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The Ashes Thread
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Topic Started: Nov 10 2006, 01:56 PM (4,465 Views)
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Nov 10 2006, 01:56 PM
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 The Ashes
The Ashes, for those of you who don't know, is a cricket series between England and Australia, played every so often. This year, it's in Australia.
Australia and England have just returned from India after competing in the ICC Champions Trophy. Australia were crowned champions while England exited from the Group Stage.
Background
- "Wikipedia"
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 The Ashes is a Test cricket series, played between England and Australia - it is international cricket's oldest and most celebrated rivalry dating back to 1882. It is currently played at approximately two yearly intervals, alternately in England and Australia. The Ashes are "held" by the country which last won a series and to "regain" them the other country must win more Test matches in a series than the country that "holds" them. If a series is "drawn" then the country holding the Ashes retains them. The last Ashes series was played in England in 2005 when England regained The Ashes after a gap of 16 years by winning the series 2-1. The next Ashes series will be in Australia in 2006-07 and the next series in England will be in 2009. The series is named after a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times in 1882 following the match at The Oval, in which Australia beat England in England for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour, to Australia (1882-83) as the quest to regain The Ashes. A small terracotta urn was presented to the England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women at some point during the 1882-83 tour. The contents of the urn are reputed to be the ashes of an item of cricket equipment, possibly a bail, ball or stump. The urn is not used as a trophy for the Ashes series, and whichever side "holds" the Ashes, the urn remains in the MCC Museum at Lord's because of its age and fragility. Since the 1998-99 Ashes series, a Waterford crystal trophy has been presented to the winners.
England Fixtures November 10th: Prime Minister's XI (Canberra) - LOST by 166 runs November 12th-14th: New South Wales (Sydney) - DRAW November 17th-19th: South Australia (Adelaide) - DRAW November 23rd-27th: 1st TEST (Brisbane) - LOST by 277 runs
December 1st-5th: 2nd TEST (Adelaide) - LOST by 6 wickets December 8th: CA Chairman's XI (Lilac Hill) - LOST by 7 wickets December 9th-10th: Western Australia (Perth) - DRAW December 14th-18th: 3rd TEST (Perth) - LOST by 206 runs December 26th-30th: 4th TEST (Melbourne) - LOST by an innings and 99 runs
January 2nd-6th: 5th TEST (Sydney) - LOST by 10 wickets January 9th: Twenty20 International - LOST by 77 runs
One Day Series January 12th: ODI v Australia (Melbourne) - LOST by 8 wickets January 16th: ODI v New Zealand (Hobart) - WON by 3 wickets January 19th ODI v Australia (Brisbane) - LOST by 4 wickets January 23th: ODI v New Zealand (Adelaide) - LOST by 90 runs January 26th: ODI v Australia (Adelaide) - LOST by 9 wickets January 30th: ODI v New Zealand (Perth) - LOST by 58 runs
February 2nd: ODI v Australia (Sydney) - WON by 92 runs February 6th: ODI v New Zealand (Brisbane) - WON by 14 runs February 9th: 1st final (Melbourne) - WON by 4 wickets February 11th: 2nd final (Sydney) February 13th: 3rd final (if needed) (Brisbane)
The Squads
 England Test Squad Andrew Flintoff (captain) James Anderson Ian Bell - ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2006 Paul Collingwood Alastair Cook
Ashley Giles - Gone Home - replaced by Jamie Dalrymple Stephen Harmison Matthew Hoggard Geraint Jones (WK) Sajid Mahmood Monty Panesar Liam Plunkett
Kevin Pietersen - Gone Home - replaced by Ravi Bopara Chris Read (WK) Andrew Strauss
Marcus Trescothick - Gone Home - replaced by Ed Joyce
 Australia Ricky Ponting (captain) - ICC Player of the Year 2006, ICC Test Player of the Year 2006 Matthew Hayden Justin Langer Damien Martyn Michael Hussey - ICC ODI Player of the Year 2006 Michael Clarke Phil Jaques Andrew Symonds Shane Watson Adam Gilchrist (WK) Shane Warne Stuart MacGill Brett Lee Glenn McGrath Shaun Tait Mitchell Johnson
Venues
 Melbourne Cricket Ground
 Sydney Cricket Ground
 The Gabba, Brisbane
 Adelaide Oval
 The WACA, Perth
 Hobart, Tasmania
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Nov 10 2006, 01:56 PM
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Tour Match :: Prime Minister's XI win by 166 runs

