Will Lee be Left in the Dark?

Australia stamped their authority on their opening tour match with Sussex, closing the day on 18 for 0, after bowling their opponents out for 311 earlier in the day.

The tourists have opened up a lead of 56 runs ahead of the third day’s play, after declaring over night on 349-7.

Phil Hughes was left unbeaten on 17, while his partner Simon Katich was unable to get off the mark during his 17 deliveries.

After getting a good look at their impressive batting line-up on the first day, it was today the turn of the Australian bowlers to attempt to turn the match in the away side’s direction.

Stuart Clark and Brett Lee each took three wickets, with Lee taking the prized wicket of the big hitting Luke Wright to leave Sussex at 151 for 6.

But Australia let their opponents back into the match when they simply had no right, as the County Championship side piled on another 160 runs for the final 4 wickets.

Andrew Hodd and Robin Martin-Jenkins put on an 86 run partnership at the back end of the innings to start the re-build, after Chris Nash has earlier top scored with 45.

Wicket keeper Hodd made 45, but the real day belonged to the pace attack of Lee and Clark who showed their Ashes Opponents they’d lost none of their threat from the previous Ashes series of 2006/07.

Clark really made his burst onto the international scene on the tour to South Africa in 2006 taking 20 wickets in the three match series.

After a baron series in Bangladesh, he went into his first Ashes series as a unknown quantity, and to his advantage as he took 26 wickets to wow the cricketing world.

Two years on and Clark is now no-longer first choice with the international team after a drop in form, and an unfortunate elbow injury.

He’s since got back to full fitness and form after playing club cricket in the United Arab Emirates, and his inclusion in this Ashes squad is sure to strike fear into the England top order.

Clark hasn’t played a test match at all this year because of injury and another player who has suffered the same fait is Brett Lee who also took three wickets at Hove today.

Lee’s ankle injury has restricted his time in the test team since the Boxing Day test against South Africa.

The usually hostile Lee, banging the ball in at 90mph is a forgone memory in Australia and across the world, and after the selection of the two and not Mitchell Johnson in this side, proves that’s it’s a straight fight between the two for that final fast bowler position.

After today’s performance both players seem poles apart.

Clakr bolwed with intent and accuracy, while Lee relied on his immense pace to knock over the top men from Sussex, only for him to overstep four times in his first five over spell.

Yes he did take wickets at the back end of the day, and same number as Clark it must be added, but never could you put the two in the same breath in this particular showing.

Ricky Ponting has a difficult decision to make ahead of that first test, in which he is expected to field both Nathan Hauritz and part timer Marcus North in the side.

Does he go in with an in-experienced attack, into conditions, which Peter Siddle, Johnson and Clark have rarely experienced?

Or does he field the experienced pace-man whose record in England is less than impressive.

I mentioned earlier how Lee showed he’s lost nothing from the Ashes in 2006/07, which is true he did help turn the tide during today’s play, but does his previous record in England maybe pave the way for the new bread to take the Ashes by the scruff of the neck?

Lee has taken an average of less than 3 wickets a match during his two tours to England, and has on three occasions gone for more than 100 runs in an innings.

He showed his lack of fizz in the last series here going for 193, 160 and 182 during the matches at Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge respectively.

Will today’s performance have given Ponting food for thought? Or just hammered home the fact that Lee offers very little to the Australian pace attack that it doesn’t already have.

Haddin and Hauritz save Australia's Blushes

Australia were given some early scares before ending day one of their opening tour match against Sussex on 349 for 7.

The early loss of Phil Hughes for just 15 and then skipper Ricky Ponting for 8 put the tourists on the back foot, but two superb partnerships re-built the innings to leave the men from down-under on-top after day one

Fellow opener Michael Katich made 49, before Michael Clark (45) and Brad Haddin (69) came to the crease to build a partnership of 114.

After the two were dismissed Australia showed that their inexperienced bowling attack could bat a little as Brett Lee (47 not out) and Nathan Hauritz (65 not out) put on an unbeaten 117 partnership.

There is only so much you can learn on the first day of a tour match, but from Australia’s perspective they will know their front line bataman will need some more work before being ready for the opening test match in Cardiff in under two weeks.

