After the perilous league stages and the decimals of the Super Eights, we are left with four teams vying for the ICC World T20 trophy. Both semi-final match ups are tantalizing, pitching two inform teams in England and Australia with two unpredictable sides capable of upstaging the best on their day. Firstly, we come to England taking on last year’s runners-up Sri Lanka.
England ascent during this tournament has been surprising to most analysts and English fans. They’ve build a side based on a powerful batsmen line-up of English, Afrikaans and Irish descent, backed up by a tight and versatile bowling unit. Apart from a rain-marred game against the West Indies, they’ve had a blemish free record that shows parallels with Graham Gooch’s efforts in 1992. Sri Lanka on the other-hand have had their peaks and troughs but ended on a high with a dramatic last ball win against inaugural champions India. Mahela Jayewardene had single handedly brought Sri Lanka into the Super Eights stages but it was encouraging to see others like Thillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews and Chamara Kapugedera lift their game to ensure passage into the final four. Dilshan was the most devastating player at last year’s tournament and if he finds his range against England, it will take the very best of KP and co. to get through to the final.
One of the most important factors during this tournament has been the pitch conditions. The bounce at Barbados has proved too much for sub-continental teams. Both semi-finals will be played at St. Lucia which will give Sri Lanka and Pakistan some respite from the barrage of short-pitched deliveries dished out against them, until the final that is. Without Muralitharan, it will be interesting to see if Sri Lanka will play Mendis against an English line-up which hasn’t seen much of him. Sri Lanka’s strength lies in their unorthodox approach to the game and England’s line-up will surely face their sternest test this Thursday. England’s bowling has been tight but contains nothing threatening. The spin duo of Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy will also face a tougher task in containing batsmen brought up on turning tracks. It’s a safe bet that both teams will depend heavily on their batting and the contest might come down to which bowling attack can contain best: Sri Lanka’s mix of freakish bowlers or England’s lot of workmen?
The second Semi-final has defending Champions Pakistan take on the undefeated Juggernaut that is Australia. Pakistan holds an impressive record at T20 tournaments. They’ve made the final four for all three tournaments and have a great opportunity to make the final on all three occasions as well. Pakistan’s Houdini antics have been even more impressive during the Caribbean edition where they’ve made the final four by simply winning one competitive game. Last year, they met an impressive and undefeated South African outfit and won through sheer inspiration. This year, they will play an Australian team that is repeating its own bit of history in the Caribbean where they won the 2007 World Cup without a single blemish. So, which piece of history will be retold; The Cornered Tigers or a glimpse of the Australia Empire?
Australia have always been known as a ruthless side in Test and ODI cricket but have never been able to shift that identity to the hits and giggles of T20 but that was before this tournament. They possess three bowlers who can constantly hit the 150s and a solid batting line-up that have been tried and tested throughout the tournament. Pakistan on the other-hand consists of a bag of young, talented and unpredictable players who show every now and then what they are truly capable of. While their mercurial nature may scare most teams into submission after the toss, Pakistan will need all their luck and skill to get through a professional Australian side that isn’t known for half-measures; One can scarcely remember the last time an Australian team have come so far and left with no silverware. This semi-final will be a showcase of two extreme opposites and the outcome could be outlandishly surprising or completely lopsided.
Most commentators have predicted an England v Australia final at Barbados but it would take a brave investor at Goldman Sachs to bet against the others. Twenty20 continues to be an unpredictable game that keeps the fans, players and the analysts guessing. Heck! Just look at Pakistan.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Last Man Standing
This year we have said goodbye to two big all-rounders; at least in the Test arena. England’s talismanic Andrew Flintoff bowed out of Test cricket with one final act of Aussie bashing by scoring a direct hit to send Ricky Ponting packing with the ignominious title of the first Australian skipper to surrender the Ashes twice. Afterwards, pundits and fans took to the task of summing up how good or “great” he was. Despite the Summer of 2005, Flintoff would be the first to agree that he wasn’t a great all-rounder but an all-rounder he was. Cricket must have been quite fascinating when the world had Hadlee, Imran, Kapil and Botham playing Jekyll and Hyde – a fine spell of bowling one day followed by a willow wielding massacre the next. More than his statistics, it was Flintoff’s enigmatic personality that drew the crowds and blew down the stumps and such qualities are hard to quantify.
