with National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch publicly declaring the national selectors face a big decision in the spin department.

According to Warne so far Hauritz has proved his performance on so many occasions has already done enough to cement his spot for the Brisbane Test, and said: "I think Nathan Hauritz is our number one spinner, he has a very good record in Australia and I'm sure he'll get first chance."

"I had a chat with him just before the Boxing Day Test last year and talked about being positive.

"I said 'mate, you're bowling well, get some right fields, work with Ricky (Ponting) to get the right fields and bowl to get someone out. Ask yourself how am I getting them out and if you ask how am I getting them out that naturally gives you a positive mindset'.

"And if he does that he'll be fine."said Shane warne

He further added,"If he (Hauritz) doesn't do well, a bloke like Doherty is pushing and Steven Smith is pushing, so there are options and that's a good sign for Australian cricket," he said.

"But I think Nathan Hauritz will get first chance, and he deserves it.
"He looks good (Doherty), I've worked with him a bit, not in a while, but whenever I worked with him he looks very good."

England beats Western Australia In The Ashes Tour Match

2010-11-07T07:54:00.001-08:00

England started there tour match successfully by winning a warm-up match before the start of official The Ashes series. England captain scored a brilliant century and help England out winning this match.

Andrew Strauss spends a good time on the crease and grab the opportunity.In the first of three matches England will play in the leadup to its first Test against Australia starting at Brisbane on Nov. 25.

England reached its winning target of 243 for the loss of just four wickets, Andrew Strauss hits a 120 runs not out innings in just 131 balls,Kevin Pietersen made 35, Paul Collingwood 26 and Ian Bell 22 not out from 18 balls.

Earlier, Graeme Swann had figures of 4-101 as England dismissed Western Australia for 223 in its second innings after the home side led by 19 runs after the first innings.

spin of Graeme Swann

2010-10-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

he spin of Graeme Swann elite could make the difference between England and Australia in the next Ashes series, according to offspinners Australia's most successful test, Ashley Mallett. He believes that the selectors have to throw Steven Smith on the side to help Nathan Hauritz, who took six wickets at 65.00 from his disappointing tour of India.

Hauritz was hardly a threat against the line of India batting box and the last day of the series, he upset a field so defensive that Shane Warne has aired his frustration on Twitter. There were also reports of conflict between Hauritz and captain Ricky Ponting on the line, he should bowl, and the sleeves in Bangalore, he conceded more than a run a ball.

In defense Hauritz, few Australian spinners have flourished in India, where even Warne struggled for 34 test wickets at an average of 43.11. One of the best performers was Mallett, who in five trials in India claimed 28 victims, and said that Swann's presence in England's attack was one factor that goes against the Australia in the ashes.

"The way it is formatted, I reckon England will win the series pretty easily," said Mallett ESPNcricinfo. "They have a true No. 1 pot, a pretty good attack and they have a pretty good balance in theirstick. They have got to be favorites

For Ashes series tickets are selling fast

2010-07-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

Tickets are selling fast for this year's Ashes cricket series against England with some Test days already sold out, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Tickets for the opening three days of the third Test at Perth's WACA Ground have sold out while the fifth Sydney Test has sold out on day one and has very few seats remaining for days two and three, CA said. Brisbane's Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Melbourne Cricket Ground have also sold steadily, but tickets still remain for all days, it said. "There was ticket sales hysteria around the last 2006-07 Ashes series here and while we haven't quite reached those levels, ticket sales remain strong," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said in a statement. "In all, there are very few tickets remaining for the opening one or two days of play across all Ashes Tests and I certainly encourage cricket fans to get in quickly or they may be disappointed. "The opening Test at the Gabba gets underway on November 25 followed by Tests in Adelaide (December 3-7), Perth (December 16-20), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).England hold the Ashes after winning the last year's series 2-1 at home.

Ashes Sky's lobbying and BBC's reluctance keep Test matches off terrestrial TV

2010-07-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Plans to return the Ashes cricket coverage to terrestrial TV will be scrapped by the Government.
Under Labour proposals, the sporting event would have been given protected status and would have been shown on non pay TV services like the BBC.
But the coalition will announce tomorrow that it is dumping the idea.

The decision also means England football home and away qualifying games will not be protected as planned and neither will The Open golf tournament.
The sports and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson is set to confirm that it will not be adopting the proposals put together by a review panel under the previous Labour administration.
Instead he is expected to say that the recent list of protected events does not need changing.
The new Government is thought to have listened to concerns from organisations such as the England and Wales Cricket Board, who had argued that they would lose millions of pounds in revenue if they could not sell broadcast rights to the highest bidder.
Sky, which recently owns the rights to live Ashes games on its pay TV service, is also thought to have lobbied hard against the changes, while the BBC was reluctant to hand over large swathes of its schedules to cricket.
The decision will no doubt reignite concerns about the perceived closeness between the Government and Rupert Murdoch.
Former Football Association executive director David Davies's review unveiled in November had proposed returning the home matches of the historic cricket series back to free to air TV from 2017.
His recommendations had also removed protected status for the Winter Olympics along with The Epsom Derby and rugby league's Challenge Cup final.
The news will come as a blow to campaigners, such as former Labour John Grogan MP, who have been fighting to get live Ashes cricket back on terrestrial TV.
Mr Grogan last year put down an early day motion backed by 71 MPs calling on the Government to support the recommendations of the Davies committee.
Yesterday he expressed sadness at the decision. He said: 'I am disappointed that they have set aside the conclusions of the report which David Davies worked on with his colleagues for months on end.
'In particular there will be sadness that the Ashes won't be listed and a whole generation of people will grow up not being able to watch their national cricket team live.'
He also expressed fears it would affect the number of children taking up the game.
At the time that the panel's findings were revealed, cricket chief Giles Clarke had warned it could lead to 'a decade of decay' for his sport.
In 1998 home Test match cricket was controversially dumped from the list of 'crown jewel' events which allowed the ECB to negotiate multi-million pound deals with Sky.
In 2008 the ECB signed a four year deal with Sky and Channel Five (who broadcast daily highlights from home Tests) worth a combined £300million and running from 2010 to 2013.
The proposed changes had also included Wales Six Nations matches and all the international football qualifiers for the other home nations - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It is thought the tough economic climate strengthened claims by sports bodies that the moves would damage their revenues.
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport refused to comment ahead of tomorrow's announcement.