Hughes who has been the number one batsman in the County Championship this season, failed early in the innings as he was bowled by Pepler Sandri, who made a name for himself taking three Australian scalps on the first day.

The South African born was a thorn in the Aussies side all day, and he also took the prized wicket of the well set Katich and then Marcus North, who after scoring just a single must be sweating over his test place.

But the real stars of the day were the Australian lower order, and in particular Haddin, who after a controversial year seems to have found some form just at the right time.

Many would agree that he has had one of the more difficult jobs in world cricket-replacing the immortal Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist started the trend of the wicket-keeper batsman with his breathtaking hitting and faultless form behind the stumps confirming him as the best keeper since the turn of the century.

Haddin had worked under Gilchrist for a number of years, learning the trade slowly and eventually after Gilchrist’s retirement taking the place of the New South Wales born keeper.

He started well in his career, and as his part in the side became more permanent his form then followed, and soon his debut test match century came against New Zealand late last year.

But it was against the Kiwi’s this year that Haddin had his first hiccup in international cricket, and one that has changed the opinion of him across the cricketing world.

During the first one-day international between Australia and New Zealand a ball by Clark beat batsman Neil Broom for pace and appeared to hit the top of off-stump, and be immediately caught by Haddin behind the stumps.

Nothing was made of the dismissal until a replay was seen following the ‘wicket’, where is showed Haddin knock the bails with his glove without the ball hitting the stumps at all.

He took the ball from in front of the stumps and wheeled away to celebrate with bowler Clark, without calling back Broom to admit his dreadful error.

The act sparked a fury of exchanges between Daniel Vettori and Ricky Ponting, and hurt the reputation of the wicket-keeper.

Haddin showed today however that everything gone before was forgotten, and looked the top class player Gilchrist had helped nurture, with some classic on-drives and three sublime sixes.

Whether he will truly be able to get past the incident in Perth earlier this year is hard to say at this stage, but he gave his reputation with the bat a huge boost ahead of the biggest two months of his career.

A quick word should be spared for Hauritz who made 65 today, at an extremely quick rate off 78 balls no less.

A man who has been more suited to the one-day aspect of the game has been called into this touring squad after playing just four test matches for the Aussies.

He’s started his tour with a bang with the bat-now lets see how him and the rest of the fierce bowling attack get along with Michael Yardy and Luke Wright set to be the biggest threats for the visitors, on the second day at Hove.

England's Ashes Squad- The Bowling Plan

So three quarters of the training squad is down and here goes trying to piece together the remaining men who are in line to attempt to regain The Ashes.

Six batsman, an all-rounder and two wicket keepers make up 9 of the sixteen-man squad, and it’s the men instilled with taking 20 wickets during each test match this summer that remain.

You may wonder why seven men are left aside for the bowlers on this occasion, well that is simply because of the possibility that two spinners may play throughout the series, so three may well make their way onto this training squad.

It’s been rumoured that England will field two spinners in the opening test match at Cardiff, and if so there could be a major role for any of Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann or Adil Rashid.

Panesar in truth is probably the least likely to take the field in that first test in Cardiff-due to his recent form, which resulted in him being dropped during the away series in the West Indies, and his omission from the two-match series against the same country last month.

He’s been accused of having one stock delivery, and not putting enough action on the ball to really impress on the big stage.

Now while most of these accusations could well be true-it doesn’t take away from Panesar his brilliant debut performance against the Aussies, where he took 5 for 92 on the first day of the third test after a host of calls for his inclusion ahead of Ashley Giles.

What will always let Panesar down is his contribution in the field and with the bat, something that you can never lay at the feet of Swann, who gives England a added dimension with the ball and allows the tail to wag as far down as seven or eight.

Swann took five wickets in just his second test match, adding to the 19 he took on the tour of the West Indies to fully lay his mark on the team.

Ever since he’s been an ever present in every England team whether it be one-day international of Twenty20 matches he is a vital player for the England cause.

The third spinner in contention for a call up is Rashid, and after an encouraging Twenty20 World Cup this man could well feature for the test team this summer.

He was called up to the series against India, only to be overlooked when it came to selection but even then the selectors had signalled their intentions.

