Aussie Reactions

As the announcement of the Ashes squad came as no surprise to many over here, CricketChicks thought they would have a look at how the Aussies reacted to it - and one thing’s for sure, height, was on most people’s minds:

"Height was probably the thing I noticed this morning when I saw the squad, it was interesting to note they picked six foot, seven inch Tremlett and went back to the left-arm orthodox in Panesar," Tim Nielsen told AAP on Friday. "They're two things we expected, and in truth they're probably more depth players rather than first selected players. They've gone for guys, one who can spin the ball away from the right-handers and another who they're hoping will make the ball bounce in Australia."

“England is expected to give the Aussie batsmen some chin music after naming a fast-bowler rich squad to tour later this year. Lanky quick Chris Tremlett will join the twin towers of Stuart Broad and Steve Finn in the 16-man touring party as England look to win their first away Ashes series since 1986/87.” (Thanks for reminding us!)

“Australia's cricketers are alert but not alarmed after England loaded up the long barrels for their defence of the Ashes this summer.”

CricketChicks disagree with this statement. They think the Aussies should, indeed, be alarmed. Bring on November 25th and let the battle commence.

CRICKETCHICKS ASHES SQAUD

Ahead of the official squad announcement, CricketChicks announce who they would choose:

1) Andrew Strauss
2) Alastair Cook
3) Jonathon Trott
4) Kevin Pietersen
5) Paul Collingwood
6) Ian Bell
7) Eoin Morgan
8) Matt Prior
9) Steve Davies
10) Graeme Swann
11) Monty Panesar
12) James Anderson
13) Stuart Broad
14) Steven Finn
15) Ajmal Shazad
16) Chris Tremlett

Never look a gift horse in the mouth, Pakistan!

To add insult to injury, not only are Pakistan once again under investigation by the ICC for corruption, but the PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, has accused England of underhand practices. Speaking to an Indian television channel, Butt reportedly claimed that members of the England team had been paid to throw the third ODI. Ridiculous! Such accusations come from a bitter old man, deluded about what is happening right under his nose and seeking to turn recent events into some sort of master plan by the ICC to stop Pakistan playing cricket. Rubbish! Yet, while many will simply see such claims for what they are (nobody seriously believes that England players took bribes to lose the match), they are still a massive insult to the England cricket team and the ECB. Unable to play within their own country, the ECB provided Pakistan with a ‘home away from home’ -a place to stage matches and to try and bring some pride to their nation. Yet, this is how they repay us. Moreover, the England players themselves, have acted with nothing short of dignity. Continuing, this far, in this series must have been very hard indeed. How they will take to the filed today though, in light of the mud unfairly thrown at them, is beyond me.

Once a cheat, always a cheat?

I hate it when England lose. Fact. I simply want them to win all the time, something which they have actually become quite good at recently. So you can imagine my disappointment, when on Friday, they failed to chase down a miserly 242. Yet, I wasn’t actually that sad. This was not just because of the fact that a 2-1 score line keeps this series alive and kicking, but I was actually quite pleased for Pakistan. When the allegations of spot-fixing (during the Lords test) came out I was as angered as any cricket lover - how dare these players corrupt the game I adore?! However (maybe naively), that’s all I believed it to be - a few individuals bringing themselves, and the game, into disrepute. Consequently, I felt a bit sorry for those who had done nothing wrong, who had been playing within the spirit of the game and were trying their hearts out for their grief stricken country. I understood how hard it must have been to rally themselves for the remainder of the series and I came to have a lot of respect for Shahid Afridi. Yes, he is far from perfect (pitch scuffing and ball biting, being his two most famous exploits) and the fact that he has now become Pakistan’s shinning light says it all. But, I felt he handled himself and the situation pretty well. Apologising to all the fans for what had happened was a good start. An honesty which seemed to continue on Friday, when he admitted his run out was due to him being lazy and that he hadn’t bowled that well. His praise for the teams effort was also heart-warming. The way Pakistan bowled during the third ODI (especially Umar Gul) reminded the cricketing world of how good a side they are and how much richer the game is for their involvement. Yet, news on the following day, that the ICC were investigating irregular scoring patterns during that match, also reminded everyone of why banning the entire Pakistan cricket team may be the only way forward. It seems after all, that (as I had initially thought) corruption does not stop at a few players, but is embedded within the team. As a cricket lover and someone who gave Pakistan the benefit of the doubt, I feel cheated and let down. It’s time for the ICC to say enough is enough.

Although Pakistan may have abused my sympathy, my heart does go out to Somerset. The whole team now know how every girl who has only ever been a bridesmaid feels. To come runners up in the Twenty20, County Championship and now CB40 must hurt. Yet, look on the Brightside, they did much better than my own team Middlesex. If only they could have had such a season.

LEAVE STRAUSS ALONE!!

