Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has promised to subject England cricket captain Andrew Strauss to some chin music during the first Test that is to be played at the Gabba here from November 25. Johnson said he will target skipper Strauss in the Ashes opener, as has been the Australian tradition. “England really look [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Andrew Strauss’
Captain Ponting under biggest amount of pressure, says Pietersen ahead of Ashes
November 22nd, 2010 |
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In the first definitive sledge launched against Australia by a cautious England side since its arrival three weeks ago, middle order batsman Kevin Pietersen has taken aim at captain Ricky Ponting”s aggressive approach. Ponting has made a point of targeting Pietersen and rival skipper Andrew Strauss at every chance since August, but Pietersen has hit [...]
Strauss, Cook centuries ominous portent for Oz ahead of Ashes opener
November 13th, 2010 |
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England skipper Andrew Strauss and opening batsman Alastair Cook struck centuries on Saturday to give their team a dominant hand in the second Ashes warm-up match against South Australia in Adelaide. Resuming day three at 94-0, Strauss (102) and Cook (111 not out) shared a 181-run partnership to quell fears of the opening partnership emerging [...]
Johnson wants England skipper Andrew Strauss to be his bunny
November 12th, 2010 |
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To dominate the England batting line up, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson will attempt to turn Andrew Strauss into his bunny during the Ashes series. Johnson said England would disintegrate if Strauss failed at the top of the order. “Look, I think if we can go after their captain, Strauss, I think if you can [...]
South Africa square Test series
January 18th, 2010 |
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South Africa have retained the Basil D’Oliveira Trophy after dismissing England for 169 on day four of the final Test at The Wanderers. Andrew Strauss’ men lost all seven remaining second-innings wickets in the morning session as the hosts wrapped up a series-levelling innings and 74-run victory
Strauss says England are in S.Africa to make runs, not friends
November 20th, 2009 |
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In an indirect rejoinder to South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur, England captain Andrew Strauss has said that his team is in South Africa to make runs and win matches, and not to make friends.
Strauss was responding to Arthur’’s comment that the England players were a touch too friendly with his boys and to [...]
Tendulkar, Dhoni feature in video supporting ICC Champions Trophy 2009
September 10th, 2009 |
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Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Gautam Gambhire have joined several top cricketers of the world to promote this year’s ICC Champions Trophy.
They also include international captains Younus Khan of Pakistan, England’s Andrew Strauss, Graeme Smith from host South Africa and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand. All feature in a short [...]
Cricket: Strauss wants England to be ‘smarter’
September 7th, 2009 |
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England captain Andrew Strauss called on his batsmen to be “smarter” during the remainder of their one-day internationals against Australia after falling further behind in the series at Lord’s. Sunday’s 39-run defeat left England 2-0 down in the seven-match campaign ahead of Wednesday’s
Axing 50-over cricket to affect England’s World Cup campaigns: Strauss
September 5th, 2009 |
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England skipper Andrew Strauss has warned that banishing 50-over cricket from the country’s domestic schedule could have dire consequences for the team’s World Cup campaigns.
The England and Wales cricket board decided to axe 50-over cricket for a shortened 40-over format from next season.
Strauss said domestic cricket should mirror internationals, and believes one-dayers will survive in [...]
Collingwood defends abandonment
September 1st, 2009 |
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Second Twenty20 international: England v Australia
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester Date: Tuesday 1 September Start: 1900 BST
Coverage: Listen to Test Match Special on BBC Radio 4 LW, 5 live sports extra, Red Button and BBC Sport website, with text commentary online. Also on Sky
Paul Collingwood wants a win in the second Twenty20 clash against Australia at Old Trafford on Tuesday as he looks to cement his place as England skipper.
Collingwood’s mandate as captain officially ends in Manchester, but he hopes to be in the role for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean next April.
"Until I’m told otherwise, I want to lead England into the next Twenty20 world cup," said the all-rounder.
"I’m pretty clear on my role [and] I’m happy with that arrangement."
Collingwood led England in this summer’s World Twenty20 on home soil, and with Andrew Strauss unlikely to make a return to the shortest form of the game, he is best placed to lead the side beyond the current series with Australia.
The first game of the two-match series was washed out on Sunday, with England, chasing 146 to win, tottering on 4-2.