The Ashes: Australians plan for the Ashes

2010-07-12T15:13:00.000-07:00

If any of the five Australia debutants can impress against Pakistan in the upcoming Test series, in November a ticket for the Ashes starting in Brisbane could be the reward. But Ahmed Rizvi writes that it is not just the new boys who are in need of nice performances, some of the most established members of the squad have question marks hanging over them, too
Ricky Ponting
The Australia captain has scored more than 11,900 runs and 39 centuries in Test cricket, but is yet to reach the three figure mark at Lord’s, where the first Test starts today. The likes of Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal have their name inscribed on the honour board at the home of cricket, but Ponting has a top score of 42 in six innings at the venue. This could be his last Test at the ground and “Punter” is keen to finally get a century on the haloed turf. “Over the years, I have not got a great record at Lord’s as far as Test cricket is concerned,” he said. “It would be nice to make a hundred there. But if that doesn’t happen, there’s not much I can do about it.”
Mitchell Johnson
Johnson also does not have glad memories of Lord’s.The last time he played a Test at the home of cricket, it was the fourth match of the 2009 Ashes and the left arm pacer was hammered for 200 runs as England won by 115 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Johnson still remembers that game and is keen to exorcise those demons ahead of the battle for the urn Down Under.“That Ashes experience was very frustrating,” he said. “I was going through a few personal things at the time. I was spraying the ball about. But I have learned from it and proved to myself I am a better bowler.”
Michael Hussey

“Mr Cricket” also has bad memories from his last visit to England. Hussey was the least successful of Australia’s batsmen in the 2009 Ashes with two ducks and two other scores of less than 10 runs in eight innings, before he finished off with a well made 121 at The Oval. Against Pakistan, he has had no such problems with a memorable century at Sydney earlier in the year and an incredible innings of 60 from 24 balls in the semi final of the World Twenty20. He will be looking to build on those impressive knocks and hope to carry that form over for when England visit Australia later in the year.
Steven Smith
Since making his international debut in February this year, the leg-spinner has won many admirers for his attitude.His growing reputation will, however, be put to the test when the 21-year-old plays his first Test match, against a team traditionally strong against spinners.The England think-tank will be making notes as he bowls to the likes of the Butts, Akmals and Afridis.Should he succeed against players of their ilk, he will have truly arrived.If things don’t go his way, Smith can find solace in Shane Warne’s disappointing Test debut against India and come back stronger to follow in the footsteps of a peerless legend.
Tim Paine
A talented top-order batsman and wicketkeeper, Tim Paine could be making his Test debut against Pakistan today.He has already got glowing recommendations from his captain. “Expect a big showing from him,” said Ponting.
“He is very, very solid behind the stumps and very technically correct as a batsman.”Paine will look to prove him right after a mixed showing in the recent one-day international series against England when he failed to build on good starts.But if he can improve against Pakistan, a place in the Ashes squad will surely be his.

Uni Oval new home for Sutcliffe ashes?

2010-07-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

The ashes of cricketing great Bert Sutcliffe might be shifted to the new home of Otago cricket, a move prompted by the demise of Carisbrook.
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes yesterday confirmed that the Sutcliffe family had given their blessing to relocating the ashes of the legendary left handed batsman from their place at Carisbrook to the University Oval.
Sutcliffe, regarded as Otago's and arguably New Zealand's greatest batsman, scored a then-record 17 first class centuries for Otago - equalled last year by Otago captain Craig Cumming - while amassing 6028 runs at an average of 59.09.
Sutcliffe died in Auckland in 2001, aged 77, but his ashes were returned to Dunedin to be buried in an urn at Carisbrook.
They rest under the same hallowed turf as the ashes of All Black Charlie Saxton, while others - including former Otago opening batsman Ray Hunt - were also believed to have been scattered on the field.
Yesterday, Mr Dykes said the idea of moving Sutcliffe's ashes was yet to be confirmed, but he imagined relocating them to a plot somewhere on the University Oval ground, with the spot marked by a brass plaque.
"Bert Sutcliffe was a cricket player, and they (his ashes) should be at a cricket ground," he said.
"The University Oval is the home of Otago cricket now, and Bert was our most famous player. If there are ashes, they should rest at the home of Otago Cricket," Mr Dykes said.
The transfer could take place in the next few months, while work to extend the University Oval's boundaries was under way, he said.
Questions about what to do with ashes at Carisbrook were raised in 2006, but have re-emerged as the Dunedin City Council - which bought the ground last year - considers proposals for the venue's future use, ranging from playing fields to a light industrial park.

Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Reid said he had discussed relocating Sutcliffe's ashes with Mr Dykes, and would support the move.
Mr Reid had also discussed Charlie Saxton's ashes with the All Black's son, Bill Saxton, but no decisions had been made and there was "no particular hurry".
"We are certainly aware of it and we will be respectful of everything we need to do, and work with the families," he said.
Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry said Carisbrook was "hallowed ground", and perhaps more so than some people realised.
He had heard unconfirmed reports of families "not infrequently" gaining access to Carisbrook without permission to scatter the ashes of a loved one on the playing surface.
"I have no evidence of that ... but you can imagine, can't you, that possibly that might happen."

The Ashes here says Ricky Ponting as one-day series approaches

2010-06-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

These days it is difficult to get through any summer without mention of the "A" word but, with another momentous winter in the offing and the Australian team arriving here fresh from a close encounter with the Irish, and with five one day internationals against England pending, the subject seems inescapable.the
Australia may no longer be the pre-eminent Test side, and were victims in the final when England won the World Twenty20 in scintillating fashion in the Caribbean currently, but they hold the 50‑over World Cup until the next tournament, which begins in February, and for some while have had a strangehold over England in that format.
The last time the teams met, in the aftermath of England's Ashes victory last summer, Australia won six of the seven matches and, with one eye inevitably on the winter Test series, they have no intention of relinquishing this particular superiority, despite England's rapid one-day improvement in the last year.
Today the Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, who was not part of the T20 side, said that, while he did not think the forthcoming series would have any direct impact on the winter Tests, it was always something that would be in the back of the mind, especially with young players attempting to make their way after the fragmentation of the great Australian side that dominated the game for the last decade.
Australia, of course, will be attempting to win back the Ashes, just as they were minded to do in such devastating fashion after England's 2005 success, and Ponting, whose team will be playing two Test matches and two T20 internationals against Pakistan while in England, as well as the one-day series against England, said that while focusing on these matches everything will be leading up to getting ready for late November in Brisbane.
"Whenever there is a big series coming up," he said, "the build up starts a fair way out – and for the Ashes it's already started. It is likely on all of our minds a little bit. It's exciting for the game – there's nothing bigger as far as I'm concerned than an Ashes series and, when it's in Australia as well and we need to win it back, it adds a little more to it.
"I'm expecting the guys to be in exactly the same frame of mind as they were for the return bout last time. Pretty much from now until the Ashes are over and done with in the middle of January everything we do will have some sort of focus on the Ashes series. There will be no excuses for us come late November."
While saying that a five match ODI series will have little direct bearing on the outcome of the Ashes, Ponting acknowledges an chance for some members of his squad to play themselves into the spotlight. "It's a great chance for guys to get exposure, like Doug Bollinger and even Cameron White," he said. "We've got to impose ourselves right from the start and gather some momentum for the series.
"Our guys have one day experience and some of them are finding the one dayers a good way to settle into international cricket. This series offers them a great chance. Sometimes the young guys try a little bit too hard when they first come into the side. I tell them to back themselves and find a way of adapting to international cricket. All Australian players love playing against England and I think we will look that over the next few weeks.
"We've had a actually good run, winning World Cups and Champions Trophies and the next World Cup is not very far away, although we've got a lot of cricket to play between now and then. We've got a pretty great idea about how our squad will look at the World Cup. We've had a good run and there is a actually good feeling around the group. We've got a very skilful group of players who can adapt to conditions well."
There will be a opportunity to reacquaint themselves with the England players, although England have already opted to keep Steven Finn out of the firing line. "We already know each other pretty well," admitted Ponting. "We've played a fair bit against each other and now we're going to play a little bit more but I like that. There won't be much we don't know about England by the end of the summer."

Ashes place Kieswetter now eyeing Prior's

2010-06-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

England wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, who has been catapulted into the national one day team, has said that his ultimate dream is to fly Down Under as the wicketkeeper for the Ashes series.
Kieswetter has replaced regular wicketkeeper Matt Prior in the 13-man one-day squad for the upcoming five match home series against Australia.
"I would love to be on the plane to Australia. I feel I'm doing the right things, but it's going to be down to how I perform when I get a chance. I hope they take two keepers on tour," The Sun quoted Kieswetter, as saying.
"Matt is No 1 right now and there are a couple of people, including me, trying to fight for that next spot," he added.
The 22 year old further said that to fulfill his dream he has been working hard with England wicketkeeping coach Bruce French.
"I wouldn't say Matt is a better wicketkeeper than me. He has probably been a bit more consistent than I have, but I'm training really hard," Kieswetter said.
"I don't really keep an eye on Matt's performances. I have to keep myself to myself, keep my head down and train hard. I want to be playing all forms of the game for as long as I can. I have two out of three now," he added.
He also admits that to play Test cricket, he would have to score a lot more runs and be consistent in his wicketkeeping.
England face Scotland in a one day international in Edinburgh on June 19 before taking on Australia in the series opener in Hampshire on June 22.

