To keep on living, you have to have a reason. And that reason needs to be strong enough to pull you through tough times..
England Ashes team is in toughest time of the Australian tour and the only way they can survive is by believing they can still do what they came for - retain the Ashes.
Adelaide loss never seemed possible. That's the beauty of test matches and test series'. If you can keep your nose not far behind you opponent - your winnings chances will come when no one sees it.
Same is the situation with the series right now. If they can pull off a win at Perth, ... .. Read complete article
Winning the 1st session of a new test is very important. So is the 2nd session and the third one..
In short - you have win session after sessions to beat Australia in Australia. Or is it??
I bet if England can win 6 out of 15 sessions in this second Ashes test match in 2006 - they will do what no one is speaking of : an English win at Adelaide.
You might recall England won only one session in Brisbane test (afternoon session Day 4) and had they backed it by winning the first two sessions on Day 5, they could have won the 1st test as well.
It's not impossible to roar over 40 thousand people. English Captain did that in 19th over... If you didn't see that live, I don't think you can relive the moment.
Anyways, England had a tough day but they did everything they could. After losing the toss, instead of feeling bad at an Australian first day score of 346 for 3, imagine what worse it could have been.
Andrew Flintoff had plenty to plans and he executed them nicely. Whereas Ricky Ponting slowed down in the hunt of a double century. But one man who will be forgotten by the time this Brisbane test comes to an end is Justin Langer. Langer's reaction on every ball he played, ... .. Read complete article
When you play at home - you know your pitches, the ground dimentions, you have your supporters to back you when things don't go your way and quite a few more advantages.
What Australian team also have in this Ashes series that they didn't in last Ashes series is whole bunch of Domestic cricketers available for selection. The Brisbane Curator said Gabba has encountered unexpected rain and thus the pitch may have "live grass". Steve Waugh said blast English Captain with bouncers that whole team demorlises..
And now the third hint - Aussie selectors include 5 fast bowlers, a mandatory spinner, a fast bowling all rounder, a wicket keeper and 5 batsmen - who can start preparing for ... .. Read complete article
He was born in Dublin, Ireland, played ICC trophy matches for Ireland from 2001 to 2005 and he is the reason why you will see Ireland in 2007 Cricket World Cup in Caribbean.
He is 5 feet 11 inches in height, has played 3 ODI's International for England (he completed his England residency qualifications in 2005) and as he was fielding in his 4th International cricket match for England - A twenty20 match against SriLanka in June this year, damaged his ankle and was out of consideration.
Yes, the name is Ed Joyce (a left handed batsmen, right arm medium bowler) and he is called to Australia ... .. Read complete article
The words on the orignal Ashes cup reads as follows :
When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn; Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return; The welkin will ring loud, The great crowd will feel proud, Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn; And the rest coming home with the urn. Which I am sure I don't know the actual meaning..!! The beginning :
English people loved cricket. They found a rival in their own people down under - now called as Australians and started playing friendly matches.
Do you really think England will be able to give a fight to Australian's in their own den..??
May be not, but if somehow they do - this will be some series to watch. Following are "It's only cricket" coverage articles on England's tour of Australia 2006. Which include not only the 5 test match Ashes series but also a tri-series involving New Zealand.
You cannot win a test match by scoring 900 runs when opposition makes 200 and 200 for 9 wickets. But you surely can win a test match by taking 20 wickets for 100 runs having made only 101 yourself.
England have to find batsmen who can make runs consistently but if they can find bowlers who are good enough to bowl out Australia twice - they will win half the battle.
Consider this - Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Mathew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and to an extent, Shane Watson are the six "right right handed" fast bowlers sure to play the first few test matches. Read complete article
It's summer time downunder. Which means that Australia will host one of International cricket team and will play a test series and then a tri-series tournament. Last year it was South Africa, who were joined by Sri Lanka for the tri series and Indian team were their in 2003 who were joined in by Pakistan.
This year - 2006 - has England battling to retain Ashes which they earned last time. These two will be joined in by New Zealand for a tri-national tournament called as Commonwealth Series.
I still remember watching whole of England cricket team on the open top of a huge bus, waving to the croud with dummy Ashes cup in their hands...
Will the following bunch of 16 players be able to do the same.... it seems very unlikely. Specially when England selectors have selected only 6 professional batsmen and have only one all rounder to back them...
