I was going to post this yesterday morning, just after Warnie clean bowled Monty. But I thought I’d leave it a bit so I wasn’t accused of being the gloating redneck Aussies that most people posting on British newspaper blogs seem convinced we are.
The Ashes are back in Australian hands and all is well with the world!
I wasn’t surprised it was over so quickly. You could tell from day one in Brisbane that the Aussies wanted this really, really badly. And the English didn’t.
In hindsight, my pre-series prediction that the series wouldn’t be decided until the 5th Test in Sydney was just wishful thinking.
Of course, the English have started flaying themselves in the press. They say it was because of lack of preparation, injuries to key players and baffling selectorial decisions.
They’re wrong. The big problem with the English team was that they don’t play as a team. Kevin Pietersen is too concerned with his own mythology. Harmison is too busy battling the voices in his head. And none of the batsmen (I refuse point blank to call them batters!) play with anything more in mind than surviving the next ball from Warne.
The Aussies, on the other hand, are soaked through with a team ethos. (See the bizarre story about Andrew Symonds sniffing his Baggy Green). If someone is out of form or feeling the niggling effects of old age, someone else steps up to the plate. That way you can take injuries, an impending bus pass or an unexpected retirement in your stride.
Anyway, I’m off to watch the highlights again on the BBC web page. But before I go, I’d like to give Ricky Ponting a big pat on the back. He may look like George W Bush. He may like betting on the doggies more than any sensible man should. But he has moulded a world class team AND got rid of the ‘ugly Australian’ tendencies that were given free-reign under Steve Waugh.
More to the point, I could watch him bat for hours.
Somehow, I don’t think the Poms feel the same way.
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one of the great things about the sport of cricket is that its probably one of the only sports in the world where you can happily applaud or marvel in something the other team does. Sure he does have one of those faces you just want to hit, but i too could watch Ponting bat all day….though if he’s playing england….a few more of those innings of runs under 10 would be good. And a spin bowler myself, i can waych warne till the cows come home….this in no way is meant to sound patronising…but it really will be a sad day when he retires!
Andrew, I agree. There have been some things to admire about the Poms too. The way that Monty plays with such infectious enthusiasm (why he wasn’t in the team from Day 1 I’ll never understand.) And some of the batsman look the goods – ie Cook, Collingwood etc.
What worries me is the way the English press are already describing Cook as world class. Not that I think they’re wrong, it’s just a lot of pressure for the lad. And when he suffers a dip in form (like Michael Clark did) you just know they’re going to hang him out to dry.
Still, bring on 2009! The Aussie team will be full of youngsters (only just over 30!) still feeling their way!
We woz robbed!
Actually, we were beaten by a far better team, but I am English, so…WE WOZ ROBBED!
Mick ‘yer man’
You’re right about Cook, us English, well the selectors and the press, have a nasty habit of never keeping faith with players. Freddie being the exception, I think.
The exclusion of Monty in the first two Tests is a mystery to all of us, I can only assume that Gilo has dirty pictures of Duncan Fletcher or something. Geraint Jones probably has some even more compromising stuff on DF!!
The exclusion of Monty is a mystery to us all. Maybe Gilo has incriminating pictures of Duncan Fletcher. I can only assume Gereint Jones has copies of these as well.
Re. Cook – the guy has scored 4 Test centuries before his 21st birthday, can you think of a batsman who’s doen that and not been labelled ‘world class’? You’re right about the press though. Their influence on selection policy is awful.
Here’s to the 2009 Ashes then. Monty will be the world’s best spinner with Warne having retired, Cook will really be world class…
I hate to say it as an England cricket team supporter, but don’t retire, Warney!
Looks like it will be 4-0 going into the final Test. Sad for England. They’re a good team, but they’re way off the boil: ravaged by injuries, sapped of confidence, short of form, and void of direction. They’re facing a cut-throat line-up of superstars, and their most potent weapon, Andrew Flintoff, is wilting under his team’s failings.
But all is not lost. As long as there are no more career-ending injuries, England will have one of the best batting line-ups in world cricket over the next eight years. Aus could slip back into the dark ages with retirements, as happened when Lilley, Marsh, and co packed it in.
Monty is a hero and will take a bucket-load of wickets. If Flintoff and the other seamers can regain fitness and form, the Ashes will be swinging back England’s way in 2009.
In the meantime, England should be heading out to Estonia – home of the world’s worst international cricket team – to try and beat the Balts at ice cricket.