Ashes 2010-11 : England's heightened expectations

[vamos_rafa]

To give some measure of the task that lies in wait this winter, England have won the Ashes in Australia on just four occasions in 17 visits since the Second World War. What is more, when they last achieved the feat, in 1986-87, one of the fast bowlers to whom they've entrusted the challenge this time around, Steven Finn, had not yet been conceived, while another, Stuart Broad, was barely six months old as his father Chris secured his own place in folklore with three hundreds in the five Tests. For all of the ECB's eagerness to draw a line under a poisonous series against Pakistan and turn the sport's attention to the most storied contest of them all, the ultimate prize of an Ashes victory Down Under is one that is granted barely once in a generation, and a challenge that can never be undertaken lightly, as seven of the squad know only too well from their bruising experience from the 2006-07 tour. "Having not won down there for 24 years it would be an outstanding achievement if we win," said the England team's managing director, Hugh Morris. And that was putting it mildly. Nevertheless there was something about the squad that was unfurled at The Oval on Thursday that inspired a confidence that has not been equalled in recent times. It wasn't just that 13 of the 16 names picked themselves after an 18-month stint in which they haven't lost a Test series, nor that the glitzy announcement (with portentous musical accompaniment) reinforced the point that England are the holders of the Ashes and that they intend to cling on at all costs. The most significant aspect, arguably, was the clarity of thought that went into those three marginal decisions. Tim Bresnan's selection ahead of Ajmal Shahzad was the decision that raised the most eyebrows, but when viewed as part of a whole that includes Finn, Broad and the newly recalled Chris Tremlett - three quicks who between them form the tallest English attack ever to travel to Australia - it's fair to second-guess why the lankier of the two Yorkshire prospects was given the last official berth in the party, even though Shahzad will travel with the team to provide support in the warm-ups ahead of the Brisbane Test. "There are plans ahead," admitted England's national selector Geoff Miller. "Size obviously does matter - there are going to be some bouncy wickets over there and we obviously have cover in the bouncy areas. But we also have people who can swing as well, so there is a good cross-section there and everything has been taken into consideration. The planning has been a long time in the making." In his solitary Test at Old Trafford back in June, Shahzad produced some prodigious reverse-swing to encourage the notion that he could travel to Australia as England's point-of-difference bowler - the man to mix it up with hustle, bustle and magic balls when the side was in need of a pick-me-up. But to watch the manner in which James Anderson has changed his tune and tightened his lines this summer has been instructive. While harvesting 32 wickets at 16.84 in six Tests, Anderson served up 76 maidens, or one-third of his season's tally of Test overs. Hooping the ball around corners is a lovely idea in theory, but with the Kookaburra ball and under clear blue skies, England's default approach will be to give Australia nothing to hit for five Tests in a row - and the best way of doing that is to ping the ball down on a good length from as high a starting point as possible. To that end, and for all that it will dredge up those old doubts about the size of his ticker, Tremlett's recall is an exciting selection - and one that was largely instigated by David Saker, England's bowling coach, whose approach since joining the set-up ahead of the World Twenty20 in May has been to accept no pre-conceived notions and to judge all candidates for selection on the merits that have got them to the top. Having shifted from Hampshire to reboot his career in an eye-catching debut season for Surrey, Tremlett believes he's a changed man from the timid performer who claimed just one wicket in three one-day appearances on the one-day leg of England's last trip to Australia, and the selectors seem to agree. "Last season I stopped enjoying the game a little, and that's why I felt I needed a fresh start," he told Surrey TV. "I think my confidence is as high as it's ever been, and I've surprised myself a little bit by doing as well as I have and staying on the park as long as I did." As self-endorsements go, Tremlett's words are not exactly the most passionate you'll ever hear, but then again, that's simply not his style, just as Anderson's demeanour also tends towards introspection. With three first-class games and some of the best nets facilities in the world in which to make his case for selection, Tremlett will have every chance to push himself into the frame if he really is the changed character that the Surrey management proclaim him to be. And should he fade into the background, a la Joey Benjamin in 1994-95, then at least England will not have committed the mistake they made in 1998-99, when the best tall bowler in the country, Andrew Caddick, was left behind in Taunton because no -one trusted him to fit in. The other key selection is that of the second spinner. James Tredwell was Graeme Swann's understudy in Bangladesh, and he let no one down with his diligent performance on debut in Dhaka, where he claimed six wickets to help secure the series. But as a man for an occasion such as Sydney or Adelaide, when two slow bowlers could well come into the equation, there could be no ignoring Monty Panesar, another player for whom a change of county, from Wantage Road to Hove, has led to an upsurge in his fortunes. Four years ago in Australia, when his career was still on an upward trajectory, Panesar became a cause celebre due to Duncan Fletcher's reluctance to pitch him into the contest, and when he could be held back no longer for the third Test in Perth, he responded with eight wickets on his Ashes debut, including a first-innings five-for, a feat that not even Shane Warne had managed at the WACA. "Monty has been to Australia before and did well once he got in the side," said Miller. "It was up to him to go away and resurrect his career. There were times we thought he was not thinking for himself, but he has been given the onus to do that at Sussex. He has set his field and had conversations with his captain and coach, and he has developed as a person." It could well be that none of the three marginal selections actually gets a game in the Ashes. The first-choice XI is more or less set in stone, with Ian Bell due to take Eoin Morgan's berth at No. 6 from the side that saw off Pakistan at Lord's last month. But the sense you get is of a squad with no passengers, least of all among the bowlers, upon whom the real burden will fall this winter. Only in the victories of 1978-79 and 1986-87, when Australia's fortunes were close to rock-bottom, have Ashes tours been won without a paceman making an indelible mark. In 1954-55 Frank Tyson forged his legend; in 1970-71, that honour fell to John Snow. If a similar star is to be born in 2010-11, England have ensured they've got their bases covered.