606: DEBATEAM
Kent’s Joe Denly made a first-ball duck in England’s reply, taking on a Brett Lee bouncer, but Collingwood has told the newcomer to keep playing his shots.
"I’m glad he’s got the belief and confidence to go for a shot like that," said Collingwood.
"It didn’t come off, but that’s the kind of attitude and approach you want from a Twenty20 player who is going to be opening the batting.
"You’ve got to try and take on the bowlers, but it didn’t come off for him. You have to give people some time to find their feet.
"One of the areas we identified was the middle order, having some bigger hitters down there – so we dropped Luke Wright down to cover that.
"There was a space at the top – and looking at Joe Denly and Jonathan Trott’s records domestically, it doesn’t get any better than that. So we’re giving them the chance to do it internationally."
Collingwood added that Denly would keep his place fielding at backward-point, despite dropping a straightforward catch off Cameron White on Sunday.
Collingwood has long been considered one of the world’s best at backward-point, but said he was unable to do his job as captain from that area.
"When I was captaining the one-dayers I found it hard to captain from backward-point. It was too difficult with the angles and communicating to the bowlers," said the Durham all-rounder.
"So it’s a position I’ve had to give away – someone younger can dive around in there now. Joe has done wonderfully well there for Kent, so I’m sure that the drop was just a slip."
England (from): P Collingwood (c), J Anderson, R Bopara, T Bresnan, S Broad, J Denly, E Morgan, M Prior (wk), A Rashid, O Shah, R Sidebottom, G Swann, J Trott, L Wright.
Australia (from): M Clarke (c), C Ferguson, N Hauritz, B Hilfenhaus, D Hussey, M Johnson, B Lee, D Nannes, T Paine (wk), A Voges, D Warner, S Watson, C White.
Umpires: P Hartley, N Long.
Third Umpire: I Gould.
Match referee: R Madugalle.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ramprakash backed for Test recall
August 10th, 2009 |
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Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash is being backed for a remarkable England recall for the decisive fifth Ashes Test – seven years since he was last capped.
Australia crushed England to level the series going into the final match at The Oval, Ramprakash’s home ground.
He turns 40 in September and has not played for England since 2002 but has been in prolific form for his county.
"If I was an England selector picking my best side, he’d be in it," said Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams.
"He is playing the best cricket of his life," Adams, who briefly played for England, both at Test and one-day international cricket, told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He’s a fine player, whether it’s the right time to bring him back into a Test match is a different story"
Australia captain Ricky Ponting
"He has done so for three years. I believe strongly he has been the best batsman available for England for those three years.
"I know Kevin Pietersen would have something to say about that but from what I’ve seen from Mark this year he is an exceptional batsman, a batsman at the top of his game."
Adams echoed comments made by former England captain Alec Stewart, also a Surrey stalwart, who suggested a one-off return for Ramprakash might be the best option for a side enduring a middle-order crisis.
Only one England batsman, skipper Andrew Strauss, has scored a century in the series so far, compared to Australia’s return of seven.
Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, who replaced the injured Pietersen, have all disappointed.
606: DEBATEThe Ashes England
Between them, Bopara, Collingwood and Bell contributed a total of just 16 runs during the fourth Test at Headingley and England coach Andy Flower has suggested the batting line-up might be altered following his side’s innings and 80-run defeat.
Earlier in the summer Essex batsman Bopara cemented his place at number three with three consecutive centuries against West Indies but the 24-year-old has struggled against Australia, scoring 105 runs in seven innings at an average of 15.
England named Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott in their squad for the fourth Test and he is another being touted to replace Bopara for The Oval Test, which starts on 20 August.
Kent captain Rob Key’s name is also being bandied around, with former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew backing his inclusion.
Meanwhile England are again waiting on the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
He was seeing knee specialist Andy Williams on Monday with England captain Andrew Strauss keen for an early decision.
England waited until the morning of the fourth Test to rule Flintoff out.
The Lancastrian had said he was fit enough to play but was overruled by Strauss and Flower.
Strauss said: "Hopefully we’ll know two or three days out from the Test match whether he’s fit enough to play.
"He’s still desperate to play in that final Test but he realises he’s got to be fit enough."