England Looking Hot To Trott

2010-05-28T01:29:00.000-07:00

JONATHAN TROTT cast off his Mr Tension tag yesterday and laid an early claim to an Ashes place.

Trott helped himself to a second century in two home Tests as England embarked on a predictable runfest against Bangladesh.

He finished with 175 not out as England ended day one of the npower First Test at Lord's on 362-4.

Captain Andrew Strauss made 83 in his first England innings for more than four months.

Trott looked unrecognisable from the man who last winter was put through the wringer by South Africa and then reduced to a state of nervous, shotless, self-flagellation in Bangladesh.

He is the man whose place is under most pressure when the resting Paul Collingwood returns to the Test side against Pakistan in July.

But his century might force the selectors to reconsider their pecking order, especially as Ian Bell was out for just 17.

One of them is likely to play in the Ashes series in Australia later this year - but only one of them.

It is clear England's hierarchy want Eoin Morgan in the Ashes team and his first Test innings has so far brought 40 not out.

He might be the first man in history to hit his first Test boundary with a reverse sweep - aka the Paddy Whack.

Trott scored a century on his Test debut in the cauldron of last summer's Ashes decider at The Oval and has now added another at the home of cricket. The matches in between were the problem.

By the time he reached Bangladesh in March, Trott had become as anxious as Mark Ramprakash used to be for England. A couple of iffy decisions and a dropped dolly catch did not help his mindset, either.

But the South African-born player was positive from the start yesterday, unfurling several crisp drives and his favourite flick through midwicket.

It was only Bangladesh, of course, and their attack was little more than minor county standard.

Trott knew he was in a no-win situation. If he failed, it was a further sign of mental fragility. If he succeeded, he could be accused of scoring easy runs and making a pig of himself.

Not surprisingly, he chose the latter option and he certainly responded to Strauss' pre-match request for England batsmen to score more big hundreds.

He scratched his crease incessantly as usual but there was less of the delaying between balls that so infuriated the South Africans.

Bangladesh put England into bat - their way of avoiding facing James Anderson, Steve Finn and Co on a gloomy morning - and Alastair Cook was soon given out lbw by umpire Ashoka de Silva even though TV replays suggested the ball was too high.

There is no referral system in place here so Cook could not be reprieved.

Sky, the host broadcaster, and the ICC failed to agree who should pay for the equipment, although the system is likely to be in place for next week's Second Test at Old Trafford.

Strauss was quickly into his stride and pulled medium-pacer Robiul Islam for six and then clipped him for four two balls later.

England's captain, who appeared after lunch wearing a pair of fluorescent orange gloves, was closing in on another century at Lord's when he chopped on to his stumps.

Kevin Pietersen, wearing a d'Artagnan-style goatee, was out to a left-arm spinner yet again when he aimed a big drive at Shakib Al Hasan and missed.

Bell received the best delivery of the day, a nip-backer down the slope from Rubel Hossain.

There was a nasty moment when a pull shot by Morgan struck Imrul Kayes on the head at short leg. His helmet saved him from serious injury but he still needed to be helped off the field.

Trott and Morgan have put on 104 for the fourth wicket and there could be some real fireworks today.

Beating New Zealand gives Australia 'IMPETUS'.

2010-04-01T01:46:00.000-07:00

Ricky Ponting says beating New Zealand gives Australia Ashes impetus.Australia capped off a perfect summer of Test cricket with a 176-run win over New Zealand and their captain Ricky Ponting feels his side are now ready to reclaim the Ashes. The Australians arrived in New Zealand after a clean-sweep of victories against Pakistan and then West Indies in Tests and soon added another series win after two solid victories over the Kiwis.

The next big mission on Australia's calendar is the Ashes this winter and they will be desperate for revenge after England took the honours last year. Ponting believes his team have come through the summer perfectly and reckons everything is in order to mount a good challenge for the series that begins on home soil in November.

"I don't think we could be in a better place," he said following the win against New Zealand in Hamilton. "There will be no excuses from us because we've done everything that I would have liked to achieve this summer and we've done it well.

Tories and ECB agree on no free-to-air Ashes

2010-02-25T02:05:00.000-08:00

The England and Wales Cricket Board has been handed a boost to its campaign to block the return of the Ashes to the "crown jewels" list of events protected for free-to-air TV after the Tories said they would not back the move if they won power.
Hugh Robertson, the shadow sports minister, said it would be a "brave if not very foolish" move at a time when other revenue streams for sport were coming under pressure.
Last year an independent review commissioned by the government recommended that the list of events reserved for live broadcast on free-to-air TV should be expanded to include the Ashes, the whole of Wimbledon, the rugby union World Cup and international football qualifiers involving the home nations.
Sports governing bodies, led by the ECB, attacked the plans. The ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, said the "disastrous" proposals would be ruinous to investment at international, county and grassroots levels.
The proposals, put forward from a panel headed by the former Football Association executive director David Davies, are out to official consultation but Robertson, speaking at a debate with the sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, and the Liberal Democrat sports spokesman, Don Foster, said he would not back any move to list the Ashes.
"When the review was launched the calculation was made that there were an awful lot of votes in returning cricket to free-to-air," he said.
"Now people are just waking up to the fact that 80% of the ECB's income comes from broadcast income and if you take that away you are going to decimate quite a lot of investment that has gone in to women's cricket and the grassroots.