I think the English team is getting too pumped up with the prospect of winning the Ashes Down Under. No doubt they have improved a lot in terms of competitiveness but you are talking about beating Austraila in Austrailia which IMO, is equivalent to beating India in India. They need to sort out a few things. For starters, KP,their mainstay in batting, has to sort out his mind. Cook's batting form is highly inconsistent. Collingwood is on the decline as well.They depend heavily on Strauss in the current scenario, and we know the penchant of Aussies to get under the skin of the opposition skipper. Does he have it in him to actually tackle all this and still be the mainstay in the batting? And against Pakistan as well we saw their tendencies to get bundled out at times. As for their talks about having a very good bowling attack, I think that's in itself a moot topic. Anderson tends to struggle outside England. Broad is too temperamental a character and can be wayward. Finn is very new and Tremlet,though he suits the bill for bowling in Aus, is injury prone. As for the spinners they depend heavily on Swann. No doubt he's a great prospect but this would be his first tour and we don't know whether he would get acclimatised to the conditions or not. And Monty, they say he's back in form but would rather leave the comment on him for the latter days.

[Sachinism]

I thought they were a great side. But they've been humbled by Pakistan. Seriously can't fathom why people keep questioning India's position as the number 1 team when all other teams are just as inconsistent (and obviously worse as they're below us)

