2013 Test Series: Australia vs England

rhugh89

rhugh89

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Thought I would start a new thread for this...

Australia have just announced their squad for the First Test...

They have selected 12 Players..

Chris Rogers
David Warner
Shane Watson
Michael Clarke (c)
Steve Smith
George Bailey
Brad Haddin (vc)
James Faulkner
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Johnson
Ryan Harris
Nathan Lyon

Coach - Darren Lehmann
 
Last edited:
George Bailey named in Australia's squad for first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane


  • MALCOLM CONN
  • NEWS LIMITED NETWORK
  • NOVEMBER 12, 2013 2:16PM

GEORGE Bailey has become the oldest Australian batsman selected to make his Test debut in more than 34 years.

The 31-year-old was chosen ahead of Tasmanian teammate Alex Doolan in a squad that contained no real surprises.

Mitchell Johnson, 32, also returns to Test cricket after being overlooked for the Ashes tour while all-rounder James Faulkner has been chosen as a back-up fast bowler who appears destined to be 12th man.

​
Shane Watson is in the team despite recovering from a minor hamstring strain but is not expected to bowl in the first Test against England, beginning at Brisbane's Gabba on Thursday week.

The last 31-year-old batsman to be picked for Australia was Jeff Moss in 1979 during World Series Cricket. He was 31 and 268 days.

There have been a number of older spinners in that time, with Bryce McGain aged 36 playing against South Africa in 2009.

Bailey has been selected on the back of his outstanding one-day form in the past 18 months.He has scored 1539 runs in 35 matches at 54 with two hundreds. Only India's Virat Kohli has scored more one-day runs in that time.

Bailey averaged just 18 in the Sheffield Shield for Tasmania last season but 58 the season before with three hundreds.

Speaking at the squad announcement, chief selector John Inverarity said Bailey's one-day international form had been too hard to resist.

"George Bailey has been, as everybody is aware, in fantastic form with the bat," Inverarity said.

"His confidence is riding high and his performance in international one-day cricket has been quite extraordinary. He's very deserving of his opportunity.

Inverarity praised the form of Johnson, who like Bailey pressed his case via performances in limited-overs cricket in England and India.

"He's (Johnson) in good rhythm and bowling with good pace, so we're confident that he'll acquit himself very well and he'll be a bowler to the fore in our attack," Inverarity said.

Inverarity also confirmed Cricket Australia is certain Watson will be fit to play at the Gabba, but whether or not he plays as an all-rounder or specialist batsman is yet to be decided.

"We're hoping he'll be able to bowl, but we're not sure the extent to which he'll be able to bowl," Inverarity said.

"He's progressing very well. He'll certainly be fit to play, and we believe he's likely to be able to bowl.

Australia's Ashes squad: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...land-in-brisbane/story-fni2fnmo-1226758016032

- - - Updated - - -

Shane Watson may get to go to the ball after all if hamstring improves before first Ashes Test



SELECTION boss John Inverarity says Shane Watson may yet be deployed as a crucial bowling option in the first Test against England as Australia sweat on his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Watson was today named in Australia's 12-man squad for the Ashes opener starting Thursday week and it was initially expected the all-rounder would be used as a batsman only at the Gabba.

But Inverarity is refusing to give up hope of Watson being part of Australia's seam arsenal, with the former vice-captain having another nine days to work on his hamstring ailment.

"We're hoping Shane will be able to bowl," Australia's chairman of selectors said at the unveiling of the squad, which included allrounder James Faulkner and debutant No.6 George Bailey.

"We're not sure of the extent to which he will be able to bowl but he is progressing very well."He will be fit to play and we believe he is likely to be able to bowl.

​
"With Shane, he is progressing very well in regaining his fitness and we're confident he will be fit to play.

"It's nine days to go so we can't give a definitive answer (on whether he can bowl)."

Watson has been a key change weapon throughout his international career, claiming 64 Test scalps at 31.92 with three five-wicket hauls.

But without his seamers, the home side will most likely hinge their first Test hopes on the pace alliance of Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

Inverarity said pace warhorse Harris would be a crucial striker for the Australians after his lionhearted efforts during the recent Ashes series in England, where he took 24 wickets at 19.58.

"He is very important," he said."His performances at the Ashes in England was outstanding and he went into that series rated very highly by us all.

"He fulfilled our expectations there so we are looking forward to him keeping fit and bowling well."He is a fine bowler and a fine man."

Vice-skipper Brad Haddin yesterday applauded Bailey's selection and says the nine-year grind of domestic cricket will have him well prepared for the Poms.

"George has got in the team the old fashioned way," Haddin said.

"He's scored a lot of runs which is a good thing to see. He deserves his crack at this level, he is an experienced guy, he has been around state cricket for 10 years so he won't be overawed by the occasion.

"The higher level he plays, the better cricket he delivers so it will be good to see him having his first crack."

Australian skipper Michael Clarke said the hosts were desperate to avert a fourth consecutive Ashes series loss against an English side buoyed by their recent 3-0 rout.

"We need guys at the top of their games, we're looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead," he said.

"It is obviously a huge summer for us but as a playing group we are trying to keep a lid on it as much as we possibly can.

"Every opportunity you get to play for Australia is very important and you cherish that every single time you walk on to the ground."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...first-ashes-test/story-fni2fnmo-1226758482302

- - - Updated - - -

From oldest Aussie debutant in 34 years to potential captain - a day in the life of Bailey



AUSTRALIA'S newest Test debutant has the leadership ability to succeed Michael Clarke as Test skipper.

So says former Tasmania coach Tim Coyle, now a skills specialist at Cricket Australia.Coyle says Bailey's belated baggy-green arrival can eventually deliver him to the highest office in Australian sport.

Having witnessed what the Tasmanian captaincy did for Bailey's game, Coyle has no doubt Australia's latest No.6 can flourish as a leader in the Test set-up.

"The extra responsibility brings out the best in George," Coyle said."He will be an outstanding character in the Australian team.

​
"He is certainly ready to go as a leader in the Australian team and if the situation arose, I'm sure George could slip into the captaincy role quite comfortably.

"The responsibility of batting at six in the team, I am predicting it will bring the best out of him.

"As long as George is scoring runs at Test level, then he could step into the leadership role if needed."

Bailey was yesterday ordained as Australia's 436th Test cricketer, but the 31-year-old could embark on a rapid rise from Test greenhorn to leader of men with a bumper Ashes campaign.

Australia must soon confront leadership succession plans, with 36-year-old deputy Brad Haddin yesterday admitting the upcoming five-Test series will be his likely Ashes swansong.

Haddin's eventual departure opens the door for Bailey, who clinched the baggy-green after amassing 478 runs at 95.60 as stand-in skipper for Clarke during the recent one-day tour of India.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann yesterday admitted Bailey's selection was not without spirited boardroom discussion. There was a push for Alex Doolan, but Bailey edged out his Tasmanian teammate after his outstanding tour of India.

The Tigers skipper is confident he can handle the English attack despite averaging just 18 in the Sheffield Shield arena last summer.

"Having faced all of the England bowlers over the last couple of years ... that will all hopefully be positive," Bailey said

."I'll be going into a game with fairly clear plans against them."As a batter you are always pretty greedy for more runs no matter how many you have got."

Haddin yesterday applauded Bailey's selection and says the nine-year grind of domestic cricket will have him well prepared for the Poms.

"George has got in the team the old fashioned way," he said.

"He's scored a lot of runs which is a good thing to see. He deserves his crack at this level, he is an experienced guy, he has been around state cricket for 10 years so he won't be overawed by the occasion.

"The higher level he plays, the better cricket he delivers so it will be good to see him having his first crack."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e-life-of-bailey/story-fni2fnmo-1226758583395

- - - Updated - - -

Spinner Nathan Lyon hopes top record at Gabba leads to spot in final X1 for first Ashes Test


  • ED JACKSON
  • AAP
  • NOVEMBER 13, 2013 7:04AM

Among the questions asked before every summer is whether Australia will pick four fast bowlers for the opening Test in Brisbane.

Incumbent Test spinner Nathan Lyon, however, can't understand the fascination with going for an all-pace attack on the Gabba wicket and hopes captain Michael Clarke is of the same mind.

The NSW tweaker says he loves playing in Brisbane and can have just as much impact if the ball is moving off the pitch as the fast bowlers.

​
"It amazes me how many people talk about the four quicks and my theory is if it seams, it spins," Lyon said.

"I'm obviously planning to play and hoping to get the gig come next Thursday."

Clarke would only say he'd leave his final selection until he'd seen the Gabba wicket when asked about choosing four quicks for next week's Ashes opener against England at the Australia team selection on Monday.

The last time Australia didn't pick a regular spinner for the summer's first Test was when a pace line-up of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson beat New Zealand by 149 runs in 2008.

Lyon, who has 85 wickets at 33.23 from his 25 Tests, also has a solid record at the Gabba in his two Test appearances at the venue. The 25-year-old has 11 wickets at 24.09 in Brisbane including a seven-wicket match haul against the Kiwis in 2011.

After regaining his place in the Test line-up during the Ashes campaign in England, Lyon has overcome a challenge from Fawad Ahmed to retain his spot and says he can't wait to get the summer underway.

"To be able to play a vital role in an Ashes game is pretty exciting," Lyon said.

"Hopefully I can get a bit more bounce out of the pitch there and create a few chances. Keep bowling well and we'll see where we get to."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...first-ashes-test/story-fni2fnmo-1226758666236

- - - Updated - - -

Mitchell Johnson says he will be out to intimidate England's batsmen


  • BRADEN QUARTERMAINE
  • PERTHNOW
  • NOVEMBER 12, 2013 4:00PM

MITCHELL Johnson admits his latest resurrection as a Test bowler could be his last and has vowed to play the role of hostile speed demon in the Ashes series.

Johnson, 32, was named in Australia's 12-man squad for the First Test beginning next Thursday and is certain to take his place in the final XI.He said he hoped to be used to short, sharp bursts against England in the latest chapter of his rollercoaster career.

"That's the plan, to go out there and bowl fast and hopefully be intimidating against the Poms,'' Johnson said.

"Normally I was sort of bowling around those seven and eight over spells a few years ago. For me personally, I think if I can bowl those shorter spells at a higher speed, that probably suits me a lot better.''

Johnson conceded he needed to take advantage if his latest opportunity in the Test team.

​
"I am 32 and we've got a lot of young guys coming through,'' he said."I think I've proved that you know, I've been dropped from the team, I've come back now.

"I've worked really hard to get where I am and I'm not going to let that go easily so I'm going to go out there and give it everything.

"Whatever happens happens, but I've still got a lot to give in this team and I am only 32 and I want to play for a few more years.''

Johnson, who was overlooked for the last Ashes series in England, admits the jibes directed his way affected him in the past.But the left-arm quick feels he's now well equipped to handle the scrutiny set to come his way this summer.

"I know on Twitter they've asked if I'm ready for some new songs, so they've already started with the banter," Johnson said.

"When I was over there for the one-day series, I copped a fair bit but just got on with the game.

"They can keep trying as much as they want."They're just trying to take my focus away from what I'm doing in the middle."But it's all in good humour."

Johnson hasn't played a Test since March, but back injuries to Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc opened the door for his return.

Former Australian Test paceman Stuart Clark believes this Ashes series could be career-defining for Johnson, who wants to play international cricket into his mid-30s.Johnson said he found it difficult watching this winter's Ashes series on TV after being left at home.

"It was obviously disappointing to be left out. It was quite hard watching the first ball being bowled. It felt quite strange,'' he said.

"I guess it gave me a bit of motivation when I was dropped, or not in the side, so I did use that as a bit of motivation."But for me I just wanted to get things right again and I was able to do that.

"I think I've just performed at the right times and hopefully I can keep performing now and just go out there and bowl well.

"I never had that doubt in my mind that I could get back.

"It's a pretty big moment for cricket in Australia - an Ashes series, it's always very, very exciting and I've said this in the past where you can get too excited about it.

"But I think I've learnt from that.''Johnson is likely to open the bowling with Ryan Harris, with workhorse Peter Siddle in support.

"I'm not really fussed. If the conditions are right and the ball's swinging, then I'd love that new ball,'' he said.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...englands-batsmen/story-fni2fooa-1226758323762

- - - Updated - - -

Aussie batsmen planning on making English spinner's tour Down Under his Swann song



GRAEME Swann beware. There is a target on your head this summer.

Flamboyant off-spinner Swann undermined Australia's recent Ashes campaign in England by taking 26 wickets at 29.

But the landscape has changed and the bayonets will be fastened this summer.Michael Clarke noted in his Ashes diary that when Swann was hit over his head in England, the home side was quick to drop a man back.

Steve Smith, an excellent player of spin, picked up the same vibe and is set to lead the charge after Swann this summer as he did on occasions in England.

Others will follow.

The Australians feel there is great incentive to attack Swann because a retreating field gives the Australians the luxury of milking singles.

​
Australia feels they hold the balance of power against Swann this series despite the respect he must be given for a 248-wicket Test career.

Swann is far and away most comfortable bowling to left-handers but this time Australia will field just two in the top seven - openers Dave Warner and Chris Rogers.

"If they know our coach well they know the way we are going to play the spinners,'' quipped Brad Haddin, spotlighting the attacking philosophy of coach Darren Lehmann who was one of boldest and best players of spin in his era.

"The guys have had a pretty good look at him and I don't think the wickets will be as giving as they were in England.

"I think we are in a pretty good place. Guys like Steve Smith and George play spin really well. And we have Michael Clarke.

"Swann is a big player for them and we have to find a way to combat him and the best way to do it is scoring runs.''

Clarke wrote of Swann in his Ashes diary: "When he gave it more air and it was on or around the off stump, I could come down the wicket and hit him over his head, pushing back the mid-off and mid-on, which Cook soon obliged by doing. That gave me the option of no risk singles down the ground."

Like most finger spinners, Swann struggles to penetrate in Australia.

Despite the fact that England recorded a landslide series win here three years ago he could manage just 15 wickets at 39 in the five Tests which included a five wicket haul in Adelaide but nothing more than two wickets in any other innings.

Former English all-rounder Derek Pringle sensed the Swann assault is "on.''

"It will be interesting because he bowls that traditional Australian off-spinning line outside off stump,'' Pringle said.

"You have picked a lot of right handers to get after him. He prefers left-handers. I think your batsmen will try and make sure he does not let the English fast bowlers get long rests.

"That will be a tactic. Bailey and these guys will get after him.''

Smith, whose 138 not out in the final Test at The Oval was seen as a breakthrough innings for his career, feels his game is solidifying.

"I have always been able to play the big shots but it was just about reining it back and getting a solid defence,'' Smith said.

"I have been a lot more stable and balanced at the crease and everything has fallen into place from there.''

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...r-his-swann-song/story-fni2fnmo-1226758528605

- - - Updated - - -

England batsman Kevin Pietersen stirs pot by labelling Australians convicts on Twitter


  • PETER BADEL
  • NEWS LIMITED NETWORK
  • NOVEMBER 13, 2013 7:59AM

KEVIN Pietersen has done it again. England's chief protagonist has stoked the embers of Ashes rivalry by labelling the Australians "convicts" ahead of the first Test at the Gabba.

The straight-shooting Pietersen is no stranger to controversy and the star England batsman took to Twitter yesterday to fire a pre-series barb at the old enemy.

In the countdown to the Ashes opener starting Thursday week in Brisbane, Pietersen entertained his 1.4 million Twitter devotees by writing: "You know how the Aussie call us Poms? What's the English allowed to call the Aussies ??

After giving fans several hours to partake in his social-networking straw poll, Pietersen returned to add: Right, So the answer to my earlier Question...We settling on #Convicts ? This could trend with some RT action!?

The tweets drew a response from former Australian Test batsman Damien Martyn, who questioned Pietersen's reference to British criminals banished Down Under in the 19th century, saying : @KP24 Convicts, Really ??