TOM FORDYCE BLOG
But it is Ramprakash, who won the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing show in 2006, whose name is causing the biggest stir.
The right-hander has played 52 Tests, scoring 2350 runs at an average of 27.32 with 12 half-centuries and two tons.
In 12 Tests against Australia he has notched 933 runs at an average of 42.40 with one century, coming at The Oval in 2001.
He was dropped after scores of nine and two against New Zealand in Auckland seven years ago but has since moved from Middlesex to Surrey and continued to dominate opposition bowling attacks at county level.
In 2008 he became only the 25th player to score 100 first-class centuries with a ton against Yorkshire at Headingley, and on Sunday he showed he was still going strong with 134 not out against Derbyshire.
It was the 108th first-class century of his career and moved him level with Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas in 16th place on the all-time list.
"He’s a fine player, whether it’s the right time to bring him back into a Test match is a different story," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
"It’s amazing how quickly things change either the way the media sees the team or even the way the team looks upon itself."
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ponting salutes resurgent Aussies
August 9th, 2009 |
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Australia captain Ricky Ponting feels his team have the edge going into the deciding final Test after victory by an innings and 80 runs at Headingley.
"We couldn’t have asked for much more," he said. "Bowling them out for 100 on day one is obviously where it was won.
"But when we had our chance to bat I thought we really put our foot on their throats and kept them down, demoralised them and our bowling was spot on again.
Of The Oval, he said: "It’s a big stage where we generally play at our best."
England captain Andrew Strauss won the toss on Friday and chose to bat, with Ponting saying at the time he would have made the same decision.
The Australian skipper said the wicket had not been overly difficult on that first day and added: "I would have liked to have thought we would have batted better in those conditions.
"It swung a little bit but it swung right through the game, I don’t think the wicket played too much of a part for too many dismissals on that first day, it was some really high-class seam bowling from our four quicks.
"I’ve said right from the start that if we expose their middle order to a newish swinging ball then I felt we would be in the game and I think that’s the way it has panned out this game.
"[Alastair] Cook hung in there a little bit in the first innings and [Andrew] Strauss and he did in the second innings but once we got into that middle order with the ball still swinging about a bit it looked like a totally different game."
Another encouraging note for Ponting’s team was the return to form of left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson, who took six wickets in the match, having struggled in the first three games, when his 10 wickets cost 423 runs.
"It’s amazing how things can change, I’m proud of everyone for sticking with him and supporting him through it," the captain said.
"We knew that with just a little bit going his way that he’d be able to turn things around and I think in the last couple of games in particular he’s just showing his class as an all-round cricketer.
"We knew this was a big game for us, I knew England would be under some pressure going into this game but we played really well and we can take that into the next game."
With England having capitulated so dramatically at Headingley, there has been speculation about the drastically out-of-form middle order, with suggestion that 39-year-old Mark Ramprakash might be recalled, having made his fifth century of the county season.
"Obviously he’s a fine player but whether it’s the right time to bring him back into a Test match is a different story," Ponting said.
"It’s amazing how things can change whether it’s the way the media sees a team or even the way a team looks upon itself.
"We’ve been trying to find our best cricket over the last three or four weeks and I said to the boys right the way through that I know if we play our best we are going to win.
"As you’ve seen over the last two-and-a-half days our best cricket’s well and truly going to be good enough."
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Australia defy England to earn draw
August 3rd, 2009 |
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Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston (day five):
England 376 drew with Australia 263 & 375-5
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport at Edgbaston
England were forced to settle for a draw at the rain-hit Edgbaston Test and will move on to Headingley on Friday with a 1-0 lead.
Michael Clarke (103 not out) and Marcus North (96) came together before lunch with Australia in a precarious position, four wickets down in their second innings and only 48 runs ahead.
But after Shane Watson (53) and Michael Hussey (64) had been dismissed in the morning session, Clarke and North put on 185 for the fifth wicket in 50 overs to shut the door firmly on England’s victory bid.
The match ended with Australia, who resisted the temptation to have a crack at England’s batsmen, leading by 262 on 375-5 when the captains agreed on an early draw at 1750 BST, with 13.4 overs remaining in the day.
Clarke, with his second century of the series, again proved the biggest obstacle for England to shift – and whereas at Lord’s he was finally dismissed, here he was undefeated for 192 balls and 283 minutes, in which he hit 14 fours.
