A Prelude to the Ashes
These are interesting times in Jaipur. Both the England and Australia sides are holed up in the same hotel ahead of , and there's only one bar.
As far as I can see, unless they venture out into Jaipur after the match, which would give the various security guys a severe nervous twitch, both teams will be ordering their at the same slab of oak.
Hopefully the teams will take the opportunity to mingle together. I can see Andrew Symonds over in the far corner, he's just opened his 14th bottle with his teeth, and is now talking Andrew Strauss through the finer points of hog-hunting...
There's Ricky Ponting passing on tips to the England new-boys Jamie Dalrymple and Mike Yardy about dealing with the media. I think I overheard his advice, "Ah look, guys, every time you get asked a question, start your answer with 'Ah look'".
Adam Gilchrist is sniggering away by the piano, telling Steve Harmison that his family are all from Lilac Hill, and that they can't wait to see Harmy bowling again.
But the best of the lot, Brett Lee has lost his hotel key, and is crouched on all fours looking for it on the floor. He doesn't look very happy at all, but Andrew Flintoff is stood over him shaking his hand and offering a few consoling words.
Oh, to be a fly on that bar-room wall on Saturday night...
Anyway, there's a before then.
I've just got back from the captain's press conferences. Ponting was in top form as usual. When asked by an Indian journalist whether his team are prepared for the extra pollution at the ground tomorrow because it's Divali, and that means lots of fireworks, he frowned and said "Ah look, I'll send the guys out to buy gas masks!!".
Freddie was a little more cautious in his press conference, but he was asked about whipping his shirt off in Mumbai a few years back, after taking the final wicket to level the one-day series against India. He replied, "I got a lot of ribbing in the dressing room afterwards, partly for having the whitest body ever, and partly because of the spare tyres around my waist". When pressed, he added that he was "embarrassed" by the incident, and gave a heart felt "sorry" to the sensitive and shocked public of Mumbai.
Both skippers made positive noises, both said they're concentrating on the Champions Trophy and the Ashes will concern them when they get to Australia, but surely it's on their minds. Even if it wasn't, they're asked about it 20 times in each press conference anyway.
I think this is a big match in the context of the Ashes, and frankly England can't have it both ways. They can't claim that beating the Aussies in the Champions Trophy semi-final a year before the Ashes, and then stuffing them in the Twenty/20 International at the start of the 2005 tour were significant blows, and then claim that this match will have no bearing on the next Ashes series. Despite the high turnover of players between the One-Day and Test sides for both teams, if Australia romp to a 9-wicket win tomorrow, it'll be a statement of intent. One that England won't be allowed to forget, I'm sure.
As for the personnel issues for England tomorrow, the only change I can forsee backs up what a lot of you guys said in reply to my last blog entry.
Steve Harmison has hinted that he may not take the new ball, so could that mean Jon Lewis coming in to share it with James Anderson, with Sajid Mahmood dropping out? That could be harsh on Mahmood, who , but being dropped in the first place is percieved by many of you as harsh on Jon Lewis.
We reckon that the evening dew will play its part again, making spinning the ball difficult in the second innings.
But the match will take place on the same strip as last Sunday's game against India, so winning the toss and batting first amid those widening cracks has to be the call. If the conditions are similar, and England do bat first, they have to get at least 180 this time, or they'll almost certainly be out of the tournament.
Monumental game. Winner of this game will have monumental significance for the first game and
Complain about this postnote:THE FIRST GAME ONLY.
Make no mistake - although we were our usual dire selves against India, Fletcher's gameplan seriously hamstrung any chances we had.
Bell had made strong performances against Pakistan at 3, so what happens? Moved to opener.
Yardy had shown qualities at the death - strong hitting and a clear head. He's moved upto 4, ahead of the much more experienced Collingwood.
Freddie opening might not be a bad idea - if it comes off, we get a head start; if it doesn't, no great loss. But coming in at one down, he can only play one way - conservatively, and any advantage of bumping him up the order is lost, even if he isn't out next over.
And finally the bowling. Saj did do well, but forcing Harmison to take a role he's obviously unhappy with was a grave misjudgement on the coach's part. Lewis and Anderson are the new ball bowlers in the team, so they are the one's who should take the new ball. It's so simple, but like so much in basic ODI strategy, it gets ignored in England team planning.
The positives Fletcher brings to the Test arena are undoubtable, but so are the negatives in one-day games. Muddled thinking and plans doomed to failure from the start have led us to being 8th in the world. There needs to be some clarity from somewhere before 10am tomorrow, else we'll be steamrollered.
Complain about this postTomorrow's game is going to be slightly significant, but a lot less significant than the 2004 Semi Final. At that time Australia had a strangle hold on us in all cricket, not winning a Test Series against them since 87, and they had pulled around a game in the last world cup where it looked like we could win. Winning that game meant we knew we could beat them, and we proved it last summer in that glorious period when Sport was Sport once again. Now we don't have that noose around our neck that Australia are invincible, we know we can beat them, so the victors tomorrow will only gain a slight moral victory.
Complain about this postI think we can have it both ways.
If we win it, as we did last time round, it'll be a massive boost but if we lose it then we can put it down to experience.
I think its not the effect on the oppo that counts but the effect on the winning team.
The results in the semi-final and the 20/20 game galvanised the England squad and made them believe they could beat Australia - which they did.
On the other hand, I don't believe that losing those games had any adverse effect on the way Australia played.
Sure, winning would be great for the lads' confidence - probably more in the one-day game than the test arena - but what more reminder do the players need that they can beat Australia than that little clay pot.
Complain about this postCan anyone tell me why England decided to take Rikki Clarke as part of the One-day squad. His international record with bat and ball is shambolic and he is unlikely to feature due to his lack of prowess with bat and ball. Surely it would have been better to take a youngster to gain experience (Stuart Broad) or a proven specialist (Mal Loye/Darren Gough)?
Complain about this postis it me or are pitches for internationals be of a certian standard.
i am a club captian and i would sack my groundsman.
i refuse to watch the ICC CT as because its not fun as long as they contiue to produse substandard pitches.
Complain about this postIf, as seems likely, the pitch is similar to the one for the India game, it would be suicide for Jon Lewis not to play. Gloucestershire fans have increasingly low expectations of him playing, even when he should, but the lesson of the first match was clear. Sajid Mahmood would normally be the one to make way, although his much improved display in the match against India could even make the unthinkable a real option, with Steve Harmison, who has rarely shone for England in the one day game, being the one to make way.
Complain about this postI think England will fancy their chances more after Ausies loss to WI. Although, English batting is too dependent on players with averages in 30's. Someone has to step up and score big for England.
I disagree with the hype surrounded for Ashes with this ODI. I dont think even the teams relate this to Ashes as Ashes will be whole different atmosphere and game.
All in all, India and WI both will be hoping for English victory! I am sure lot of cricket lovers will be delighted if it happens.
Complain about this post"winning the toss and batting first amid those widening cracks has to be the call"
Really?
Complain about this postSaj did do well, but forcing Harmison to take a role he's obviously unhappy with was a grave misjudgement on the coach's part. Lewis and Anderson are the new ball bowlers in the team, so they are the one's who should take the new ball. It's so simple, but like so much in basic ODI strategy, it gets ignored in England team planning.
Complain about this post