Gabba holds no fear for England

Skipper Alastair Cook accepts England will probably need to raise their game a notch or two to win a fourth straight Ashes series but almost scoffed at suggestions the tourists were running scared.

Despite the first Ashes series of the year having concluded so recently, the war of words before the second five-match encounter has been as intense as ever and Australia’s David Warner said this week that he detected fear in the tourists.

England have good reason to feel confident having dominated the home Ashes series 3-0 and Cook said his experienced side were taking all the pre-match hype in their stride.

“We certainly don’t fear anyone, that’s quite clear by the way we go about our business,” he told reporters at the Gabba, where the first test gets underway on Thursday.

“We’re a very competitive side and there’s no reason to fear any side out there. We don’t really concentrate on what people say about us, it’s about how we play in that first hour tomorrow.

“There’s been a lot of words said, but when it comes to 10 o’clock tomorrow morning, that’s all irrelevant.”

England’s one injury concern before the first test is the strained calf of wicketkeeper Matt Prior but Cook sounded reasonably confident that stand-in Jonny Bairstow would not be required.

“He’s (Prior) got the last part of his fitness to go now, yesterday he trained really well and came through all that we asked of him,” he said.

“With leg injuries, it’s usually about how you pull up the next day after a rigorous session. We’ll know pretty soon.”

Vice captain Prior, with his leg heavily strapped but clearly mobile, remained on the Gabba pitch training long after most of his team mates had packed up on Wednesday.

Prior and Cook were key members of the England line-up that contributed a torrent of runs three years ago when England won the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

GOOD PLACE

Cook alone contributed a remarkable 766 runs at an average of 128 but was less spectacular in the first Ashes series of this year as England’s top order rarely caught fire on the slow pitches back home.

“That’s an area where we know we have to get better, we were 30 for three several times in that series and I was part of that,” he said.

“I’m happy with the way I’ve played in these warm-up games. Who knows what’s going to happen, but I feel in a good place right now.”

The feeling that England won on home soil with something to spare is one of the reasons for their confidence coming into this series and Cook suggested Australian conditions might suit their vaunted batsmen better.

“We know how important first innings runs are in Australia, if you want to set the game up, you have to score big,” he said.

“The wickets here are slightly easier to score runs on than in England, it’s the job of the batsmen to set the game up.”

Cook’s brilliant 235 not out at the Gabba in 2010 only contributed to a draw for the visitors as Australia maintained their record of not having lost to England at the ground since 1986.

Australia consider the Gabba their test match fortress and England can expect a less than welcoming reception from the Queensland public on Thursday.

That will be especially the case for paceman Stuart Broad, whose refusal to walk at Trent Bridge in the opening test of the first series infuriated many in Australia.

Cook, though, was confident the barracking would only spur on his team mate.

“He’s a very combative character, he’s an in-your-face kind of cricketer, I like that about him,” Cook said.

“Every time you give him a challenge… he’s stood up and delivered. He’s done that a number of times for England, a magic spell of bowling.

“He’s got the ability to change games. He looks in fine fettle with the ball and he’s raring to go.” 

 

Clarke gives nothing away on Ashes eve

Australia captain Michael Clarke said he was not going to promise his country “the world” on the eve of the first Ashes test.

In fact, the 32-year-old offered almost nothing by way of insight into Australia’s preparations in his final news conference before the battle with England resumes at the Gabba on Thursday.

Clarke would put to shame many politicians with his ability to talk without giving much away and his caution is perhaps understandable given he leads a team which has lost seven and drawn two of its last nine tests.

England were responsible for three of those defeats and shared the two draws in the opening rubber of the unique Ashes double-header earlier this year to retain the coveted urn for the second successive series.

So, despite a palpable sense of renewed optimism in the Australia camp, Clarke was not going to be drawn into leaving any hostages to fortune.

“I’m not going to sit here and promise the world and tell you everything’s going to be different,” Clarke told reporters.

“It’s going to be a tough battle like it was in England, we have to play our best cricket to have success no matter what conditions we’re playing in.”

Clarke swatted aside any questions about the England team with the same briskness he will hope to punish any loose bowling from the English over the next seven weeks.

Australia named a 12-man squad for the test last week and, with better news about Shane Watson’s ability to bowl, the only question is whether they go with a fourth paceman in James Faulkner or a spinner in Nathan Lyon.

Clarke made it very clear that as he is no longer a selector it would not be his call, but strongly suggested Australia should go with Lyon at the Gabba, where England have not won a test since 1986.

“The wicket looks fantastic, I think it’s a really good pitch, I think it’s going to offer pace and bounce for the bowlers, and that includes spin,” he said.

