Pre Ashes Thread

[StriKe]

England have scored two major victories against Australia in less than a year - the ICC World Twenty20 final and the Ashes in 2009 - and Shane Warne believes they now have the mindset and the team necessary to try and accomplish the hardest challenge in cricket - winning a Test series in Australia. In his column for the Daily Telegraph, Warne wrote that England took "a small psychological advantage" from beating Australia in Sunday's final in Barbados and sent a message that "they [Australia] have to play very well to beat them [England] now in any form of the game". "In the past, they [England] thought that if they played at their best they might nick a win. Now they think, "We can beat this lot". That feeling of being scared of playing Australia has disappeared," Warne wrote. "Australia were just starting to build a bit of momentum and find some consistency in the aftermath of losing last year's Ashes. But the first time they came up against England in a final, they lost." Warne, however, said the Ashes in Australia was the hardest series to win and England were whitewashed 5-0 on their last trip there in 2006-07. But this squad, Warne felt, had the "right tools" to succeed in Australia later this year. "In Graeme Swann they have a spinner who, when you examine every format of the game, is the best in the world right now," Warne said. "In Kevin Pietersen, England also have, not the best, but the most destructive batsman." Pietersen was the Player of the Tournament in the West Indies, having scored 248 runs at an average of 62. Warne said the IPL and the World Twenty20 helped Pietersen rediscover his touch which was vital because, apart from his contributions, Pietersen's team-mates also fed off his form. "He [Pietersen] was struggling in the Test arena. When he gets into trouble he gets technical and reads too much into things. He is best when he plays on instinct and in Twenty20 there is not much time to think. You just have to go out there and hit the ball. For the last couple of months he has not had to worry about technique and building innings. He has just had to smack the ball and impose himself. To be the Player of the Tournament will be great for his ego. "It is also great for England because all the other players seem to walk a bit taller when KP is playing well. They feed off him. Also the opposition concentrates on getting KP out so much that it allows others to play with freedom." Warne also called Swann the "most improved cricketer in the world." "What has struck me most is that as an offspinner there are only certain ways you can get people out. But he [swann] has more than that, he really changes his pace well. Normally when spinners bowl faster they lose their spin. But he can bowl quicker deliveries and still turn it. It is a very good gift and he can adapt it to all forms of the game. He is always trying to work out in his mind how to get wickets. That is what I like about him - he attacks." http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/460072.html

[Precambrian]

Spot on Warney.

[mastermind_quad]

Warney ....yeah absolutely ....but the biggest contribution in their success are from SA 'A' team ,Ireland youth .....so on....!!!! :):)

[mastermind_quad]

but i really hope from this onward England kid take cricket seriously....!!!!!!!! well done International XI......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SJS50]

They haven't been for quite some time now - afraid of the Aussies that is. Warne should know that better than nost :) I think most top sides in the world have realised that Australia are not invincible but you as long as Australia plays as if they are, they will continue to be THE side to beat. And for this everyone needs to respect them Those that don't will find it a grave and costly error.

[Feed]

Ponting: Ashes loss would cost job Ricky Ponting admits defeat in this winter's home Ashes series against England would almost certainly end his long reign as Australia captain. More... Ponting: Ashes loss would cost job 2 July 2010 Ricky Ponting was unable to stop England regaining the Ashes last year, but will be eyeing revenge this winter Ricky Ponting admits defeat in this winter's home Ashes series would almost certainly spell the end of his reign as Australia captain. The 35-year-old, who was at the helm when England won both the 2005 and 2009 series', could become the first Australia skipper in over 100 years to lose three Ashes series' if the tourists triumph this winter. And Ponting accepts another loss would be unacceptable. “I’d probably be looking for a new job if we lose again,” he told the Daily Mail. “It’s as simple as that. “I’ve got the biggest eight months of my career coming up. We are playing India, then England and then the World Cup. “It doesn’t get any bigger than that and everything I do between now and April will be geared at getting the most out of myself and, most importantly, the group. “If I’m able to do that I think there are some pretty special things on the horizon for this team.” Despite his admittance, Ponting insists he is not feeling any extra pressure to regain the urn. “I haven’t thought about any added pressure on me,” he added. “I’m just thinking about being the best player I can be and having a significant impact on the Ashes series as a batsman and as a leader. That’s all I can control. “I know what it takes to be a good player in a big series and I know what it will take for the rest of the guys. “Our guys understand better than ever the direction we’re going in and what they have to do as individuals to have success. “If we keep working on the little things every day I think you’ll see some great performances in the Ashes.” Australia saved face with a 78-run win in Wednesday’s fourth one-day international to avoid a NatWest Series whitewash. But Ponting, who passed 13,000 ODI runs in his knock of 92 at the Brit Oval, accepts England fully deserve their series win. “England are worthy winners of this series,” he said. “They outplayed us in the first three games. We’re not making any excuses.”