Just a few hours ago, after much speculation, another heavily built all-rounder decided to call quits on the traditional form of the game. Jacob Oram played in a country renowned for producing commendable bits and pieces. Some would argue that Sir Richard Hadlee was the greatest all-rounder in the world but such an argument is worth its own time and space. Oram, like Freddie, suffered a string of injuries that made he’s dual role sporadic and all too brief. While many were excited at the prospect of the towering Oram, few ever witnessed what he could have offered cricket lovers of all types. With the grueling schedule of International cricket, coupled with the induction of cash cow club cricket, someone was bound to suffer. Would it be the injury prone pace man? The dexterous spin wizards? Or the low-hunching gloves man? Oram’s take is the “all-rounder.” Exhausted, unsustainable and doomed to extinction.
While cricket continue to produce a fair amount of bits and pieces, the search for the “real thing” remains elusive for most nations. But against the furor over the future, one man remains, unassuming, tested by time, supported by numbers with gloss of class. Some say he’s selfish, unattractive and one-dimensional but the reality remains that Jacque Kallis could be the last “great” all-rounder. The solid backbone of South African cricket for the past 15 years, Kallis has accumulated an impressive glut of runs, wickets and catches to boot. True, there is more International cricket today than there ever was but that doesn’t dampen his achievements, it exalts them. For over a decade, he has scored 31 Test hundreds and bagged 258 Test victims across the board, against all-comers. The fact that he has 10,000 runs and 250 wickets in ODI cricket further expounds what a valuable asset he has been to the cricketing world.
Kallis has his critics who have gathered plenty of ammunition to shoot down any attempt to laud the title “great” on his career. He started as a young robust middle-order player who had the responsibility of holding a fragile line-up together. Kallis has stood firm in the midst of calamitous collapses and has played his part in many disappointments. In the shorter form, his innings were hardly memorable as he starved the opposition bowlers and allowed his more explosive compatriots to take the team home. In the late 90s, he would open the bowling hurtling down white cherries at 90 miles an hour and chip away at the crumbs left behind by Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald. At slip he would be as dependable as any of the modern greats, from Mark Waugh to Mahela Jayawardene.
Much of the Kallis we have imprinted in our minds was “Kallis the wall” but that comparison hasn’t granted him much credit as it has for Rahul Dravid. While he did play alongside Gary Kirsten and Daryll Cullinan, Kallis was always the stabilizer. This mantle often called him to cut down on his repertoire of strokes and made his runs less appealing for audiences to watch but as soon as he rocked onto his back foot and drove through the covers, we were reminded of how gifted he truly was.
Like all sportsmen, Kallis went through his highs and lows. He had a fair share of Bradmanesque years followed by less impressive showings. Having gone through a few injuries himself, he’s bowling became less of a force and had to be handled with care. At the end of 2007, Kallis and close friend Mark Boucher highlighted their goals before retirement. One was to win a world title, which South Africa had just surrendered in a few moments of madness to the eventual winners Australia. Kallis’ dismissal to McGrath on that fateful day was thought to be the pivotal moment where South Africa loss the plot. With the advent of T20, many thought he would be called to carry the drinks as the young men made merry. He has a dismal first outing in the Indian Premier League which seemed to justify his exclusion from the South Africa T20 squad a year earlier. Yet with the evolution of South African cricket, Kallis himself was able to expand his boundaries and play without the constraints that had made him the accumulator we knew him to be.
After their World Cup woes in both shorter forms of the game, South Africa set about a master plan that would help them win key battles in the Test arena and prepare them for the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent. The plan was a commitment to form an all-round Test outfit that could challenge any team, anywhere in the world. South Africa followed up victories at home with impressive showings in Pakistan, India, England and Australia. It is difficult to imagine such success without the balance Kallis provided. He played his part to perfection; batting with the perfect blend of aggression and defense that was overshadowed by a middle-order made up of AB, JP, Amla and Prince. His counter-attack on Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza was instrumental in South Africa’s monumental chase of 414 at Perth, which in turn helped the Proteas win their first series in Australia –a tick off “professional goals” for Kallis and Boucher. He found pace and swing when it was required, giving no respite to the opposition when Steyn, Ntini and Morkel went off to recharge their batteries. He also held onto the tough chances to ensure the trio’s hard work never went unrewarded.