He was selected alongside Swann in most of the Twenty20 World Cup matches and was one of the rare highlights from the tournament, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the two combine to similar success against Australia.

Yes he is yet to make a test match appearance to date, but due to the nature of Panesar’s form it would be foolish not to select a third spinner to accompany the two experienced men, if nothing else it would be a great experience for the 21 year-old.

For me all three men have to be selected, if England are serious about selecting two spinners for the first test they need to give each one an equal chance.

Even at this early stage I would be tempted to go with Rashid and Swann, given the raw talent that Rahid possess he could give the Aussies some real problems.

So with three spinners in the squad, we need to look at the fast bowlers and England’s problem position in the test team.

As I’ve said before James Anderson and Stuart Broad are sure starters for the first test and therefore inclusion in this squad.

That leave two more spaces preferably, even with Andrew Flintoff around, with plenty of seamers queuing up for selection for this summer.

Steve Harmison (Durham)
Pros: His career highlight came against the Aussies during their last tour when he took the final wicket at Edgbaston in the middle of a dream series for the Durham man. He has the bounce and height to trouble any batsman in world cricket
Cons: A dramatic loss of form was summed up by the last Ashes series in which he bowled a hideous wide as the first ball of the series. Since then he has barely re-captured the form that saw him a one time ranked as the world’s number one fast bowler, his form for his county has improved, only for him to be overshadowed by another England seamer.

Graham Onions (Durham)
Pros: Took 10 wickets in his first two test matches on home soil against the West Indies, including five for 38 on debut. He was the first player to reach 50 first class wicket this season, ahead of team-mate Harmison.
Cons: His experience is very limited, just the two home tests against the West Indies and nothing more. With no One-day or Twenty20 experience this is his first venture into the international set up, and despite his brilliant start there are still doubters against his pedigree.

Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire)
Pros: In just 21 matches Sidebottom has taken no less than five 5-wicket hauls already in his career against a variety of nations. In the six matches he played against New Zealand this year he took 41 wickets, including 7 for 47 in Napier. He produces demon swing, which famously bamboozles the Aussies and he could be the catalyst for another thrilling Ashes summer.
Cons: Injuries in the recent months have halted his progress, and allowed the likes of Onions to go maybe even ahead of him in the pecking order. It shouldn’t be forgotten what he brings to the team, and that before his injury he was first choice in the test team.

Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire)
Pros: Over 200 wickets in first class cricket for Yorkshire brought him to the attention of the England selectors earlier this year, with the seamer making his debut against the West Indies in the two test matches in May
Cons: While it was expected that he would make a bit impact in the side, he was almost not needed in the side with plenty of the wickets going to the first change bowlers of Broad and Onions, before Bresnan could even get in on the act. He took just three wickets in the series, and he begged the question what would he add to the England pace attack? Not enough it seemed to bowl more than 31 overs in two matches against the West Indies. It seems that Bresnan’s fate may well have been sealed with Onions superb form in that opening match.

As with Michael Vaughan, Harmison has been attempting to recapture form after a series of injuries and it seems just like Vaughan his summer may not go further than his home county.

The strike bowler has always looked off colour when given an opportunity back in the test team, and now England have developed there own match winning bowlers in Anderson and Broad.

For me Onions hasn’t put a foot wrong for either his county or Country, and he deserves at least a call up to the squad, if not a start in a test or two along the way.

Sidebottom seems to have done enough to assure himself an Ashes place, but it looks like a straight fight between him and Onions for a starting place in the team, that’s if the selectors resist with the twin spin option.

So there you have it, near enough the sixteen-man squad due to be announced tomorrow has been accumulated.

They are as follows: Andrew Strauss, Alistair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell, Andrew Flintoff, Matt Prior, James Foster, Monty Panesar, Graeme Swann, Adil Rashid, Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad, Graham Onions and James Anderson.

Now I don’t profess that this will be the exact squad that will be announced, but it will be near enough to that that will fight for the Ashes this summer against Australia.

England's Ashes Squad- Prior's Understudy

So after selecting a credible list of batsman, and with the addition of Andrew Flintoff England’s possible Ashes squad looks in good shape.

The next stage is to add a wicket keeper, for which Matt Prior has occupied the position for sometime in the side.

