Wello's Ashes Blog

I will be writing a blog after every day of the forthcoming Ashes series. If you'd like to get first-hand reports on the cricket and the crowds, which will hopefully include behind the scenes info. on the England team's training, please visit www.coachingcricketexcellence.co.uk and click on 'Wello's Ashes Blog.' The first blog will start on Wednesday November 22nd, the day before the 1st test begins.

Wello

After a longish journey from L.A, I arrive in Brisbane to find a city building up nicely to the most eagerly awaited test series in living memory. Groups of England supporters, identifiable by their Umbro tracksuits and polar bear coloured skin, gathered excitedly at the Gabba only to be denied access to their heroes - the England team boarded their bus behind closed doors, without signing bats and autographs (understandable I think).

Security for the 1st test is, to put it mildly, tight. No rucksacks, no cans, no flags, no professional cameras (assessed by the security staff), no instruments, no mobile phone images to be sent. Spectators are allowed to take in water, but it can't be frozen - this is to avoid mass ice fights breaking out between unruly mobs of drunken fans, or so I'm told. Everything taken into the ground must be carried in virtue of a clear plastic bag, unless you're a girl whereby handbags will be allowed. Whether this means hordes of Aussie males will be seen visiting Prada stores in Brisbane in an attempt to smuggle contraband into the ground remains to be seen, but I wouldn't put it past them.

The beauty of Brisbane strikes you the moment you walk along the river and it prompted the comment from one of my touring group as to why Britain couldn't make our cities more like this, with it's underground bus lanes and city beaches (sandy swimming pools located in public areas). 'Our cities date back over a thousand years and have had to develop with an infrastructure already in place, that's why they're not as nice or user friendly', I suggested. 'The Aussies have only been building theirs for a few decades, so it's not surprising they look so nice'.

'If that's the case, how did we make such a pig's ear of Milton Keynes Wello?' came the reply. I pondered my reply, but realised it was pointless.

The build up continues, more to come tomorrow.

Wello

With one day to go all the talk amongst the England fans is what team we're going to pick. The general consensus is that 10 of the places are set in stone with a guaranteed top 7 of:

Strauss
Cook
Bell
Collingwood
Pietersen
Flintoff
Jones

Then it starts to get a bit complicated. Hoggard, Harmison and Anderson will be the 3 specialist quicks supporting Freddie but, if Panesar plays (and almost all the England fans want him too), it means England's No.8 for this test match will be Matthew Hoggard. Though admiring his bravery and stoical forward defensive technical qualities, this idea does not fill the avaerage England fan with unbridled optimism.

Rumour has it that Duncan Fletcher sees our tail as too long if Monty plays and thus Ashley Giles is the favourite to get the nod. His lower order runs and, crucially, his sound catching at 3rd slip or gully, mean he fits in with the Fletcher requirement of cricketers who contribute in more than just their specialist area.

England's slip catching will miss Trescothick - for my money the safest 1st slip in world cricket. I think Strauss will move there leaving Freddie at 2nd unless he's bowling - when Collingwood is likely to fill in. With England's excellent pace attack, there will be lots of chances flying to the slip cordon, so it's crucial they hold onto them.

The Aussies are favourites but they know that England have battle hardened players who can hurt them - Flintoff, Pietersen, Strauss, Hoggard - with Pietersen in particular seen as a big dangerman. I have a sneaking suspicion that the steep bounce at the Gabba will see Steve Harmison come to the fore - John Buchanan has had a bowling machine mounted on a small table to replicate the huge lift Harmison gets. If the mood is with him and he can produce the form that made him the best fast bowler in the world only 2 years ago, the Aussie's could be in for a real shock.

England to bat first on winning the toss..........and getting the better of a high scoring draw? Let's see.....................

Wello

When the first ball of the entire series from your premier fast bowler ends up in the safe hands of Freddie Flintoff at 2nd slip, you might think this is cause for celebration. Unfortunately, instead of catching the edge of Matthew Hayden's bat, Steve Harmison's opening salvo landed on the pitch adjacent to the strip designated for this test match and, to general astonishment, carried on its merry way 10 feet wide of where it was intended.

Thus the 2006/7 series got underway with the widest delivery in Ashes history and that set the tone for a below-par performance from England on a belter of a Gabba wicket. Without ever putting England's attack to the sword, Ricky Ponting and the Australian top 5 cemented a formidable position for the hosts against some moderate England seam bowling. Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and James Anderson were all below their best and the 15,000 England fans present were indebted to Captain Freddie Flintoff, who bowled with pace and accuracy throughout the day.