He had two massive bits of luck in the 90s as he tortuously moved towards his century, Stuart Broad shaving his stumps with a ball that failed to dislodge the bails and Ravi Bopara having him caught at gully on 96, but off a no-ball.
With Australia 88-2 overnight, still trailing by 25 runs, the fans came expectantly in their thousands – and made it the first ever sell-out for the final day of a Test match in Birmingham.
After most of Thursday and the whole of Saturday had been lost to rain, there were no interruptions on Monday – but England’s bowlers were not at their very best.
Australia batted well, there was little swing on offer, and the wicket played pretty flat.
Watson was 34 and Hussey 18 when play started, and Andrew Flintoff bowled brilliantly early on at the left-handed Hussey, without any luck.
The deficit had been wiped out when Flintoff beat Hussey’s outside edge for the fifth time in the day, and when the left-hander cut the disappointing Graeme Swann for four Australia nudged into the lead.
Flintoff had mostly been bowling at Hussey all morning, but now had Watson in his sights, and struck the right-hander flush on an unprotected forearm. Bravely, Watson played out the rest of a testing over impeccably.
On the hour mark, the all-rounder moved to his second half-century of the match by flogging a full-toss off Swann through the covers for four.
Finally James Anderson, England’s outstanding bowler of the series, was permitted to have a bowl and struck in his first over – a hint of outswing, a thin edge from Watson, and an easy catch for Matt Prior.
Hussey continued to play well, hitting a short ball from Swann through the on-side for his 10th four, taking him to his fifty.
With England seeking further inspiration, Broad was given a ball that was 50 overs old for his first bowl of the innings. He began with a half-volley driven to the extra-cover fence for four by Hussey.
But he was much better in his second over, and the first ball from round the wicket was sent down in the perfect channel outside Hussey’s off-stump and just caught the edge.
606: DEBATEThe Eternal Optimist
At lunch Australia were 172-4, ahead by 59, and Clarke and North – batting with the sun on their backs soon after the interval – made smooth progress after the interval to give their team further daylight.
Things quickly became fairly desperate for England, and Andrew Strauss asked Bopara to come into the attack with the score 219-4.
His second ball, an indifferent short-pitched delivery, was smashed by Clarke – on 38 at that point – to Strauss at short midwicket. But the skipper floored a tough chance, and one sensed the game was slipping away.
Though Swann was starting to find some rhythm, Clarke swept him cleverly in front of square for four to move into the 40s and North was also finding his range well.
England took the second new ball, but the atmosphere became very subdued as both batsmen reached their fifties and when tea came on 293-4, with Clarke 73 and North 64, it had been clear for some time that there could be no positive result.
Furthermore, Australia led by 180, so if another day had been available England might have been under pressure.
Swann came under attack from North after the interval, with Broad bowling well at the other end. The partnership stretched past 150, with Australia now cruising beyond 300.
The fun for the batsmen really started with Bopara’s second spell, in which North struck three successive boundaries to reach 95. But he finally fell to a stunning catch in the gully by Anderson as Broad picked up a deserved second wicket.
The game would have ended earlier had not Clarke made such painful progress through the 90s, but he finally got to his century with a pull shot off Bopara and the players could concentrate on the fourth Test at Headingley.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
England set up chance of victory
August 2nd, 2009 |
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Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston (day four, start delayed:
England 116-2 v Australia 263
Match scorecard
Play was delayed on the fourth day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston because of a wet outfield.
Saturday’s play was abandoned without a ball being bowled and a soggy pitch left the umpires with no choice but to put the start back on Sunday.
"There has been no rain since tea-time on Saturday, but the outfield is in a terrible condition," said BBC Sport’s Oliver Brett at Edgbaston.
The umpires will inspect at 1100 BST, but there may be no play before lunch.
"There is no standing water on the outfield, but the bowlers’ run-up areas are very soft and some of the used wickets resemble bogs," added Brett.
606: DEBATE"How do you see the Test going Or do you think will it sadly fall victim to the weather"
Paul Fletcher – BBC Sport
"Some of the most optimistic estimates from groundstaff suggest a 1230 start, but others say there will be no play before lunch and there is some suggestion the players might have to wait beyond then."