However for this England squad, in what is set to be a long summer a second keeper could be needed if nothing else to keep Prior on his toes.

England are blessed with a number of up and coming keepers, for which there skills are currently being displayed in this years county championship, and here are the contenders;

James Foster (Essex)
Pros: Stared behind the stumps for England in the recent Twenty20 World Cup with some quick work with the gloves. Has previous experience against Australia after appearing in Melbourne for the side before injury began a seven-year run without an International appearance.
Cons: His last test match appearance came seven years ago, so he’s hardly got a whole lot of experience under his belt. His in-ability to score with the bat for his country will be a concern as well. He struggled to pick up the run-rate during the recent world cup, but as he would appear mostly as an understudy keeping him in the set up has its advantages.

Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire)
Pros: Was at one time the first choice keeper for England until bad form struck the teams progress, and Ambrose was a victim of a re-vamp. His ability with the gloves has never been called into question, with 31 dismissals in 11 matches to his name, but other areas of his game might mean he’ll miss out in this squad.
Cons: Just the single century when playing against the likes of New Zealand and the West Indies, two of the weaker test playing nations is not favourable and with the current mindset instilled in the England selectors, who are more likely to pick multi-skilled keepers Ambrose always looks like he might miss out. However he is the most experienced keeper remaining, and if Prior was to become injured at any point his previous performances might stand him in good stead.

Steven Davies (Worcestershire)
Pros: The most prized asset in County Cricket right now, and a certain England player of the future. He’s currently subject of bid by Surrey after the player made it known he wished to move on in his career. His two hundreds in County Cricket already show his true potential.
Cons: Selectors have made mistakes calling up the likes of Foster and Chris Read too early in their careers and both have since struggled. They will be wary about doing the same with Davies. He may be given more time in County Cricket for now, but be sure to listen out for this impressive keeper-batsman.

All three contenders are at different stages of their career, and in terms of a realistic call up only Foster and Ambrose are looking towards Monday’s squad announcement.

For me the England team need a new breed of players, and picking Ambrose in this squad for me would be the easy way out.

Foster had such a good time of it during this year’s World Cup that it could be hard to leave him out, and I’ve always been a fan of keeping a core of players throughout every England squad.

It’s a tough call for me, but I’d give Foster the edge, if nothing else because I believe he’s the better wicket-keeper and maybe that above all other factors is the important issue when talking about Prior’s number two.

England's Ashes Squad-Is Freddy Ready?

Andrew Flintoff’s profile in this countries sporting dynasty draws plenty of parallels with British sportsman of past and present.

His ability to pick up injury after injury is very similar to that of Jonny Wilkinson, the man who was consumed with the media spotlight after winning the Rugby World Cup with a single swing of his right boot.

He’s even been able to fall of the wagon now and again, an unfortunate incident involving a pedalo during the 2007 World Cup similar to any of the escapes of footballer Paul Gascoigne.

But maybe the thing that holds him above either of those is that after every hiccup that has been confronted by the bruising Lancashire man, his commitment and desire is unmatchable every time.

Wilkinson has never recovered fully from a series of knee and shoulder injuries since that triumph in 2003, while Gascoigne’s broken leg in the 1991 FA Cup final, signalled the beginning of the end for the talented individual.

Flintoff however has never known when to stop, and while controversies and mainly injuries have threatened to consume him he still comes out fighting.

Maybe his drive is simply down to the fact an achievement like staring in a World Cup tournament has never presented itself to him, although a match winning performance during the last Ashes Series, particularly at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge is surely close to such a feat.

It’s this drive and determination that is unrivalled by any English Cricketer means that despite his lack of time with bat and ball he is a shoe in for the England team this summer.

Shane Warne, who has previously been guilty to a ridiculous predictions down the years, described Flintoff’s inclusion in this year’s series as the difference between and Englands ability to regain The Ashes.

Despite his sometimes-ambitious predictions of yesteryear, never has a truer word been spoken from the sun-creamed lips of the legendry spinner.

Without Flintoff England seem at time hapless, and that’s why any attempt to call up a replacement has been abolished to the disgruntlement of Dimi Mascarenhas and Graham Napier.