“I think spin’s had success at the Gabba because of the bounce rather than the spin.

“It’s one of the best wickets in the world to play test cricket on because it does offer good pace and bounce so your bowlers are always interested … but once you get in, it’s as good a place to bat as anywhere in the world.

“I wouldn’t imagine the conversation is about the conditions, I think it’s probably about choosing the best 11 to help us win this test match.”

As for Watson, Clarke said the all-rounder was making good progress with his recovery from a hamstring injury and would probably contribute something with the ball during the test.

“I don’t think he’ll be 100 percent and can bowl 25 overs in the first innings of a test match,” he said.

“But as we’ve seen Watto’s improved every day and I’m really confident he’ll be able to bat at his best and do a job with the ball for us.”

As for his other comments, Clarke offered that the uncapped George Bailey “was a great guy to have around”, while his take on the influence of coach Darren Lehmann was the revelatory insight that “Boof’s Boof”.

A ripple of expectation went around the room when Clarke said the batting order had been decided but he dashed the hopes of the media when he said it would not be “right” to announce it before the team was named at the toss on Thursday morning. 

 

Bailey Books Ashes Berth

Australia have included uncapped George Bailey in their 12-man squad for the first Ashes encounter against England next week in a gamble the 31-year-old can replicate his “extraordinary” limited overs form in the test arena.

The righthanded batsman, who is likely to play at number six, boasts a first class average of 38 and earned his call-up on the back of his captaincy of Australia in the recent one-day series against India.

Bailey’s batting success in India, a trip captain Michael Clarke skipped to rest his back injury, earned him the nod ahead of his Tasmania team mate Alex Doolan on Tuesday.

“George Bailey has been in fantastic form with the bat,” head selector John Inverarity said at the team announcement in Brisbane.
“His confidence is riding high, his performance in international one day cricket has been quite extraordinary and he’s very deserving of his opportunity.”

Erratic fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was, as expected, recalled to join Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris in the pace attack for the test at the Gabba in Brisbane, which starts on November 21.

James Faulkner, who made his debut in the final test of the first Ashes series earlier this year, was included but is most likely to play only if fellow all-rounder Shane Watson fails to recover sufficiently from a hamstring injury to bowl.

“In that 12 you’ve got considerable facility, we could play five batsmen and five bowlers or we could play four quicks and no spinners and three quicks and one spinner,” Inverarity said.

“Shane is progressing very well in regaining his fitness and we’re confident he’ll be fit to play. We’re not sure, with nine days to go, to what extent he’ll be able to bowl.”

With Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and James Pattinson all unavailable through injury, Johnson gets a chance to resurrect his reputation in what will be his first Ashes action since the 3-1 series defeat in Australia three years ago.

“He’s in good rhythm and bowling with good pace and we’re confident he’ll acquit himself very well and be a bowler to the fore in our attack,” Inverarity said.

Australia face the prospect of a fourth successive Ashes series defeat over the next two months with matches in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney following the Brisbane opener.

With the emphasis on stability and experience — seven of the squad are over 30 — there was no shock selection like that of spinner Ashton Agar before the opening test of the first series of the year, which England won 3-0.

Agar’s international career has since stalled and Nathan Lyon, who seems destined to approach every test with a question mark over his name, retained his place in squad.

“The spinner’s position is greatly watched because of how great Shane Warne was,” said captain Clarke.

“But I think Lyon-o’s done fantastic in international cricket. He’s played a lot for us, he’s a wonderful guy and I think he’ll have a fantastic summer.”

Squad: Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner.

McGain debuts as Australia bat in final Test

Ricky Ponting won his sixth toss in a row against South Africa and decided to have a bat on what he contently termed “a good wicket” in Cape Town.

Jacques Kallis has spent the better part of the last couple days trying to put everyone at ease as to how he was made captain in the absence of an injured Graeme Smith, but there was still a fair amount of apparent reluctance. Having to field first against a form line-up is no envious way to start a Test South Africa need to win to avert a whitewash.

Phillip Hughes avoids a bouncer.

Spin has played more of a role at Newlands than any other venue in the country and with Marcus North failing to come up from his illness the journeyman leg spinner Bryce McGain was finally handed a debut. The last few months have not been short of drama for McGain – his first tour with Australia was cut short in October when he was sent home from India with tendon damage in his shoulder and his second trip began with a missed flight. At 36 years and 359 days, McGain has become Australia’s oldest debutant since Bob Holland in 1984.

As expected, South Africa went in with a new-look opening pair of the debutant Imraan Khan and returning Ashwell Prince. The allrounder Albie Morkel makes his Test debut, replacing brother Morne.