Pietersen is not afraid to crawl under Australia's skin.In his new Ashes diary, Michael Clarke revealed how Pietersen criticised his decision to call for a referral during the recent series in England, then gave him a send-off when the technology upheld the Australian captain's dismissal.

But Clarke is playing mind games himself, yesterday telling a lunch audience at Allan Border Field that he already knew the composition of England's XI for the first Test starting November 21.

Clarke rose to the stage to deliver his captain's address before surprising the crowd by announcing, one by one, what he believed to be England's line-up for the Gabba showdown.

"I saw Alastair Cook at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Sydney (on Monday) and fortunately enough he gave me his XI for the first Test," Clarke said.

He then proceeded to name the England team with Michael Carberry and Cook opening ahead of Jonathan Trott, Pietersen, Ian Bell and Joe Root.

According to Clarke, Matt Prior will bat at number seven, with Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson and Chris Tremlett forming England's bowling attack in the opening Test.

"Alastair doesn't exactly know that yet but I know that will be the XI for the Test," he added with a grin.

"I'm confident that will be the XI England will play.

"I know there will be a lot of talk about their fast bowlers but it's important for us over the next few days that we are preparing for the opposition."

Pietersen had been under an injury cloud for England's match against a New South Wales XI outfit, but his troublesome knee has been given the all-clear.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...victs-on-twitter/story-fni2fnmo-1226758695502
 
Last edited:
I'm really not sure about Bailey. He did prove a lot of people wrong with 20/20 and in the ODI's, however test cricket is a lot different and his FC average is nothing to get excited over. Shaun Marsh was a very good ODI player for a few years, but ultimately averaged 27 after 7 tests and it was clear he was out of his depth. Marsh has a FC average of 35 with Bailey having an average of 38, and an average of 18 last year in FC so not too much difference. I still think first class cricket is the best indication of whether a person will succeed or not, and I think ODI and 20/20 form should never come into it. Although lack of choice is the problem, Australia used to have the luxury of picking new batsmen with 50+ FC averages, now we're picking guys with averages around 35-40.
 
Saaaa keen for the Ashes. Took next Thursday off so I can watch the 1st day. I think we'll surprise them, expecting a big series from Watson & Smith. Australia to win 2-1.
 
English media has mixed response to Mitchell Johnson's inclusion in Ashes squad


  • ANTONY PINSHAW
  • FOX SPORTS
  • NOVEMBER 13, 2013 4:00PM

ENGLAND'S media has responded to the unveiling of Australia's first Test squad with a mixture of surprise, wariness and ambivalence.

While much of the focus in Australia was on Test newcomer George Bailey, English fans and journalists alike took a greater interest in Mitchell Johnson's return to the Ashes battleground.

The left-arm paceman was the source of much ridicule during the 2009 and 2010-11 Ashes series, and admitted he let the Barmy Army's taunts, the most famous of which started with the line, "He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right," affect him during matches.

But a rejuvenated Johnson is now primed and ready to get revenge, starting in the first Test at the Gabba next week, which in turn has England excited about the prospect of another public meltdown, but also nervous about what might happen if Johnson actually gets it right.

​
Paul Newman summed up this feeling in his article on Johnson in the Daily Mail.

"Johnson, a bowler of extremes who can either be very dangerous or woeful, promised fireworks after Australia, beset by fast-bowling injuries, gambled in their 12-man squad on the player who, to coin a phrase, can bowl to the left and the right," Newman wrote.

"But if he gets it somewhere in between, he can be lethal."...Yet it would only take a bad day at the Gabba next Thursday for him to once again become the figure of fun, serenaded by England fans."

This sentiment was echoed by former England bowler Derek Pringle, who noted that Johnson is yet to prove he's fully rehabilitated from his previous Ashes nightmares.

"All these eulogies (praising Johnson's recent form) have come from his deeds in one-day cricket," Pringle wrote.

"The mental fragility from which he previously suffered is probably more easily concealed in white ball cricket than red, with any meltdown less protracted."

Apart from Australia's squad announcement, the most notable aspect of the English media's Ashes coverage was the way they responded to Michael Clarke 'revealing' England's XI for the first Test.

Clarke confidently, and perhaps a bit cheekily, told a corporate lunch yesterday the exact team he believes England will field at the Gabba, saying Michael Carberry will open alongside Alastair Cook and Chris Tremlett will fill the third seamer's role.

The England squad, as has been the case throughout its time down under so far, resisted the opportunity to take a dig at the Aussie camp and simply didn't respond to Clarke's predictions.

But as far as former England captain Michael Vaughan is concerned, this is just another sign of Australia's desperation.

"You can tell the state Australia are in when they resort to mindgames," Vaughan wrote in his column in the Telegraph.

"But in my experience those that shout the loudest generally have a bit of inner doubt, and are trying to prove to people they are confident. At this stage Australia are trying to send the message they are confident and have the belief to win the Ashes.

"The best way to do that is to concentrate on performances on the pitch. I would leave the talking to one side. Let the Aussie press write them up and England off."

That being said, Vaughan was more than happy to write off certain members of the English squad, slamming the decision to have Jonny Bairstow as the only back-up for regular wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Prior is in a race against time to be fit for the first Test after injuring his calf earlier in the tour.

His place for the current tour match against an Invitational XI has been taken by Jonny Bairstow, who was England's No.6 for the first four Tests of the Ashes series earlier this year.

Judging by Vaughan's comments on BBC Radio Five Live, it's fair to say he's not a fan of Bairstow's glovework.

"I wouldn't put him in the top five keepers in England," Vaughan said."I questioned it as soon as the squad was selected."I just don't think he's done enough of it to withstand the pressure of an Ashes series keeping wicket.

"Bairstow is a package that could work in 20-over and 50-over cricket, but in five-day cricket, yes you need someone who can bat, but also to take those important catches.

"He hasn't done enough for Yorkshire this summer because he has been playing for England.

"He may have to keep in the hottest of pressure zones, the Gabba, in front of 40,000 spectators. The selectors feel Bairstow is the next best, but I would question that."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-in-ashes-squad/story-fni2fnmo-1226759120948

- - - Updated - - -

Shane Warne says a matured Mitchell Johnson is ready to deliver in the Ashes


  • SAM LIENERT
  • AAP
  • NOVEMBER 13, 2013 10:11PM

Shane Warne has backed Mitchell Johnson to deliver on his bold pre-Ashes predictions, saying maturity has made the left-arm speedster more reliable.

The 32-year-old, named in Australia's squad for the first Test, has promised to test England's batsmen, particularly Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott, with short balls directed at the ribs or throat.Johnson regularly topped 150kph during the recent one-day series in India.

While erratic line and length have generally made him a boom or bust proposition at Test level, Warne said that had changed.

"He's forced his way in through bowling some serious pace, he's going to shake the English side up,'' Warne told reporters in Melbourne, after playing in Wednesday's Australian Masters pro-am.

"If he gets it right, which we're all hoping he will, I think he will this time.

"He's a bit older, a bit more mature and knows his role a bit better, knows his body better, knows how he bowls.

​
"His role's going to be go out to just bowl quick.'

'Warne also backed the selection of George Bailey, picked to make his Test debut at No.6.

It was based almost entirely on Bailey's superb one-day form in India, but Warne said the 50-over format had regularly been a breeding ground for Test players.

"If a guy's in form it's pretty hard to resist,'' Warne said.

"He's been consistent in making those runs and the way he's been getting them.''

Warne, who wrote last week that captain Michael Clarke must work on improving team harmony, said it had been a good move naming the squad for the Gabba Test, which starts on November 21, well beforehand.

"They all look happy, they're all in form, so all the signs have been good for Australia,'' he said.

"England were the better side in England in the last Ashes series, they deserve to be favourites for this series.

"But we're on Australia's turf, it's time for our guys to put their hand up.''


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ver-in-the-ashes/story-fni2fnmo-1226759347585
 
Last edited:
Aussies plan to start Ashes by taking advantage of Fortress Gabba hoodoo haunting England



IF there is any amusement in statistics then England's record at the Gabba is worth a chuckle.

Believe it or not, the Poms have lost more games in Brisbane than Australia.That's a mighty achievement given they only catch the boat out here every four years or so.

Australia has played 55 Tests at the Gabba and lost only eight. England has played 19 and lost 10, a worse than 50 per cent record.

It gets better.

Australia has won 33 matches at what has become known as fortress Gabba while England has claimed just four.

And the only post World War II victories were against virtual Australian second XIs, in 1978-79 during World Series Cricket and 1986-87 amid South African rebel tours.

So all things being equal, Australia should be raging hot favourites to stitch up the Poms on a typically bouncy deck.

​
Except things are rarely equal and they are certainly not at the moment.It is little more than two months ago that Australia suffered a third successive Ashes defeat.

Not since those dim, dark days in the mid '80s has Australia had such a forlorn run, failing to win nine Tests in a row.

The long term ramifications of the first Test are enormous on and off the field.The new-found mantra of stability with selection, which has resulted in a rightly predictable first Test team, can only last with winning.

And Cricket Australia needs a victory desperately to put out the spot fires of chaos which are in danger of bursting into a raging bushfire.

Change is difficult and the Argus report has demanded sweeping reform following Australia's previous Ashes defeat at home three years ago.

But few have confidence in the man charged with implementing much of that change, Pat Howard, who holds the newly created position of high performance manager.

The former Wallaby has managed to upset or confuse many of the so called "stakeholders" he is meant to be working with, including players and state coaches and officials.

Perception is reality and CA gives the appearance of fraying at the edges.

How the governing body can so publicly fall out with cricket's biggest supporter, the ABC, is mind-boggling.

A slap around the head from recently retired legend Ricky Ponting via his book and subsequent straightforward interviews have not helped CA.

Chief executive James Sutherland poured fuel on that spot fire when he played the man and not the ball at a press conference following CA's annual meeting last month.

He should have taken his angst out on Ponting, not those simply delivering Ponting's message.

Becoming frazzled in front of those who disseminate to the cricket world was neither reassuring nor edifying.

The capitulation and confusion surrounding England's current tour game, when a NSW second XI became an invitation XI at the insistence of the England Cricket Board, has only added to the perception of uncertainty.

Just two of the seven leading state players plucked from everywhere are involved, while South Australia's Callum Ferguson was a late inclusion.Victory at the Gabba can set Australia on course to retain the Ashes.

Defeat doesn't bear thinking about.

GABBA TEST RESULTS

Australia: 55 Tests - 33 wins - 8 losses - 13 draws - 1 tie

England: 19 Tests - 4 wins - 10 losses - 5 draws



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...haunting-england/story-fni2fnmo-1226759306172

- - - Updated - - -

If Australia's on song in first Ashes Test against England at Gabba, then Nathan Lyon will be too



316230-4cd68432-4c3b-11e3-95c1-9e9b6c573736.jpg

Nathan Lyon celebrates a wicket at the Gabba last year, one of 11 he's taken at the Brisbane ground. Source: News Limited



NATHAN Lyon refuses to accept the Gabba is a graveyard for finger spinners and says the ground even plays to his strength.

"I love playing there. It is a great place to play Tests,'' the Australian off-spinner said.

"Off-spinners can get bounce. That is one of my biggest weapons. I look forward to it.

"If it seams, it spins. I have had reasonable success there in my two Tests.''

Lyon will be an interesting case study this Ashes series.In recent tours of India and England, Australia found reasons to drop him but each time he ground his way back.

His supporters yearn for Australia to believe in him and accept his Test record of 85 wickets at 33 from 25 matches is an accurate gauge of his talent as a slow bowler who might not spin the world off its axis but does a more than serviceable job and will improve with experience.

​
History paints a grim picture for men of Lyon's trade at the Gabba but a brighter one for the man himself.

While England's John Emburey is the only finger spinner to have taken a five-wicket haul there in the post-World Series Cricket era (5-80 in November, 1986), Lyon has taken 11 wickets at 24 in two Tests there.

His 4-69 against New Zealand was the second-best figures to Emburey for finger spinners in the past three decades.

With West Indian Lance Gibbs and Australia's Ian Johnson, Lyon is one of only three finger spinners to take more than 10 Test wickets at the Gabba.

Lyon was ordained as the custodian of the team song Beneath The Southern Cross when Mike Hussey retired in January, but Australia have failed to win any of the nine Tests since Hussey has retired so he has had no chance to sing it.

"I definitely have not forgotten the words,'' he said. "Hopefully we will be able to sing it a few times this series. It is important we bring home the Ashes.''

He says rejection in India and England has not unsettled him.

"It is obviously disappointing not playing cricket for Australia when you get dropped and miss out, but just the opportunity to be around the squad in England was great for me.

"I have been watching them a fair bit and I played three Tests against them in England. We are definitely better off this time around. Hopefully we can stick to our plans."I really have to grab this opportunity in both hands.''

If he can maintain a solid run of results, Lyon is well positioned to play all Tests except, perhaps, for Perth.

While leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed is being watched closely there is a feeling he is still getting used to cricket the Australian way.

Sheffield Shield teams have noticed Fawad can lack variety at the start of his spells and are attacking him early, a fact which will no doubt have been noticed by England scouts.

Ashton Agar started the Ashes series in England but may be left to bake in the oven of Shield cricket this summer.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...lyon-will-be-too/story-fni2fnmo-1226759315215

- - - Updated - - -

Uncage the lion: Allan Border urges David Warner to play naturally and go on the attack


  • BEN DORRIES
  • NEWS LIMITED
  • NOVEMBER 14, 2013 12:00AM

341347-6930f036-4c27-11e3-8ea1-0956ca5aa3f4.jpg

David Warner plays a rare defensive shot, something England may not see too much of this summer.Source: News Limited


ALLAN Border believes Dave Warner's mind has become muddled about how he should play in Test cricket.

And the former captain and Test legend has advised Australia to give Warner the freedom to fearlessly attack England's bowlers this summer.

''I get the feeling that now Warner is starting to play more Test cricket, he is torn between really going after the bowlers and playing as a traditional opening batsman,'' Border told The Courier-Mail.

''I don't think that traditional style is going to suit him. He has got to be one of those players that you just give him his head.

''It is going to look ugly from to time the way he gets out, but on the other side of the coin he can absolutely go off.

''Australia should use his talent which is to strike the ball fearlessly. When you start constraining those guys, sometimes like a caged lion they are not too sure how to play and they end up not doing any good for you at all.'

'For all his batting talents, Warner is averaging just 36 after 22 Tests and it yet to fully turn potential into performance and be the rolled-gold matchwinner Australia knows he can be.

And Warner has done anything but set the world on fire in his recent Test appearances.

His last nine Test innings have produced scores of 12, 6, 3, 71, 41, 5, 8, 0 and 2.

Clearly that is nowhere near good enough - but Australia is well aware that Warner is a diamond in the rough who can demolish any Test attack.

Warner has been on fire this domestic season and belted more runs playing for New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield game against Queensland at Allan Border Field yesterday.

The Test opener was dismissed for 52 (62 balls), trying to repeat a six from the previous ball but instead swiping Queensland legspinner Cameron Boyce down the throat of deep mid-wicket.

Border has always liked Warner's gung-ho style and insists he simply needs to clear his head at Test level and whack any deliveries that are in his strike zone.

He doesn't want Warner to worry about being overly responsible, or playing to certain expectations, but says he should use his attacking weapons to go after the Poms whenever possible.

''I just reckon Warner is better off being given a license to go out there and get after it,'' Border said.

''If it feels right, he should just go after it, don't second guess himself or worry about looking responsible in Test cricket.

''He is much better being given the freedom to simply play what he sees in front of him. We have got some Steady Eddies in there like Chris Rogers at the top of the order.

''Dave Warner at the top of the order, if he gets used properly, can be that real x-factor for Australia in the Ashes.''