After a two grueling battles with Australia, Kallis began showing off his limited over prowess at the World T20 in England and a few short innings at the Champions Trophy. There is definitely something different in the way Kallis has batted this year. He has been given the license to express himself and the early signs look promising. With the Champions League, World T20 and World Cup to come, Kallis has plenty of opportunities to showcase his catalog of strokes. As Flintoff and Oram leave the stage; their predecessor is opening a new front. When he lays down that weary frame, it could mark the end of the “true all-rounder.” With regards to how good or “great” of an all-rounder he was will rage on like the chokers’ tag or Murali vs Warne. His critics won’t be won easily but Kallis could care less. He prefers to do the talking on the field and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Just a few hours ago, after much speculation, another heavily built all-rounder decided to call quits on the traditional form of the game. Jacob Oram played in a country renowned for producing commendable bits and pieces. Some would argue that Sir Richard Hadlee was the greatest all-rounder in the world but such an argument is worth its own time and space. Oram, like Freddie, suffered a string of injuries that made he’s dual role sporadic and all too brief. While many were excited at the prospect of the towering Oram, few ever witnessed what he could have offered cricket lovers of all types. With the grueling schedule of International cricket, coupled with the induction of cash cow club cricket, someone was bound to suffer. Would it be the injury prone pace man? The dexterous spin wizards? Or the low-hunching gloves man? Oram’s take is the “all-rounder.” Exhausted, unsustainable and doomed to extinction.
While cricket continue to produce a fair amount of bits and pieces, the search for the “real thing” remains elusive for most nations. But against the furor over the future, one man remains, unassuming, tested by time, supported by numbers with gloss of class. Some say he’s selfish, unattractive and one-dimensional but the reality remains that Jacque Kallis could be the last “great” all-rounder. The solid backbone of South African cricket for the past 15 years, Kallis has accumulated an impressive glut of runs, wickets and catches to boot. True, there is more International cricket today than there ever was but that doesn’t dampen his achievements, it exalts them. For over a decade, he has scored 31 Test hundreds and bagged 258 Test victims across the board, against all-comers. The fact that he has 10,000 runs and 250 wickets in ODI cricket further expounds what a valuable asset he has been to the cricketing world.
Kallis has his critics who have gathered plenty of ammunition to shoot down any attempt to laud the title “great” on his career. He started as a young robust middle-order player who had the responsibility of holding a fragile line-up together. Kallis has stood firm in the midst of calamitous collapses and has played his part in many disappointments. In the shorter form, his innings were hardly memorable as he starved the opposition bowlers and allowed his more explosive compatriots to take the team home. In the late 90s, he would open the bowling hurtling down white cherries at 90 miles an hour and chip away at the crumbs left behind by Shaun Pollock and Allan Donald. At slip he would be as dependable as any of the modern greats, from Mark Waugh to Mahela Jayawardene.
Much of the Kallis we have imprinted in our minds was “Kallis the wall” but that comparison hasn’t granted him much credit as it has for Rahul Dravid. While he did play alongside Gary Kirsten and Daryll Cullinan, Kallis was always the stabilizer. This mantle often called him to cut down on his repertoire of strokes and made his runs less appealing for audiences to watch but as soon as he rocked onto his back foot and drove through the covers, we were reminded of how gifted he truly was.
Like all sportsmen, Kallis went through his highs and lows. He had a fair share of Bradmanesque years followed by less impressive showings. Having gone through a few injuries himself, he’s bowling became less of a force and had to be handled with care. At the end of 2007, Kallis and close friend Mark Boucher highlighted their goals before retirement. One was to win a world title, which South Africa had just surrendered in a few moments of madness to the eventual winners Australia. Kallis’ dismissal to McGrath on that fateful day was thought to be the pivotal moment where South Africa loss the plot. With the advent of T20, many thought he would be called to carry the drinks as the young men made merry. He has a dismal first outing in the Indian Premier League which seemed to justify his exclusion from the South Africa T20 squad a year earlier. Yet with the evolution of South African cricket, Kallis himself was able to expand his boundaries and play without the constraints that had made him the accumulator we knew him to be.
After their World Cup woes in both shorter forms of the game, South Africa set about a master plan that would help them win key battles in the Test arena and prepare them for the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent. The plan was a commitment to form an all-round Test outfit that could challenge any team, anywhere in the world. South Africa followed up victories at home with impressive showings in Pakistan, India, England and Australia. It is difficult to imagine such success without the balance Kallis provided. He played his part to perfection; batting with the perfect blend of aggression and defense that was overshadowed by a middle-order made up of AB, JP, Amla and Prince. His counter-attack on Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza was instrumental in South Africa’s monumental chase of 414 at Perth, which in turn helped the Proteas win their first series in Australia –a tick off “professional goals” for Kallis and Boucher. He found pace and swing when it was required, giving no respite to the opposition when Steyn, Ntini and Morkel went off to recharge their batteries. He also held onto the tough chances to ensure the trio’s hard work never went unrewarded.