It has been a dramatic switch for both teams since the previous series. Australia have turned around their fortunes dramatically, with rookies playing key roles, and in doing so they have managed to pass on the restless, testy cape they wore at home to South Africa. Under a steely blue Cape Town morning sky, the heat is definitely on the hosts.

Australia 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Brad Haddin (wk), 7 Andrew McDonald, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Bryce McGain, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

South Africa 1 Imraan Khan, 2 Ashwell Prince, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis (capt), 5 AB de Villiers, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Paul Harris, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

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Preview: First Test Australia vs South Africa

This might be the golden phase of South African cricket “But” the ghost of Wanderers has always haunted the home side. If the Proteas want the top echelon, they have to drop this monkey off their back and change the poor record they have at Johannesburg.

As South Africa’s test record on this ground is patchy; Australia has won the last two test matches one with an innings in 2002 and their previous visit in 2006 produced a thriller with the tourists managing to chase 292 on the last day of Test match. Even India and England have comfortably won against the home side on this hostile track.

Toss will play the decisive role at Jo’bourg where since 2000 all eight Test matches have produced a result, and six of these are won by the side who had the better of coin.

The first match of the Test series will be crucial as a positive result will definitely give the winning side the psychological edge.

South Africa will go with the same winning eleven with no weak links, making them the favorites. They have the likes of Hashim Amla and Paul Harris, exciting match winners Greame Smith and Dale Steyn, trusted lieutenants Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, and Makayah Ntini, the nerves of steel comes in the likes of wonder kid JP Duminy.

Where as Australia will go with new faces; Philip Hughes will open with Katich, Ponting, Hussey, and Michael Clarke (unfit) will   complete the top order. Brad Haddin, who has been the new Australian hope in recent past will be holding the lower order with Andrew McDonald or Marcus North who will compete for the all rounder’s spot.

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The Great Australian Cricket Depression

In last 13 years, Australia constructed a cricketing realm which they deliberated will last for a thousand years. Guess they were not the first to get it wrong. They are now the mighty fallen. The next generation cricketers struggled to hold and finally crashed off from plinth and the empire crumbled.

Sydney Test in modern history has acted as final nail to the coffin for the tourists, but its going overturn in the new era where Australia, in the same ground faces the prospect of a series whitewash.

South Africa in Australia

Green and gold should learn to live with their new status as invincible aura is history, and consider recession, a blessing in disguise as it gives a chance to revitalize and renew the national side with brigade of new cricketers knocking to make it big on international front.

Australia in past met the similar situation when Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh walked off into the Sydney sunset in 1984.

But before the new stars date history, chopping and feel good stories will emerge concurrently from cricket’s once most powerful nation.

Not in his wild dreams, Victorian allrounder, Andrew McDonald would have thought of putting a baggy green so soon in his career, but time masters the universe. Can he play? That will be seen.

Something comparable will also hold true for Doug Bollinger and Tasmanian Ben Hilfenhuas who could also get a game soon.

There is every chance that Australia could face a trouncing in the third Test as they haven’t got the best of the starts in the Sydney. So won’t it be good for Aussies to try some new talent in the upcoming ODI series rather than going with same Hayden faces.

South Africa in Australia

Maverick batsmen has been a real pain to the opposition in past and literally took the cricketing world by storm with 30 Test centuries that include the second highest individual Test score of 380-runs, second only to another great left-hander, Brain Lara. But for certain, Hayden days are over and it won’t be great if Australia try Phillip Hughes with the new looking Simon Katich at the top.

Hughes is a young prospect for Australia and averages touching 54 after 16 first-class games for New South Wales. There is a possibility that he could open for Australia when they travel to South Africa to play a three match Test series starting this February.

Australia has been guilty in past of not allowing enough new talent to peep into the Test side and a sudden loss of big names created such a void that it changed their cricketing stature. But now rebuilding is not an option, but a necessity; thankfully for Australian cricket it has finally begun.

West Indies learned it the hardest way that it is impossible to remain at the Everest of cricket for a life time.

Australia might not be a force and will take years to reestablish the aura of dominance, but luckily for the cricket, they don’t face the same fate as West Indies suffered after their reign: Australian prospect are certainly brighter with a strong domestic structure to avoid catastrophic fall.

Every team has a generation of cricketers who rule the sports and bring glory home. But with great players retiring or eventually getting dropped some other nation with equally matching talent climb to the top. Australia is seeing something similar happening as Proteas are becoming the new dominating shade of green in the ever expanding cricketing rainbow.