- "BBC Sport"
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England began their tour of Australia with an embarrassing 166-run defeat by a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.
Poor bowling and fielding allowed Phil Jaques (112) and Shaun Marsh (78no) to help the hosts rack up 347-5, although skipper Andrew Flintoff (1-55) shone.
But Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen failed with the bat and only Andrew Strauss, who hit 67, looked in decent touch.
The tourists folded for 181 in 38.4 overs and need to improve significantly before the first Test on 23 November.
Pietersen was again found wanting against the short ball and the way he fell to Ben Hilfenhaus will have been noted by the Aussies.
In fact, the only good news for England ahead of the opener in Brisbane is, surely, they cannot play worse than they did at the Manuka Oval.
Apart from Strauss' innings, the only plus point was Flintoff's bowling.
After sending down only five overs for his country since ankle surgery in June, he bowled a full stint and was right on target early on.
He had his reward when Tim Paine was brilliantly caught by wicket-keeper Geraint Jones, while left-arm spinner Ashley Giles took a wicket in his first over after a year out following hip surgery.
But his rustiness was seized on by the hungry home side, which was packed with Test hopefuls, while Sajid Mahmood was even more expensive (1-97 off nine overs) on a good batting surface.
There were a catalogue of errors in the field - none more costly than the regulation chance missed by Jones off James Anderson when Jaques was on 21.
The opener pushed his own claims for a place at the Gabba for the Aussies by taking full advantage of some poor bowling to hit nine fours and two sixes, reaching his century off exactly 100 balls.
Marsh and Adam Voges should have been run out but survived to join Cameron White in unleashing a barrage of big shots late on as the last 10 overs went for 112.
White crashed three mighty sixes in his 30 off only 13 balls and Marsh - son of ex-Australia batsman Geoff - ended the innings with another big maximum.
Shell-shocked by that finale, Marcus Trescothick pushed lazily at Tait's sixth ball and was snapped up by White at second slip, while Alastair Cook mis-timed a pull off Hilfenhaus.
Strauss responded with some blistering strokeplay square on either side of the wicket to twice pick up three boundaries in an over off Hilfenhaus as he reached 50 in 49 balls.
Paul Collingwood also played positively and seized on any error before sending a slog-sweep straight to Jaques at deep mid-wicket.
Pietersen's discomfort against the short ball was again in evidence as he and Strauss mis-timed pulls and Flintoff was comprehensively bowled by a full delivery from Shaun Tait (3-21).
Giles could have been out lbw first ball to a similar ball before a fine piece of fielding from White ran him out.
Mahmood provided some late defiance with big sixes off Adam Ritchard and White but it was scant consolation and when the tail was mopped up, England went off to put on their thinking caps.
Scorecard
England's next match is another Tour match, this time against New South Wales. It starts on the 12th and goes 14th. The match is in Sydney.
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Nov 12 2006, 06:48 PM
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Tour Match :: Day 1 :: New South Wales v England
NSW: 325-5 England: Yet to bat

- "BBC Sport"
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Phil Jaques hit his second hundred in three days as England's shaky start to the tour of Australia continued.
Jaques, whose 112 on Friday helped a Prime Minister's XI thrash the tourists in their opening game, made 107 as New South Wales closed day one on 325-5.
He added 155 with Simon Katich (68), while Michael Clarke contributed 50.
Ashley Giles took two wickets but Steve Harmison conceded 76 runs in 15 overs, and his form is a worry with the first Test against Australia 11 days away.
The paceman was given his first outing after missing the debacle in Canberra but even the wicket he took in the morning had a touch of fortune about it, as Ed Cowan got an inside edge on to his stumps.
More encouraging was the way skipper Andrew Flintoff got through 15 overs as he builds up his bowling fitness ahead of the eagerly-awaited showdown at the Gabba in Brisbane, while Matthew Hoggard's first five overs went for just 12 runs.
Flintoff, who missed most of the summer with an ankle injury, should have celebrated the dismissal of Katich for 14 but Marcus Trescothick failed to hold on to a regulation chance at first slip.
That was as good as it got in the first session for England and they had few ideas about how to stop Jaques, who hit 11 fours and two sixes in an innings spanning 157 balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The left-hander was finally removed when Harmison grabbed the ball from above his head at deep mid-off to give Giles his first wicket.
Kevin Pietersen then took a superb running catch on the boundary when Katich tried to heave Giles over mid-wicket.
It was 224-4 when Aaron O'Brien tried to cut a short wide ball from James Anderson and Trescothick atoned for his earlier spill with a sharp effort at first slip.
Anderson recovered well from an expensive opening spell, ending with figures of 1-45 from his 15 overs.
Almost from nowhere, England were in danger of finishing the day on top.
But Clarke and Dan Smith made a nonsense of those suggestions with a bright stand of 65 until the former prodded at Monty Panesar and Trescothick caught the ball comfortably.
The wicket-keeper then received good support from teenage all-rounder Moises Henriques to ensure the day ended as it had started - with England failing to really get going on this tour.
When their turn comes to bat, England face another huge challenge against an attack boasting 984 Test wickets.
Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken are all in the Blues side for the match, featuring 14 players per side, with 11 on the field at any one time.
Wicket-keeper Geraint Jones was preferred to Chris Read and Liam Plunkett was left out in the only selection decisions needed from England's management.
New South Wales: N W Bracken, B Casson, S R Clark, M J Clarke, E J M Cowan, N M Hauritz, M C Henriques, P A Jaques, S M Katich, D Smith, A W O'Brien, G D McGrath, S C G MacGill, B Lee England: J M Anderson, I R Bell, P D Collingwood, A N Cook, A Flintoff, A F Giles, S J Harmison, M J Hoggard, G O Jones, K P Pietersen, A J Strauss, M E Trescothick, S I Mahmood, M S Panesar 14 play; 11 bat, 11 field
Scorecard
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Nov 12 2006, 06:54 PM
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Jones to be Ashes 'keeper

