Welcome to the first entry of my weekly blog, Wello's Cricket World. For the cricket fan, the last few weeks have seen some quite extraordinary goings on, and for those of you like me who suffered terribly during England's Ashes hammering, the recent performances of the Australian team will have perhaps raised the odd smile.
Australia coach John Buchanan may have more than a touch of regret for his press conference statement that his side were not being tested and they were in desperate need of opposition that would challenge his world beating team. As if by magic, Buchanan's wishes were granted almost immediately as England at last won a competitive match against the Aussies, courtesy of a beautiful maiden century from the gifted Ed Joyce. Possibly thinking that this would serve as a wake-up call for his superstar line-up, the Aussie coach may have seen the first defeat by England as no bad thing.
However, the events that followed the round robin stage of the Commonwealth Bank Series served to underline the old adage that you never give a sucker an even break. England grew stronger in every game, powered by the belief that they could actually beat the Australians whilst the home team's previously faultless out-cricket started to fall to pieces with crucial dropped catches and numerous fumbles in the field.
Paul Collingwood, who had experienced the most torrid time since his fantastic double century in Adelaide, played the best cricket of his life in the first final whilst providing the glue to knit a faltering England innings together in the second. Collingwood is the epitome of the gritty northern competitor and his contribution to getting one over on the old enemy was magnificent.
Thus, after being labelled the worst England team to ever tour Australia (an old but oft repeated phrase), England completed an astonishing turnaround by winning the Tri-series 2-0 against an Australian side that looked decidedly vulnerable to good, old fashioned pressure cricket.
Far from being a temporary blip, the last 10 days have been a horror story for the world champions. The loss of their star all rounder Andrew Symonds has removed a key component of the Australian one day side, namely their ability to hit boundaries in the middle of the innings and display energy and intent in the field. If unfit for the world cup, Symond's absence will hit them hard. Then Adam Gilchrist announced he would miss the start of the tournament to attend the birth of his third child. Now Brett Lee's participation in the West Indies looks in doubt after he sustained ligament damage to his ankle during fielding practice.
To cap it all, a 10 wicket thrashing for the Aussies by the New Zealanders today has really made the cricket world sit up and take notice - perhaps the 2007 World Cup might not be the foregone conclusion that everyone imagined it would be. Certainly, the tournament now looks far more open that it has been for years with all of the major sides playing good cricket and fancying their chances of upsetting the Australians.
Before we get too carried away, the likely Australian response to their humiliation today will manifest itself in a score of 400 in the next match, as the wounded Australian batsmen take out their frustrations on the poor Kiwi bowlers. But for the time being, it's good to see cricket adhering to it's ancient philosophy of being a great leveller...............
Last point...early favourites for the world cup if not Australia....keep your eye on South Africa, a very dangerous side.
Wello
