Ashes as promised

Greetings, apologies for the missing blog yesterday but today will be the ashes one that I promised and I think its better to have it now after Australia have started their innings.

If you didn’t manage to catch today’s play, England’s tail managed quite a fight and gave the Aussie bowlers a tough time before giving in. Graeme Swann in particular played an impressive innings and showed he preferred T20 cricket rather than the test format when he scored a quick fire 47 from just 40 balls. Unfortunately for Swann though Monty Panesar couldn’t take the pressure as well and was dismissed for just four runs leaving Swann stranded at the crease just three runs short of his half century. England however should be proud of the total of 435 that they posted especially looking at their performance from day one and when you take into consideration that their highest score was a mere 69 made by a cocky South African.

Australia batted for the rest of the day and it looked good for them at lunch when their openers were both still at the crease and Paul Hughes looked to be scoring as quickly as Swann. However Swann went out not long after play resumed and in came Captain Ricky Ponting. The dismissal of Hughes was the last bit of good news for England today as Ponting and Katich both went on to make their centuries and at the end of the day Australia seem to be in a rather commanding position sitting on a score of 249 for 1. It means the Aussies have 9 wickets in hand to make up the remaining 186 runs and set up a target for England to chase. From Australia’s point of view it’s a task that they can definitely accomplish and I’m sure the two Michael’s, Hussey and Clarke who are due in at four and five are itching to lay into the disappointing English bowling attack.

So what’s gone wrong for England. I think it’s the mindset they had in underestimating the Aussie side. Australia has definitely got a lot to prove from their recent results but history has shown that they are not a side to be walked over. Comments have been coming aplenty from the English side that they are equal, if not better than the Aussies and I’m afraid comments like those don’t come true unless there is evidence and seeing that Australia is ranked first for a reason while England are several places lower I stand backed up in saying Australia is the better team.

One that wouldn’t agree with me is Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe. Why he is sticking his nose on the BBC sport website I have no idea and with a movie about to go on circuit you would think he would rather be talking about that but its not the case. He says the team that is able to adapt best to the conditions will win and then goes on to predict a 2-1 series win for England. I’m happy to say though that someone with a little bit more cricketing knowledge disagrees with the wizard even if he too may be slightly biased. Former Aussie fast bowler Glenn McGrath sees an Australian series win with a whitewash on the cards. Overenthusiastic I think but more likely than an English series win definitely.

Anyways I also found out why they are playing in Wales. As it turns out the English Cricket Boards(ECB) borders are not confined to the country, it also includes Wales. Why on earth it is not then EWCB I don’t know but the Welsh obviously don’t care about recognition. Anyways it does make sense why they are playing a test there seeing that Glamorgan has been playing cricket since 1888, not sure if there’s a Welshman in the team though but then again who wants to be in a team full of losers.

All for now, Cheers