After a two grueling battles with Australia, Kallis began showing off his limited over prowess at the World T20 in England and a few short innings at the Champions Trophy. There is definitely something different in the way Kallis has batted this year. He has been given the license to express himself and the early signs look promising. With the Champions League, World T20 and World Cup to come, Kallis has plenty of opportunities to showcase his catalog of strokes. As Flintoff and Oram leave the stage; their predecessor is opening a new front. When he lays down that weary frame, it could mark the end of the “true all-rounder.” With regards to how good or “great” of an all-rounder he was will rage on like the chokers’ tag or Murali vs Warne. His critics won’t be won easily but Kallis could care less. He prefers to do the talking on the field and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Beware the dates!
For first time visitors to the blog, please be aware that I am stuffing this blog with some previously unpublished (as in not in this blog but on other platforms) materials... some dating back to the end of 2008. So just check out the labels at the bottom so it all makes sense :)
God bless
Shanthal
God bless
Shanthal
The Wait is Over!
The wait is definitely over! For at 2:30 GMT on the 17th of December, South Africa and Australia will begin the clash for the unofficial Test Championship. Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain will be hoping not to add "losing a Test Series in Australia" to his collection of trophies and valuables while a calm Graeme Smith will look to complete South Africa's journey to the peak of Test Cricket.
Much has already been said about the series, which in itself is an Australian quality, but it'll take more than words to plant this competition into the anals of Test history. For all the pre-series chatter in India, Australia failed to show up and the series didn't live up to expectations. Australia has a better team at home, a fortress they've held since the fall of the mighty West Indies.
For Australia, the result will not only help hide the obvious fact of their demotion from "World dominators" but reinstate that they are alive and well. They will field one of world cricket's strongest batting line-ups, coupled with a promising three-men pace attack, led by Brett Lee. Jason Krejza, the overlooked offspinner, will round off Australia's spearhead. There were indications that all-rounder Shane Watson might be included which would have strengthened both the batting and bowling but after the setbacks caused by defensive thinking, the Aussies must be trying to re-invent their aggressive persona to which there are good reasons.
It is true that they've held a mental edge over the Proteas ever since readmission. Australia may not be the force they were with McGrath and Warne at the helm, but perhaps they don't need to be. Both Ponting and coach Nielson hope that is the case and have been eager to get South Africa into the same muddle that saw previous contingents' disintegrate. Smith hasn't bitten the bait but has been confident enough to allow others like coach Arthur and Mark Boucher to speak highly of Dale Steyn, who has probably had two dozen articles written about him before a single ball has been bowled.
South Africa will need to do everything well. It might not need an awesome effort, but one that is clinical and consistent could be enough. Earlier this year, the Proteas won in England after four long decades and while they outperformed the host, they didn't perform at their best. Steyn, Ntini and Morkel weren't always on the mark and England did much to add to their own downfall; it is unlikely that Australia will be as generous. If the immense potential of Steyn and Morkel are manifested in this series, the Aussie's won't simply be "under some pressure" as some commentators put it nicely, they would be wishing for the series to end.
Tony Greig had made comments about the weakness of the Protea batting line-up but for the past year, they have been as responsible as the pacemen for ensuring South Africa's dominance across the globe. They batted long in Pakistan, India and England and almost never gave their wickets away. The top order of Smith, McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince and AB form the most diverse and formidable batting line-up ever established after apartheid. But the key remains in balance and no where have we seen this than the recent travails of the Australians. With Warne and McGrath, there was little pressure on the batting while Hayden, Langer, Ponting and Gilchrist ensured there was little pressure on the bowlers as well. For South Africa's bowlers to succeed, their batsmen must do well and vice a versa.
In 2001-02, another clash between 1 and 2 ended quite emphatically going 3-Nil to Australia. South Africa was led by Shaun Pollock and an aging Allan Donald, who would retire months later. They were never able to break in early as Langer and Hayden established 50+, 100+ partnerships in each Test. Langer has retired but Hayden is still Australia's pace-setter despite a recent slump in form but it will be imperative for Steyn and Co. to knock Hayden and Ponting early. In that same series, the contest was quite even at the end of day 1 of the 1st Test with Australia 272 for 6. But a century from Damien Martyn took Australia pass the 400 barrier and South Africa never recovered. Smith and his team will have to win those key moments if they are to compete. They've shown themselves as a team that comes back strongly throughout the past year but going behind early against Australia in Australia is not advisable.
Some of my Aussie fans might complain that I haven't mentioned much about how Australia might tackle South Africa but the fact remains it is the Proteas who have to topple the tree. Australia remains the No.1 team in the world and their credentials speak for themselves, whether that will be enough to send South Africa back with whimper is upto to the Proteas.
Much has already been said about the series, which in itself is an Australian quality, but it'll take more than words to plant this competition into the anals of Test history. For all the pre-series chatter in India, Australia failed to show up and the series didn't live up to expectations. Australia has a better team at home, a fortress they've held since the fall of the mighty West Indies.
