England 0 Australia 0, 1 Down 4 to Play, Bring on Lords

Exactly How it Happened . . .

All the Ashes Highlights:

• Ashes Highlights Day 1
• Ashes Highlights Day 2
• Ashes Highlights Day 3
• Ashes Highlights Day 4
• Ashes Highlights Day 5

All the Ashes Match Reports:

• Ashes First Test, England vs Australia Day 1
• Ashes First Test, England vs Australia Day 2
• Ashes First Test, England vs Australia Day 3
• Ashes First Test, England vs Australia Day 4
• Ashes First Test, England vs Australia Day 5

All the Ashes Controversy:

• Kevin Pietersen’s Moment of Madness
• Blind Patriotic Media Coverage

All the Ashes reaction:

• Reaction to the Draw
• A Review of the First Test

See you for the 2nd Test!

Well, there we are. Somehow England have managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of Australian victory. England should be mighty pleased with that result, thanking their tail and thanking Ricky Ponting. This morning, when KP was bowled, I was thinking that we wouldn’t reach tea.

1) Maynard was telling the truth. This wasn’t a ‘Bunsen’ at all. Hauritz (no monkey he) managed to get some turn but despite the dust, grass and everything else shown by the Sky Satellite Camera close-ups of the pitch it was pretty benign. The two spinners policy backfired. There was never any danger of us taking 10 wickets in this game let alone 20.

2) Despite his late heroics with the bat and for all his popularity, Monty Panesar at this stage is not a Test cricketer. He is generally woeful with the bat, poor in the field and, in this game, didn’t get very much at all in terms of turn. He doesn’t have enough variation in his bowling, he doesn’t take enough wickets, he doesn’t scare or threaten batsmen. I like him, I wish him well, but I’d rather have had Rashid or, indeed, either Harmison or Onions.

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The England selectors will on Monday the 22nd June announce an extended training squad of up to 17 players for the upcoming Ashes series before deciding on the final 12 or 13 man squad which will go into battle in Cardiff on July 8th. Here we’ll have a look at the probable candidates for the squad, starting with what is likely to be the Test XI.

1. Andrew Strauss - Captain, opening batsman and therefore, along with Pietersen, will be the wicket the Aussies will covet the most. He needs to continue the good form he has shown against the West Indies of late and stamp some authority on England’s innings much as he and Trescothick did on day one at Edgbaston in 2005. Slip catching will be vital.

2. Alastair Cook - Often accused of getting out too easily after making a start, despite having an average of 45 with 9 hundreds and 19 fifties to his name and being the youngest English batsmen to reach 1000, 2000 and 3000 Test match runs. At twenty four he has one Ashes series behind him already and, if he can play to his potential this summer, he could end up as England’s star performer. A much improved fielder which will be crucial in the cordon or under the helmet at short leg.

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