At Homebush Bay, Ashes may be played

2009-11-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

HOMEBUSH BAY could host the next Sydney Ashes Test in 2011, with Cricket NSW exploring the avenue of moving internationals away from the SCG unless it can strike a better deal with the ground's management.
The revelation will shock purists and it would take some poor negotiating by the SCG Trust to lose the pinnacle cricket event on Sydney's sporting calendar. The ANZ Stadium Trust earlier said it was not interested in hosting Test matches, but the money generated by an Ashes Test can no longer be ignored by its accountants.
Still, the SCG Trust retains the upper hand and when negotiations for hosting rights beyond next year begin shortly it will be keen to iron out disputes before Homebush's ANZ Stadium can swoop in to snatch the Ashes away.
The rights for international matches were negotiated in 2004 and expire at the end of next year. The first match of 2011 will be the Sydney Ashes Test.
Australian opener and NSW captain Simon Katich says the main concern playing Tests at ANZ Stadium is the wicket, but his experiences there for the Blues have been positive.
''It would be a huge surprise if Test cricket, or even four day shield cricket, was moved from the SCG because it's the home, the traditional venue and a great place to play,'' he said.
''In saying that, we've played a lot of one day cricket out at ANZ Stadium … the game is always developing and changing, who knows where it could head now with where we play, but it would be a shock if we moved from the SCG.
''I think the only issue might be that the wicket at ANZ is a drop-in wicket and people are always worried about losing the characteristics of all the five different [Ashes Test] venues in Australia. That would be an issue, but in terms of attendances out there, we obviously get great crowds for the Blues and being a big stadium who knows what a Test match could draw out there?
''I'm not sure which way negotiations will go but it's an interesting time for where the game could be headed, for Test cricket in particular.''
Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said while the SCG was his favourite venue, he was keen to deliver a deal that best rewards the game and his organisation.
It's understood there would have to be leeway on part of the SCG Trust in any new deal, which would benefit Cricket NSW financially.
An ANZ Stadium spokesman said: ''Our focus is on Twenty20 and ODI because these forms of the game have a natural fit with the stadium as major events. In relation to Test cricket, that's up to Cricket NSW. We're happy to explore the opportunities as they arise.''
SCG Trust chief executive Jamie Barclay said: ''There have been no discussions with Cricket NSW at the present time, this whole thing was determined in 2004. We look forward to sitting down and discussing it all very soon.''

Vaughan urges Strauss to take a break before challenging for the Ashes

2009-11-05T12:33:00.000-08:00

MICHAEL VAUGHAN believes captain Andrew Strauss should be rested for the tour of Bangladesh to give England the best possible opportunity of retaining the Ashes in Australia.
Strauss flew out with his squad at the weekend for a tough tour of South Africa which follows hot on the heels of a gruelling summer schedule, which included a World Twenty 20 tournament and the Champions Trophy on top of England's Ashes victory. After two 20 over and five 50 over internationals against the Proteas, as well as four Tests, England move next onto Bangladesh before another busy summer leads up to a trip to Australia.Strauss and coach Andy Flower were not slow to rest overworked players this summer giving the likes of James Anderson and Paul Collingwood a break during the one-day series against Ricky Ponting's men. And Vaughan, who skippered England to Ashes success in 2005, believes Strauss must take time away himself to ensure he is mentally ready for the challenges ahead."I think he should be rested," Vaughan said. "You've got to look at the bigger picture. The guys are playing far too much."It's not the actual playing side, it's the mental side of being away and constantly being in a cricket environment."So just taking Straussy out for a three-week break will regenerate his energy levels going into next summer and we have to have all our players fit and firing for next winter which is the big one – the Ashes."However, resting Strauss would of course bring up another major issue in who could then take over the captaincy.The abrupt departure of Kevin Pietersen from the post put into sharp focus the lack of options England have at their disposal, with Strauss seen by many as the only man in the set-up capable of taking on the role.Opener Alastair Cook is now the official vice-captain and logic would dictate that he would stand in for the Bangladesh tour should Strauss be absent. But Vaughan believes that, with the 24-year-old having struggled for form this year, the decision is not as straightforward as it may seem."That's not been decided yet," he said. "I think we're all jumping to conclusions."Cooky's under a huge amount of pressure this series to deliver. He's had a good time in the team since he came in. "He's developed a real strong respect from the rest of the players which is ultimately what you need as a captain. "But he has to deliver with runs on the board and he has to get a lot of runs in South Africa just to give himself that confidence that, if he does get the job, he's speaking from a position of strength."