For Australia, the result will not only help hide the obvious fact of their demotion from "World dominators" but reinstate that they are alive and well. They will field one of world cricket's strongest batting line-ups, coupled with a promising three-men pace attack, led by Brett Lee. Jason Krejza, the overlooked offspinner, will round off Australia's spearhead. There were indications that all-rounder Shane Watson might be included which would have strengthened both the batting and bowling but after the setbacks caused by defensive thinking, the Aussies must be trying to re-invent their aggressive persona to which there are good reasons.
It is true that they've held a mental edge over the Proteas ever since readmission. Australia may not be the force they were with McGrath and Warne at the helm, but perhaps they don't need to be. Both Ponting and coach Nielson hope that is the case and have been eager to get South Africa into the same muddle that saw previous contingents' disintegrate. Smith hasn't bitten the bait but has been confident enough to allow others like coach Arthur and Mark Boucher to speak highly of Dale Steyn, who has probably had two dozen articles written about him before a single ball has been bowled.
South Africa will need to do everything well. It might not need an awesome effort, but one that is clinical and consistent could be enough. Earlier this year, the Proteas won in England after four long decades and while they outperformed the host, they didn't perform at their best. Steyn, Ntini and Morkel weren't always on the mark and England did much to add to their own downfall; it is unlikely that Australia will be as generous. If the immense potential of Steyn and Morkel are manifested in this series, the Aussie's won't simply be "under some pressure" as some commentators put it nicely, they would be wishing for the series to end.
Tony Greig had made comments about the weakness of the Protea batting line-up but for the past year, they have been as responsible as the pacemen for ensuring South Africa's dominance across the globe. They batted long in Pakistan, India and England and almost never gave their wickets away. The top order of Smith, McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince and AB form the most diverse and formidable batting line-up ever established after apartheid. But the key remains in balance and no where have we seen this than the recent travails of the Australians. With Warne and McGrath, there was little pressure on the batting while Hayden, Langer, Ponting and Gilchrist ensured there was little pressure on the bowlers as well. For South Africa's bowlers to succeed, their batsmen must do well and vice a versa.
In 2001-02, another clash between 1 and 2 ended quite emphatically going 3-Nil to Australia. South Africa was led by Shaun Pollock and an aging Allan Donald, who would retire months later. They were never able to break in early as Langer and Hayden established 50+, 100+ partnerships in each Test. Langer has retired but Hayden is still Australia's pace-setter despite a recent slump in form but it will be imperative for Steyn and Co. to knock Hayden and Ponting early. In that same series, the contest was quite even at the end of day 1 of the 1st Test with Australia 272 for 6. But a century from Damien Martyn took Australia pass the 400 barrier and South Africa never recovered. Smith and his team will have to win those key moments if they are to compete. They've shown themselves as a team that comes back strongly throughout the past year but going behind early against Australia in Australia is not advisable.
Some of my Aussie fans might complain that I haven't mentioned much about how Australia might tackle South Africa but the fact remains it is the Proteas who have to topple the tree. Australia remains the No.1 team in the world and their credentials speak for themselves, whether that will be enough to send South Africa back with whimper is upto to the Proteas.
2008: The Year of the Protea
As the Year 2008 draws to an end, there is a sense of change in the air. A few months ago, this writer embarked on writing a nation's fairytale, a story that would end with the greatest prize of all. Yet through all the hopes, predictions and intelligent guesses, not even this writer could have envisioned what took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this afternoon. South Africa has been a respect cricketing nation across much of the globe, where their athleticism, skill and fighting qualities captivated us. But there was one country, where South Africa had not only been unable to garner respect, but were considered a bunch of comical under-achievers.
Any major sportsman who has tangled against an Australian team in Australia knows the difficulties such tours and engagements entail. Simply ask the countless captains who have descended to the land down under only to be demolished, polished and spat out tougher or broken. One doesn't need to stop at cricket either, just ask England's Rugby captain Martin Johnson. At Sabina Park in 1995, Australia struck the final nail on the crumbling West Indian empire as they became the unofficial Test champions. Since then, they grew from strength to strength, conquering every Test playing nation. In 2004, they broke through the Final Frontier, beating India and Sri Lanka in the sub-continent to engrave themselves in the annals of Test History.
Since the retirement of two of the greatest bowlers in the game, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, there was a sense of inevitability that the Mighty Aussies would no longer be so "mighty." There were signs in their struggles to achieve wins against Sri Lanka and India at home. A month ago, Australia's fall from Super-power status was highlighting by their failure to register a win in India, a task only achieved at the very peak of the empire. Yet, despite their expected weakening, no one, not the fans nor the pundits would have expected them to surrender their outback fortress. Not since the days of Ambrose, Bishop and Walsh had Australia lost a series at home. They saw off the Sultans of Swing; Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the Fab Four; Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, and countless assaults by Brian Lara, Virendra Sehwage and English hopefuls.