When play does eventually restart, England will resume on 116-2 after they bowled Australia out for 263, with captain Andrew Strauss 64 not out.
The forecast for Sunday is for intermittent cloud cover, but no rain.
England lead the series 1-0, with two further Tests at Headingley and The Oval after the completion of the Edgbaston match.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Onions hails England’s patience
July 31st, 2009 |
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Graham Onions said England’s bowling resurgence on the second day of the third Ashes Test was down to patience.
The Durham fast bowler took 4-58, including two wickets with the first two deliveries of the day – as England dismissed the tourists for 236.
The performance marked a significant improvement from Thursday’s display.
"We were probably impatient on Thursday, but today we showed patience, put the ball in the right areas and we were rewarded," said Onions.
"As a team, we came off the field yesterday thinking we could have bowled a little bit better.
"It was important we got off to a good start today – and it helps when you get two wickets with two balls."
Onions revealed he was surprised to be handed the 30-over old ball by Andrew Strauss for the first over of Friday’s morning session.
And he repaid his captain’s faith when he had overnight batsman Shane Watson trapped lbw for 62 before bowling former county captain Michael Hussey for a golden duck with the very next delivery.
"I like to pride myself on getting the first ball on the money, I’ve got a great chance of getting a wicket," said the 26-year-old.
"We try to get the ball to swing back into Mike for an lbw shout and there is always a chance of getting him out caught behind as well.
"The key for me with that delivery was to make him play."
Onions enjoyed further success when Ricky Ponting edged a short delivery attempting a pull shot into Matt Prior’s gloves for 38.
The captain had become Australia’s highest Test ever run scorer – and the third highest in the history of the game – with a clip off his pads for three during the morning session.
606: DEBATE"With plenty of swing and seam could we see an England collapse"
Darklordswfc
"I got Ponting out in the England Lions game, but that wasn’t international cricket, so today was very special," added Onions. "He is the best player in the world."
Ponting admitted reaching the milestone was a "bittersweet" feeling after Australia lost nine wickets for just 137 runs.
"It’s a great achievement but I’ve never been statistically minded," said the 34-year-old. Once I finish my career I guess I will pay more attention to the things I have achieved in the game.
"But it would have been nice to get a big score when the team needed it today."
However, Ponting is optimistic his bowlers can emulate England’s marked improvement with the ball on Saturday, despite the pessimistic weather forecasts for the weekend.
"The ball didn’t do anything last night but it did a lot today, I don’t know why that is," he said. "It probably started swinging from the 35-over mark.
"We’re at that stage with our ball at the moment. Hopefully we can keep working on it and get a little cloud cover tomorrow and have a similar morning as England did today."</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Anderson haul puts England on top
July 31st, 2009 |
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Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston (day two):
England 116-2 v Australia 263
Match scorecard
By Oliver Brett
BBC Sport at Edgbaston
Brilliant swing bowling from James Anderson and Graham Onions put England in a fine position after two days of the third Ashes Test.
Australia capitulated shockingly from an overnight 126-1, losing two wickets off the first two balls of the morning, to collapse to 203-8 at lunch and eventually 263 all out.
When bad light brought a premature end to proceedings at 1745 BST, with 19 overs left in the day, Andrew Strauss (64 not out) had guided England to 116-2, trailing by 147.
Onions triggered the Aussies’ demise, taking the first three wickets in the day to fall, and then the last, to finish with 4-58.
Anderson recovered from a poor showing on Thursday, and some wayward stuff early in his spell on day two, to take 5-13 in 38 balls either side of lunch for overall figures of 5-80.
But another key figure in proceedings was umpire Rudi Koertzen, who awarded Anderson two very debatable lbws and then denied Mitchell Johnson one against Ian Bell when the ball would have probably hit middle stump.
Bell, who hit the first six of the Ashes series by an England batsman, lived to fight another day, and will resume with Strauss on 26.
With the memories of a disjointed bowling display on Thursday evening still in the back of the mind, Onions gave his team – and the home fans – a massive boost with the first two balls of.
Shane Watson, who had cruised to 62, just 16 runs shy of his best score in Tests in his first experience as an opener at this level, completely misjudged his shot at a ball homing in on his stumps.