Only a start Ashes win

2009-11-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Andrew Strauss has demanded his England side views its Ashes triumph as only a stepping stone to become the world's best team.
England arrived in South Africa on Sunday for its two-and-a-half month tour with the long term goal of replacing Graeme Smith's side at the top of the rankings.
It reclaimed the last time the Ashes in 2005 it followed it up with a 2-0 Test series defeat in Pakistan the following season.
Strauss is determined to ensure a similar scenario is avoided against South Africa and insists England's players realise challenging times lie ahead.
"We've talked a lot about how winning the Ashes is not the end of the road, it's almost the starting point for us to improve," he said.
"We'd be lying if we didn't want to be the number one side in the world.
"But if you look at how the ranking system works it will take a number of years of solid progression from where we are at the moment and consistency is crucial.
"Ultimately it's about not taking our foot off the gas.
"The perception of the post-2005 period is that we took our eye off the ball quite badly. I'm not comfortable with that myself.
"I remember that Pakistan tour and how hard we worked at it. We had a number of very crucial injuries which didn't help.
"If you look at our performances over the last 12 months we're far from the genuine article and where we want to be.
"No one in the squad truly believes we've made it, we've got a long way to go. I want to see our players hungry and committed."
England must face South Africa over four Tests without talisman Freddie Flintoff, who retired from the five-day game after the Ashes.
It is hoped all-rounder Stuart Broad will emerge as Flintoff's successor following his heroics this year, but Strauss is keen to minimise any hype surrounding the 23-year-old.
"Stuart has his head screwed on. There has been a lot of media attention on him but he realises that there's much room for him to improve," he said.
"He's excited about that and he's very keen to contribute to this team.
"We're excited about him but the last thing I want to do is put a huge amount of expectation on his shoulders.
"You must give people room to improve and hopefully he'll continue that development this winter.
"It's not a realistic expectation for Broad to fill Flintoff's shoes in both disciplines in the short term.
"It would be wrong to heap that expectation on his shoulders.
"Over the years we've had to do without Flintoff quite often and what we've found is that we've done quite well by everyone taking responsibility and playing a bit better.
"Stuart Broad is not a like-for-like replacement for Flintoff anyway but he has his own set of skills, some of which are world class and some of which need work.
"We don't want him to be the saviour we turn to, we need all 11 to do that."

Harmy plots Ashes return

2009-10-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

STEVE HARMISON last night told Andrew Strauss: I am not finished yet.
Pace ace Harmy was rocked after being left out of England's winter tour to South Africa.
Even more so as he had played a part in regaining just three months ago The Ashes.
Skipper Strauss and coach Andy Flower hurt the snub from England.
Many predicted Harmison would never be seen on the international stage again, as Durham pals and pace rivals Graham Onions and Liam Plunkett got the nod.
But after penning a new four year deal worth around £600,000 at the Riverside, he is raring to go and would love the opportunity to let rip at the Aussies again in the Ashes series Down Under at the end of next year.
Harmy, 31, said: "England are going through an exciting time. They are going with a group of young fast bowlers to South Africa, which will be helpful for them. I really hope they do well.
"I love playing for England though and if the call came I would love to play again. People ask me if I am going to retire, but why should I retire?
"South Africa will be tough. There will be hard days coming up for England and they have to stick with the policy if that is how they are going forward.
"But I have 226 wickets from 60-odd Tests, so I feel my point has been proven. My record stands up with most.
"I will go out like I did this year and last to try and take some wickets for Durham. And if that sees my name put in the hat to play for England again, and I can be of service, I will be glad to do that.
"I would have been fine to play this winter. The problem is the games that take place between now and Australia.
"If I knew it wasn't possible for me to go to Australia, I would come out and retire for the sake of everybody. That Ashes series is a long way away. But if I feel I can give something, I will make my feelings clear then."
England have a highly congested schedule before locking horns with the Aussies again.
Harmy added: "First is South Africa, then Bangladesh, then they come back and play the summer and then it is straight into The Ashes.
"England are going to need a few more fast bowlers. That is why people in England have to be careful not to put too much pressure on the young kids."

Jonathan Trott relishing debut against Australia in fifth Ashes Test

2009-08-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

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.

Thomson: England have no chance of winning the Ashes

2009-08-13T04:31:00.000-07:00

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"

Ashes entry over Clark's late

2009-08-08T01:14:00.000-07:00

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."

The Ashes 2009 2nd Test has won by England

2009-07-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

England has at last had it the 75 year record of not winning a match against Australia in Lord's yesterday as they the second test match by 115 runs.
The contest was in the equilibrium at the start of play. Clarke and Haddin put in an outstanding partnership to take Australia to 313/5 with a 185 partnership at the close of play day 5. An Australian conquest was still in the cards as two came to bat in the morning.
Things, however, changed dramatically as Flintoff took the first wicket of the day in the second over. Haddin was caught behind at the slips by Collingwood and departed without adding up any runs to the overnight score of 313.
The fall of Haddin triggered an Australian collapse, Clarke soon got out miscalculate a well flighted ball from Swann. Clarke was bowled by Swann for 136 runs.
At last, after a lot of hopes and struggles, England has won the match
The celebrations began immediately as England finally won at Lord's against Australia. This is a truly a historic moment for England.
Andrew Flintoff was named as the man of the match for his outstanding performance.

Stage set for a thrilling final day

2009-07-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Lord's as England need to take five wickets to win the second Ashes Test and take a 1-0 series lead .England need five wickets on Monday to win the second Ashes Test and take a 1-0 series lead over Australia.

Npower Ashes Test Series 2009 Fixtures

2009-07-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

Find your match and buy the tickets now!

From the first ball against the West Indies in May to the series against Australia in July and August…
It’s going to be a storming 2009 for English cricket.