- "BBC Sport"
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Geraint Jones will be England's wicket-keeper in the first Ashes Test, coach Duncan Fletcher has confirmed. Jones lost his place this year to Chris Read this summer but Read had a poor Champions Trophy in India last month.
"Fred [captain Andrew Flintoff] and myself had a good meeting and we decided we're going to go into the Test with Jones," said Fletcher.
"At this stage we're convinced that Jones will be a better prospect for batting at number seven."
Fletcher revealed James Anderson is ahead of Sajid Mahmood for the role of back-up seamer but also said England could play two spinners in most of the Tests.
Jones was preferred to Read for the three-day match against New South Wales, which began on Sunday with 11 days to go before the Test series begins in Brisbane.
Jones, who was raised in Brisbane, did not take a catch or make a stumping as the state side reached 325-5, though he kept wicket tidily enough.
Read, who was brought back into the Test side after two years out for the third match of the series against Pakistan, made 55 in that match but has failed since.
Long considered the better gloveman of the two, he did not keep well during the one-day ICC Champions Trophy in India and scored just six runs in three innings.
Jones was England's wicket-keeper during the victorious Ashes series of 2005, when he shared a crucial partnership with Flintoff in the fourth Test but generally struggled.
However, his back-foot style should be ideally suited to the faster wickets England will have to play on in Australia.
"Looking at the pressure that he's played under before, we believe he handles the pressure better," Fletcher explained.
"Technically we think he's a better batter on these wickets and especially in Test match cricket.
"It's a very, very difficult decision, but we believe Jones will do a better job."
Jones' return to strengthen the lower order could make it easier to pick spinner Monty Panesar over Ashley Giles, whose batting ability could otherwise have counted greatly.
"It's going to be a difficult decision and we are looking at playing two spinners in most of the Tests," Fletcher said.
"We have to give those two individuals as much bowling as possible, especially Ashley who hasn't bowled for a year."
In the seam-bowling department, Mahmood was expensive in Friday's tour-opener and did not bowl on Sunday, while Anderson - who missed the whole summer with back trouble - delivered 15 overs.
"We respect and speak highly of [Mahmood] but we are concerned about his consistency," Fletcher said.
"We know what we can get out of Jimmy on a day-to-day basis, and that's what we are looking for at this stage."
Meanwhile, Fletcher said he doubted whether injured captain Michael Vaughan would be fit to play a part in the Test series after suggestions the batsman could return in time for the third match.
Vaughan has been recovering from knee surgery, but he will fly out to Australia to link up with the Academy squad as he continues his rehabilitation.
"He's just said he's ready to play a game of cricket," Fletcher told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.
"So there might be a club game in Perth or something like that and we'll just have to see how he responds to that.
"From our point of view, he'll need a lot of batting under his belt for him to be ready in three weeks' time - and I don't think the time will be there for the Test series."
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hugh
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Nov 13 2006, 10:27 AM
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two trophies, many runner-ups.
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GO NSW!
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Nov 13 2006, 07:25 PM
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- hughgeta
- Nov 13 2006, 10:27 AM
GO NSW!
I suppose you want Australia to win the Ashes
Tour Match :: Day 2 :: New South Wales v England
NSW: 355-9 England: 256-4