South Africa's record against Australia was poor and few could argue against the notion the Proteas were soft, frail, and all talk no walk. The Aussies fought their campaigns on two plains, the cricket field and the mind-field, and the expectation of South Africa "choking" when it really counted was such a reality that it was inscribed as divine scripture. The thought was fact and could easily appear on an Australian Residency examination next to a question pertaining to their greatest cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. But back in 2007, South Africa's captain Graeme Smith and Coach Mickey Arthur planned a course that would see them travel across the continents, facing the toughest Test tours of the modern era.
Their journey began with a strategy and responsibility. The South African teams of post-Apartheid consisted of more than a few talent players. Names such as Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten and Shaun Pollock will be remembered as some of the best of the modern age while Lance and an assembly line of all-rounders will remain in the imaginations (and nightmares) of those who witness their feats. The Proteas prided themselves on batting deep, bowling quick and having the best fielding outfit in cricket. Their triumphs and struggles were built around their strengths, many a game being won by a brilliant piece of fielding, a hostile spell of bowling or a late charge in the batting. But this strategy had its limitations and while the Proteas had the better of the rest of the Test World, they could never measure up against the Best of the Test World.
Smith and Arthur's plan was simple, build a strong batting line-up who would be responsible for scoring runs and winning the game, which would be set up by three hostile quicks, with a spinner to boot. It wasn't easy to implement due to the complexities of South African cricket's racial policies. The team also needed restructuring which would cost the place of one of the games' greatest ambassadors, Shaun Pollock. Their journey begun at home, where after suffering set-backs against strong Indian and Pakistan teams, South Africa fought back to register comfortable series victories. They even suffered a home loss to the West Indies, their first, but were able to regroup and fortify their position at home. It was during the home series against New Zealand that South Africa discovered an integral component to their climb up the Test ladder, Dale Steyn. Not since the heyday of Allan Donald did South Africa possess such a bowler with pace and swing to dominate batsmen.
South Africa took one step at a time and quickly secured away wins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, both vital stepping stones before facing the Big Three; India, England and Australia. Landing in India, few gave the Proteas a chance of standing face to face with the team long regarded as the heir to Australia's crown. Sehwage smashed his way to 300 in Chennai, dismissing South Africa's only talking point, their fast bowlers who were made to look like substitute club cricketers. But the Proteas fought back to take the lead in Ahmedabad and was only denied at Kanpur by a crumbling pitch from the early 90s.
Drawing the series in India was a major boost for the whole team and their vision forward but their journey was not confined to their skills on the field. South Africa had won a series in India back in 1999 but their next assignment in England had a history of pain reminiscent to the tragedy of Moses and the Promise land. Since readmission to international cricket, South Africa had drawn twice and lost once in England. They were undoubtedly the better side in each engagement but stumbled, choked at the final hurdle to extend their wait for a series victory to four decades. Again at Lords, the home of Test Cricket, South Africa's pedigreed bowlers failed to impress as England pilled on. A humiliating defeat seemed inevitable but this was a new South Africa and led by their Warrior captain Smith, secured a draw. They quickly found their feet and outplayed England at Leeds and setup a thrilling finish at Edgbaston, where all signs pointed towards an English comeback. There again, Graeme Smith scored one of the Greatest Test Centuries by a Captain to secure South Africa's Greatest Test win, ending their 40 year drought of success in England.
The victory in England was symbolic not only as a triumph on the field, but also one in the psyche. Few doubt an English victory at Edgbaston would have enabled South Africa to regroup for the Oval, a notion that was confirmed by Smith. South Africa had won a battle against their inner demons but there was still one left to exorcize. As with India and England, none of the pundits believed South Africa could win in Australia. Geoff Boycott, Ian Chappell, David Lloyd and Tony Grieg all thought South Africa would challenge England, India and Australia but fall short of victory. Strangely, the cricketing calendar was perfectly laid out, with the difficulty of the tour increasing at every stage and the Proteas never stumbled.
Finally, they arrived in Australia amidst much hype and expectation. Most Australians already predicted Smith's side to subside to their own expectations as before, to choke. As the second day of the 1st Test at Perth came to a close, Mitchell Johnson brushed aside the gloss of India and England in a matter of minutes to revive the scars of a generation of South Africans. I can't imagine how downtrodden the players and fans were that evening. Australia had already featured in the deepest desperate moments of South African sport but was willing to write another painful chapter. What did Graeme Smith say to his shaken teammates? Was this the calamites end to 18 months of hard-work? No, far from it.