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...go-on-the-attack/story-fni2fnmo-1226759342148


- - - Updated - - -

Ian Botham tells Inside Cricket that Kevin Pietersen wants Aussie crowds to 'get at him'


  • ANTONY PINSHAW
  • FOX SPORTS
  • NOVEMBER 14, 2013 9:44AM

IT seems the best way Australian fans can get under Kevin Pietersen's skin is to kill him with kindness.

England's most explosive batsman has been a walking headline for much of his career, and his flamboyance and perceived arrogance make him a natural magnet for opposition fans' ire.

This extends to his off-field exploits as well, especially on social media, where he seems to take glee in goading his Ashes foes into taking Twitter pot shots at him.

But according to legendary England all-rounder Ian Botham, who filled a similar role in fans' minds to Pietersen during his lengthy career, this is all part of the South African-born batsman's tactics to get the best out of himself.

​
Speaking on Fox Sports' Inside Cricket on Wednesday night, Botham said the constant drama surrounding Pietersen, including his battle to be fit for the first Test due to a knee problem, is just how the 33-year-old gets the best out of himself.

"I don't actually read anything into what KP does in the build-up (to a series)," Botham said.

"I think he's just going through the motions."He's here to play in the big arenas, he wants to be on the big stage.

"He wants to walk out in Brisbane with his head up, and he wants the crowd to get at him. He thrives on it."I never worry about KP."

Botham struck a supremely confident tone last night, which couldn't always be said of his fellow Inside Cricket panel members Matthew Hayden, Allan Border and Brendon Julian.

Hayden used his time on the couch to implore Australia's selectors to stick with the top order of Chris Rogers, David Warner and Shane Watson that was chosen for the first Test.

"I think the likes of Watson and Warner have to really lift during this series," Hayden said.

"Those roles have been chopped and changes around as well, so I think the selectors have actually now got to bite the bullet ahead of this Test match series and say, 'fellas, this is what you're about, you've got to setup the game for the middle order to come in'."

Asked if John Inverarity and co. should decide now to use the same top six batsmen for the first three Tests of the series, Hayden was emphatic.

"That's most definitely what I would do."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ds-to-get-at-him/story-fni2fnmo-1226759565951
 
Last edited:
All-rounder Shane Watson says he's on track to play first Test but is hesitant to bowl


  • ANTONY PINSHAW
  • FOX SPORTS
  • NOVEMBER 14, 2013 5:26PM

THE chance of seeing Shane Watson steaming in to bowl at the Gabba is looking increasingly unlikely, with the all-rounder saying if he bowls in the first Ashes Test it would be "a bonus".

Watson has been battling to get himself fit in time for the Brisbane Test after pulling up with a hamstring strain during the seventh and final one-dayer against India earlier this month.

The 32-year-old sustained the injury while bowling, but after delaying his entry until Australia was six wickets down, he came to the crease and smashed a quickfire 49 during which he was clearly restrained by the injury.

However, at the unveiling of Australia's first Test squad on Tuesday, chief selector John Inverarity said there was no doubt Watson would play and suggested there was a strong possibility he'd be able to bowl as well.

But speaking at Sydney airport as he prepared to fly out to Brisbane, Watson said his recovery is coming along well, but bowling could still be a little while off.

"I've been progressing on schedule really, but things could change very quickly as I've experienced in the past, so hopefully it continues to progress the way it is," Watson said.

"It really does depend on pushing the limit to make sure I'm ready to go as a batsman, and maybe (as) a bowler, but not risking it to actually have a chance of re-injuring it, which means putting me out for batting as well.

"It's just trying to find that balance."I'm going to talk to Alex (Kontouris, Australia's head physio) and Darren (Lehmann) and Michael (Clarke) as well about what their thoughts are, but at the moment it's progressing well.

"If I'm able to bowl, I think it'd be more (of) a bonus."

Australia has included Tasmanian tyro James Faulkner in the 12-man squad, and could fill the all-rounder role should Watson not be fit to play.

If Watson does play but is unable to bowl it would rob the Aussies of the valuable fourth seamer option, but in Steve Smith they have a very serviceable back-up spinner.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...hesitant-to-bowl/story-fni2fnmo-1226760067846

- - - Updated - - -

Pace is ace, curator says, but don't spurn turn at the Gabba lest it costs Australia the Ashes urn



169466-b5831256-4cf5-11e3-8ea1-0956ca5aa3f4.jpg

The Gabba's curator is urging Australian selectors to pick Nathan Lyon in the Test XI against England. Source: News Limited


GABBA curator Kevin Mitchell Jr has warned Australia against sidelining Nathan Lyon as it emerged the Test off-spinner is at his most potent when bowling in Brisbane.

There are fears Lyon could be overlooked for the first Test against England in the event selectors opt for four quicks as insurance if allrounder Shane Watson is unable to bowl.

But Mitchell believes Lyon can be Australia's trump card _ and statistics show the 25-year-old is at his zenith when deploying tweakers on wearing Gabba decks.

Since his entry to Test cricket in 2011, Lyon has claimed 11 scalps from just two Tests at the Gabba at 24.09.

He has registered double-figures at just one other Test venue, striking 10 times at Adelaide Oval at 25.10.

Despite amassing 85 wickets in 25 Tests at 33.24, Lyon perenially seems in the firing line, and could face a nervous wait if Watson is officially prevented from bowling in Brisbane.

But Mitchell's 23 years of pitch-preparing experience at the Gabba tells him Australia's selectors would be taking a major risk by relegating Lyon to 12th-man duties.

"I can't remember the last time Australia didn't pick one (a spinner), so I'd suggest it would be the same," Mitchell said yesterday.

"With a five-day match, if it's drying out, the spinner comes into the game at the Gabba.

"Nathan Lyon bowls well here, especially later in the game."He's tall and gets a bit of bounce so I think he will be handy.

Mitchell insists he has not been given an edict by Cricket Australia to prepare a batsman's paradise as Gabba management yesterday announced a $5 million facelift.

Around 20,000sqm of turf has been re-laid, sparing only the wicket block, while Australia and England will enjoy new dressing-rooms including a spa and air-conditioning.

"The ground has been re-turfed, we did some remedial work underneath so it's drained beautifully," Mitchell said.

"It's always been a new-ball wicket and that will continue."You can't afford to waste the new ball otherwise you will pay for it.

"We are aiming for a result on the fifth day, that's the way I prepare my wicket."

Australian skipper Michael Clarke says Lyon's Sheffield Shield haul of 3-167 against Victoria last week does not do justice to his ability at Test level.

"Every spinner is cloesly watched because of how great Shane Warne was," he said.

"But I think Nathan has been fantastic at international ctricket, he has been around the group and he's been a wonderful guy.

"He is bowling well for the NSW, he would have liked a few more wickets but the game at the MCG the other day didn't offer much for spin bowling.

"I'm confident if he gets an opportunity in the first Test he will take his chance."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ia-the-ashes-urn/story-fni2fnmo-1226760172020

- - - Updated - - -

Stop fighting, support Michael Clarke and prepare to do battle for the Ashes, says Jason Gillespie



332377-a30d3f58-4d1c-11e3-8ea1-0956ca5aa3f4.jpg

Former Test bowler Jason Gillespie is calling on teammates and former players to support captain Michael Clarke as he prepares for the Ashes. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: DailyTelegraph



FORMER Test speedster Jason Gillespie has feels compelled to call for a ceasefire in the civil war he fears will tear Australia apart this summer.

England haven't won four successive Ashes series since 1890 but will have a real chance unless Australia's players - past and present - put aside simmering differences.

Gillespie says Test skipper Michael Clarke mightn't be everyone's cup of tea but is a tactically astute captain who is working on his off-field game with national coach Darren Lehmann.

"He is a bit of a Julio Iglesias, likes to dress well, has as few tough stickers on the body but that his prerogative. He is his own man. As long as that doesn't affect the team dynamic that is absolutely fine," said 71-Test paceman Gillespie of Clarke.

"Dizzy" has been surprised by the fallout of books released by Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and now Clarke himself.

Gillespie believes parts of Ponting's book criticising Clarke's leadership have been overblown. However, cricket statesman and former Test captain Mark Taylor has even been drawn into the controversy surrounding Ponting's autobiography.

At the close of play which criticised Cricket Australia and questioned Clarke's role as his deputy.Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne also defended Clarke, labelling Ponting "jealous" of his successor.

But former Test tearaway Jeff Thomson has placed Clarke at ground zero in Australia's Test decline which was the last straw for Gillespie.

Clarke needs support rather than hammering a week out from the Ashes opener - Gillespie is calling for a halt to sniping on all sides.

"To blame one person for everything going on with the Test team is pretty harsh," Gillespie told News Corp.

"Shane Warne came out and had a crack at Alastair Cook's captaincy and all the England players were soon out and backing their captain.

"Pup probably isn't getting the same support."If Thommo does have a problem with Clarkey then give him a call."

Gillespie said Clarke must be given space to address talk of division with former deputy Shane Watson and appeared to be making progress.

Australia's premier duo must be on the same page to have any hope of reclaiming the little urn insists Gillespie.

"They are working on it. Not everyone will be best mates," said Gillespie, who fondly recalls his time in Australia's golden Test era from 1996-2006.

"It is important that key members of the side are communicating well."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-jason-gillespie/story-fni2fnmo-1226760189767

- - - Updated - - -

Pointed exchange: James Anderson and Michael Clarke feud could spark up Ashes


  • PETER BADEL
  • NEWS LIMITED
  • NOVEMBER 14, 2013 11:30PM

TENSIONS between James Anderson and Michael Clarke threaten to spill into the first Test after revelations the English quick snubbed the Australian skipper during the recent Ashes series.

Australian quick Ryan Harris admits Anderson is the swing king the home side must nullify to reclaim the Ashes this summer - starting this Thursday at the Gabba.

But if Anderson has a target in mind, it is sure to be Clarke after the English spearhead admitted whacking him in the head with a pad during his side's Ashes tour in 2006-07.

A stunned Clarke responded by verbally lashing Anderson - and the contents of the Australian skipper's newly-released Ashes diary indicates relations remain frosty.

Clarke downplayed talk of a toxic feud with Anderson, writing in the book that he has no personal problem with any current English player.

However, the Australian skipper provides an intriguing account of Anderson, revealing how the English paceman refused to talk to him at a lunch in the lead-up to the first Test.

Clarke also spoke of Anderson "murmuring pleasantries" in the second Test before the pair "exchanged words" after an "accidental" mid-pitch collision during the third Test.

Anderson labelled Clarke "arrogant" in his own book after the 2006 altercation, an incident that explains why the English quick now gives his Ashes rival the silent treatment.

"I'm polite to all of the Englishmen and will say G'day to anyone. James Anderson is the one who prefers not to talk to me," Clarke opines in his Ashes diary.

"I didn't read his book, but from what I heard, he had a crack at me."That's fine. He's a fast bowler, and if I was his captain I'd want to see a bit of mongrel in him too. I doubt it's personal, though, because we don't know each other.

"If you have longevity in the game you must be a decent person, because if you're not, you get thrown out.

"I don't have any personal problems with any of the English players."

The 87-Test veteran has a good record against Clarke, having dismissed him eight times at Test level - including twice in England's recent 3-0 series win.

Anderson used his biography to detail his alcohol-fuelled attack on Clarke. He alleges he hit the batsman with a pad at the behest of Clarke's former teammate Damien Martyn following Australia's epic six-wicket win in Adelaide.

"As I'd had a couple of beers, I didn't need a second invitation," he wrote.

"So I picked this pad up and cuffed Clarke with it, making the biggest thud imaginable in the process, and causing everyone in the room to stop nattering. For a split second, there was complete silence.

"'What the f*** ya doing?' he (Clarke) snarled.

"While others chatted with opposite numbers about the game, Clarke was being a complete pain, whistling away to himself and carrying on in a most arrogant manner."

At the announcement of Australia's first Test squad on Tuesday, Clarke said actions would speak louder than words this summer.

"Now it's not what we say, it's what we do," he said."I hope we can start that on Thursday week."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d-spark-up-ashes/story-fni2fnmo-1226760189759

- - - Updated - - -

No-nonsense Lehmann tells Clarke and Ponting to sort it out before the onset of Ashes hostilities


  • PETER BADEL
  • NEWS LIMITED
  • NOVEMBER 15, 2013 12:00AM

AUSTRALIA coach Darren Lehmann has urged Michael Clarke to "sort out" any differences with Ricky Ponting to ensure he is mentally prepared for a career-defining Ashes campaign.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Lehmann has spoken privately with Clarke, mindful the Australian side needs its most important player fully focused on orchestrating an Ashes boilover.

Clarke has endured a turbulent build-up to the first Test starting Thursday, with former skipper Ponting claiming his one-time deputy sometimes failed to buy into the team culture.

Ponting's critique in his new book sparked a virtual civil war as a posse of Test greats, including Ian Chappell, debated the merits of Clarke's contribution to Australian cricket.

Lehmann doesn't want petty off-field distractions to derail Australia's on-field objectives and hopes Clarke can put aside the external criticism to worry solely about toppling England

."I just want Michael focus on cricket," said Lehmann, who ascended to the national coaching post in June.

"Michael is the best player in the world."Basically I just want them (Clarke and Ponting) to sort it out and that's really all that needed to be said.

"That's all I want him to do ... is move on now and play cricket."

Clarke has sufficient motivation to produce a bumper Ashes campaign. The skipper endured a poor home summer during England's most recent tour in 2010-11, scoring just 193 runs at 21.44 as England celebrated a 3-1 series victory.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has accused Clarke of mind games after the Australian captain publicly declared on Tuesday he knew the make-up of the opposition XI.

But Clarke says he is concerned only with Australia's approach, guarding his troops against complacency entering the Gabba series opener.

"We need guys at the top of their games and looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead," he said.

"It is obviously a huge summer for us but as a playing group we are trying to keep a lid on it as much as we possibly can.

"Every opportunity you get to play for Australia is very important and you must cherish that every single time you walk on to the ground."

Lehmann has no doubt his side can unsettle England and reclaim the Ashes by taking their chances in clutch moments.

"We're at home, different conditions, there's a different skill set, I suppose," Lehmann said as he reflected on Australia's 3-0 loss in England.

"At the end of the day we've got to perform better than we did in England. We know that as a team, so we've got to get the basics right, win the key moments, which we didn't do in England.

"But I think we're on the right path, and I'm really happy with where we're at."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...shes-hostilities/story-fni2fnmo-1226760176310

- - - Updated - - -

Injured Australia fast bowlers James Pattinson, Jackson Bird back bowling in nets


  • BEN DORRIES
  • NEWS LIMITED NETWORK
  • NOVEMBER 15, 2013 11:34AM

INJURED fast bowlers James Pattinson and Jackson Bird will bowl to their Australian teammates in the nets in Brisbane today, in a promising sign for Australia's Ashes plans.

And Shane Watson has made his first appearance at team training in Brisbane, although he told News Corp Australia he will not bowl at practice.

Watson, who has an injured hamstring and is likely to play in next week's first Ashes Test as a specialist batsman, had a series of light jogs under the watchful eye of team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

Watson also batted in the Allan Border Field nets, facing Test quicks Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.

Tall timber Bird and young gun Pattinson both are recovering from back stress fractures, with Bird more progressed in his rehabilitation than Pattinson.

Bird was more heavily involved in training this morning, however Pattinson will also have a bowl towards the end of the Australian session.

Following on from his 52 in the first innings, Test opener David Warner was dismissed for 21 playing for NSW against Queensland at Allan Border Field this morning.

With girlfriend Candice Falzon watching from the stands, Warner chopped a delivery onto his stumps off Queensland quick Alister McDermott.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-bowling-in-nets/story-fni2fnmo-1226760929585
 
Last edited:
SA's Phil Hughes the star on day three of Shield clash against WA with a maiden double century



253500-cc09785c-4db9-11e3-95c1-9e9b6c573736.jpg

Phil Hughes celebrates bringing up 150 against Western Australia at Adelaide Oval on day three.Source: Getty Images



TEST discard Phillip Hughes force fed selectors a double ton of Ashes credentials as South Australia buried Western Australia in Adelaide.