Ashley Giles proved his critics wrong with an excellent holding role and despite the lack of penetration in their bowling, England kept going in the heat with Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen in particular full of energy and verve in the field. The Barmy Army tried to do their bit too, though some clever ticket allocation by the Queensland club has spread the British support throughout the huge Gabba stadium, preventing the concentration of vocal England fans that did so much to lift the team in last years series.

England will need to bowl well tomorrow morning and then bat for a long time in their first innings, something they should be able to do since the pitch is so true. My biggest concern is our reliance on Flintoff - he is far and away our best bowler but he can't do it all by himself and needs support at the other end to sustain the pressure on the Aussie batsmen that was such a key part of England's success in 2005.

England are still in this match.....just.

Wello

Today did not make comfortable viewing for the passionate England cricket supporter, and that's putting it mildly. The Australian juggernaut has really moved into top gear against an England side who are now battling desperately against the prospect of a huge defeat.

At 602 for 9, Australia are in an impregnable position and it's clear that far from weakening as a team, the addition of Michael Hussey and Stuart Clark has actually strengthened their already formidable line up. One thing is very clear - the Aussies are determined to the point of obsession to win back the coveted Ashes. Players like Ponting, McGrath and Warne are all- time greats and they will do everything in their power to make sure the urn returns down under.

Sympathy for Englishmen in Australia is a rare thing and the Australian equivalent of the Barmy Army, 'The Fanatics', have several unpleasant songs concerning England's absent opening batsman Marcus 'Stress - Cothick'. The criticism is not just confined to the Aussies though, and England fans throughout the Gabba are particularly unimpressed with the listless performance of Steve Harmison. He has all the attributes of a world class quick bowler but simply did not deliver when his big mate Flintoff really needed him, and the worrying thing is he doesn't deliver far too much for a player of his ability.

James Anderson also found his first taste of Ashes cricket a chastening experience, though his relative youth can excuse him somewhat. The Australian crowd now sense blood and it will take an almighty effort to keep them at bay. To be fair to them, they cheer loudly when Freddie Flintoff comes on to bowl, respecting him as a 'fair dinkum' bloke and champion cricketer but when he comes out to bat tomorrow, they'll be doing everything they can to make it a short stay for the England captain.

Time for some bulldog spirit, and a lot of luck.

Wello

It's hard to say this as a passionate England cricket fan but I cannot recall a worse performance from an England test team in my recent memory. The Australian second innings had a painfull inevitability, and the afternoon and evening sessions lacked any semblance of contest or competition, with the Aussies scoring at will whereas earlier, England's batsmen had had to fight tooth and nail to scrape any sort of runs together.

Under Duncan Fletcher, England have become a highly competent test side, winning series in South Africa, drawing in India and beating the world champion Australians in England last year. However, these last three days have proved they need to summon up every ounce of their playing ability to retain the Ashes away from home, against an Australian team completely committed to beating them.

After a some more fielding tomorrow morning, England will have to show immense character in at least trying to bat with conviction and save this game. Thus far that task has looked well beyond them.

From a slightly depressed Wello.

The majority of England fans turning up at the Gabba today did so out of a sense of duty, mulling over how a team full of high calibre test cricketers could be playing so badly.

But through the cussed determination of Paul Collingwood allied to the sheer genius of Pietersen, England have shown their hosts that they are quite capable of making a contest of this series, and there were signs of concern for the Australians in what was an absorbing days cricket.

That Australia will win this test is beyond doubt, though as a fan you hope against hope that the impossible might be achieved. When Collingwood and Pietersen were putting on 150 for the 4th wicket, one of my colleagues rushed to the bookies to have a punt on a sensational England win. I'd love to say he's got a chance of making a lot of money, but I'm afraid the inevitable will come tomorrow. The real bonus for England is getting priceless time in the middle against the Australian attack whilst keeping them out on the field in the hot sun, remembering the 2nd Test starts in Adelaide in less than 5 days time.

To see England batsman use their feet so positively against Shane Warne was a delight to behold, even though it caused the eventual downfall of Collingwood 4 runs short of a thoroughly deserved century. Collingwood is a man who has waited years for his chance to play test cricket against a backdrop of doubt and whisper that he simply wasn't up to it. However, what he may lack in talent, he more than makes up for in sheer determination and mental strength. He is a vital part of the England team.