South Africa's turn-around, given the moment and the history, was undoubtedly one the Greatest in Sporting History (some might equal it to England's reversal after the debacle at Lord in the 2005 Ashes series). Smith's men fought determinedly, not to salvage a draw from a situation of near hopelessness but to win in a manner most ominous. Their chase of 414 was the 2nd best in the history of Test Cricket and the greatest chase by a visiting team. The weakened empire of Australia was bewildered, the fans and the media stunned along with the rest of cricket's fraternity. Smith and the Proteas were one win away from completing their globetrotting journey and beginning a new era in Test cricket. Shock and surprise have been a common formula amongst the scattered blimps of Australia's reign but unfortunately, this strategy has a short shelf-life and South Africa had to out-do their incredible victory in Perth, to seal the series.
Boxing Day Tests at the MCG have been the sight of tourist massacres for years. Not even the Fab Four have been able to get the Aussies to sweat at these contests. Both teams began well; tugging and pulling, shifting the momentum one way and the other, neither willing to blink. But on the eve of the 2nd day, Australia's under-fire bowling attack surged ahead leaving South Africa a 196 behind with only 3 wickets in hand. What happened on day three mystified everyone as Australia struggled to dislodge JP Duminy or the tail that helped add 275 runs and register a useful lead. Unlike the Proteas at Perth, Australia didn't sense a great victory or a great escape but nevertheless fought hard. Their minds were clouded by the events of the 3rd day and their disappointment overwhelmed them. Ricky Ponting followed up his 1st inning 101 to register a valiant 99 only to hand a catch and the empire, to Smith at short cover.
An hour after lunch on the 5th day, South Africa achieved their Holy Grail and a victory sweeter than any other. Australia's dominance at home, their last line of defense had fallen, signaling the end of a Great Australian Empire. For South Africa, Years of pain, anguish, blood, sweat and tears could finally be put to rest as a nation rises above its broken dreams, dreams on which Australia stood for so many years. For Smith and his team, the journey is almost over but as always, a new one is waiting to begin.
Any major sportsman who has tangled against an Australian team in Australia knows the difficulties such tours and engagements entail. Simply ask the countless captains who have descended to the land down under only to be demolished, polished and spat out tougher or broken. One doesn't need to stop at cricket either, just ask England's Rugby captain Martin Johnson. At Sabina Park in 1995, Australia struck the final nail on the crumbling West Indian empire as they became the unofficial Test champions. Since then, they grew from strength to strength, conquering every Test playing nation. In 2004, they broke through the Final Frontier, beating India and Sri Lanka in the sub-continent to engrave themselves in the annals of Test History.
Since the retirement of two of the greatest bowlers in the game, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, there was a sense of inevitability that the Mighty Aussies would no longer be so "mighty." There were signs in their struggles to achieve wins against Sri Lanka and India at home. A month ago, Australia's fall from Super-power status was highlighting by their failure to register a win in India, a task only achieved at the very peak of the empire. Yet, despite their expected weakening, no one, not the fans nor the pundits would have expected them to surrender their outback fortress. Not since the days of Ambrose, Bishop and Walsh had Australia lost a series at home. They saw off the Sultans of Swing; Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the Fab Four; Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, and countless assaults by Brian Lara, Virendra Sehwage and English hopefuls.
South Africa's record against Australia was poor and few could argue against the notion the Proteas were soft, frail, and all talk no walk. The Aussies fought their campaigns on two plains, the cricket field and the mind-field, and the expectation of South Africa "choking" when it really counted was such a reality that it was inscribed as divine scripture. The thought was fact and could easily appear on an Australian Residency examination next to a question pertaining to their greatest cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. But back in 2007, South Africa's captain Graeme Smith and Coach Mickey Arthur planned a course that would see them travel across the continents, facing the toughest Test tours of the modern era.
Their journey began with a strategy and responsibility. The South African teams of post-Apartheid consisted of more than a few talent players. Names such as Hansie Cronje, Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald, Gary Kirsten and Shaun Pollock will be remembered as some of the best of the modern age while Lance and an assembly line of all-rounders will remain in the imaginations (and nightmares) of those who witness their feats. The Proteas prided themselves on batting deep, bowling quick and having the best fielding outfit in cricket. Their triumphs and struggles were built around their strengths, many a game being won by a brilliant piece of fielding, a hostile spell of bowling or a late charge in the batting. But this strategy had its limitations and while the Proteas had the better of the rest of the Test World, they could never measure up against the Best of the Test World.