Selectors, so quick to axe Hughes (204) after the second Ashes Test at Lord's in July, will be compelled to consider the left-hander's irresistible touch after posting a maiden double ton and 22nd first-class century.

"It was great, my first 200 in any form of cricket. It nice to get the big one. I wanted to make the most of it," said Hughes.

"The message has been to get more runs and I did."

Hughes, 24, punched the air in an emotional outpouring on reaching 200 with a drive through mid-wicket.

The Macksville kid had been deprived off a shot at red-ball redemption for five months after becoming a high profile Ashes casualty.

However the healthy crowd was treated to a 26-boundary display - filled with crisp cover drives and technical surety that selectors want from Hughes in baggy green.

It seemed a 13th Shield ton was among Hughes's sweetest. The superb knock eclipsed Hughes highest score, 198, against South Australian in Adelaide during 2008-09.

Hughes' 533-minute stay was ended chasing a second run off Ashton Agar.A missile return from Nathan Coulter-Nile was the only way the Warriors were going to catch Hughes short.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-double-century/story-fni2fnmo-1226760872573

- - - Updated - - -

Test opener Chris Rogers fails twice for Victoria against Tasmania in Sheffield Shield


  • STAFF WRITERS
  • AAP
  • NOVEMBER 15, 2013 7:09PM

366507-d97d3eb8-4dcf-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

George Bailey hits a four for Tasmania against Victoria in their Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive.Source: News Limited


Test opener Chris Rogers produced a double failure in the Sheffield Shield match at Bellerive, his final warm-up for the Ashes series starting next week.

Rogers was out for 11 in Victoria's second innings after making just three in the first against Tasmania.The 36-year-old had come into the match in superb form after making 117 and 88 in his previous match against NSW

But he played on and was bowled by a delivery from Tigers paceman Adam Maher late on day three to leave the visitors 1-33, a lead of 166.

Ashes squad members George Bailey and James Faulkner also got limited batting practice ahead of the series opener against England at the Gabba, which starts on Thursday.

Tigers captain Bailey, who will make his Test debut, made 37 and allrounder Faulkner just 14.

Australian Twenty20 skipper Bailey, who forced his way into the Test squad with a massive one-day series in India, would have been hoping for more after being involved in a disastrous run-out with Alex Doolan.

Bailey left his teammate stranded after calling a quick single on the final ball before lunch, the in-form Doolan sent on his way by a Glenn Maxwell direct hit for 41.

Making matter worse, it was widely considered Bailey had pipped Doolan to make the Ashes squad earlier this week.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...sheffield-shield/story-fni2fnmo-1226761364250

- - - Updated - - -

David Hookes' death changed Australia coach Darren Lehmann's attitude towards life and cricket



314536-a230fc9a-4dc2-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

David Hookes (l) with Darren Lehmann at Adelaide oval in 1989. Picture: File Photo Source: News Limited



DARREN LEHMANN knew what he wanted to say but he just could not bring himself to say it.

He was sitting at the bedside of his great mate and mentor David Hookes in a Victorian hospital knowing that the moment would soon arrive when Hookes' life would be over.

Hookes was on soon-to-be-switched off life support after an altercation with a bouncer on January, 18, 2004 outside the Beaconsfield Hotel in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Hookes, who had been drinking with Lehmann and several other players, crashed to the ground, hit his head, went into cardiac arrest and never regained conciousness.

This was goodbye but Lehmann just could not say it.

Finally words started to tumble from Lehmann's lips and the trickle became a flood.Lehmann spoke to his silent mentor for 20 minutes as if he was still awake and aware, telling Hookes he loved him and how he would never forget what he had done for him.

Lehmann could not bring himself to leave.

When the moment came he kissed his old mate, squeezed his hand, whispered goodbye, told him he was going to miss him and, finally, walked out.

The brutal finality of the sound of the hospital ward doors closing behind him stayed with Lehmann for years.

"It changed my attitude,'' Lehmann said of Hookes death."I realised cricket was a game and life was more important. When you are at the ground you are driven by what you are doing but once that is done you can't change the past and you can't look too far forward.

"I don't think you ever get over it. When you are just there you say what you want to say you are uninhibited and that emotion comes out.

"I am a pretty emotional guy anyway. I cry in every bloody movie I watch. I don't mind players showing emotion. I don't mind them crying. You know they are hurting and what they are trying to do.''

As a youngster Lehmann travelled down from Gawler to Adelaide to watch Hookes bat at the Adelaide Oval.A fellow left-hander, he was the man and the batsman Lehmann wanted to be and in later years he even stole Hookes signature hoick over mid-wicket.

While Lehmann and Hookes were essentially free spirits there was one of surprising piece of calculation about their batting that was passed down from the mentor to his prodigy.

Long before performance diaries became fashionable Hookes took aside Lehmann after he made a double century for South Australia against NSW and told him to write down everything he had done for the previous 48 hours, from the time he went to bed to the food he ate to how he trained and what he had for breakfast.

Lehmann followed that routine for the remainder of his career.

The imprint Hookes left on Lehmann was such that in the months following his death he stayed in the forefront of Lehmann's thoughts to the point where sometimes Lehmann would be facing up in a Test match and an image of Hookes would flash through his mind just as the bowler was about to deliver the ball.

But then a message came to move on.Several months after Hookes death Lehmann toured Sri Lanka - the only country where Hookes made a Test century - and a bustling century at Galle ventilated Lehmann's emotions.

When he raised his century Lehmann shed tears and hugged his batting partner Damien Martyn tightly to the point that for a while he simply could not let go.

Then he shot a long, searching glance skywards and for an instant the Test match seemed to be something more than a game of cricket but a spiritual celebration of a man and his hero.

"I looked up in thanks,'' Lehmann said in his autobiography Worth The Wait.

"It was as though Hookesy looked down and said in his typical manner, "You're right now mate, you don't need me any more, off you go, get on with it.''


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...life-and-cricket/story-fni2fnmo-1226761312968

- - - Updated - - -

Shane Watson says Australia will look to expose England's four-man bowling attack in Ashes



SHANE WATSON believes Australia can win the Ashes by pushing England's four-man bowling attack to their physical and mental limits.

Watson, who is battling a hamstring injury, has not ruled out making an appearance at the bowling crease in the first Test next Thursday and if he does it will present Australia with their one conspicuous advantage - an all-rounder.

England's 3-1 win over Australia here three years ago was the only time in the last century England beat Australia in Australia without a genuine fifth bowling option.

Many previous four-man English attacks have roasted and wilted on mercilessly hard Australian grounds under a harsh sun.

Watson has great respect for England's attack believes the lack of an all-rounder is the key area for Australia to exploit.

"That is the way we are going to win the Ashes,'' Watson said."As a batting unit we are going to bat for a long period of time, especially in the first couple of Tests. We will see where they are at physically and mentally. That is one of our biggest goals.

"We have no doubt they will keep coming but at what level? We haven't been able to challenge that level. Keep them coming back, get them fatigued and try to keep them that way as well. Don't let them off by batting badly and getting a rest.''

"They are reliant on four bowlers including three world class bowlers (Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann). That is the reason they have been so successful.''

"We are starting to play a brand of cricket now where we are more aggressive and taking on the game. That is the brand of cricket Australia has always played at our best.

"We have not sat down and gone through what the specific plans for their bowlers are. There is no doubt a lot of people know Darren Lehmann's thoughts on spin and part time bowlers.

"The way to take on the game and put more pressure on their main bowlers. That won't change.''

Watson batted in the nets yesterday but did not bowl. If he does bowl in the Test it is likely to be at a reduced workload.

"If it works out really well in the next four or five days I might be able to bowl a few overs but it won't be at full capacity.''

"Everything has gone to plan so far. It can change in a split second as well. The great thing is there has been no pressure on all on me to push the limits to be able to bowl in this Test match.

"That has been the nicest thing out of all of this. Normally when I am coming back it is pushing my body to the limit to play as an all-rounder. To comeback from rehab and injury there is a danger you can go too far and it can put me back even longer.

"Darren Lehmann and the medical staff have been brilliant to not push me to come back and risk injuring myself.''


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-attack-in-ashes/story-fni2fnmo-1226761382156

- - - Updated - - -

Ashton Agar made one of cricket's most famous 90s, and he's been at it again this week



340796-f4f53cea-4db6-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

Agar on his way to another 90 for the Warriors against the Redbacks. Source: Getty Images


ASHTON Agar lives life with a smile on his face so he laughed about the bittersweet feeling of making another 90.

The teenage sensation who scored a remarkable 98 on debut at Trent Bridge during the first Ashes Test last July, came within touching distance of a century again with 93 in the current Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia against South Australia in Adelaide.

"It will be nice to get to that hundred one day and I was pretty determined to do that," Agar, now 20, said.

"I was caught down the leg side. Balls like that I had been turning around the corner but I managed to glove it. It didn't bounce too much so I don't know how I did it."

Playing club cricket in England on a scholarship, Agar was included in the Australia A and then Ashes squads before being chosen for his first Test.

It proved the shock of the tour when Glenn McGrath presented Agar with his baggy green cap little more than an hour before the first ball was bowled at Trent Bridge.


337920-260d3b34-4db7-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

Agar receives his Baggy Green cap on his Test debut from former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath. Source: Getty Images


Off-spinners have a poor record at the ground so Lyon made way Agar, a tall and naturally gifted cricketer who bowls left arm finger spin.

It wasn't Agar's bowling but his carefree and compelling 98, the highest score ever by a number 11, after Australia had collapsed to 9-117, that has changed Agar's life forever.

The embracing smile and swarthy complexion, passed on by his Sri Lankan mother, have made Agar an easily recognisable figure in England and Australia.

"Aussies and English as well, both were coming up and congratulating me and talking about that innings," he said

"They all said they had wished I made a hundred and I guess a couple of people might be saying that now (after his Shield innings)."

Members of the Sri Lankan community have been delighted to see Agar wearing a pirith noon on his left wrist, a sacred Buddhist holy thread which offers protection.

"We're not Buddhist but mum gives it to me and my brothers for good luck," he said.

Agar was not wearing one at Trent Bridge, which may or may not have cost him a century and Stuart Broad's wicket after a slash flew from Brad Haddin's gloves to Michael Clarke at slip.

"I wore one at Lord's but it didn't do much for me there," recalled Agar with that ever permanent smile.

He scored 2 and 16, failed to take a wicket and suffered a minor hip injury as Australia lost by 347.Agar was dropped and his return to state cricket has been a serious reality check.

He scored a total of eight runs in his first four Shield innings going into this current match and had taken five wickets at 53.

He was forced to move from Melbourne to Perth for a first class opportunity and misses one thing above all else, his mother's cooking.

"She makes excellent chicken and beef curry. She's a very, very good cook. That's one thing mum's heritage brings to the table, so to speak," said Agar.The other, of course, is cricket.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-again-this-week/story-fni2flhh-1226761340825
 
Last edited:
Test greats believe England will be ambushed in Ashes opener in Brisbane



Gabba greats Allan Border, Ian Healy and Craig McDermott believe England will be ambushed in Brisbane this week.

The famous Queenslanders claim that no matter how well prepared England believe they are for the first Test, beginning on Thursday, the Gabba's extra pace and bounce always unsettles visiting teams.

Healy wants this reinforced by unleashing a revived Mitchell Johnson, with McDermott recalling fond memories of the extra bounce unsettling England teams of the past.

"He's talked it up and it's time for him to start knocking these England batsmen around," Healy said of Johnson.

"The way Mitch has been talking he should take the new ball and give it to England straight away.

"England may believe they have demystified the Gabba after overcoming a 221 first innings deficit to force a series-changing draw there three years ago, thanks to a stoic Alastair Cook double century.

However Australia has not lost to England at the Gabba since 1986, when the team was gutted by South African rebel tours. Cook was aged almost two.

"You're got the home ground advantage with a bouncier track," Border said. "It does tend to suit our cricket with our fast bowlers and our batsmen have played there a lot in state cricket."

DRAMA

Healy insisted Australia must "create drama and pressure" at the Gabba.

"You want England to feel that historic pressure really early so that means a good start is crucial," he said.

"It can become a noose around the opposition's neck with the crowd behind you, but you have to play well to get on top, then an Australian team is hard to beat."

McDermott claimed that the secret to success at the Gabba was not getting carried away with the bounce. To bowl fuller rather than shorter, allowing the ball to swing, and mixing it up with some serious bouncers.

"Even in Shield cricket a lot of teams in my era certainly came to the Gabba and got carried away with its pace and bowled too short," he said.

"Something I really concentrated on was everything that I've been talking about for the last two years (as bowling coach). It doesn't really change.

"The Gabba has always offered a little bit of assistance if you get it in the right spot and it often swings.

"It doesn't swing all the time but if it's a bit overcast and there is a bit of moisture in the pitch you get the ball to swing quite easily.

"And with your bumpers it allows you to bowl some pretty good heat up their beaks if you really want to."

BAT FIRST

Border warned that no matter how tempting it may be to bowl first at the Gabba, it is almost never the right decision.

"You might think about bowling because there is generally a good grass covering," Border said.

"Depending on the overhead conditions you might risk it but it is a risk because the pitch quickens up.

"If you bat half decently on day one, when you come to bowl on day two the nicks carry and things happen a bit quicker.

"Even if it appears more difficult to bat day one, it can be just as difficult day two."And of late it's started to crack. It's never used to be a huge issue batting last but now ideally you want to be batting first and bowling last."

NEW BALL

Border insisted it was paramount that if Australia was to succeed, the fast bowlers must do significant early damage.

"It's a new ball wicket," he said.

"It doesn't matter how grassy it gets you're under the pump batting in the first 25 or 30 overs.

"For the next 50 overs it tends to be a really good place to bat."You've got to strike with the new ball. If you don't do that it can be hard work."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ener-in-brisbane/story-fni2fnmo-1226761748895

- - - Updated - - -

Former Test captain Mark Taylor emerges as key figure behind David Warner



808055-96500136-4ebd-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

David Warner has been in stellar form this season. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source:Getty Images


IT was the heart-to-heart that convinced David Warner it was time to grow up - and stop disrespecting the baggy green.

Ahead of the first Test against England starting Thursday, former Test skipper Mark Taylor has emerged as a key figure in the off-field development of polarising opener Warner.

As pairings go, they are the veritable Odd Couple.In the blue corner there is Taylor, the squeaky-clean former Test skipper lauded as Australian cricket's ultimate statesman.

In the red corner lies Warner, the rough-and-tumble kid from Housing Commission who fears his off-field behaviour has scuppered his dream of emulating Taylor by leading his country.

Sensing Warner was losing his way in the wake of his bar-room bust-up with English rival Joe Root, Taylor reached out to the combative opener.

The pair spoke about reputations and legacies; how Warner would one day be judged as a Test cricketer not by glamorous profile but gritty performance.

Effectively, Warner had to pull his head in and let his bat do the talking. Since their discussion, he has blasted four tons in a month for NSW and enters the Gabba Test at the peak of his powers.

"I've had a good chat to Dave and the pressures he's under," Taylor said."I don't know if my advice helped him, but we spoke honestly and I just mentioned that he will be closely watched.

"The unfortunate thing is when you do well, everyone loves you, but you only have to step out of line a little bit and all of a sudden you gets the wrath of everyone.

"We're all going to be watching Dave and sometimes you start to think it's not your fault, or someone else is to blame for the things that happen off the field.

"But Dave is responsible for his actions so I just reminded him of that.

"Talent wise there is no disputing he is a damn fine player.

Just turned 27, Warner accepts this can be his summer of atonement. He averages 36.87 from 22 Tests but his recent numbers are mediocre, managing 195 runs at 24.38 on a four-Test tour of India in March before averaging 23 in his troubled Ashes campaign.

While Taylor quickly grasped that image can be everything, Warner admits he has been forced to learn the hard way.

