Yabba Gabba Do!!

The first Ashes test of 2010 finishes in a high-scoring draw, but which team can take the most confidence out of the game going into Adelaide on the 3^rd December? If I had been asked that question on day three there is no doubt in my mind that the answer would have been Australia, having watched them secure a 221 run first innings lead. But how quickly this game can change.

It may have been over eighty years since all of England’s top three batsmen made a ton in the same innings, but my god was it worth the wait. Declaring on day five with the score at 517-1, England had absolutely destroyed the old enemy physically and judging by the number of dropped chances mentally as well. Australia did prove that it was still a good wicket in the last session, only losing Simon Katich in their second innings to avoid an embarrassing loss.

I’m sure all viewers will agree that we have seen an Australian demeanour over the last couple of days that has not been visible for many a year. What has happened to the cut-throat, no-holds barred opposition we have come to expect? Watching the likes of Clarke drop little lollypops in the slips and Mitchell Johnson spray it around like a fifteen year-old village cricketer on a Saturday is not what the doctor ordered for Ponting and his men.

Credit where credit is due though. Alistair Cook (235 no), Jonathan Trott (135 no) and Andrew Strauss (110) have shown the mental strength to bat long, proving that England’s current line up contains personnel who are more than capable of going on to get a big score. Just imagine what may have happened if we saw some KP fireworks last night...

Having seen the Australians leave the field a dejected side to a crowd that only appeared to be of English contingent gave me a warm buzz inside. The Barmy Army were on top form yesterday, chanting songs such as “Ali Cook, Ali Cook, Ali Ali Cook” and my personal favourite, “There’s only one Mitchell Johnson”. It was good to see they were enjoying the 25 degree heat we at home seem to be missing out on.

Maybe we Poms are getting too over excited once again as it is still nil-nil in the series. But England undoubtedly came out of the match with their heads held high and with the momentum going into the next test. So it’s “Yabba Gabba Do” as we leave the city of Brisbane, but just imagine what could have happened if we still had our very own Freddie with a Kookaburra cherry in his hand....

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That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles

After a merciless third day at the Gabba due to Hussey and Haddin, England went into day four looking down the barrel. The tourists began the day on 19-0, a mere 202 runs behind the Australians. England needed to show poise, finesse and most importantly a wealth of mental strength in order to remain in this one. But were they capable?

Openers Andrew Strauss and Alistair Cook seemed determined to put the hosts through a similar experience as they themselves had to cope with just 24 hours previous, and boy did they do so. Becoming the first English openers to both score centuries in the same innings of an Ashes test match since before the war, Strauss (110) and Cook (132 no) have managed to put England in an unimaginable position at stumps.

After Strauss danced down the wicket and missed a Marcus North delivery he was strolling back to the pavilion having failed to do what Haddin and Hussey had done the day before, go on and get a big one. Cook though has managed to put himself in a strong position to do just this with assistance from a solid looking Jonathan Trott who ended the day unbeaten on 54.

With the Aussie bowling attack missing the magic of years gone by they seemed remarkably average. Mitchell Johnson who was tipped to perform highly at home lacked control and skipper Ponting looked reluctant to throw the ball his way. Johnson’s day was one to forget as he also grounded a catch in the morning session that may have created some Aussie momentum. Alas, England end day four 88 runs ahead of home side.

England are still not home and dry yet and will have to bat well in the morning session of the last day to ensure the defeat is avoided. But can we dream of a magical ending tomorrow? If Cook and Trott can not only survive but push on tomorrow, England will give themselves a session to really go at the Australians? Unlikely as it is, a man can dream!

So will David Gower and the England supporters be yelping with joy and jubilation rather than the pain of previous days from of the test come tomorrow evening? Let’s just hope the Brisbane curse of recent years will be firmly put behind us and we can go onto Adelaide at the very least all square in the series.

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A Sleep Deprived Synopsis

Having made it through every ball of day two from the comfort of my bedroom, a very weary man sits before you. Last night’s method of making it through the cold, lonely night was a power nap during the lunch interval, but tonight, I’ve just put the kettle on and have decided to get writing.

Going back to yesterday’s action, Australia began brightly making it to lunch with relative ease. The only notable acts from the first session were an overturned referral saving the life of Simon Katich and a close shy at the stumps from England opener Alistair Cook. England did however make the breakthrough, dismissing Shane Watson to a simple catch from Strauss at first slip.

I’m not sure what lunch at The Gabba consists of but Andy Flower’s side came out after the break a different team. The ball had started to talk and England got back into the game, first dismissing Ponting to a knick down the leg-side, swiftly followed by Katich thanks to an outstanding caught and bowled at the hands of rookie Steve Finn. The wickets of Clarke and North later on in the session totally changed the balance of the match, and the visitors now looked at least equal in the contest.

The final session of the day was shortened due to unseasonal wet weather in Brisbane, but Mr Cricket Mike Hussey and keeper Brad Haddin successfully batted through the day to leave the hosts on 220-5 at stumps. This left the game finely balanced going into what would be a critical third day.

