Part 2

Australia Stick To an All Pace Attack, Hauritz is the unlucky man to miss out

1. Shane Watson
2. Michael Katich
3. Ricky Ponting (c)
4. Michael Hussy
5. Michael Clarke
6. Marcus North
7. Brad Haddin (w)
8. Mitchell Johnson
9. Peter Siddle
10. Stuart Clark
11. Ben Hilfenhaus

England trusts Trott to get the runs

So after the endless debate and rumours of which England batsmen would be replaced after the Headingley debacle, the axe only fell on Ravi Bopara. Ian Bell, who some thought would also be guillotined, survived and will bat at three for the crunch winner takes all final Test at the Oval. This despite his poor record against Australia (566 runs in 12 Tests against Australia at 24.60) and at number 3, where Bell has yet to score a Test match century and only averages a touch over 30.

With probable number one choice Marcus Trescothick ruling out a reversal of his retirement from international cricket and Kent captain Robert Key again being ignored, the selectors chose the uncapped Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott to replace Bopara. Despite what amounted to a media campaign calling for his selection, it seems that the return of 39 year old Mark Ramprakash was never seriously considered by the selectors.

Continue Reading

So it would appear the momentum has shifted majorly in the series. And doesn’t the media let us know it! Panic stations have been reached and the England players are probably sitting (shitting themselves) at home facing the daunting prospect of an inevitable 5th test defeat and embarrassing defeat that promised so much. But lets take a few deep breaths and one HUGE step back.  The series is level 1 a piece and England have a chance at an historic Ashes series win with one fired up Fred bowing out of the game he was born to play (shame his body didn’t agree).

Lets take a break from all this doomsaying and fire-breathing hypocrisy and take a minute to have a bit of fun and take the piss out of Graeme Swann in his quest for immortality in the series (you should add him to your Twitter account if you haven’t already! and World Cricket Watch for that matter). England have had their fair share of great moment s in the series so far. My favourite moment my a country mile would have to be the “ball of the series” moment when Swann showed he could turn the ball square just like Murali, drift like Warney, and classically clip the top of off stump to dismiss one of the greatest batsman and punters the game has ever seen.

But where does Swanny’s Delivery Rate?

Is it  . . .

A) The Ball of the Series

B) The Greatest Ball of in Ashes History

C) The Ball of the New Millenium

D) The Greatest Ball of All Time

E) None of the Above

In all serious though it was a great ball, but it does have some stiff competition from Warney himself. Watch the 3 videos below and vote for which delivery you think is the best . . .

Continue Reading