"Mark Taylor was great for me," he says."He basically told me _ you are not remembered for what you do off the field, all that matters is the numbers, how may hundreds you score, how many games you play.

"You have to carry yourself in a respectful manner. You have to respect that baggy green and if you don't, Mother Cricket will punish you."

Having copped his medicine, Warner says his greatest pain is crystallised in his Test record. His average, once a career-high 63.83 after blasting 180 against India in his fifth Test, has almost halved. It is time to get serious.

"Not scoring as many runs as I'd like and helping Australia win games hurts the most," he said.

"When I'm not performing at my best, I try and think I can hit my way out of it. You can't. At the moment, I have found a way to score runs and I have to keep working on it.

"I have to be smarter in the way I play this summer."

Taylor argues there are some cricketers who can perform amid off-field turmoil. Chiefly, he recalls Shane Warne, but Taylor believes Warner can do without external melodrama.

"You look at your average and the games that you've played and, if those two don't add up, then you're really not going to be remembered," Taylor said.

"Shane Warne had his fair share of controversy but was still able to play outstanding cricket for Australia.

"Sometimes it depends on the type of person you are, but the less you can cloud your thinking off the field, the better on the field.

"I really hope Dave gets the off the field stuff in order and focuses on his cricket.

"Like most of us, he seems to play his best when he is comfortable and settled away from the game."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ind-david-warner/story-fni2fnmo-1226761808082

- - - Updated - - -

Aussie fans will target England quick Stuart Broad, says Mike Hussey


  • MICHAEL HUSSEY
  • PERTHNOW
  • NOVEMBER 17, 2013 3:00AM

IN every Ashes series there is a villain and that is the burden England speedster Stuart Broad will have to shoulder entering the First Test at the Gabba on Thursday.

Australian cricket fans have sharp memories and won't forget in a hurry Broad's decision not to walk in the First Test at Trent Bridge earlier this year.

He's also had a bit to say off the field and Kevin Pietersen's convict jibe aside, he'll cop the most from the other side of the pickets.

There is no doubt Broad nicked West Australian spinner Ashton Agar to slip in Nottinghamshire, but I don't blame him for standing his ground.

It's the umpire's job to give him out and believe me, you are dismissed plenty of times in your career when you are not out, so it's OK to adopt a "swings and roundabouts" policy.

Ask every Aussie batsman what they would do and I have no doubt many would choose not to walk.Despite his image, Broad isn't a big sledger out in the middle.

He's very good at making eye contact and giving you the once-over.But he leaves the talking to Graeme Swann and Jimmy Anderson.

Jimmy just chips away all day, trying to provoke a reaction. He once called me Dave for an entire session, a reference to my brother.

I played with Swann in county cricket and he would always try to get me talking, knowing it was my preferred policy to not bite and just get on with the job.

Wicketkeeper Matty Prior is probably the most vocal out there.For the Aussies, Shane Watson and Davey Warner are the two most likely to engage in the sledging out in the middle.

Watto doesn't mind having a go back when someone has a crack at him and Davey won't take a backward step.I'm happy for any batsman to get involved as long as it doesn't take his mind off the job and in Watto and Davey's case, both seem to thrive on it.

Back to the series, and captain Alastair Cook stands in the way of the Aussies regaining the little urn.Wickets with the new ball will be crucial.

If the Aussie quicks can get rid of Cook early it will expose the middle order while the Kookaburra is new and hard.

Pietersen, Ian Bell and Joe Root can be dangerous, particularly when the pitch is flat and there isn't a lot going on, so it really is crucial they get Cook early and have a look at that trio.

The problem is Cook is so good at getting through new ball.England's tactics will be for Cook and fellow opener Michael Carbery to blunt the Aussie attack early, so don't expect any flamboyant strokes from them in their first session.

On the other hand England will be nervous about Australia's top three.A confident Watson and Warner spells danger and Chris Rogers can do his bit by digging in.

Both Warner and Watson are capable of scoring 100 in a session.The Aussies are hungry and haven't lost at the Gabba since 1988 so their confidence is not blind.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...says-mike-hussey/story-fni2utai-1226761805618

- - - Updated - - -

Michael Clarke begins mentoring his youngster teammates ahead of Ashes opener


  • BEN DORRIES
  • NEWS LIMITED
  • NOVEMBER 16, 2013 11:06PM

MICHAEL Clarke has morphed into a supercoach to lift and mentor his Australian team only days out from the start of the Ashes.

The Pup showed he was Top Dog when he gathered his three frontline fast bowlers in a semi-circle for a 15-minute animated pep-talk and then had a series of one-on-one tutorials with his batsmen in the Brisbane nets.

Test skipper Clarke did not bat in the outdoor practice nets at Allan Border Field but instead used his time to give words of guidance to his players, in much the same fashion as former skipper Ricky Ponting.

Clarke firstly sat fast bowling weapons Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle on the ground and had a prolonged discussion, often gesticulating with his hands as he ran through bowling plans to English batsmen.

When that was done, the Test skipper disappeared for an indoor net session before returning to keep an eagle eye on Shane Watson batting in the nets.

As he did before a tour game in England during the Ashes last winter, Clarke stood by the side of the nets and helped school his former vice-captain with some batting tips.

Watson had a horrendous run with lbws against the English bowlers but has worked hard on correcting some of the balance issues that floored him in England.

The Australian team, torn apart by internal feuds at times in the last 18 months, appears to be coming together as a unit with only four days to go until the first Test at the Gabba.

Fast bowling coach Craig McDermott, the Test legend, had Australia's pace attack around to his home in Brisbane for dinner on Saturday night as they bonded and fine-tuned plans for the Poms.

McDermott has been particularly impressed by Johnson, the left-arm firebrand who has taken 205 Test wickets but has often had far too much of a gulf between his best and his worst bowling.

Johnson will be targeted by England's Barmy Army but McDermott is confident he won't let it rattle him.

"I like where Mitchell is at the moment from an attitude or a headspace point of view," McDermott said.

''We are not worried about the Barmy Army. They are not on the cricket field, they don't influence our cricket do they?"

"I have not seen Mitchell bowl this well for quite a while, with his pace and his seam position.

"Our attack is very well balanced and the guys we have picked have already got a lot of Test wickets between them. I would back their ability to knock anyone over."

The Gabba - once a feared spicy pitch but more recently a batsman's paradise - is almost always a bat-first wicket but McDermott says Australia will not have any hesitation in bowling if conditions suit.

"If conditions are right, why wouldn't we have a look at something like that?" McDermott said.

"We have certainly got the attack that can bowl well on that sort of wicket."Having a lot of storms around at the moment ... conditions could favour having a trundle first."

Ashes fever will start to rise in Brisbane today when England's squad arrive at the airport this afternoon before checking into their hotel.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-of-ashes-opener/story-fni2fnmo-1226761796029

- - - Updated - - -

Ian Chappell says England hold an edge over Australia where it matters most



In the build up to this Ashes series the talk has been about a settled Australian side and the troubled English camp. Trumpeting the home side's chances is common in any Ashes preamble but in this case is it reality?

One simple way to gauge the likely outcome of a series is to line-up the players with an established Test pedigree in each team and see if one side appears superior.

In this case England has four batsmen [no Joe Root nor Michael Carberry], three bowlers and a wicketkeeper, provided Matthew Prior is fit.

Australia on the other hand has one batsman, with another borderline, two bowlers and a wicketkeeper.

Australian players in that category are Michael Clarke, [Shane Watson is borderline] Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Brad Haddin, with the proviso that age may be catching up on his batting.

Of the other batsmen, Dave Warner and Steve Smith have displayed the talent to be elevated to the next level without providing the required consistency.

Chris Rogers is a short-term Test solution and possible debutant George Bailey is an unknown quantity.

There's no doubt that Warner, Watson and Smith are all explosive stroke makers who can cause the opposition serious headaches. If two of those three players have a breakout series, then England could be in trouble.

However, if their form continues to bump along, hitting ruts and smooth patches with equal consistency, then Australia will rely heavily on Clarke to continue his recent mammoth run production. In that case Australia could be short of runs.

The frailty of England's batting was exposed in the last series. If those flaws are still evident then Australia's stocks will rise quickly.

However, most of the debate so far has presupposed that England's batsmen are brain dead and have done nothing to address their issues, while a combination of runs in ODI's and Sheffield Shield encounters has the Australian batsmen dispatching their weaknesses as though they were a gentle long-hop.

Neither position is sustainable and that's why actual contests are generally far more illuminating than the jousting beforehand.In the last series, Cook and Trott were the two England batsmen most unsettled by Australia's tactics but their excellent Test records suggest they've successfully overcome previous challenges.

The same could be said of Clarke's frailty against the short-pitched delivery. It'll be an interesting sidelight to watch how these three highly successful players have reacted to the opposition's assault on their technique.

Turning attention to the bowlers, both sides have two excellent fast men. Both Ryan Harris and Jimmy Anderson rely on movement, either through the air or off the pitch with the Australian being slightly quicker and the Englishman more durable.

Peter Siddle and Stuart Broad are similarly aggressive and have the ability to produce match winning spells. Both teams badly need their spearheads to remain fit and in form and of the four, Anderson and Siddle are the most likely to survive the marathon.

Mitchell Johnson is the unknown factor in Australia's quest for the Ashes; if he fires consistently it could elevate the side to favouritism and if his resurgence is a myth, it could reduce their efforts to futility.England's third quickie is a toss-up between three and this could be an area Australia can exploit.

An in-form Chris Tremlett could be devastating but signs are he's past his best. Stephen Finn is an enigma; he takes wickets but at times looks distinctly unthreatening and can be profligate.

Boyd Rankin's pace and bounce will be enticing for the English selectors but he adds little else.

England has a distinct advantage in spin bowling.

Graeme Swann is a classy off-spinner, penetrating and accurate, while Nathan Lyon often looks dangerous but this doesn't always result in victims.

It'll be a huge gamble if Australia opt for an all-pace attack at the Gabba.England has more pedigreed players and Australia needs everything to go right in batting and bowling.

That would suggest on paper England is favoured to win but as my old coach told me; "Ian, they play this game on turf."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-it-matters-most/story-fni2fnmo-1226761690401

- - - Updated - - -

Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and Tony Greig missing from Channel Nine Ashes commentary team



888719-cd8d3008-4cdb-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

Former cricket players and members of Channel Nine TV commentary team (L-R) Mark Taylor, Ian Chappell, Richie Benaud, Tony Greig and Bill Lawry. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited



FOR most, summer didn't begin without Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell and Tony Greig.

Like members of the family, we never contemplated life without them. Until now.The Ashes opener against England in Brisbane on Thursday will mark the first time in 34-years that three of the famous four from Channel Nine's cricket commentary team will be unavailable for the first Test of the summer.

Of the four originals only Chappell will take his place behind the microphone at the Gabba.

Like a real-life version of last man standing, the sad passing of Greig to cancer last year has been compounded by Benaud being involved in a car accident last month, which has left the 83-year-old training every day in a bid to overcome a sternum injury and regain full strength.

And Lawry, whose wife is unwell, has been granted leave until the Boxing Day Test, when Benaud is also hoping to return.

The unlikely set of circumstances will hit cricket lovers for six.Nine's head of sport Steve Crawley admitted it will be "strange" not to have Benaud and the boys kickstart another summer of cricket.


889603-c8eba3fe-4cdb-11e3-9491-1affab8972a4.jpg

Behind the scenes at the Channel 9 commentary box at the S.C.G. Picture: Bob Barker. Source:News Limited


"The changes have been forced,'' Nine's head of sport Steve Crawley said. "It's just the way its worked out because of what happened with Tony while Richie also had his car accident.

"It is a very different situation not having Richie there for the beginning of a summer, but both he and Bill will be back.

"There's a sadness about it, but it's a reminder that that's life. It does happen.'

'Benaud, Lawry, Chappell and Greig first commentated together for Nine in 1979. Chappell and Greig arrived three years after Benaud and Lawry began calling World Series cricket for Kerry Packer.

Ever since, they have been responsible for bringing cricket into our lounge room and our lives. They've been loved and loathed. They have also been famously parodied by the 12th man Billy Birmingham.

But overwhelmingly we've listened for their familiar voices, insight, colour, wit and banter.

Crawley said Nine are well prepared for next Thursday, adding that the next generation of commentators on the team, which includes Michael Slater, Mike Hussey, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Mark Nicholas and James Brayshaw, represented a "changing of the guard.''

Crawley said: "We've been thinking about it for a number of years and there's no getting away from that.

"It's probably the most recognised, definitely the longest commentary team, in world sport."It's rare that you have four like that, who come through 30-something years together.

"And you know why they were so good and they lasted so long was because they accepted change.

"They were willing and ready to be innovative, which is critical to being successful.''Chappell, 70, was typically astute when informed that he would be without his old mates when play got underway at the Gabba.

"Obviously its better when they're around, but you just get to that point when you know we're all getting older,'' the former Test captain said.

"You've also got to be realistic as far as television is concerned that you've got a use-by date and I suppose all this is a reminder that the end is getting close.

"I'm going to try and do everything possible not to bring it to a premature end, but it will end and I'll think 'well it was nice while it lasted'.

"And in a fitting tribute to Greig, Nine will unveil a new-look weather wall and pitch report on Thursday. The technology was a hallmark of the late commentator during the early 80s.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-commentary-team/story-fni2fnmo-1226761889659
 
Last edited:
Cricket Australia to groom captaincy candidates following fears about leadership vacuum



CRICKET Australia will tackle a worrying leadership vacuum by starting a wide-ranging search for future captains.

CA has confirmed that from next February around 20 young players nominated by their states and endorsed by the national selection panel will undergo a course which will groom them to be future leaders.

Current state captains and vice captains were not included on the list as they are having - or will have - individual development work.

The project is not specifically designed to flush out Australia's next Test captain but there has been growing concern in national cricket circles about the lack of future leaders.

NSP chairman John Inverarity has all but put a "position vacant'' sign on the Test leadership after the Michael Clarke era ends and urged emerging leaders around the country to strive for the position.

Allan Border's comments in The Sunday Mail spotlighted a key part of the debate.Border claimed modern cricketers were so mollycoddled they lacked the ability to think for themselves.

The flow-on from that is that they can lack the charisma to be strong leaders.Most professional cricketers these days rarely have jobs outside the game so there can be a lack of worldliness that does not help their problem-solving ability.

When Indian great Sachin Tendulkar met Sir Donald Bradman in Adelaide many years ago he was surprised at the reply he got when he asked Bradman how he prepared for an innings.

Bradman said he was often working as a stockbroker until a few hours before the game and sometimes tossed the coin wearing his business suit from work when he was running late.

Many of Australia's finest captains of long-gone eras were buffeted around by forces outside the cricket bubble such as Bill Woodfull (schoolteacher) and Richie Benaud (newspaper journalist).

The list of jobs of Australian captains includes accountant, solicitor, grazier, postman, dentist, whisky agent, bookmaker, shopkeeper and plumber.

The other factor - one which some observers feel is the most important of all - is that the amount of money on offer to modern players means they are less enthusiastic about accepting leadership positions because it could distract from the individual performance.

Leadership positions at state and national level are not as coveted as they once were.

CA sports psychologist Michael Lloyd has developed the program, which will include 360 degree analysis and feedback to the player, development of an ongoing leadership plan and targeted captaincy opportunities where available.

The three areas which will form the focus of the plan are the players' emotional intelligence, their mental agility as well as six leadership personality traits.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...eadership-vacuum/story-fni2fnmo-1226762055473

- - - Updated - - -

From punting and boozing to a Test-level bowler - not even Rod Marsh foresaw Harris's evolution



RYAN Harris has become one of the world's most professional cricketers but has revealed how he once boozed and punted his way through his first cricket contract.

The big-hearted paceman is now carrying Australia's Ashes hopes on his shoulders but it was a different story back in 2000 when he inked his first South Australian contract, worth $12,500.