Date	Match	Location
08 July – 12 July 2009	England vs. Australia	1st npower Test Cardiff
16 July – 20 July 2009	England vs. Australia	2nd npower Test Lord’s
30 July – 03 Aug 2009	England vs. Australia	3rd npower Test Edgbaston
07 Aug – 11 Aug 2009	England vs. Australia	4th npower Test Headingley Carnegie
20 Aug – 24 Aug 2009	England vs. Australia	5th npower Test The Brit Oval

The Ashes 2009 Game is going to be launched soon by Codemaster

2009-06-29T02:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a lot of Ashes Cricket 2009 screenshots, to agree with news that English batsman Kevin Pietersen will be the "face" of the game.Pietersen unite Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Sir Ian Botham in Ashes Cricket 2009's player line-up."I am delighted to be involved with the official game of the Ashes," said 'KP' (like the peanuts). "The game looks unbelievable and I'm sure both England and Australia fans are going to delight the opportunity to take part in a virtual Ashes series. Representing your country in the Ashes is a huge honour and I can't wait for it to start."Codies promises to "build on the heritage" of its classic Brian Lara series with "great batting, bowling and fielding gameplay and authenticity".It's out for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC in August.

ENGLAND ASHES TRAINING SQUAD

2009-06-22T03:09:00.000-07:00

AJ Strauss
AN Cook
RS Bopara
KP Pietersen
PD Collingwood
†MJ Prior
A Flintoff
SCJ Broad
GP Swann
JM Anderson
G Onions
RJ Sidebottom
IR Bell
AU Rashid
MS Panesar
JS Foster.

England vs Australia Ashes 2009: Australian Squad

2009-06-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

England vs Australia Ashes 2009: Australian Squad
Ashes Tickets

The Ashes 2009 Team Playeser for Australia

2009-06-22T03:02:00.000-07:00

Ricky Ponting
Stuart Clark
Nathan Hauritz
Phillip Hughes
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Graham Manou
Peter Siddle
Michael Clarke (vc)
Brad Haddin (wk)
Ben Hilfenhaus
Michael Hussey
Simon

Ashes Betting 2009

2009-06-17T07:20:00.000-07:00

Unnecessary to say, the Ashes will be one of the most keenly followed sporting events in the 2009 sporting calendar, betting on the various result therefore will be huge as it was in the last three Ashes test series. There will be a wide selection of Ashes betting markets including markets on the top runs scorer for each team and overall along with the top bowler market. What has become very well-liked in cricket betting in recent years is Ashes in-play betting as the game lasts for 4 to 5 days and people like to bet as the game progresses. Cricket followers will have a great choice of Ashes free Bets from the leading online bookmakers and these are available exclusively here.

The Ashes 2009

2009-06-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Ashes is one of the most keenly awaited and violently competitions in any sport let alone cricket. The England Cricket team and Australia have been fighting out on the cricket field since 1877 and the Ashes history is forceful, lasting and most of all exciting.

This latest series comes in the wake of a series whitewash for England in Australia in the 2006-7 series. Australia soundly beat England 5-0 completing only the fifth ever series whitewash. It was a terrible low ebb for England, who had gone to Australia full of confidence after their Ashes victory in England in 2005 Ashes series. See also 2005 Ashes series and the Ashes 2002/3 series

Today it can said with fairness that Australia are not quite the team they were 3 years ago. The series defeat in 2008 against India tinted that they have their fair share of problems in attack and have struggled after the retirements of Ashes legends, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and wicket keeper, Adam Gilchrist. England therefore come into the game high on confidence, with a new captain in Andrew Strauss and with the full knowledge that they can match Australia in all aspects.

The Australian captain, Ricky Ponting and his Australian team that was named on May 20th, will arrive in England in June 2009. They will be here for three months and will play five Tests, five One Day internationals and one Twenty/20 fixture. They will also play several county teams. There will be 18 players in their squad. During the series the England players will spend the time together, foregoing any County commitments. The first Ashes test, for the first time will be played in Cardiff, with second test at Lords, the third Ashes test will be at Edgebaston, the fourth test at Headingley and the fifth and final test at the Oval.

Ashes Tickets Touts

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There are a lot of tickets agents in the market who sell Ashes cricket tickets but not all of them are successful to provide tickets to their customers. Among them only few are successful to provide 100% guaranteed, safe and secure Ashes Tickets to their customers. A list of those ticket agents are as under:-

Ticket Master
Getmein
The Online Ticket Shop
Seatwave
The Online Ticket Exchange

Ashes Tickets are on sale now

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Ashes Tickets are available on The Online Ticket Shop

For cricket lovers, the Ashes are probably the most thrilling encounter of the two rivalry nations, Australia and England. Since 1882, the Ashes are one of the most historic Test matches ever played. So, The fans of cricket would be aware of the next date of next Ashes Cup 2009, yes Ashes is not so far, The first test is going to take place on 8th July 2008. Buy safe, secure and 100% guaranteed Ashes Cup Npower Series 2009 Tickets on The Online Ticket Shop.

The dates of Ashes Matches are as follows

The Ashes Cricket Game

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When I was supplying some amusing games to put onto The Ashes Blog, I clearly usual to be putting a cricket game on – but you’ve got to try before you, erm, embed, so visibly I had a crack at playing this Ashes Cricket game first.

A few hours later I emerged from my angry stupor and managed to score a few runs: this cricket thing is addictive.

Its actually fairly difficult to time the ball: difficulty being a shortage in free online games ordinarily. Cricket is also, for an Englishman, a difficult game to master during the three weeks when the weather is fine enough to play it – games like this can only help us hone our skills, though the range of strokes being relatively limited on this Ashes Cricket game might explain why our batting is so terrible when playing the game for real.