Failing to get his bat down in time, he gave Aleem Dar an easy lbw decision to make.
Michael Hussey, who was bowled playing no shot to Andrew Flintoff at Lord’s, again left a delivery that only came back a fraction to brush his off-stump.
Though some of the 21,000 fans had not yet taken their seats, they rushed into position to see the hat-trick ball – and after the obligatory roar Onions sent a short ball just whistling past Michael Clarke’s gloves.
The game settled down for a while as Clarke and Ricky Ponting used their collective nous to withstand Onions’ variations on a theme of swing.
The captain picked up the runs needed to pass Allan Border and become the leading Australian run-scorer in Tests – leaving only pack leader Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara in front of him.
And when he on-drove Flintoff for four, taking the score to 159-3, Australia appeared to be entering calmer waters. But only four runs were added before Ponting, on 38, tried to pull a well-directed bouncer from Onions and edged to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
All the action was happening in Onions’ tremendous nine-over spell from the City End – and he could have had Clarke out twice.
The right-hander was reprieved by umpire Dar, turning down a very good lbw shout on 18, and by Flintoff on 20. England’s usually flawless second slip somehow spilt an outside edge.
But it was Anderson who picked up the wicket-taking baton in devastating fashion from the Pavilion End as Australia lurched from 193-4 to 229-9 – with Koertzen providing two prominent assists.
The South African official ended Clarke’s innings on 29 (ball probably missing leg-stump) and then Johnson back for a golden duck (slightly too high, according to Hawkeye).
In between those two wickets, Marcus North chased a wide one and was well caught by a diving Prior. Anderson’s fourth wicket, and the eighth of the innings, came when Graham Manou was bowled by a pearler.
Australia took lunch in dreadful shape, but their tail-enders did pretty well after the interval – although the ball was still swinging – to add 60 runs for the final two wickets. Onions finally wrapped it up, taking a richly-deserved fourth wicket when Ben Hilfenhaus speared the Durham man to gully.
By then, Peter Siddle had edged Anderson behind, giving him his first five-wicket Ashes haul, and it should all have ended on 241 when Nathan Hauritz top-edged a pull over Ravi Bopara’s head.
England’s backward-point had to turn to take the catch over his shoulder, but it was not a difficult chance and thus a disappointing drop.
Hauritz and Hilfenhaus each made 20, a suggestion to England’s openers that batting was not necessarily as nightmarish as many of the Australians had made it look.
And when Hilfenhaus and Siddle then opened the bowling for the Aussies there was only the merest hint of swing – nothing like the lavish movement enjoyed by Onions and Anderson.
606: DEBATEingeniousAsh
All the same, the Aussies had an ideal start when Alastair Cook lazily drove at a ball outside off-stump he could have easily left in the second over, Manou making an instant impression with a solid wicketkeeper’s catch.
But with Strauss looking in good touch from the off, and Ravi Bopara overcoming a slightly nervy start to hit some scorching drives through the off-side, England recovered to reach tea on 56-1.
Intriguingly, Johnson was relegated behind Hauritz to fourth bowler on the Australian roster, and after tea was replaced by Hilfenhaus at the Pavilion End.
Ponting judged that particular bowling change well, Hilfenhaus putting Bopara in two minds with a teaser outside off-stumps, and the Essex man’s tentative poke deflected the ball into his stumps.
With the scoreboard reading 60-2, there was a bit of a pressure on the recalled Bell to make an impression – and he did not disappoint on his home ground.
Siddle helped him out with a couple of full tosses that were easily put away, and Bell’s confidence looked in good order as he drove Hauritz over mid-on for the landmark maximum.
Strauss reached his fifty with a back-foot punch off the tiring Hilfenhaus for four and followed up with a lovely straight drive off the same bowler.
Bell was given a major lifeline on 18 when umpire Koertzen, who had already infuriated Australian fans at Lord’s with some of his decision-making, denied Johnson’s concerted lbw appeal.