As for Kevin Pietersen, his battles with Shane Warne are the best individual cricketing contest since Dennis Lillee and Viv Richards, and they may even surpass that. The Australian commentators are in awe of Pietersen's positive intent and utter self-belief, and one gets the feeling that a few of the Australian players feel the same way. His domination of the master leg spinner gives England their best chance of winning this series, since consistent scoring off Warne means Glenn McGrath will have to bowl a lot more overs, and he looked very tired and heavy legged today.

When all is said and done, barring a freak (and welcome) Queensland thunder storm, England will go 1-0 down tomorrow, so any positives need to be put into perspective. But I sense a few seeds of doubt might have been sown in the Australian minds today, and should big Freddie win the toss at Adelaide, bat first, and have Monty Panesar in his team, Australia could well find themselves in a similar position to England's current one this time next week.

Wello

So the hopes of yesterday ended with a swift reality check this morning, and Australia deservedly gained a 1-0 series lead courtesy of an emphatic 277 run victory over England. The first over dismissal of Pietersen was greeted with groans all round a sparsely populated Gabba, not least from myself. The thought of a couple of hours of him unfurling his amazing array of strokes in glorious defeat was an enticing prospect, but alas it was not to be.

Geraint Jones , who looked in good touch during this game, and Ashley Giles played some defiant shots to at least give the Barmy Army something to sing about as they went through their full repertoire of tunes designed to endear themselves to their Australian hosts. 'You're just a part of our Empire' provoked much amusement as did 'Captain Cook only stopped for a xxxx', the four crosses indicating a profanity rather than a cold beer, I might add.

My favourite though must be the little ditty aimed at the Aussie the Barmy Army love to hate, namely Shane Warne. Without knowing the exact words, it was sang to the tune of 'My old man's a dustman' and went something like this:

'Shane Warne's always texting,
He's done it all his life,
It made him lose his hair,
And now he's lost his wife'

Marvellous stuff. Thus England go to Adelaide having been defeated, but in the knowledge that they are capable of scoring good runs against this Australian attack. I don't see any changes in the batting line up, nor should there be, but the view amongst the England fans here is that Monty Panesar has to play in Adelaide, meaning one of James Anderson, Ashley Giles or even Steve Harmison will have to make way.

Despite his terrible performance in this match, England will stick with Harmison in the hope that he can rediscover his rhythm and accuracy in Adelaide. That leaves Anderson or Giles as the man to miss out. With Adelaide likely to turn and Anderson taking 1 for 206 in this match, it looks likely that England will play two left arm spinners for the second test and hope, or should I say pray, that big Fred calls correctly allowing his team first use of what is the best batting surface in Australia.

Roll on Friday.

Till then,

Wello

There is a school of thought that says although England were dire on the first three days of the Brisbane test, the result may have been different if Freddie had won the toss enabling England to make first use of a pitch that only got worse as the game went on.

Without saying that England would have won the game, their chances of securing a draw at the very least would have been greatly enhanced. Winning the toss here in Adelaide, with its reputation for taking spin on days four and five, is perhaps even more important, particularly as England seem to be committed to going into the match playing both Ashley Giles and Monty Panesar.

England will be desperate to bat first in this second test. The weather forecast is good with each of the last three days in Adelaide nudging 35 degrees centigrade and getting first go on what is traditionally an excellent batting wicket will give England a whole host of advantages.

First and foremost, the earlier in a game Shane Warne bowls, the less the conditions are likely to favour him. Australia have won so many tests in the past 14 years or so with Warne bowling in the last innings with the opposition chasing a massive total allowing him to crowd the batsmen with attacking fielders. Secondly, and of almost equal significance, will be England having two spinners to Australia's one. Panesar coming into the side will give Freddie far greater control than he had in Brisbane, and the prospect of him and Giles bowling in tandem to an Australian batting line up with a track record of vulnerability to left arm spin gives England great hope.

England's first innings will be the crucial factor. If they bat well and post a competitive total, England's five pronged attack will sense the opportunity to exert pressure on the Australians. Though clearly an excellent side, the one key weakness of the Australian team is their use of only four bowlers. Brett Lee averages 45 a wicket against England and concedes at least four an over in most spells he bowls. Glenn McGrath is 37 next year, so too Shane Warne. England must do exactly as they did in 2005 when targetting Jason Gillespie - take the attack to Lee or Warne, forcing Ponting to bowl either McGrath or Clark before they have had sufficient rest. This tactic is, if successful, will be even more effective when you consider that the Adelaide match is beginning less than four days after the Brisbane test finished.

Still, tactics and ideas count for nothing unless they are carried out effectively. Let's hope for Freddie having the luck he needs with the toss, and an England side batting for the best part of two days.

Yours in hope,

Wello