This leads us on to this morning and what can only be described as a frustrating session for Strauss and his bowlers. Despite strike bowler James Anderson bowling a handful of magical deliveries, decisions did not go the way of the Poms and false shots failed to create chances. Anderson’s annoyance was beginning to show as he was chuntering away to the Aussie batsmen in an almost Glenn McGrath like fashion. As the change bowlers got brought into the attack the ball seemed to stop playing tricks and the men at the crease began looking comfortable. Mike Hussey looked in fine knick moving onto 124 not out and Brad Haddin offering ample support taking himself to 79 not out.

I will apologise now for any spelling mistakes or poor grammar as the words on my laptop screen are beginning to merge together. Either the coffee hasn’t worked or I need to get myself to Specsavers in the morning! The Aussies are currently 69 runs ahead so England require quick wickets in order to remain in the contest. Maybe I could stay up for just one more hour...

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Sid-Vicious Australia

After months of patient build up, the pinnacle of international cricket is now underway. Could England have asked for a better start? After winning the toss and choosing to bat surely nothing could go wrong...  

What with Steve Harmison’s first ball of the Ashes series 2006 ending up in Freddie’s hands at second slip with no batsmen interference, it was a relief to have our openers stroll out to the middle. Unfortunately, this relief was quickly followed by stunned silence as third ball of the game skipper Strauss gave the Australians an early Christmas present, hitting a short and wide Hilfenhaus losener directly into the hands of Michael Hussey in the gully. Maybe I should have bowled boys?    

Despite this early setback England managed to consolidate up to lunch, losing only the wicket of Jonathan Trott on top of the skipper. This brought England’s superstar Kevin Pietersen to the crease, who was seemingly eager to take advantage of any nerves debutant Xavier Doherty may be feeling. The young Tasmanian, who also floored an easy catch before the lunch break was not afraid to show aggression towards the intimidating figure of KP, the beginnings of an interesting battle looked upon us.

This session of play took us to 2am London time and put the same question in every England supporters mind. Do I stay up through the lunch break? I took the decision to retire to the warmth of my duvet and get some much needed sleep. With hindsight, possibly the right decision.

The rest of the opening days play swung the first test and Ashes momentum swiftly into the hands of Ricky Ponting and his men. England’s batsmen slipped from being 197-4 to an abysmal 260 all out. King pin of the Aussie bowling line up was the aggressive Peter Siddle, who ended with figures of 6-54 from his sixteen overs and took a memorable Ashes hat-trick, dismissing first Cook instantly followed back to the pavilion by a bewildered Matt Prior and Stuart Broad. Australia successfully batted out the final seven overs of the day with measurable ease, ending the day on 25 for no loss.

Although the English batsmen proved it’s not only flood-ridden Cornwall that has good weather for ducks, can we take anything positive from the day? Ian Bell continued his impressive form with a scintillating 76 from 131 balls, showing he can be a force to be reckoned with this winter. One of the worries going into the tour, Alistair Cook, also provided dog-eared defensive for a hard-fought 67.

So all-in-all, a good day for Ponting and his camp and a day Peter Siddle will remember for the rest of his life. Let’s hope that 12am tonight will provide more English resilience and give us all a reason to stay up til the early hours.

COME ON ENGLAND!

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England's Day of Reckoning

With the imminent Ashes series just around the corner, what better time to lose your blog virginity? What with England’s immaculate build up with promising performances’ in the three tour games, measured against the Aussies poorest form for many a year, could we retain the urn?

Have we gone into a recent Ashes series down under looking stronger? Captain Strauss is looking as dependable as he has done in years. Having already hit two sparkling hundreds in tour games, surely if he can guard against the swinging new Kookaburra ball, then he will make hay while the sun shines.

Perhaps the most exciting prospect on the batting front is a newly transformed Ian Bell. After his invigorating 192 consisting of twenty-two 4’s and a six he looks in the best shape of his life. Young leggie Steve Smith seemed to have no answer for Bell’s newly found dominance at the crease when Australia A had England on the ropes. The Warwickshire batsman looked of a different stature to the shaky character of Ashes series past. Could Belly be our dark–horse this winter?

Looking at the Aussie camp can only help the English mentality. In contrast to recent history and the threat of Warne, Hayden, McGrath and Gilchrist, the old enemy appear to be a shadow of their former selves. After losing to India and Sri Lanka in previous months they have had the rug pulled beneath them in the realms of international cricket. With vice skipper Michael Clarke a doubt for tomorrow, will fresh impetus be required to help the Australians gain momentum for the eagerly awaited series?

But are we poms getting a little too over excited? There is no doubt that with a new cherry in hand, Mitchell Johnson will be back to his best in Australian climates. The likes of Ponting, Katich and out of form Mike Hussey have a wealth of experience in chasing the urn. With an unproven bowling attack down-under our much improved fabulous four of Anderson, Broad, Swann and Finn will have to take 20 wickets consistently with a soft ball. They undoubtedly have the skill but will the pressure and southern hemisphere heat knock them for six?  

So can our boys be the first to bring back the Ashes since Mike Gatting’s heroes of 1987. I know one thing; I will be keeping everything crossed and singing Jerusalem at the top of my voice come midnight tomorrow. I only have one request in return, win the toss and bat Straussy! We don’t want a repeat of Nasser in 2002!! COME ON ENGLAND!