That is almost $2000 less than what Harris now gets paid a Test with current match payments set at $14,400.

And while Harris is now planning to have a family with his wife Cherie, it was all about living footloose and fancy-free in his early cricket days.

"I remember getting $12,500 for my first contract and I punted it away and ****ed it up against the wall,'' Harris told The Courier-Mail.

"The second year my contract went up to $21,500 and I had an inheritance from an uncle as well, so I got a bit more sensible and actually bought a house. That all seems a long time ago now.''

Australia's Ashes spearhead is now regarded as one of the finest bowlers in the world. His 71 wickets from 16 Tests at 22.26 tell the story of just how good he is.But it wasn't always the case and he has certainly been no overnight success.

In his early days in Adelaide, Harris was regarded as a toiling medium-pacer, and not even Test wicketkeeping great and renowned talent spotter Rod Marsh could foresee the world-beating paceman he would later become.

Marsh was a high-ranking official in South Australia when he refused to give Harris an extended contract, forcing the paceman to move to Queensland in 2008-09.

Harris has never looked back.

"I wanted a three-year contract with South Australia at the time and Rod Marsh was in charge and he was only going to give me two,'' Harris said.

"I had been on eight one-year deals in Adelaide for eight years. All I wanted was some security.

"Financially it was a little bit better in Queensland, but basically Queensland just came and said we will give you three years.

"I went back to South Australia but they said 'No we are not doing it.

"When I was in Adelaide I just thought I was going to be playing there for the rest of my life. I didn't expect an opportunity in a place like Queensland, a successful place.

"It was a decision that was really hard to make but I look back on it now and everything has gone upwards since I went north.'

'Most of the country is expecting Harris and his fellow Australian quicks to bounce the living daylights out of the Poms this summer but there could be a fascinating double bluff.

While the short ball on occasions proved successful for Harris in England, and you would expect it would be even more of a weapon on bouncy Australian pitches, all might not be as it seems.

Don't be surprised if bouncers are just used as a shock weapon while Australia's quicks focus on taking wickets by bowling a fuller length.

"The bouncers will mix their feet up where the fuller balls will take over,'' Harris says.

"The England batsmen are pretty good players of the pull shot. I think we will get enough opportunities to get them out if we pitch it up and bowl it full. The nicks will carry to the slips for sure out here.''


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...arriss-evolution/story-fni2fnmo-1226762046208

- - - Updated - - -

Slings and arrows bounce off in Wayne's world and Clarke needs a similar suit of armour



062829-2e907f74-4f5a-11e3-99bb-f61605697d42.jpg



FOR more than a decade sportsmen have tried to bend it like Beckham but a key for Michael Clarke's success this summer may be to wing it like Wayne.

As in Newcastle coach and former Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett.Last week I spent a day in the company of Bennett's son-in-law, former Queensland five-eighth Ben Ikin, and we got talking about the things that have worked for Bennett throughout his illustrious three-decade coaching career.

Ben told a story about the day he was at Bennett's house and he read a newspaper column which was witheringly critical of the master coach.

"I was starting to get angry and emotional because it took a negative tone about Wayne and midway through reading it I heard giggling over my shoulder,'' Ikin said.

"It was Wayne reading the story as well. He said 'I like that bloke ... he can do a job on you.' He kept laughing and just walked off.'

'The column just bounced off Bennett like an arrow hitting a castle wall.Many would have been angry and sworn retribution but Bennett had seen and heard it all before so he marched on without a negative thought, got on with life and probably never thought about it again.

That's how many big-time sports personalities survive in the modern world. They don't get distracted by things they can do nothing about.It is a great skill if you can get it. Few do.

Many has been the assistant coach who rose to senior ranks and simply found the blowtorch called media criticism roasted them at the spit.

There's no way you could expect a 32-year-old Test cricket captain to be as battled hardened and philosophical as a football coach three decades his senior but there are lessons to be learned.

Clarke is sensitive by nature so the arrows which bounce of Bennett's crocodile skin often go a lot deeper with the Australian cricket captain.

Darren Lehmann urged Clarke to get over his anger at criticism of him in Ricky Ponting's book.Since then there have been reports Clarke has been very upset with other barbs flowing in his direction.

We should not be shocked by this for it is nothing more than human nature.True or not, it defies belief that even the stoutest soul could claim to enjoy being cast as a man who failed to embrace team culture.

But if Australia is to beat England in this series every spoonful of energy and mental capacity at Clarke's disposal needs to be going into the team cause.

It's challenging to do because a man can't change what he is.A sensitive person doesn't suddenly forge a cement heart overnight.But for his own good, Clarke has to be able to find the best way of dealing with the hurricane forces swirling around the team.

Different stars coped with public criticism in different ways.Steve Waugh read everything, said little publicly in response, but was motivated to the extreme by anything negative written about him.

The easiest way to ensure Waugh would score a century was the suggest he no longer could. Newspaper criticism was like smelling salts to him. A part of him secretly enjoyed it.

Greg Chappell had a filter system where if he rated the person criticising him he would take it in - if not he would ignore it.

Some, like the admirable Jason Gillespie, never had much of a problem with criticism because, humble man that he is, was often harsher on himself than any journalist was.

Mark Taylor, during his term as national captain, seemed to accept that the job would have its turbulence and generally accepted the good, bad and ugly with good humour.

No matter how annoyed he was privately, Ricky Ponting rarely whinged about a story.

Some coverage angered him like the headlines which branded him a Mug Punter for batting first on a green top in the 2010 SCG Test against Pakistan and he tossed a few gentle barbs back at the press after Australia won the match, later soiled by match-fixing allegations against Pakistan.

But these were rare and minor incidents.

When he turned up at a media conference, Ponting's mood always seemed to be one of neutrality rather than angry or particularly buoyant.

Matthew Hayden often decided to read nothing at all - the good or the bad.Hayden reckoned if he was going bad he did not need to read about it and if he was going well he did not want to get ahead of himself.

There would be times when friends would say, "hey, I loved that photo of you on the front of the paper with the kids'' and they would be bewildered when he said: "I didn't see it.

'It meant his scrap book was not as thick as it could have been - but he probably managed a few extra Test centuries.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...r-suit-of-armour/story-fni2fnmo-1226762063232
 
Last edited:
Shane Watson must step up and provide batting support for Michael Clarke, Barry Richards says



SOUTH African legend Barry Richards says Shane Watson must become the world class off-sider over-worked Michael Clarke desperately needs to neutralise 100-Test hit-man Kevin Pietersen and England.

Richards, 68, rates Pietersen the one tour de force in the game who can win contests off his own bat. Australia must find an answer in No.3 Watson, 32, or face being washed away for a fourth consecutive Ashes.

"Michael Clarke has been carrying the can, he needs a bit of support in a couple of areas," said Richards, who gave a 17-year-old Darren Lehmann his big cricket break as South Australia coach 25 years ago before appointed as Queensland Cricket chief.

"Shane Watson is one who has to really step up and say I am not going to just score one hundred for the series and that way they have a more reliable batting order."

Richards, who spanked two tons in four Tests before South Africa's Apartheid isolation, is perplexed by Watson's modest average of 36 and three tons in 46 starts.

"Watto is such an enigma. He has been opening and gone down to No.6. I think this coming series it is time for him to put his hand up," said Richards, surprised by Watson's lbw issues against England before striking 176 in the final Test at The Oval in August.

"People talk about him as a world class player but in terms of Test match hundreds he would want more."

Richards has watched Australia and England lose series to the Proteas in the past 18 months and believes the gap between the Ashes rivals is narrowing.

Richards pin-pointed England No.5 Ian Bell as the safety net that allows 23-ton strokeplayer Pietersen's licence to attack.

The last of the Aussie squad has arrived in Brisbane for Thursday's first Test at the Gabba. At 31, debutant George Bailey knows this may be his only opportunity to perform in the baggy green.

"Pietersen is a match-winner. He won't fashion out a hundred, he is one of those few batsmen around who can win matches," Richards told The Advertiser.

"One of the things Australia hasn't got is the new found confidence of Ian Bell. Kevin Pietersen can play with a lot more freedom when they have somebody a lot more solid at the other end."They have a bit more ammunition."

Speaking after his final Shield game before the Ashes, Steve Smith believes Australia will target Graeme Swann to keep him out of the attack as much as possible.

However Australia's chance of reclaiming the Ashes will diminish unless Clarke enters the series opener in Brisbane on Thursday with "enough cement" in team fabric.

"They need to make sure they are all pointing in the right direction and young players are getting the support they need," said Richards.

"They have enough talent and should be very competitive on home soil."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ry-richards-says/story-fni2fnmo-1226762787325

- - - Updated - - -

Australian cricket fans may yet get to hear 'Bowled, Shane' in first Ashes Test at Gabba



SHANE Watson managed six gentle deliveries at training yesterday, raising hopes that he may be able to bowl in the first Test, beginning at Brisbane's Gabba on Thursday.

However, his contribution with the ball will be so limited because of his latest hamstring drama, if it happens at all, spinner Nathan Lyon may be forced to sacrifice his own game and tie up an end.

That Lyon is in the side at all is a show of faith from the selectors, which has not always been forthcoming given he was omitted at stages during Australia's most recent series in India and England this year.

Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris claimed that Watson was going well with his rehab.

"He did a little bit of bowling today, so that's in the infancy, but he's going well at the moment," Kountouris said.

"Obviously the Test is a long game, so we're building him up to bowl whenever he's ready to go.

"So if it's this Test, that's great. If it's a bit longer, then that's how it's going to be.

"Michael Clarke is an attacking captain who likes to use his spinners in that vein.However, Lyon can see occasions where that may not be possible.

"If it's turning a lot I'll be a more attacking bowling, but if it's not turning as much and if it's seaming I might be thrown the ball to do a containing-and-holding role so we can rotate our fast men for the other end and try to create some pressure," Lyon said.

"I'm happy to do whatever role it takes for Australia to win a Test match. I'm all for the team, I don't care who's taking the wickets.

"If Ryan Harris takes five and six wickets, I take none for the game and we win the Test match, I'm over the moon. I'm happy with whatever role Michael Clarke comes up with, and hopefully I'll be able to take that and help get wickets from both ends."

While all the talk at the Gabba is of fast bowlers, Lyon has a good record there, claiming 11 wickets in two Tests at just 24 apiece.

He is one of just three off-spinners who have taken more than eight wickets at the ground in their career.

The others are former West Indian world record wickets holder Lance Gibbs (14) and former Australian captain Ian Johnson (12).

"I really enjoy bowling at the Gabba, you are able to get a lot more bounce compared to other pitches around the country," Lyon said.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...es-test-at-gabba/story-fni2fnmo-1226762792313

- - - Updated - - -

England looking forward to playing Ashes series on fast, bouncy Australian pitches



FAR from fearing the extra bounce and pace of the Gabba, England's cricketers claim they much prefer Australian conditions to the "turgid" dry and doctored pitches served up during the recent Ashes tour.

Groundsmen around the UK may have been under strict instructions to prepare moonscapes which blunted Australia's pace attack and aided star spinner Graeme Swann, but England's batsmen and fast bowlers alike hated the slow surfaces.

The plan worked a treat, with Swann's 26 wickets the most in the series and England winning 3-0.However man of the series, Ian Bell, is the leading the charge of his countrymen expecting more exciting cricket in Australia.

This is despite the diminutive batsman being the biggest single factor in England's Ashes victory with 562 runs at 62, including three centuries.

"That's what we all like to be honest. Guys enjoy the extra pace and bounce and scoring rates seem to go up a little bit," Bell told the Australian media.

Although he did wheel out the standard excuse of good drainage creating dry pitches in England. Clearly hoses are in short supply.

"Obviously now with the drainage we have in England, as soon as we have good weather, the drainage is so good it sucks all the moisture out of the wickets," said Bell.

"The wickets get so dry and slow and the whole thing gets a little bit turgid really."I think everyone's looking forward to the whole pace of the game being that little bit quicker."

Teammate and pantomime villain Stuart Broad talked up Australia as the place to play cricket.

"I think Australia will suit our batsmen a lot more than the English conditions," he said."We had these slow, turning wickets that were quite hard to score on.

"We've got guys who are good on the cut and pull and are free-scoring players, which was tough in summer so I think these conditions, our batsmen are very excited to play over here.

"They've got great experience here and they thrive in the Australian conditions.

"He was supported by wicketkeeper and new vice-captain Matt Prior, who enjoys keeping on Australian pitches.

"We don't mind it as a team in general. The batters enjoy the ball coming on, enjoy the bounce, and we've got a few fairly big bowlers as well who wouldn't mind a bit of bounce and carry," said Prior.

Attack leader Jimmy Anderson had to bite his tongue when asked about the pitches which drained him during the last series, saying he was looking forward to getting more out of the better surfaces in Australia.

"I hope so, yer," Anderson replied."There's a bit more in it for the seamers. Pitches in England were fairly flat and (long pause) fairly flat.

"Hopefully there's a bit more seam movement over here."Certainly the ultimate Ashes provocateur Ian Botham feels England will get more enjoyment from Australia's livelier pitches.

"They want it that way. Don't you guys get it?," Botham said.

"They actually want the life in the decks. They didn't want these slow pitches we had in the UK last summer because they really struggled with them."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...stralian-pitches/story-fni2fnmo-1226762802211

- - - Updated - - -

Kevin Pietersen says he's made mistakes in career but insists he's not arrogant



STAR England batsman Kevin Pietersen has hit out at suggestions he is arrogant and says he has learned from the darkest days of his international career.

Pietersen will celebrate his 100th Test against Australia at the Gabba, starting Thursday, but the milestone seemed out of reach last year following his axing from the England team.

His dumping followed explosive revelations he sent text messages to rival South African players, including one critique on how to dismiss his then skipper Andrew Strauss.

English hierarchy subsequently stood Pietersen down from the South African series before the controversial batsman was "re-integrated" into the national set-up with a 12-month ECB deal contingent on his behaviour.

The 33-year-old claims he is stronger for the ordeal, but he still experienced a tense exchange with one senior English journalist at the Gabba on Tuesday when questioned about the Strauss text saga.

"The good has been good, the bad has been bad," he said.

"There has been some really good stuff and I have enjoyed the journey. Where my career is at now, I can't be any happier.

"But clearly there has been some bad stuff which has been well documented.

"As a person you grow when you make mistakes and we'll all made mistakes in our lives. That's where you learn the most and if I hadn't learned I wouldn't be sitting here on the eve of my 100th Test."

Pressed on the text scandal, Pietersen became unsettled, asking one British journalist: "Have you ever made a mistake".

The scribe replied: "We're asking the questions"

Prompting Pietersen to bite back again, saying: "Well I'm asking questions to you back."He added: "We (the England) squad are all getting on, we're all winning together and these things happen.

"We all make mistakes, we are a really good bunch and we are going really well."

Pietersen, who has 7887 Test runs at 48.39 with 23 centuries, also defended himself against the widely-held perception he is arrogant and a toxic influence on the English side.

"I had to fight some tough battles and be single minded in what I had to achieve," said the South African-born batsman.

"I can't help people thinking I'm arrogant."I call it confidence, confidence in my ability, wanting to perform every single day. It doesn't get documented how hard I train every day.

"It (his 100th Test) is quite surreal, you look at what happened last week with Sachin Tendulkar (retired Indian great),

"When it's you, I will look back at it and see it as something quite special, but at the moment I see it as an important Ashes series, one we have come to win."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...hes-not-arrogant/story-fni2fnmo-1226763370485

- - - Updated - - -

Shane Watson confident he'll bowl in first Test after getting through a few overs on Tuesday



SHANE Watson has declared himself ready to bowl in the opening Ashes Test starting Thursday after completing a couple of overs in the Gabba nets on Tuesday.

The Australian all-rounder had been racing the clock to be ready for the first Test against England due to a hamstring injury but revealed intensive treatment had made him ready to play a role with the ball in Brisbane.

