One of the most hyped up series in recent memory (BBC ran a countdown on its sports page 'xxx days to go for the Ashes', counting down from 100!), lives up after all. 3 tests down, 1-1, England show they can give Aussies a fight and more (a scare!). A series right up there with the Aussie tour to India in 2001. The new Botham, Freddie Flintoff leading the English charge. English bowling as a unit proving to be superior to Aussie bowling (who have the 2 best bowlers in the world, McGrath & Warne), courtesy an art they once cried foul about - reverse swing (interestingly, a certain Waqar Younis taught Simon Jones how to bowl reverse swing when they played together for Glamorgan - the guy picked it up quite well, didn't he - Jones now teaches Reverse Swing 101 for the other English bowlers. Brett Lee peeps into the class to see if he can pick up something too).
A 10-day break gives the Aussies a chance to get back to the press and claim moral victories in a draw (not saying draws cant be moral victories, just surprised the mighty Aussies are saying it). It comes down to England denying Aussies any further wins in the remaining 2 matches, and pulling off at least one win themselves - am clearly an English supporter here, but I think its going to be very hard. I think England are one batsman short and their bowlers have been making up for it - am scared the strategy will fall apart if the Aussie batting grinds it out to a big score. Any bowler is better than a struggling Gillespie for Aus and Shaun Tait might give them additional firepower to attack the somewhat-short English batting lineup.
Some of the greatest Test cricket in recent memory - hope the remaining 2 matches live up to it as well..
1 comment:
I honestly think that this series is way better than the Aus-Ind one.
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