The latter two are now heavily involved in England’s one-day side alongside Flintoff (when fit), but the almost unique contribution that Flintoff brings to the side means that neither can be considered to replace the iconic all-rounder.

I for one have no doubt he’ll be around for that first test at Cardiff, and for the rest of the series, it will take a massive injury to keep Flintoff out.

He’ll want to prove a point after a 5-0 drubbing as captain in the last series in Australia, and can you blame him?

Flintoff’s reputation as a player took a massive knock after that series defeat, as it seemed the England man had finally bitten off more than he could chew.

This year he’ll be at ease with his bowling, which has as ever-slotted right back into place, and know that after a 54 against Hampshire this week he’s starting to gain some form with the bat.

If Warne is right and Flintoff does become the difference you can be assured that 110% will be given by the former Sports Personality of the Year, even if his fitness levels aren’t quiet at the same stage.

England Ashes Squad-Batting

After England’s exit from the Twenty20 World Cup coach Andy Flower was quick to turn the teams attention to this summers Ashes series.

He revealed that a squad of up to 16 players would be selected to be involved in training days with the squad up until that first test in Cardiff.

This training squad is set to be revealed on Monday, with players sure to be left elated as well as disappointed at the decision.

As with every squad you have your shoe ins and your outsiders, and over the next few days we’re going to evaluate the four areas of the team and who will make it into that final 16.

For all intense and purposes we can count out Andrew Strauss, Alistair Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad and James Anderson as they all look like certainties for that Ashes squad.

They’ve been the backbone of the test side for sometime now, and it’s extremely difficult to see any of them being left out of Monday’s squad announcement.

So you can tick those seven off your list, and look ahead to trying to fill those coverted nine places.

Today we’re going to look at the run scoring department, and with four recognised batsman already in the squad, we’re looking for just two more to fill the list.

I’ve drawn up some of the candidates already, and with your help we’re going to try and shape this England squad, that could guide us to similar scenes we encountered in 2005.

Ravi Bopara (Essex)
Pros: Well three hundreds in 6 matches tell it’s own story. He may well have solved the role of number three for the national team and after an impressive Twenty20 World Cup he is well in the running for a call up this summer.
Cons: Well his first series against Sri Lanka hardly struck fear into the world as he record three ducks in six innings. And his centuries have all come against the same side, the West Indies one of the weakest test playing nations around. His experience against the hostile Aussies is almost non-existent, with jus the two ODI played against the men from down under, and his success limited.

Owais Shah (Middlessex)
Pros: Made an impressive 88 on his debut match in India and a second half-century followed on the tour to the West Indies earlier this year.
Cons: Having played the same amount of matches as closest rival Bopara and not made a century to date puts him in deep trouble of usurping the Essex man. His average over those six matches is also pitiful, and it is hard to see why he was ever stuck with in the England side. He might make the squad just to fill the numbers, but never a realistic number three.

Ian Bell (Warwickshire)
Pros: Unlike his competitors Bell has plenty of experience against the Aussies, having played in each of the last 10 matches against their Ashes rivals. He has a highest score of 87, one short of Shah highest career score and has played 40 more matches than either Bopara or Shah. He has 10 career centuries to his name at a credible average of over 40. Since his omission from the test team his response with the bat has been awesome, averaging 85.25 the perfect response from the Warwickshire man.
Cons: Despite his 10 matches against the Aussies he was targeted from ball one as a weak link in the England side, he made a pair in the first test match, and followed it up with a pair of 3’s in the next. Whether he’s still part of the selectors plans or not is still up for debate, but have the rest done enough to keep him out or not if a different story.

Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire)
Pros: Probably the most successful batsman against Australia since the turn of the century. Four of his 18 career centuries have come against the Aussies, three of which came in 2003 during the tour down under. His average against Australia is higher than his career average of 41.44, and of course he led the England side to a 2-1 series win over this years opponents in 2005.
Cons: After a succession of knee injuries that kept him out of the series in 2007 a return to form hasn’t been as swift as the former skipper would have liked. After giving up the captaincy last year he hasn’t turned out for the side as the younger group of England players take over the side. And after the debacle of Kevin Petersen’s captaincy, would another former captain in the side destroy the team’s chemistry?