While Watson admitted he won't be at full pace this week, he is capable of consistent bowling against England and providing support to Australia's pace attack.

He completed two overs in the nets at the Gabba on Tuesday and declared himself "definitely" ready to bowl as soon as Thursday if required.

"Absolutely I will be able to bowl a few overs," Watson said.

"Things are progressing well. Today was a pretty big day to get through, moreso just to get confidence in my run up than speed at the crease.

"I was able to get through that today with no problems at all.

"The hamstring has progressed well the last two weeks and fingers crossed it continues that way.

"At this point of time I'm confident I will be able to provide a role, it probably won't be at full capacity with the ball but if needed I will be able to provide a role like I did at certain times through the last Ashes series.

"Hopefully if things progress well by Adelaide I will be able to go a bit harder in the second Test.

"The good thing here the Gabba has got a bit of bounce and pace in it all the time. It means I won't have to bowl flat out, you just get it in a good area and there is always a little bit there for you."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...overs-on-tuesday/story-fni2fnmo-1226763395273

- - - Updated - - -

Jimmy Anderson stokes fires ahead of Ashes opener by accusing Michael Clarke of paranoia


  • ROBERT CRADDOCK COURIER-MAIL
  • FOX SPORTS
  • NOVEMBER 19, 2013 9:03AM

ENGLISH swing king Jimmy Anderson has suggested Australian captain Michael Clarke could be getting paranoid.

Clarke said in his Ashes diary that Anderson was the one Englishman who would not speak to him but Anderson has claimed he has nothing against the Australian skipper.

"I think he is possibly being a bit paranoid,'' Anderson said."I've nothing against him at all. To be honest I don't remember seeing him many times outside a game situation so if he goes on how I behave in the field, he might think that, I don't know."

Anderson, who has dismissed Clarke more times than any other Test bowler (eight), once branded Clarke "arrogant" in his own book.

Anderson infamously slapped Clarke with a pad in a dressing room in Adelaide during the 2006-07 Ashes tour.

It is the rivalry that seems likely to rumble on extend for the rest of their careers and one which seemed well beyond the reach of Anderson when he played his first Gabba Test seven years ago.

On that occasion a rudderless Anderson returned match figures of 1-195 at the Gabba and his performance at a press conference was so timid and stress-laden it was hard to decipher what he was saying.

But he has since discovered the tiger within.Some people believe it was a serve from bowling coach David Saker that toughened him up.

His body language, once so poor, now radiates a Richard Hadlee-style "I've got you covered" aura and only Ian Botham (383 wickets) has taken more wickets than Anderson's 329 at 30.11 for England.

If 31-year-old Anderson can play for a couple more years the milestone should be his.

No bowler who averages more than 30 runs per wicket can be labelled a great of the game but Anderson, along with the likes of Craig McDermott, Chaminda Vaas and Makhaya Ntini, belongs in the ranks of the very, very goods.

Anderson will use the memory of one of his most inspiring spells to try and rock Australia at the Gabba this week.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...arke-of-paranoia/story-fni2fnmo-1226763058025

- - - Updated - - -

The ego has landed: Aussies planning on frustrating Pietersen by bowling wide line



AUSTRALIA'S Ashes quicks are planning to launch a "Bore War" against Kevin Pietersen as they attempt to use his rampant ego against him.

Peter Siddle, who has dismissed Pietersen a record seven times in Test cricket, will be a key man in the blueprint to bowl wide of Pietersen's body and frustrate him into rash shots.

Knowing that South African-born Pietersen likes to feel bat on ball early in his innings and assert his brute force on rival bowlers, Australia will attempt to bore him out by bowling a wide line.

Australia has carefully studied Siddle's seven dismissals of Pietersen, dating back to the 2009 Ashes series in England, and has discovered five have been either caught behind or in slips.

They have generally come when Pietersen has been driving hard or loosely at a ball away from his body.

Pietersen will play his 100th Test at the Gabba from Thursday but Siddle and the rest of Australia's pace battery are confident they can become the party poopers.

"It would be nice to wreck it (for Pietersen)," Siddle said.

"I've bowled alright against him the last couple of times.

"If we keep building that pressure and try to make it a not very memorable last series for him, if it is the end for him, that would be good."It's always a tough contest to play against him. It's good fun."

Even though Australia lost the Ashes 3-0 in England earlier this year, they managed to contain Pietersen to a series average of 38 with just one century from five Tests.

Australia's quicks will rarely focus on knocking Pietersen's stumps over Down Under this summer, instead relying on bowling away from him and drying up his run flow to torment him.

Former Australian coach John Buchanan said recently he felt Pietersen was vulnerable when rival bowlers kept him out of the game and didn't allow his rampaging ego to feast on runs.

Siddle, who she is eating 15-20 bananas a day of part of his new lifestyle as a vegan, took a hat-trick in his last Gabba Ashes Test but it was a hollow feeling when the match was drawn and Australia lost the series.

"It's a highlight of my career but you look back on it and you want to win Test matches," Siddle says.

"It is something that once I've retired I will look back and enjoy a lot more than I have now."I would rather have won that Test match and won the series than worry about individual highlights.

"Our plans are a lot better now than they were in the past. "


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...owling-wide-line/story-fni2fnmo-1226762779451

- - - Updated - - -

Ashes to get real-time Snicko as game looks to eliminate controversial decisions


  • STAFF WRITERS
  • FOX SPORTS
  • NOVEMBER 19, 2013 11:52AM

THE Decision Review System is set for an upgrade with "real-time Snickometer" to be added to the process for the forthcoming Ashes series.

The DRS was repeatedly in the headlines during the recently-completed Ashes series in England.

The system designed to remove to the "howler" from the decision-making process instead contributed to a number of contentious rulings that cast a shadow over the series.

"Real-time Snicko will be part of the DRS [decision review system]. Both teams' boards have agreed to do it," Nine's executive producer of cricket Brad McNamara told Fairfax Media.

"We had a difficult negotiation [with BBG Sports] but thankfully we've come together. We're thrilled to have Hot Spot continue as part of the coverage.

"We're all about the best technology in the world.

"We feel that is among it and are looking forward to adding to that with the real-time Snicko, which we think will add to the viewers' experience and also hopefully help in the decision-making process for umpires.

"It will change the DRS. Hopefully you won't get the mistakes.

It has been reported that stump microphones, Eagle Eye and Hot Spot will be used alongside the real-time Snickometer during this summer's Ashes series.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ersial-decisions/story-fni2fnmo-1226763276113
 
Last edited:
David Warner wants to emulate captain Cook's ability to steady the ship at the top of the order



DAVID Warner says England fear Australia and he has set his sights on bringing down their top dog Alastair Cook in a top-order showdown that could decide the Ashes.

Cocksure Warner has warned the old enemy he is in career-best form after blasting four centuries in a month with NSW.

Now he is motivated to deliver Australia a top-order match-winner who can mirror English skipper Cook's appetite for big hundreds.

"I think they are fearing us," Warner said.

"They know we mean business and they know the little moments they won were the key to them winning the series 3-0 in England.

"We've identified what we need to work on and it's there for us to take it this summer."

After a stint in domestic purgatory after his bar-room bust-up with Joe Root, Warner says sessions with sports psychologist Michael Lloyd have brought solidity to his life.

The 27-year-old firebrand can understand if there are English elements who believe he remains vulnerable, but Warner is adamant he and the Australians are mentally tougher.

Cook broke Australia's spirit during England's last trip Down Under in 2010-11, thumping 766 runs at 127.66, including 235 not out at the Gabba.

Warner has not scored a century in his past 22 Test innings and accepts he must counter-punch against Cook for the hosts to have any hope of winning the Ashes.

"I have to try and get in and stay in and score big runs," Warner said.

"Being a bit more aggressive with the bat than what Alastair is, I know when Alastair does get in, he scores big hundreds.

"I have to be as consistent as I can be. If I get in, I have to do what Alastair does and score big hundreds for the team.

"My confidence is always sky-high, (but) I haven't been in this form to date in my career. I'm raring to go."

Cook has plundered 7801 runs at 47.86 during his career, so Warner must improve on his mark of 36.87 from 22 Tests.

"I know you can't take anything for granted and having a kick up the backside is what I really needed," he said, reflecting on his horror tour of England.

"You can go through the motions. You don't realise what you miss and I have had all that now the last 10 weeks. I have learnt how to calm down and I've worked a bit more with Michael Lloyd.

"Whether we bat or bowl we have to come out with intent, the Australian way we play. If we're up and about we'll be hard to stop."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...top-of-the-order/story-fni2fnmo-1226763749621

- - - Updated - - -

Stuart's Broad's a bit of a bully at home but definitely the bullied when abroad



AUSTRALIA plans to turn the screws on Stuart Broad, with statistics showing the quick has the worst record of England's current bowlers on foreign soil.

Broad delivered the knockout punch to Australia's Ashes campaign in August, claiming 11-121 in a man-of-the-match, fourth-Test haul that stamped the quick as a national hero.

The Australians are aware there are two versions of Broad.

The hometown bully has 142 wickets in England at 26.62 while the inferior version on the road has 75 scalps at 38.09, an average that meaning he is a 43 per cent better bowler in England.

Fellow fast bowlers James Anderson (35.20), Steve Finn (35.20), Chris Tremlett (25.95) and spinner Graeme Swann (28.40) all boast better foreign records than Broad, who averaged 90 in his only Test at the Gabba.

The home side is wary of Broad's lethal wicket-taking spells but also believe the 27-year-old can be taken apart if he loses control in Australian conditions.

"We need to put some pressure on him because he is a key for them, and that will be a challenge in itself," Australian opener Chris Rogers said.

"He's an interesting one, some days he bowls much better than other days.

"You have to weather those spells. He is a class bowler but hopefully he gives us something to attack as well."

Broad, who has 217 wickets from 62 Tests at 30.59, dismissed suggestions his bowling was not suited to foreign pitches.His message for any Australians who believes he could be sent into meltdown this summer is "bring it on''.

"It's true that I like it when there's a little bit of niggle out there and the Aussies give you that," Broad said.

"It's never easy facing the Australians, and (in England) in particular, they seemed to want to adopt a bit of a bulldog approach to try and unsettle us.

"I think that worked in our favour because now we've got a team full of fighters. We've got guys like Matt Prior and Kevin Pietersen and you put them in a fight and they'll keep swinging until they're done.

"I feel in a good place, I feel like my bowling is suited to Australian conditions. There's been a lot of talk about what they will do with the wickets, but I think Australian wickets could suit this England team's style of play."

Australian opener David Warner says the side has discussed ways to nullify Broad after his rampaging spell in Durham.

"That spell from Stuart Broad was a key moment," he said.

"If we blocked that one or two overs out and he didn't have a sniff ... he got his tail up and the crowd got behind him, that's what happens,The crowd lifts you. "

"It takes one little spectacular thing to happen to get that momentum."

HOMETOWN BULLY

Stuart Broad's home and away record in Test cricket

Home: 1195.4 overs - 241 maidens - 3780 runs - 142 wkts - 8 5-fors - BB: 7/44 Avge: 26.62.

Away: 958.3 overs - 212 maidens - 2857 runs - 75 wkts - 2 5-fors - BB: 6/51 - Avge: 38.09.

Total: 2154.1 overs - 453 maidens - 6637 runs - 217 wkts - 10 5-fors - BB: 7/44 - Avge: 30.59



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...lied-when-abroad/story-fni2fnmo-1226763759864

- - - Updated - - -

Does Botham protest too much? Beefy takes long handle to Australian batting depth for Ashes


  • BRAD DAVIDSON
  • GOLD COAST BULLETIN
  • NOVEMBER 20, 2013 12:00AM

ENGLAND legend Ian Botham has launched a scathing attack on Australia's batting depth - labelling it the weakest Ashes line-up ever.

Botham, speaking at a sports lunch on the Gold Coast yesterday, also described the attempt to wind Kevin Pietersen up as "dumb" and said the recent slanging match would only wake the sleeping giant.

The South African-born Pietersen, who celebrates his 100th Test for England at the Gabba tomorrow, has been the subject of a media tirade this week.

He was dubbed "so arrogant not even his own team likes him" on the front page of Monday's Courier Mail and was later involved in a Twitter exchange with a News Limited journalist about the story.

The episode seemed harmless but Botham warned the attack w3Cspan style="font-family%en.

"If that's the best the Aussies can come up with in the newspapers and if you think you are going to rile people of his experience then you're dumb," he said.

"What you are doing is winding him up and I wouldn't wind him up if I was you guys, and you might well pay heavily.

"KP only wants to play in big series.

"The big arena is not playing in warm-up games and he will be just building himself up nicely until Thursday."

Pietersen's perceived arrogance has caused headaches in the England team for years.

His international career was in jeopardy last year after he was embroiled in a texting scandal when he sent messages - including an attack on his then England captain, Andrew Strauss - to rival South African players.

But Botham said players like "KP" are essential in the modern era where world cricket has lost many of its colourful characters.

"Yes he gets under people's skin but that is what he is there to do," he said.

"Does everyone like Michael Clarke? Does everyone like Ricky Ponting? And did everyone like Dennis Lillee when he played?

"We need great players ... and he is one of the best players that has walked on the planet."There's been so much talk, so much gobbledygook spoken and I bet Australia wish they had a player like Kevin Pietersen."

England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker said Australian openers Chris Rogers and David Warner will need to go beyond their call of duty if the home team is to claim back the urn this summer.

"Their batting is very fragile and it's as fragile as I've ever seen an Australia line-up," said Botham, who single-handily destroyed Australia in the 1981 Ashes series.

"It's not detrimental to the players out there but when I think of the sides we've seen over the last few years and the quality then you need to get a good start and you can't be two or three (wickets) down and expose your best players early in the game.

"There is pressure on the openers and the England bowlers know that and will target that."

Botham, who claimed 383 wickets in 102 Tests for his nation, also believes Australia doesn't have the bowling depth to challenge England this summer.

"You better look after Ryan (Harris) because if he goes down and where you are with cricketers at the current moment you are going to suffer," Botham said.

"I don't see the other guys coming up to the plate.

"Mitchell Johnson has got to deliver and he has got to be able to bowl consistently and you can't leave it all down to Ryan Harris."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-depth-for-ashes/story-fni2fnmo-1226763798029

- - - Updated - - -

KP's charm offensive about new-found love for Brisbane, Australia and journalists. No, really.



MAKE up your mind Kevin.

On Monday, we were the pits of the world.You said you would prefer to watch paint dry than be in our city.But now we are back to being Bris-Vegas with a bang.

England's walking ego and the world's most cocky cricketer Kevin Pietersen has suddenly decided Brisbane will be a lovely place to play his 100th Test in the Ashes series opener starting tomorrow.

That is despite belting Brisbane to his 1.4 million Twitter followers earlier in the week, claiming no one had heard of the city outside of Australia.

But yesterday his tune had changed and he was up for some playful banter."I'm sure Brisbane is a beautiful place and I was only taking the mickey," Pietersen said.

"I actually love Australia. It's a great country. The weather is good, the people are good, it's competitive; it's a fascinating place.

"It was a buzz coming into this city because Ashes cricket is the best and the Gabba certainly lives up to that."It turns out Pietersen actually loves the Australian way.

And he even loves this newspaper, which ran a front page story calling him arrogant and questioning his teammates' view of him.However, he realises the Gabba faithful won't miss him for attacking Brisbane.

"I know that when I walk out to bat, the Gabba is going to clout me," he said.

"I respect the journalists in Australia for having a go at the English and trying to club me. It's brilliant."That is what Ashes cricket is about.

"With the way that I've played, clearly against the norm, I was clearly going to be targeted by journalists because of the way that I've played."

Well Kevin, if you like Brisbane so much, we suggest you move here. It's certainly better than frost-bitten England.And far better than that industrial metropolis of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where you were born.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...alists-no-really/story-fni2fnmo-1226763733401

- - - Updated - - -

Australia skipper Michael Clarke declares the Gabba 'our turf' and says side feels right at home



Getting together in Brisbane for the first Test of the summer is a special feeling.