When England won the World Twenty20 there were many good things to come out of it. Being recognised as the best team in the world for one, thumping the Aussies in a final being another. Yet, what I didn’t like about it was all the debating and speculating over Andrew Strauss’s position as Captain of the One Day team. One very notable triumph in a different format of the game and everyone had suddenly forgotten about the ICC Champions Trophy (where England reached the semi-final after having just lost 6-1 in a ODI series at home to Australia) and a series win in South Africa (no mean feat itself!). As attention turns to the ICC World Cup in February, I cannot understand why the same question over Strauss’s role in the One Day team has come up again! One of the lamest reasons for ditching him has been his supposed inability to hit over the top - a feature which I know is vital in order t o take advantage of the initial power play over’s and even more vital when spin will seek to strangle an innings in the middle passage of play. Yet, one of the things that has impressed me so much about Strauss, is that he has ADAPTED and IMPROVED. He has realised what’s needed and sought to add these dimensions to his game. In the first ODI against Pakistan he hit some gloriously aggressive strokes, while in the second, he showed the value of having a proper opening batsman within the One Day squad - being able to anchor an innings and then shift tempo. His 126 was pure class.

NB: I am soooo pleased that the first two ODI matches have been competitive after my earlier doubts! It’s good to see England stretched and tested - lets see what certain players are really made of!

HOT TO TROTT??

Before the start of the test series with Pakistan, the feeling amongst many cricket fans (excluding Warwickshire supporters) was that Jonathon Trott was England’s most vulnerable batsman. After all, as has been the case since the end of the glorious summer of 2009, the focus of English cricket has been on the impending Ashes series. With the selectors clearly showing their hand, with regards to their liking for Eoin Morgan, the question has been which six batsman England will go with. With a poor series in South Africa and with an ambivalent 200 against Bangladesh (yes, I admire his resolve of staying at the crease for numerous hours but honestly, was I the only one bored by his insistent trench digging? And while I know you can only ‘play what’s in front of you’, a sunny day, flat wicket and miserly opposition hardly makes it the best innings in the world), Trott’s position at number three (that dreaded place in the English batting line up!) looked precarious. That was until the clouds came over, the bowling got a lot spicier and batting actually became more difficult.

As all around faltered, Jonathon Trott looked England’s most assured batsman - sound both technically and temperamentally. I was thoroughly impressed and demand that he be England’s number three come the 25th November. However, in the one day format, I’m less than convinced. While he scored a solid 69 yesterday, I’m not sure if he posses the ability to shift gears. This is something which the new superman, Morgan, does superbly - he comes to the crease, has a look, takes a few singles, then up’s the tempo. Trott, on the other hand, seems content to be the accumulator. Remaining steadfast as he lets others around him take all the risks. Having an ‘anchor batsman’s’ fine, yet in given situations Trott needs to be able to adapt. Take yesterday for instance. Collingwood, who has of late been somewhat out of form, came to the crease. Considering this fact, Trott (who has been in sublime form) should have tired to maintain the tempo and taken it to the batsman, thus allowing Collingwood to play himself in - yet he didn’t.

Perhaps its fair to say that at times Trott can be a little selfish. This may be a result of the fact that he gets so in the ‘zone’ and absorbed in his own game. While this makes him a quality test player, does it limit his ability in the shorter format??

IMPENDING ODI SERIES.

As England prepare to take on Pakistan in the first ODI, one cannot help but wonder how much of a contest these matches will really be. Depleted of two of their best bowlers and with the allegations of spot-fixing continuing to linger (everyday it seems brings some new revelation), it is not surprising that Pakistan got hammered in the two Twenty20 matches. All the turmoil of the last few weeks must - and this has to be a fact - have affected their mental state. When coupled with a team short in the batting department and even shorter in the fielding stakes, there realistically, can only be one outcome of this series.

Yet, England should not be complacent nor should English fans look on nonchalantly. As this series is one of the last before the ICC World Cup in February of next year - and I for one (and I’m sure many of you share my sentiment) not only expect England to do well (but dare I say it!), expect them to win. This series then is an opportunity for England to have a look at players, try something different or even just cement that winning feeling.

One of the key questions, on this miserable Friday morning then, is Luke Wright or Ravi Bopara? With Yardy, who has proved himself to be such a reliable and effective cricketer, surely cemented at number seven there is not enough room for both. Bopara and Wright bring to England similar qualities in that they are both medium paced, all-round pinch-hitters. So the question, inevitably, is who does it better? Looking at the averages one would have to argue that Wright is the better bowler, while Bopara is the better batsman. Not that helpful then! It may be, therefore, that the England selectors need to look beyond actual cricketing ability and turn towards their mental attitude. From what I’ve seen in the past, I would have to say that Wright just edges it. A selfless player, willing to fit in wherever and do whatever, Luke is exactly the kind of guy needed within a team. In contrast, Ravi seems a bit lazy, scatter-brained and well, just too relaxed. Forgetting his kit for a recent Essex match was laughable. Yet, it was also in that very same game that he played one of his most memorable innings - blasting the ball all around the Chelmsford fortress. And that’s the ambiguity of Ravi - so much potential, yet lacking something. If he can get his head screwed on he could become such a player as that the England selectors have no choice but to pick him. Whether he will get his chance in this series, however, remains to be seen.