- "BBC Sport"
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Kevin Pietersen capped England's best day in Australia so far with a fine innings against New South Wales.
Pietersen (80no), Andrew Strauss (50), Alastair Cook (59), and Andrew Flintoff (48no) all shone on day two in Sydney.
Earlier, Steve Harmison claimed 3-95 as the hosts declared on 355-9 after rain allowed only 4.1 overs before lunch.
Marcus Trescothick and Ian Bell failed but the tourists closed on 256-4, showing encouraging signs ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on 23 November.
Their prospects for that game were already starting to look bleak after a Prime Minister's XI thrashed them on Friday and New South Wales racked up 325-5 on day one.
But Harmison, who had been expensive, led the fightback by trapping Moises Henriques lbw with an inswinger in his second over.
After the extended break, Daniel Smith (45) was dropped by a diving Strauss at second slip off Matthew Hoggard before edging Harmison behind.
Hoggard did take a wicket when Nathan Hauritz spooned the ball to Ashley Giles at short mid-wicket and James Anderson (2-45) struck with his first ball, Nathan Bracken edging a wild drive to Trescothick.
Trescothick has brought his poor form from the summer to Australia and, after making only two in the defeat in Canberra, he played on to Brett Lee for eight.
Fellow left-hander Strauss was hit in the chest by a Lee delivery but recovered to produce a succession of crisp drives and cuts off the speedster and Glenn McGrath.
He was dropped by Clark in the gully off Bracken on 32 but, after hitting eight boundaries in a 57-ball knock, saw Clark make amends by holding a brilliant one-handed catch off his own bowling.
Bell edged his second ball off Clark behind to leave the tourists in danger of undoing their good work.
Cook almost played on twice early in his innings, but the runs gradually began to flow.
Pietersen got lucky when he top-edged a hook shot off Lee into space at backward square leg, but he then smashed Henriques for six over the mid-wicket boundary.
Pietersen continued to torment the young all-rounder, hitting three fours off the 37th over, but then McGrath broke the fourth-wicket stand, bowling around the wicket to trap left-hander Cook lbw.
Pietersen brought up his 50 by lofting McGrath over mid-on for four, before Flintoff got in on the act, hitting spinner Beau Casson for three boundaries in quick succession.
Scorecard
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Nov 13 2006, 07:28 PM
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Gillespie in team to face England

- "BBC Sport"
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Jason Gillespie has recovered from injury to join Shaun Tait in the South Australia attack for England's final Ashes warm-up, starting on 17 November. A shoulder problem ruled Gillespie out of the opening tour match in Canberra, where Test hopeful Tait took 3-21.
Gillespie, 31, was dropped during the 2005 Ashes series and appears to have fallen down the Test pecking order.
A strong line-up features former Test batsmen Darren Lehmann and Matthew Elliott, and young star Mark Cosgrove.
The three-day match in Adelaide begins a day after Australia name their squad for the first Test, starting in Brisbane on 23 November.
It is England's only first-class fixture before the Test series and the tourists are expected to field their intended Test XI.
South Australia (from): Darren Lehmann (capt), Matthew Elliott, Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas, Mark Cosgrove, Daniel Cullen, Shane Deitz (wkt), Callum Ferguson, Jason Gillespie, Daniel Harris, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait.
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Nov 14 2006, 06:40 PM
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Tour Match :: Day 3 :: New South Wales v England
NSW: 355-9 & 194-6 England: 349 New South Wales and England draw

- "BBC Sport"
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Kevin Pietersen's century and three wickets for James Anderson were the highlights for England as they drew a three-day game with New South Wales.
Pietersen moved from 80 to 122 as the tourists made 349, to trail by six.
The game was drifting when Simon Katich and Michael Clarke then put on 114 for the third wicket before Anderson's burst, which saw him finish with 3-40.
England now have another three-day game against South Australia before the first Ashes Test on 23 November.
After the embarrassing 166-run defeat by a Prime Minister's XI on Friday, the tourists will move on to Adelaide with confidence after several encouraging performances at the SCG.
Skipper Andrew Flintoff added 14 to his overnight 48, including a six over long-on off spinner Nathan Hauritz, to become the fourth England batsman to make a half century in this game.
He put on 116 with Pietersen before playing on to Stuart Clark and that was the prelude to a disappointing effort from the lower order, the main downside of an otherwise good workout.
Paul Collingwood was snapped up at silly mid-off by Jaques off Hauritz for just five, while wicket-keeper Geraint Jones and Ashley Giles mustered only 22 runs between them.
Glenn McGrath bowled Jones with a delivery which nipped back in and kept low, Lee uprooted Giles' middle-stump and Nathan Bracken cleaned up Steve Harmison.
Before that, Pietersen became England's first centurion on tour and lifted the cloud which had hung over him after some struggles recently, particularly against short-pitched bowling.
He overcame some nervy moments on 99 before picking up a flurry of boundaries - including three off one over from McGrath - until he mis-timed a drive off Bracken to Lee at mid-on.
When the hosts batted again, Phil Jaques failed to build on his two centuries in three days against the touring overs when Sajid Mahmood ran him out for four as he attempted a risky single.
The other negative for England was several fielding errors, the first of which saw Katich (55) dropped by Anderson at square-leg from the first ball after lunch.
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar then missed out on two wickets, Jones squandering a stumping chance when Clarke (68) was on 47 and Andrew Strauss fumbling a chance at slip before Aaron O'Brien had scored.
But Anderson finished positively and was on a hat-trick when Strauss held on to remove O'Brien and Daniel Smith was bowled first ball.
The seamer also trapped Moises Henriques lbw to finish with five wickets in the game and justify coach Duncan Fletcher's positive words about him on Sunday.
Final Scorecard
England's next match is against South Australia (Tour match) in Adelaide, from the 17th until the 19th.
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Nov 14 2006, 06:42 PM
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Trescothick to fly home