I've been doing it for a decade now and I always look forward to it.You never forget the first time you walk into the Gabba change rooms, put your gear down, and think 'wow, this is it'.

All those years as a school kid waiting for the first Test to come around, waking up on the morning of the match and feeling like it is Christmas.

Listening to the Channel Nine music at the start of the broadcast, watching the toss of the coin and hanging out for the first ball to finally be bowled was a ritual at our place.

So when you become part of it you cherish it. And you quickly learn that all the hype of the build-up happens outside the change rooms.A lot is always said and written in the lead-up to the first Test.

It generates excitement and interest, an expectation of what lies ahead.

We feel that excitement, we love the build-up, but everything that happens beyond our group has no bearing on what we do and how we prepare.

Hype and excitement are good for the game. It gets everyone involved right across the country. But it doesn't win you Test matches.

Good planning, clear thinking and, most importantly, execution of your skills against quality opposition is what success is built on.

First and foremost it's all about us.Yes we do our homework on the opposition. And in this case we know our opposition very well having played them only a few months ago.

We played better cricket as the Test series went on and the guys in the one-day side which beat England have brought that confidence home with them.

We have learnt from the last series and are a better side for it.

Everyone has a different way of preparing.

Some guys are loud and proud, some guys like to have a joke and a laugh and others like their own space to go about their business quietly.

The great thing about being together in Brisbane is that sense of belonging.

This is our turf.

Australia has a proud record at the Gabba.

This is a record we want to enhance.Playing in your own back yard is such an advantage because you know the conditions so well.We love playing at home.

The extra pace and bounce of the Gabba makes for exciting cricket.

If you bowl well there is always some encouragement whether you bowl pace or spin, as Nathan Lyon has shown during his two Tests at the ground, and if you can get set when you're batting it can be a great place to score runs.

The player who has been most excited about putting his gear down in the Gabba change room is George Bailey.

I'm really pleased George has been given the opportunity at Test level.

I've been very impressed with him from the moment he walked into the Australian set-up, whether it was as Twenty20 captain or in the one-day team.

Every time George has been given the chance to represent Australia he has stepped up.

He's a great guy to have around the team.I've been watching George prepare over the last few days and like the rest of us, he's ready.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ls-right-at-home/story-fni2fnmo-1226763727202

- - - Updated - - -

Australia captain Michael Clarke in no mood for chit chat at pre-Ashes press conference


  • PETER BADEL
  • NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA NETWORK
  • NOVEMBER 20, 2013 1:58PM

MICHAEL Clarke has adopted a siege mentality with the Australian skipper giving little away at his final media appearance before the first Test against England starting tomorrow.

In a laborious press conference that spanned 12 minutes, Clarke appeared tense as he flat-batted a slew of questions, including inquiries about the composition of Australia's XI for the Ashes opener at the Gabba.

Clarke declined to confirm whether debutant George Bailey would bat at No.6, saying only the top seven had been decided.

And when asked if spinner Nathan Lyon would play, Clarke, who is no longer a selector, said it was a point of discussion for the national panel headed by selection boss John Inverarity.

Clarke insists the external hoopla surrounding the Ashes series has not affected him, but his body language suggested otherwise as he fielded questions from the media pack.

The skipper has endured a turbulent build-up to the first Test after extracts from former captain Ricky Ponting's new book questioned Clarke's commitment to the team culture during his time as deputy.

Clarke was forced to deny talk of a rift with Ponting.

The claims and counter-claims prompted Australian coach Darren Lehmann to urge Clarke to ignore the media maelstrom and focus on winning the Ashes.

Asked if the external criticism had affected him or the team, Clarke's riposte today was swift and short."Not one bit," he said.

Asked if he could compare the confidence of this squad to the team which recently lost the Ashes 3-0, Clarke said: "I don't want to compare. Two completely different series. Different conditions. What is important is today and tomorrow is important as well."

Clarke said he had settled on the make-up of Australia's batting line-up, but declined to disclose it.

There are suggestions all-rounder James Faulkner could be included as part of a four-pronged pace attack, but Clarke was tight-lipped about whether Bailey would bat at fourth drop.

"I'd be lying to you if I said I haven't told the boys the batting order, especially in regards to the top seven, but that will come out tomorrow," he said.

"The top seven has been decided."

Asked if he would deploy the spin of Lyon, which would relegate Faulkner to 12th-man duties, Clarke kept his cards close to his chest

"I can't talk about the selection part of it," he said."But the wicket looks fantastic, it will offer pace and bounce for the bowlers and that includes spin.

"Spin has had success at the Gabba because of the bounce more than the spin.

"The Gabba is one of the best Test wickets in the world because it offers good pace and bounce so your bowlers are always interested."

Clarke said Shane Watson should play some role with the ball, a scenario that is likely to see Lyon named in the starting XI.

"I don't think he will be at 100 per cent in bowling 25 overs in the first innings of a Test match, but Watto has improved every single day and I'm confident he will be able to bat at his best and do a job with the ball for us," he said.

"There has been a lot said, a lot of speculation about individual players. I can't the promise the world. It will be a tough battle. We have to play our best cricket no matter what the conditions."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...press-conference/story-fni2fnmo-1226764398164

- - - Updated - - -

England captain Alastair Cook insists his side doesn't fear anyone, talks up Stuart Broad


  • PETER BADEL
  • NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA NETWORK
  • NOVEMBER 20, 2013 2:40PM

ALASTAIR Cook has hit back at David Warner's claim that England fear Australia and has backed Stuart Broad to be the fast-bowling bully who can storm the Gabba Fortress.

Warner yesterday fired an opening salvo at the tourists, suggesting England were fearful of an Australian side that has not lost a Test match in Brisbane since the mighty West Indies prevailed in 1988.

But ahead of the first Test starting tomorrow, Cook scoffed at Warner's critique, saying the English are steeled mentally by their Ashes series triumph in Australia in 2010-11.

"We certainly don't fear anyone," Cook said today at his final press conference before the Ashes opener.

"That's quite clear to see how we go about our business."We are a very competitive side and there is no reason to fear any side out there.

"We don't really concentrate on what people say about us, it's how we play in that first hour tomorrow.

"People can say what they want, there has been a lot of words spoken, but we all know come 10 o'clock tomorrow all that matters is who plays best."

And if there is any Englishman up for the challenge of conquering Australia at the Gabba, it is Broad.The home side believes it can pressure Broad by punishing any wayward spells, but Cook said the 27-year-old is the baby-faced assassin who would relish breaking the Gabba hoodoo.

The English have not triumphed at the Gabba since 1986, when Mike Gatting led the Poms to a seven-wicket victory.

"He's a very combative character," Cook said of Broad."He is an in-your-face cricketer and I like that about him.

"Any time you set him a challenge ... he showed that in Durham (in the fourth Test where Broad took a match-winning 11-121).

"When we didn't bowl well, the challenge was set in the room at tea time that we need to take this game by the scruff of the neck and he stood up and delivered.

"He has done that a number of times for an England team ... magic spells of bowling, he did it twice this year.

"He has the ability to change games. He has had a good preparation, he looks in fine fettle with the ball and is ready to go."

While captaincy counterpart Michael Clarke appeared tense today at his press conference, Cook was as relaxed as he was affable.

Three consecutive successful Ashes campaigns have afforded Cook such comfort, but beneath the veneer of calm the English opener is anything but complacent.

"We have spoken about their record here (in Brisbane) and not losing for 25 years," he said.

"It is a good achievement by them and we spoke about this in Lord's in 2009, we hadn't beaten Australia for 70-odd years at Lord's and we made a conscious effort to change that.

"When there are specific challenges ahead of us, we try and meet them.

"A lot of players in this squad were here in 2010-11 so we have experience of winning in Australia.

"We are trying to use that to the best of our ability and we know how important this game was last time for setting up the series.

"Australia have a good record here and it is our job to try and change that."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-up-stuart-broad/story-fni2fnmo-1226764446255

- - - Updated - - -

Mitchell Johnson up for spirited Ashes banter with England's Barmy Army



MITCHELL Johnson will turn from the hunted into the hunter when he returns verbal fire at the Barmy Army who once made his life a misery.

England's madcap supporter group again have the unpredictable Australian quick in their sights at the Gabba after unsettling him in the past with their taunts and catchy tunes.

The Barmy Army almost ruined Johnson's career in the 2009 Ashes in England when they abused him at a time when his personal life was deeply troubled.

Johnson's return to Test cricket for the first time since March will prompt a return of the old Barmy Army classic: "He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right, that Mitchell Johnson, his bowling is ****e.

"However the left-armer gave the Barmy Army a verbal barrage of his own in the one-day series in England this past winter.He plans to continue to fight fire with fire this summer.

"I copped a fair bit of stick there (in the one-day series) and I just gave it back to them when it was the right time," Johnson said.

"I did rile them up in Birmingham when I kissed my badge (coat of arms), it got them going."I'm not sure what they have got for me this time.

"But at the right moments if you give a bit of banter back, the Barmy Army appreciate it.

"If I am getting wickets and playing well, I don't think I am going to cop as much. If I do, I have heard it all, experienced it all."

Johnson is now a far more settled figure off the field and the birth of his baby daughter Rubika, who turns one next month, is the apple of his eye.

After play at the Gabba this week he will often gaze at a photo album filled with pictures of his daughter, or phone home via Skype.

He is also calmer on the field after psyching himself up too much before he almost had a meltdown in the 2009 Ashes.

"I have certainly learnt from things in the past that you can build it up too much and get too involved and too emotional," he says.

However the 32-year-old, who has often had such a huge gulf between his best and worst bowling, still has a fire in his belly for getting under the skin of the world's best batsmen.

Australia successfully bounced South African-born England batsman Jonathan Trott in the winter's Ashes and Johnson is licking his lips over the prospect of a fresh bumper war against Trott.

England have even flown over some left-arm net bowlers to bowl short to help Trott prepare for Johnson's fiery short-pitched blitz.

"Obviously there is a lot of talk about it, within the group and outside," Johnson said.

"During that Test series, Ryan Harris got up him (Trott) a bit and he didn't handle it too well."We all know that he has been practicing it. They have flown over two left-armers from what I have heard."

Teammate Shane Watson, who insists Johnson is bowling as fast as ever, can't wait for the Johnson-Trott showdown.

"Not many people like the ball at 155km/hr around your ears, but some people just get into better positions to be able to try to handle it better," Watson said.

"There is no doubt that is where we targeted Trott through that Ashes series, towards the end especially. And I don't think things are going to change too much."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...lands-barmy-army/story-fni2fnmo-1226763695012

- - - Updated - - -

Allan Border says whoever wins toss in first Ashes Test should definitely bat first


  • ANTONY PINSHAW
  • FOX SPORTS
  • NOVEMBER 20, 2013 12:18PM

TO bat or not to bat, that is the question ... facing captains Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook at the Gabba on Thursday.

With so much of the media build-up to this Ashes series being about everything but cricket, the skippers will probably more relieved than anything else when they finally walk out into the middle for the first coin toss of the summer.

But the event will have more than just ceremonial value.

The decision on whether to bat or bowl first in a Test match is always an interesting one, but it has taken on extra significance in Brisbane ever since Nasser Hussain's infamous blunder back in 2002.

On that occasion, the England skipper sent Australia in and was immediately made to rue his choice as Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting propelled the hosts to a monster score of 2-364 at stumps on day one.

In the 10 Tests at the ground since then, no team has won the toss, opted to field and won the match.

The only occasion since 2002 when a team has bowled first and won at the Gabba came two years ago, when New Zealand sent Australia in only to go down by nine wickets thanks to a Michael Clarke century and a brilliant debut performance from James Pattinson.

These stats, among other things, leads former Australia captain Allan Border to believe whoever wins the toss on Thursday virtually has his decision made for him already.
"In this Ashes series, I think it'd be really folly not to win the toss and bat first, and try take the high ground straight away," Border told foxsports.com.au."There have to be really extenuating circumstances for the captain in this Test match not to bat first."

With a chance of rain predicted for most of the next few days, Brisbane's weather could provide the extenuating circumstances Border is referring to.

And despite the lesson learned by England more than a decade ago, Border believes there can be some merit in sending the other team in if the time is right.

"The Gabba is the one ground in the country, probably along with Perth, where you might consider bowling, depending on the overhead conditions and the state of the pitch, the opposition, all those factors," Border said.

"There are other examples where captains have won the toss and bowled, and it's really proved a masterstroke because they've bowled the opposition out or had them in all sorts of strife in the first session.

It just doesn't happen all that often though. Normally the side will bat first and then get themselves into trouble - sometimes you misread the conditions, or you just bat poorly."

But here's where things get interesting.Of the six tosses that Border won at the Gabba during his time as Australia's captain, on four of those occasions he decided to bowl first, resulting in three wins and a loss.

So, which historical record to we draw on?Or are we reading too much into the toss in general?

After all, you still have to bat and bowl well if you're going to win an Ashes Test.

"Just because the toss has gone a certain way, doesn't necessarily mean you can't win," Border said.

"Last time England were here, we skittled them on day one and then got a big score thanks to hundreds from Hussey and Haddin. We had a massive first innings lead, then of course England batted brilliantly to force a draw.

"But it just shows that if a side bats first and makes less than 300 in the first innings, then you can put yourself under pressure even if you're batting first."

Over to you, Messrs Clarke and Cook.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nitely-bat-first/story-fni2fnmo-1226764315050
 
Last edited:
WICKET !!!

Australia in trouble after lunch...

Clarke is out for 1...

Caught Bell, Bowled Broad who now has figures of 3/30...

Australia 3/73...

- - - Updated - - -

WICKET !!

Warner gone for 49...

Caught Pietersen, Bowled Broad who now has figures of 4/35..

Australia are in deep trouble now...

England well on top...

Australia 4/83..
 
Last edited:
350+ is a par score 1st innings at the Gabba...

Australia will struggle to get 250 at this rate...

Big Pressure on our bowlers as our batsmen let us down again..

Australia looking pretty stupid at the moment after all their big talk leading up to this test..
 
Struggling like I thought we would. Absolute shocking preparation for a test series over here in Australia.

I really like Smith over the last 12-18 months. Has stepped his first class/test batting up tenfold and has probably been our second best batsmen behind Clarke.

Bailey has a quite poor first class record but like his form for ODI I expect he will lift on the big stage, he just seems like one of those players.
 
would've been handy having the likes of Agar and Starc coming in late in the batting order. Johnson can hit them, but really don't rate him as a batsman. And don't get me wrong, I like Smith and rate him, but you can't really compare him with the rest of the number 5's around the world. At this stage of his career, it would be good for him to bat down at 6 ala Clarke when he was young. But he's been forced up unfortunately due to the lack of batting in Australia.

- - - Updated - - -

Bailey now out
 
Last edited:
WICKET !!!

Bailey gone for 3...

Caught Cook, Bowled Anderson...

Australia look gone at 5/100...

- - - Updated - - -

cowboyman said:
Struggling like I thought we would. Absolute shocking preparation for a test series over here in Australia.

I really like Smith over the last 12-18 months. Has stepped his first class/test batting up tenfold and has probably been our second best batsmen behind Clarke.
Click to expand...

Agreed about Smith, He has looked great for NSW in particular...

On another point I believe Watson needs to go, To inconsistent and injury prone...

We all know he is talented but at the end of the day you need runs on the board..

Poor average and Shocking conversion rate in regards to turning 50's into 100's as well..

Watson's Test Career

Matches - 46
Innings - 85
Runs - 2998
Highest Score - 176
Average - 36.12
50's - 20
100' s - 3
 
Last edited:
Well there goes Bailey, so much for him lifting on the big stage.

Waiting for Sutherland to come out again and defend the preparation and to not question his decisions despite the side getting worse by the month under his leadership.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top