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We'll crush Aussies, says Botham ASHES legend Ian Botham believes England will flog Australia in the battle for the old urn, and says Kevin Pietersen will be a matchwinner. More... Ian Botham tips Kevin Pietersen will lead way for a crushing England Ashes win over Australia Ben Dorries The Courier-Mail September 28, 2010 ASHES legend Ian Botham believes England will flog Australia in the battle for the old urn this summer, and says out-of-favour batsman Kevin Pietersen will be a matchwinning star when he returns "with a sting in his tail". Botham insists the Ashes will be one-way traffic, and has no fear in tipping England's rejuvenated band of cricketers to win the series by at least two Tests. The great former allrounder, who has watched England's progress closely in his job as a television commentator, has been impressed with the team's skill, but more particularly their team unity through the challenging times of their controversial home series against Pakistan. "I think England will win the Ashes and I think they might win it in a bit of style," Botham predicted. "I do think they could win it by two Tests, which would be magnificent. There's a real chance of it. "England's preparation is good - they have got at least a few (warm-up) games in Australia - and their team spirit is magnificent. "They have had a very hard last couple of months here with everything that has been going on against Pakistan. "But they've come through that well, and Andrew Strauss as captain has conducted himself with dignity in a very tough time and that has rubbed off on the team. I think England will win it and I think they will win it well." Botham expects the brash Pietersen to be one of England's key trump cards during the Ashes, and has tipped him to rebound strongly from being dumped from the limited-overs squads. He says Australia should be wary that Pietersen has opted to go back to his roots and play for South African provincial side Natal to get some vital first-class practice in the lead-up to the Ashes. "Being left out will have hurt his pride, and quite rightly," Botham said. "I think you will find Kevin Pietersen will come back with a sting in the tail and Australia will be thinking that as well." The last time England won in Australia was when Mike Gatting captained them to a famous win in 1986-87, but Botham believes Ricky Ponting's current side is nothing like its champion predecessors. He claimed the Poms had to fight fire with fire to enjoy a rare success Down Under. "England is going to have to be at their best mentally for Australia ... it's a hostile environment and there will be a lot of aggression both on and off the field," Botham said. "That's the Aussie way, and as long as you enjoy it and rise to it, which I'm sure these guys will now, then I don't see them having too many problems."

[achilles]

I love these teams having a go at each other :cheer:

[Jadoo]

That lard Botham should keep his mouth shut, Eng got ***** slapped 5-nil last time down under, beating Pakistan and Bangladesh at home don't mean jack sh*t. Watch them get their asses handed back to them.

[b555]

i thought we= india :headshake:

[Sir john]

i will watch ashes.:haha:

[jibranpatel15]

well botham u absolutely right man. KP ang Swann will be the greter effective in this ashes against the aussies

[Serani]

I agree, Sir Ian

[Sir john]

I agree' date=' Sir Ian[/quote'] if you loose.

[The Realist]

Nobody believes or cares what fatty botham says. His predictions are worse than Pele's in football.

[Bradman99]

Not in Australia mate not a chance. Aussies will win it back and England will slump back down to earth.

[vamos_rafa]

I think Sir Ian has gone a bit too far fetched in his predictions. And I don't understand why the poms are trying to downplay the Aussie strength. They are a very very formidable side,not as lethal as they used to be but still they are, and you are talking about playing against them in Aus. So to say that they would crush the Aussies is a bit too much IMO.

[Zap_Brannigan]

"We'll crush Aussies, says Botham" Planning to sit on them, eh?

[jf1gp_1]

India is No 1 test side even Indians wont be fav against australia in australia and to claim that eng (helped by 3-4 pak players in winning test series ) can actually beat aus by two tests is something

[riwi999]

I tend to agree with Botham. Doing well in Australia against Australia is not that difficult. The Saffers showed this on their last tour there. If Duminy and Steyn can thrash these Aussie bowlers, I see no reason why the more accomplished English batsmen cannot.

[ravishingravi]

I tend to agree with Botham. Doing well in Australia against Australia is not that difficult. The Saffers showed this on their last tour there. If Duminy and Steyn can thrash these Aussie bowlers, I see no reason why the more accomplished English batsmen cannot.

One look at the english record in Aus. tells you all that you need to know. Nobody takes Botham seriously anymore

[Gunner_Mania]

Bumble has predicted a tongue-in-cheek 5-0 to the Poms Nas has predicted 2-1 to the Poms Beefy has predicted a 2 test victory to the Poms

[VRV Singh]

No chance. Aussies to win 2-1 in my opinion. Beefy's getting way ahead of himself here

[King Tendulkar]

Good on you beefy. :two_thumbs_up: Told the pakis were to go and now keeps it real by giving a reality check to Aussies. Also he knows we will batter them and have them on the mat for when ashes start, very astute Sir:--D