[DomainK]

But why?:dontknow: If he loses the Ashes, it wont be the first time. This is injustice.:punter:

[Lord]

go England:cheer:

[Clarke]

Losing at home to England surely would, not like thats gonna happen

[achilles]

But why?:dontknow: If he loses the Ashes, it wont be the first time. This is injustice.:punter:

:hysterical:

[Fontaine]

He's got the right attitude. Losing three Ashes series to England would be awful. Obviously it's not all his fault but as the captain he would have to bear the responsibility.

[Roshanrocks]

i is lookin forward to india aussie series

[anbuchelvan]

This will happen soon.:hysterical::hysterical:

[Sir john]

england no gonna to win at australia,:--D punter no need to take reirement,:two_thumbs_up:

[bhajji]

england:yay: :yay:

[Feed]

Ponting keen for Tait Test return for Ashes Australia captain Ricky Ponting hopes to persuade fast bowler Shaun Tait to return for the Ashes. More... Ricky Ponting wants Shaun Tait for Ashes after victory Australia captain Ricky Ponting has not given up hope of persuading fast bowler Shaun Tait to return to Test cricket in time for the winter Ashes series. Tait was named man of the match at Lord's as Australia beat England in the final match in a one-day international series they lost 3-2. And Ponting is hopeful he can talk the 27-year-old into a Test return after a near three-year absence. Meanwhile, fast bowler Ryan Harris has returned home with a knee injury. Of Tait, Ponting said: "We've been a better side with him, I'll keep working on him." Tait came into the side for the final three matches of the series and played a key role in the tourists' much-improved performances. He had been playing Twenty20 cricket for Glamorgan before being called up as an injury replacement but has opted not to play Test cricket because of continual struggles with injury. But Ponting, who praised his side for a strong finish to the series, is desperate to change the mind of a bowler who topped 100 MPH in taking 4-49 in a 42-run victory at Lord's and created problems for all England's batsmen. "There are very few guys in the world who can do what Shaun can do," said Ponting, who saw leading fast bowler Brett Lee retire from Test cricket in February. "He has got the ability to bowl a ball that can get anyone out. "That's not only in one-day or Twenty20 cricket, he's got the ability to do it with the red ball [in Test cricket] as well. "If he has that desire ... then the selectors are going to find it hard to leave him out." However, despite his strong performances with the ball, Tait said he was not confident his body could cope with a return to the longest format of the game. He made his Test debut as a 22-year-old in 2005, but has only played two more Tests, his last a wicketless effort at home to india in January 2008. And asked whether he might play a part in helping Australia regain the Ashes this winter, he replied: "Not at this stage I don't think, just getting through 10 overs today has been enough. "I haven't thought about coming back (to Tests) to be honest. I haven't played a four-day game for a long time now and I'm in a pretty good place right now. "I think there have been eight or nine years I've played and I've been injured every year apart from this season so maybe the cricket I'm playing has something to do with that. "(But) I've never come out and said I have retired from the longer form - you never say never. I just made a decision to stop playing to keep my body on track. "It could work out well and it could also work out badly, I could get injured or I might not." England captain Andrew Strauss was one of two early Tait victims at Lord's on Saturday when he was clean bowled by a lightning-fast delivery that swung into him. "He was pretty quick and he got the ball to swing which makes it harder," Strauss said. "He put us on the back foot." But Strauss added: "He has clearly had some issues with bowling lots of overs. History suggests it is hard to sustain that pace, no bowlers in world cricket can bowl like that for long periods." Ryan Harris is returning to Australia after picking up a right knee injury during the one-day series and miss the remaining tour games in England against Pakistan. His replacement was not immediately announced.

[b555]

Australia's Ashes plans get serious http://www.cricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/472479.html :hysterical:

[King Tendulkar]

Ponting claims Aussies can win ashes 5-0 Ponting thinks he is Mcragth:hysterical:

[Gunner_Mania]

Did you watch Bob Willis after the Somerset game yesterday when Charles Colville passed on this news? He exploded saying - Ricky Ponting was the worst captain, he was only in the team because Australia needed his runs, if they sacked him as captain he would no longer be in th team. England he says will retain the Ashes.

[King Tendulkar]

Did you watch Bob Willis after the Somerset game yesterday when Charles Colville passed on this news? He exploded saying - Ricky Ponting was the worst captain' date=' he was only in the team because Australia needed his runs, if they sacked him as captain he would no longer be in th team. England he says will retain the Ashes.[/quote'] No I missed that. Nothing better then Bob Willis going on one:hysterical: Thats harsh stuff from Bob, but no doubt pretty accurate stuff he said. Good as the ashes over the last 6 years has been way to paly paly. Does not seem like a rivalry any more but two good mates have a game of competitive cricket. Good on yob ponting for stirring things up. Its much needed with the ashes becoming way to matey