Harmy plots Ashes return

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

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

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

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

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

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

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