- "BBC Sport"
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England opener Marcus Trescothick is returning home from England's Ashes tour to Australia after suffering a recurrence of a stress-related illness. The stunning news comes just nine days before the start of the five-match series in Brisbane.
"We are naturally disappointed to lose a player of his quality from our Ashes squad," said coach Duncan Fletcher.
"Everyone in the dressing room hopes that he is able to make a full recovery and resume his cricketing career."
Trescothick played in England's opening tour games against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra and New South Wales in Sydney, but managed only 10 runs in two innings.
And following discussions with team management and medical staff, it was agreed he should fly home as soon as possible.
The 30-year-old's problem first appeared during the tour to India earlier this year and he continued to struggle with it over the summer, despite making a century in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's in May.
Trescothick also hit one-day hundreds against Sri Lanka and Ireland but struggled in the Tests against Pakistan in the second half of the summer and opted out of the recent Champions Trophy tournament in India.
Last week he admitted he fell out of love with cricket for a time but, looking ahead to the Ashes series, told BBC Sport: "I feel good - I'm itching to get going."
"Having watched the guys out in India, the excitement when the team gets a wicket, I want to get back out there.
"When you've have had a rest it rekindles the buzz you've longed for all your career."
His return home simplifies England's selection situation for Brisbane.
Fletcher and skipper Andrew Flintoff were facing the prospect of being able to pick only two from Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood, even though all three have been in excellent form this year in Test cricket.
Cook now seems certain to replace Trescothick as Andrew Strauss' opening partner, with Bell likely to bat at three and Collingwood at five.
However, the loss of the most experienced player in the squad is bound to disrupt preparations for the final Test warm-up game against South Australia, which begins in Adelaide on Friday.
Trescothick has scored more than 5,800 runs in 76 Test appearances at an average of 43.8.
His record against Australia is less convincing and he has not managed a single Test century against them in three previous series.
An England and Wales Cricket Board statement said the selectors would hold "urgent discussions" in the next 24 hours about replacing Trescothick in the tour squad.
The most obvious replacements would be Robert Key, Owais Shah or Ed Joyce, who have all been picked for the Academy squad in Perth.
Meanwhile, Trescothick's club, Somerset, were quick to offer him support.
Chief executive Richard Gould described him as "one of the most talented players the county has ever produced".
And he told the club's website: "It is evident Marcus needs more time and space to recover.
"Somerset CCC will work with the ECB in order to ensure that he is provided with everything he needs."
I was shocked when I saw this!
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Tealey
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Nov 15 2006, 06:20 PM
Post #10
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Mali 'Till I Die (Or Become Inactive)
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How can he possibly be suffering from a stress-related illness? It's ridiculous. He's being payed loads to do something which he loves and which 1000s of kids all around the world would want to do. He's well-known, he's one of our best players. How can that cause stress?
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Tealey 
My Trophies:
FIFA Complex Cup x2 (Football) Intercontinental Cup (Football) Winners' Shield (Football) One Day Cricket League x2 (Cricket) ECB Complex Cup (Cricket) World Club Championship (Cricket) Tour vs. USA (Cricket) Test Knockout Cup (Cricket) Top Of The League (NFL)
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TC Admin
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Nov 15 2006, 06:35 PM
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Joyce replaces Trescothick