Special mentions should go to the likes of James Hildreth, Rob Key and Mark Ramprakash whose early season form has suggested a possible call up to this most illustrious of squads, but maybe their progress is slightly too late to make an impact on this squad.

All four have an excellent chance of making the squad and that first test in Cardiff.

But you can’t help but feel that Shah has missed his chance at three, and that the man holding onto the jersey in Bopara will keep it until at least the first test.

When your looking at the two experienced men, Vaughan just hasn’t had the time at the crease that the selectors would have liked, certainly not enough to warrant selection.

So for me the raw talent of Bopara and the experience and class of Bell would be a good way to complete the batting line-up.

Tomorrow I’ll be covering the all-rounder position and analysing whether Andrew Flintoff’s injury hit season could get in the way of his Ashes ambitions.

Opening the Innings

Jack Nicklaus vs Arnold Palmer, Bjorn Borg vs Jimmy Connors and Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier have dominated sporting rivalries over the history of their respective sports.

However the rivalry of The Ashes goes back further than any of those aforementioned sporting greats can even recollect.

Ever since 1882 ‘The Ashes’ earn has been fought over, with Australia enduring the most recent success having won nine of the last ten series.

The Ashes themselves originate from a meeting between the two sides in 1882, when England were defeated by the Aussies at Lords.

English Cricket was said to have died, and in the return trip the following year England were said to be going back to fight for the ashes of English cricket.

A small earn was presented to the team after their 2-1 series victory down-under, said to contain ashes of a piece of cricket equipment.

From that moment The Ashes trophy-the most converted in cricketing history has played a pivotal part in the rivalry between these two great nations.

Now in its 74th series it’s the turn of captains Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting, taking charge of his 3rd successive series to help guide their sides to Ashes glory.

The previous series in Australia in 2006/07 produced a 5-0 whitewash for the hosts, as England became victims of a backlash by the Australian side.

The last series in England however saw that infamous 2-1 series victory for England, their first in 18 years.

The circumstances behind the English victory will be the biggest concern for this travelling Australian side, who suffered loud and intimidating crowds all around the country as they were simply overwhelmed in one of the greatest Ashes series of recent time.

Since the last series the Australian side have undergone something of a re-vamp with the likes of Damien Martyn, Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and most significantly Shane Warne hanging up their gloves.

Mathew Hayden saw himself fall out of favour on the international arena to the extent that he decided to retire earlier this year, and continue the high profile exodus.

So the team that travels to England this summer will be a shadow of the team that trounced England in the last series, but for this years hosts it’s been a story of injuries rather than retirements that has upset their 2005 winning team.

Simon Jones has seen his knee injury fail to progress over the last five years, with the potential for a return to the England side nothing more than a dream for the Worcestershire pace-man.

Marcus Trescothick saw a stress related illness get the better of him, and although he now stars for Somerset in County Cricket he felt that if he couldn’t tour with the international side, with home internationals therefore also out of the question.

Ashley Giles’ ongoing hip injury has also seen him call it a day, as he now takes a place on the board of selectors for the international side.

Steve Harmison and Michael Vaughan have seen a succession of injuries and a dramatic loss of form as the reason behind their withdrawal from the test team with their involvement in this summers series in serious doubt.

And last but certainly not least comes Andrew Flintoff, whose ongoing ankle and most recently knee injuries have restricted his time with ball and bat, a real hangover after his disappointing captaincy at the last Ashes series.

So both sides have changed dramatically, as have both coaches with Tim Nelson now heading the Aussie team, and now Andy Flower for England after the departure of Duncan Fletcher and then Peter Moores.

Both sides have contrasting recent results, with Australia beaten at home by South Africa, only for them to repay the favour in the return series.

While England were humiliated in the West Indies, only to beat the Calypso Kings in the return series last month.

So who’s the favourite going into the series?

Well Australia have a heavily in-experienced side some who have never played against England-let alone in the pressure cooker of an Ashes series.

England simply have had a loss in form, and have slipped down to 5th in the test rankings, they still have the players but maybe they flatter to deceive on too many occasions, especially with the ball.

It couldn’t be closer going into a series, both have endured contrasting fortunes since there last meeting and picking a winner couldn’t be a more difficult task.