A few balls later, Bell hit a rasping cover-drive to the boundary to exasperate a much-improved Johnson further. Australia might be glad that Koertzen is not officiating at Headingley or The Oval. </p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Live text – England v Australia
July 30th, 2009 |
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Third Test, Edgbaston, day one:
LATEST ACTION (all times BST)
By Tom Fordyce
e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with ‘For Tom Fordyce’ in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as first word) or use606(Not all comments can be used)
Inspection at 1100 BST
1028: If Hughes is out, it looks like Shane Watson to come in. But will he open, or slot in lower down the order Could be a job for Mr Cricket, you’d think…From Chris W, TMS inbox: "I’ve just googled Caroline of Brunswick…..I can see what George was thinking."
1021: Breaking news via the Twitter feed of Aussie opener Phillip Hughes: "Disappointed not to be on the field with the lads today, will be supporting the guys, it’s a BIG test match 4 us." Is this the first time that a team line-up has been revealed via Twitter
NB George continued to hit the brandy hard for the three days before the wedding. On the morning of the ceremony, he was found face-down asleep by the fire in his private quarters. We’ve all been there.
1015: When, in 1796, the future George IV was first introduced to his new wife Caroline of Brunswick, he was said to be so shaken by her appearance that he retired to the far end of the room and called for brandy. Andrew Strauss and Ricky Ponting could be forgiven for doing the same after seeing the state of the Edgbaston pitch on Thursday morning. Wet It’s like the Sargasso out there. Delayed start, and we’ll have an inspection at 1100
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Strauss says will talk tough with KP, ECB on IPL participation
July 28th, 2009 |
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England captain Andrew Strauss is worried Kevin Pietersen and other star players will suffer injury or burnout, and could undermine their Test careers if they insist on participating in lucrative Twenty20 events.
Strauss and head coach Andy Flower will urge England managing director Hugh Morris to adopt a hard line over players appearing in the [...]
Bell to bat at four for England
July 27th, 2009 |
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Third Ashes Test, Edgbaston: England v Australia
Dates: Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Listen to Test Match Special on BBC Radio 4 Longwave, 5 Live sports extra, the Red Button and BBC Sport website. Text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Also live on Sky Sports.
The incoming Ian Bell will bat in Kevin Pietersen’s regular number four position in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, says skipper Andrew Strauss.
Bell replaces Pietersen in the side after the Hampshire man underwent a series-ending Achilles operation.
The 27-year-old has not played for England since the innings defeat by West Indies in Jamaica in February.
"When you have played a considerable amount for your country, when you are not there it really hurts," said Bell.
"You miss what you used to do a hell of a lot. You do everything you can to get back into that team. When I got back from the West Indies after the winter tour, I really had to put the Ashes to the back of my mind.
"I had to get the runs in county cricket with Warwickshire to give myself a chance to be part of the Ashes and overall I’ve done that."
"I had to make sure I was in the best possible form if I got an opportunity"
England batsman Ian Bell
Bell’s form suffered during England’s tour to India at the end of 2008 and the selectors eventually lost patience when his second-innings dismissal in Sabina Park sparked a collapse that resulted in the tourists being dismissed for 51.
Ravi Bopara was subsequently elevated from the fringes and the Essex batsmen cemented his place by becoming only the fifth English batsman to score three successive Test centuries in Bell’s previous position at number three.
The decision to bring Bell back at four means there is no need to shift Paul Collingwood from number five or Matt Prior from number six.
This season Bell has scored 640 in 11 innings for Warwickshire in Division One of the County Championship, although he was dismissed for 7 and 0 in his last match, against Hampshire. He averages 25 in 10 Tests against Australia.
"It was important for me to keep in good form in case there was an injury or someone was showing a lack of form," added Bell, who has scored 3,004 runs in 46 Tests in all for England.
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"I had to make sure I was in the best possible form if I got an opportunity. The message that has come out from England is there is a lot of cricket this summer.
"With the amount of international cricket there is now, it is not just 11 players who are going to win games of cricket for England over a year.
"It is a squad effort. England need a strong squad of players and that is what is starting to happen."
Bell will have one significant factor in his favour on Thursday. He has played all his county cricket for Warwickshire, who play their home matches at Edgbaston.</p
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Strauss may reshape England’s pace attack with Harmison in mind
July 25th, 2009 |
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England captain Andrew Strauss will have the option to reshape the bowling attack for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, despite the fact that the pitch could be woefully under-prepared.
Many believe Steve Harmison should be in the team anyway, the cannon ball to Andrew Flintoff’’s medieval mace. Harmison, who has so far been included [...]