- "BBC Sport"
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Middlesex batsman Ed Joyce is to replace Marcus Trescothick in England's squad for the Ashes series. The 28-year-old Irishman has only played three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match for England so far.
But chairman of selectors David Graveney described him as a "highly promising player" who could cover a number of batting positions.
Trescothick returned home from Australia on Wednesday after a recurrence of a stress-related illness.
"I'm obviously sad for Marcus coming home but I'm really happy that I got the nod and I'm looking forward to getting out there," Joyce told BBC Five Live.
Joyce will fly out with the Academy squad on Wednesday but leave them in Dubai before joining the rest of the England squad in Adelaide.
It is unlikely he will make the team for the opening Test in Brisbane unless one of the other batsmen on tour suffers an injury.
He was chosen ahead of Academy team-mates Rob Key and Owais Shah, both of whom have previously represented England.
"Rob and Owais are very good players and have Test experience so they are probably disappointed not to get the nod ahead of me," said Joyce.
"But I knew I had a decent chance being involved in the one-day squad and hopefully I just impressed being around that."
Key, 27, was a losing Ashes tourist in 2002/03, but Joyce said recent shoulder surgery probably counted against the Kent batsman more than a perceived weakness against Australia.
"Rob performed pretty well on that trip and he impressed the Aussies with the way he played," said Joyce. "Maybe being on a losing side counted against him a bit but I don't think so.
"He's just unfortunate that he had injuries last year and has just had a shoulder operation. Whether he's fully recovered from that I don't know."
Joyce, who only qualified to play for England last year, averages 47 in first-class cricket and has 17 centuries to his credit, including a highest score of 211 for Middlesex against Warwickshire in July.
He has already been on one tour with England this winter, having been part of the Champions Trophy squad, but he did not play a single game in India.
Middlesex assistant coach Jason Pooley believes, however, that his call-up for the Ashes demonstrates continuity by the England selectors.
"I thought they might go for Rob Key because he did quite well in Australia before [in 2003-03], but it's great for Ed because he needs to test himself at that level," Pooley told BBC Sport.
"He's scored a lot of runs in county cricket for Middlesex. He's someone who likes to build and innings and plays at his own pace. He doesn't change the way he bats from nought to 100 really, he just bats with the same tempo.
"I don't think there are any flaws in his game now apart from gaining experience at that level. That will be the test - can he cope with international cricket and all the media and hype that goes with it?"
He added: "In the early part of his career, coming from Ireland where the pitches are a lot slower and lower, he was more of a front foot player, but he's developed over the last few years.
"I'm sure he'll be able to cope, but we don't have the quality of international seamers in county cricket that we used to have in the 90s, so now you only find out [if you're good enough] when you're in there.
"It's an Ashes series, so it's going to be quite an experience."
Australia to announce squad for 1st Test

- "BBC Sport"
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Australia's selectors will be the focus of attention on Thursday when they name a squad for the first Ashes Test against England in Brisbane. The announcement is due to be made in Melbourne at 0200 GMT.
One of the issues they have to resolve is whether to play six specialist batsmen or look to use Shane Watson or Andrew Symonds as an all-rounder.
The selectors must also decide on a third specialist seamer to support Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.
The main names under discussion are Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken, who recently played in the one-day Champions Trophy in India, Shaun Tait and Stuart Clark.
Johnson and Bracken are both left-armers and would add variety to the attack.
Tait, however, is faster than both and took 3-21 for a Prime Minister's XI against England in Canberra last week.
But it may be that Clark is seen as a safer option and he can be highly effective if pitches offer seam movement, as he showed with 20 wickets in the series in South Africa earlier this year.
It is likely that Stuart MacGill will make the squad to provide an extra spin bowling option.
But with Shane Warne, the game's leading Test wicket-taker, certain to play in Brisbane next week, his chances of making the final XI appear remote unless groundstaff confound expectations and produce a turning pitch.
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TC Admin
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Nov 16 2006, 02:31 PM
Post #12
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Australia call up young pace duo

- "BBC Sport"
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Australia have bolstered their ageing side with two young fast bowlers for the first Test against England. Shaun Tait and uncapped left-armer Mitchell Johnson have been named in a 13-man squad for the game in Brisbane, starting on 23 November.
Stuart Clark will rival them for one place in support of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and spinner Shane Warne.
All-rounder Shane Watson has been preferred to Andrew Symonds while Damien Martyn keeps Michael Clarke out.
"We believe this is a squad capable of winning back the Ashes," said chief selector Andrew Hilditch.
"We've picked a very strong squad which reflects the fact that Australia has been successful at international level for some time.
"We are showing faith in those players who have contributed to that success, while at the same time injecting some youth into the squad with the inclusion of Watson, Johnson and Tait."
Johnson has impressed playing for Australia's one-day side and troubled England's batsmen in the recent Champions Trophy in India.
Tait, who made his debut during the last Ashes tour, is now combining his raw pace with accuracy and in-swing and took 3-21 for a Prime Minister's XI against England last week.
Seamer Clark, 31, would be the safer option, having collected 20 wickets in a series in South Africa earlier this year, while McGrath took time off to be with his ill wife.
The choice of Watson, meanwhile, represents something of a gamble, but Hilditch said: "Shane has an outstanding first-class record with the bat, averaging over 45 and his bowling ability gives us the flexibility in our attack that we have been looking for.
The selectors have kept faith with the tried and trusted opening partnership of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer despite the recent prolific form of Phil Jaques.
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said that he hoped the players could now relax a little bit after months of anticipation.
He added: "I think historically what you want in any team is a good mix of youth and experience and I think we've certainly got that."
"This series is going to be huge. We've all been waiting for it for 14-15 months and players are really excited about getting to Brisbane and getting our preparation under way."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australia squad: R Ponting (captain), M Hayden, J Langer, D Martyn, M Hussey, S Watson, A Gilchrist (wkt), S Warne, B Lee, G McGrath, S Clark, M Johnson, S Tait.
England to make spinner decision