The Ashes Videos

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The Ashes outside the world of Cricket

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The fame and status of the cricket series has led to many other events taking the name for England against Australia challenge. The best-known and longest-running of these actions is the rugby league contest between Great Britain and Australia. The competition first started in 1908, the name being optional by the touring Australians. Another example is in the British television show Gladiators, where two series were based around the Australia–England competition.

The urn is also featured in the science fiction comedy novel Life, the Universe and Everything, the third "Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" book by Douglas Adams. The urn is stolen by alien robots, as it is part of the key needed to unlock the "Wikkit Gate" and release the imprisoned world of "Krikkit".

In the cinema, the Ashes featured in the film The Final Test, launched in 1953, based on a television play by Terence Rattigan. It stars Jack Warner as an England cricketer playing the last Test of his career, which is the last of an Ashes series; the film contains cameo emergence from famous contemporary Ashes cricketers as well as Jim Laker and Denis Compton.

The Ashes Match venues

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The series alternate between England and Australia, and within each country each of the (generally) five matches is supposed to be at a different cricket ground.

In Australia, the grounds presently used are "The Gabba" in Brisbane (first staged an England-Australia Test in the 1932–33 season), Adelaide Oval (1884–85), The WACA, Perth (1970–71) the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) (1876–77) and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) (1881–82). One Test was held at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground in 1928–29. Conventionally, Melbourne hosts the Boxing Day Test and Sydney hosts the New Year Test, which is the first Test of every year. Cricket Australia has planned that the 2010–11 series contains six Tests, with the extra game to be played at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. The England Cricket Board is yet to agree to this.

In England the grounds used are The Oval (since 1880), Old Trafford (1884), Lord's (1884), Trent Bridge (1899), Headingley (1899) and Edgbaston (1902). One Test was held at Bramall Lane, Sheffield in 1902. Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales is listed to hold the first (and its first) Test in the 2009 Ashes series.

The Ashes Today

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The Ashes is one of the most severely contest war in cricket.

The stoppage of England to get back to the Ashes for 16 years from 1989, joined with the global dominance of the Australian team, had boring the lustre of the series in recent years throughout most of the cricketing world, although it has remained the most popular cricketing contest for Australians. However, the close results in the 2005 Ashes series, and the overall high quality and competitiveness of the cricket greatly boosted the popularity of the sport in Britain and significantly improved the profile of the Ashes around the world. It remains to be seen whether the irregular results of the 2006-07 Ashes series will have a negative crash on this newly obtain fame outside of Australia.

Ashes Summary of results and statistics

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Chart of the matches won between the two sides.

A team must succeed a series to add the right to grasp the Ashes. A haggard series results in the previous holders retaining the Ashes. To date, a total of 64 Ashes series have been played, with Australia winning 31 and England 28. The exceptional five series were drawn, with Australia retaining the Ashes four times (1938, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1968) and England retains it once (1972). The win-loss ratio in Ashes Tests(up to and including the 2006/07 series) stands at 121 wins for Australia to 95 wins for England, with 84 draws.

Ashes series have usually been played over five Test matches, although there have been four match series (1938; 1975) and six match series (1970–71; 1974–75; 1978–79; 1981; 1985; 1989; 1993 and 1997). Australians have made 264 centuries in Ashes Tests, twenty-three of them over 200, while Englishmen have scored 212 centuries, of which ten have been scores over 200. On 41 occasions, person Australians have taken ten wickets in a match. Englishmen have performed that feat 38 times.

Ashes Cup - Gallery

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Ashes - The Test Series

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The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England and Australia. It is one of international cricket's most celebrated rivals and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in England and Australia. However, since cricket is a summer game, the venues being in opposite hemispheres means the break between series alternates between 18 and 30 months. A series of "The Ashes" now comprises five Test matches, two innings per match, under the regular rules for international Test-match cricket. If a series is drawn then the country already holding the Ashes retains them.

The series is named after a satirical obituary published in an English newspaper, The Sporting Times, in 1882 after the match at The Oval in which Australia beat England on an English ground for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media then dubbed the next English tour to Australia (1882–83) as the quest to regain The Ashes.

During that tour in Australia, a small terracotta urn was presented as a gift to the England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women. The contents of the urn are reputed to be the ashes of an item of cricket equipment, possibly a bail, ball or stump. Some Aborigines hold that The Ashes are in fact those of King Cole, the cricketer who toured England in 1868. The Dowager Countess of Darnley, meanwhile, claimed recently that her mother-in-law (and Bligh's wife), Florence Morphy, said that they were the remains of a lady's veil.

The urn is erroneously believed, by some, to be the trophy of the Ashes series but it has never been formally adopted as such and Ivo Bligh always considered it to be a personal gift. Replicas of the urn are often held aloft by victorious teams as a symbol of their victory in an Ashes series, but the actual urn has never been presented or displayed as a trophy in this way. Whichever side holds the Ashes, the urn normally remains in the Marylebone Cricket Club Museum at Lord's since being presented to the MCC by Ivo Bligh's widow upon his death.

Since the 1998–99 Ashes series, a Waterford Crystal representation of the Ashes urn has been showed to the winners of an Ashes series as the official trophy of that series.

Australia presently holds The Ashes, after beating England 5–0 to regain them in 2006–07. The next Ashes series will be held in England in 2009. npower presently sponsor the Ashes series played in England.