- "BBC Sport"
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England are likely to choose between spinners Monty Panesar and Ashley Giles when they reveal their Test side in the final warm-up against South Australia.
Coach Duncan Fletcher has said the team that plays in Adelaide will be the preferred Test line-up.
After Marcus Trescothick went home, batsmen Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood are all set to play.
Veteran Jason Gillespie and Shaun Tait, part of Australia's Test squad, lead the home attack in the three-day game.
Adelaide and Brisbane, where the first Test begins on 23 November, are historically different surfaces, with the South Australia venue more of a batting surface.
Brisbane is considered currently the fastest wicket in the country, confirmed by Australia's decision to pick just one spinner in their 13-man Test squad.
As England look likely to go with four pace bowlers, including all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, and a spinner, they must make a straight choice between Panesar and Giles.
Giles has not played Test cricket in a year, having undergone three operations on his hip, but offers a better batting option at eight in the order.
Panesar has taken 32 wickets in 10 Tests since then and is seen as the more attacking option.
England's decision to go with Geraint Jones - considered a better batsman - as wicket-keeper over Chris Read makes it more likely Panesar will play.
Panesar hopes his experience last year, when he attended a cricket academy in Adelaide run by South Australia captain Darren Lehmann, help his hopes of a Test place.
"The pitches are slightly different and there's a different ball. I've experienced that before.
"Since I've been here things have gone pretty well so hopefully I'll continue to build on that in the first Test," he told BBC Sport.
England have got class bowlers and batsmen so it's just [a question of] how they play in Australian conditions
Collingwood admitted England's decisions on their batting line-up had been made easier by Trescothick's return home.
"I wished it hadn't been under these circumstances but it looks as though my spot in the team is safe.
"For the last year, myself, Ian Bell and Alastair Cook have been competing for what we thought were only two spots," Collingwood told BBC Sport.
A strong South Australia line-up features former Test batsmen Lehmann and Matthew Elliott, and young star Mark Cosgrove.
Lehmann is looking forward to seeing his young side, particularly pace bowler Shaun Tait, perform against England.
"We're excited about him - he bowls at 150kph [93mph] plus and they're not easy to face," he said of Tait.
"England have got class bowlers and batsmen so it's just [a question of] how they play in Australian conditions.
"We haven't had a tour game in Adelaide for years. To play against England and see these young guys will be great fun."
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South Australia (from): D Lehmann (capt), M Elliott, C Bailey, C Borgas, M Cosgrove, D Cullen, S Deitz (wkt), C Ferguson, J Gillespie, D Harris, P Rofe, S Tait.
England (likely): A Flintoff (capt), A Strauss, A Cook, I Bell, K Pietersen, P Collingwood, G Jones, A Giles or M Panesar, S Harmison, M Hoggard, J Anderson.
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hugh
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Nov 17 2006, 09:26 AM
Post #13
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two trophies, many runner-ups.
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One of the Test discards, Nathan Bracken, I saw in the flesh today at the Westfield Shopping Centre.
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Lee Vilenski
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Nov 17 2006, 09:39 AM
Post #14
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- Tealey
- Nov 15 2006, 06:20 PM
How can he possibly be suffering from a stress-related illness? It's ridiculous. He's being payed loads to do something which he loves and which 1000s of kids all around the world would want to do. He's well-known, he's one of our best players. How can that cause stress?
He's been suffering for a long time mate, It's a big shame, He's one of englands best players.
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FMM18 Career! - Poole Town FC!

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TC Admin
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Nov 17 2006, 02:45 PM
Post #15
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- hughgeta
- Nov 17 2006, 09:26 AM
One of the Test discards, Nathan Bracken, I saw in the flesh today at the Westfield Shopping Centre.
Did you get his autograph?
Tour Match :: Day 1 :: South Australia v England
South Australia: 247-7d England: 24-1

- "BBC Sport"
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Opener Andrew Strauss was dismissed for a second-ball duck as England reached 24-1 in reply to South Australia's 247-7 declared on day one in Adelaide.
Strauss was lbw to fast bowler Shaun Tait, who is in Australia's squad for next week's opening Ashes Test.
But night-watchman Matthew Hoggard (10) and Alastair Cook (6) prevented any further damage before the close.
Hoggard earlier took 3-40 during the home side's innings, which saw skipper Darren Lehmann run out for 99.
The Yorkshireman's three wickets came in the space of 12 balls as he and James Anderson reduced South Australia to 25-4 after Lehmann had won the toss and opted to bat first.
Having announced they would field their Test line-up in the three-day game, England included Monty Panesar in preference to fellow spinner Ashley Giles.
But their plans were frustrated when paceman Steve Harmison complained of tightness in his side and was replaced by Sajid Mahmood.
Anderson made the initial breakthrough when Matthew Elliott (10) edged an attempted pull to keeper Geraint Jones and Hoggard claimed his first victim by having Daniel Harris (10) taken at third slip.
He followed up by removing Mark Cosgrove and Callum Ferguson with successive deliveries in his next over - Cosgrove glancing down the leg-side to Jones and Ferguson leg-before offering no stroke.
But England then made a crucial fielding error as Strauss, fielding at first slip, dropped Cameron Borgas off Mahmood, who operated as first-change.
Borgas was on eight at the time and he made the most of his escape by supporting Lehmann solidly in a stand of 152 for the fifth wicket.
Former Test player Lehmann, now 36, went to his half century off 73 balls and celebrated with two successive square drives off England skipper Andrew Flintoff which both flew to the point boundary.
He survived a half-chance on 77 when Paul Collingwood just failed to reach a bat-pad chance off Panesar and a hundred appeared to be his for the taking when he was beaten by Anderson's throw from the deep.
Borgas's innings of 73 came to an end when he lost patience and skied an attempted slog-sweep off Panesar, Cook taking the catch at mid-wicket.
And Flintoff removed Shane Deitz for 24 to finish with figures of 1-34 from 12 overs before Lehmann made the declaration.
South Australia: C B Bailey, C J Borgas, M J Cosgrove, D J Cullen S A Deitz (Wkt), M T G Elliot, C J Ferguson, J N Gillespie J N Harris, D S Lehmann (Capt), S W Tait.
England: A J Strauss, A N Cook, I R Bell, P D Collingwood, K P Pietersen, A Flintoff (Capt), G O Jones (Wkt), S I Mahmood, M J Hoggard, J M Anderson, M S Panesar.
Scorecard
England wait on Harmison fitness

- "BBC Sport"
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Coach Duncan Fletcher has admitted England do not know if Steve Harmison will be fit for the first Ashes Test. Harmison, who has a history of back trouble, was left out of the side for their final Ashes warm-up match after waking up with tightness in his side.
"It's similar to the one he had during the summer, which just irritated him, although he could bowl," said Fletcher.
"He's had a scan, which was pretty inconclusive. They have given him an injection and he says it has improved."
Harmison missed the one-day series against Pakistan in the summer with an injury described as being to his lower back (which could bring side pain) but returned for the ICC Champions Trophy.
"We will just see how he [does] in the morning and if he's fine we'll try and bowl him in the nets," Fletcher told BBC Sport.
Lancashire seamer Sajid Mahmood replaced Harmison for the warm-up game and went wicket-less on day one.
But the England coach was impessed by the performance of England's three senior seamers, who shared five wickets.
Matthew Hoggard took three wickets in 12 balls and James Anderson shared the new ball with him, dismissing former Test batsman Matthew Elliott.
"The morning session was as good as I've seen England bowl for some time - there was good discipline, good control and they didn't lose their concentration," Fletcher added.
Double injury scare for Australia

- "BBC Sport"
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Australia have injury worries about Shane Watson and Damien Martyn ahead of the first Ashes Test against England. Watson went off with a hamstring injury after bowling only five overs in Queensland's one-day Ford Ranger Cup match against Western Australia.
And there are now serious doubts about the all-rounder's chances of being fit to play in Brisbane next week.
Batsman Martyn was left out of Western Australia's team because of tendonitis in his elbow.
But team officials said it was a precautionary move and he was resting to ensure he is 100% fit for the first Test.
The only good news for Australia coming out of the match in Perth was Adam Gilchrist's return to form with an innings of 131 off 95 balls, including four sixes and 17 boundaries.
He was promoted to open the batting with Justin Langer, who also looked good in making a quickfire 51 before being bowled by Mitchell Johnson.
Michael Clarke, meanwhile, has vowed to win back his Test place after being omitted from Australia's squad of 13.
"The fact of the matter is that I need to keep scoring runs no matter what form of the game I'm playing and make the most of every opportunity that I get to spend in the middle," he said.
Clarke's chance could come sooner than expected as he and Andrew Symonds would be the leading candidates to join the squad in Brisbane if Watson is ruled out.
A final decision will be taken after he has been examined by the national team's medical staff on Saturday.
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