Smith and Arthur's plan was simple, build a strong batting line-up who would be responsible for scoring runs and winning the game, which would be set up by three hostile quicks, with a spinner to boot. It wasn't easy to implement due to the complexities of South African cricket's racial policies. The team also needed restructuring which would cost the place of one of the games' greatest ambassadors, Shaun Pollock. Their journey begun at home, where after suffering set-backs against strong Indian and Pakistan teams, South Africa fought back to register comfortable series victories. They even suffered a home loss to the West Indies, their first, but were able to regroup and fortify their position at home. It was during the home series against New Zealand that South Africa discovered an integral component to their climb up the Test ladder, Dale Steyn. Not since the heyday of Allan Donald did South Africa possess such a bowler with pace and swing to dominate batsmen.
South Africa took one step at a time and quickly secured away wins in Pakistan and Bangladesh, both vital stepping stones before facing the Big Three; India, England and Australia. Landing in India, few gave the Proteas a chance of standing face to face with the team long regarded as the heir to Australia's crown. Sehwage smashed his way to 300 in Chennai, dismissing South Africa's only talking point, their fast bowlers who were made to look like substitute club cricketers. But the Proteas fought back to take the lead in Ahmedabad and was only denied at Kanpur by a crumbling pitch from the early 90s.
Drawing the series in India was a major boost for the whole team and their vision forward but their journey was not confined to their skills on the field. South Africa had won a series in India back in 1999 but their next assignment in England had a history of pain reminiscent to the tragedy of Moses and the Promise land. Since readmission to international cricket, South Africa had drawn twice and lost once in England. They were undoubtedly the better side in each engagement but stumbled, choked at the final hurdle to extend their wait for a series victory to four decades. Again at Lords, the home of Test Cricket, South Africa's pedigreed bowlers failed to impress as England pilled on. A humiliating defeat seemed inevitable but this was a new South Africa and led by their Warrior captain Smith, secured a draw. They quickly found their feet and outplayed England at Leeds and setup a thrilling finish at Edgbaston, where all signs pointed towards an English comeback. There again, Graeme Smith scored one of the Greatest Test Centuries by a Captain to secure South Africa's Greatest Test win, ending their 40 year drought of success in England.
The victory in England was symbolic not only as a triumph on the field, but also one in the psyche. Few doubt an English victory at Edgbaston would have enabled South Africa to regroup for the Oval, a notion that was confirmed by Smith. South Africa had won a battle against their inner demons but there was still one left to exorcize. As with India and England, none of the pundits believed South Africa could win in Australia. Geoff Boycott, Ian Chappell, David Lloyd and Tony Grieg all thought South Africa would challenge England, India and Australia but fall short of victory. Strangely, the cricketing calendar was perfectly laid out, with the difficulty of the tour increasing at every stage and the Proteas never stumbled.
Finally, they arrived in Australia amidst much hype and expectation. Most Australians already predicted Smith's side to subside to their own expectations as before, to choke. As the second day of the 1st Test at Perth came to a close, Mitchell Johnson brushed aside the gloss of India and England in a matter of minutes to revive the scars of a generation of South Africans. I can't imagine how downtrodden the players and fans were that evening. Australia had already featured in the deepest desperate moments of South African sport but was willing to write another painful chapter. What did Graeme Smith say to his shaken teammates? Was this the calamites end to 18 months of hard-work? No, far from it.
South Africa's turn-around, given the moment and the history, was undoubtedly one the Greatest in Sporting History (some might equal it to England's reversal after the debacle at Lord in the 2005 Ashes series). Smith's men fought determinedly, not to salvage a draw from a situation of near hopelessness but to win in a manner most ominous. Their chase of 414 was the 2nd best in the history of Test Cricket and the greatest chase by a visiting team. The weakened empire of Australia was bewildered, the fans and the media stunned along with the rest of cricket's fraternity. Smith and the Proteas were one win away from completing their globetrotting journey and beginning a new era in Test cricket. Shock and surprise have been a common formula amongst the scattered blimps of Australia's reign but unfortunately, this strategy has a short shelf-life and South Africa had to out-do their incredible victory in Perth, to seal the series.
Boxing Day Tests at the MCG have been the sight of tourist massacres for years. Not even the Fab Four have been able to get the Aussies to sweat at these contests. Both teams began well; tugging and pulling, shifting the momentum one way and the other, neither willing to blink. But on the eve of the 2nd day, Australia's under-fire bowling attack surged ahead leaving South Africa a 196 behind with only 3 wickets in hand. What happened on day three mystified everyone as Australia struggled to dislodge JP Duminy or the tail that helped add 275 runs and register a useful lead. Unlike the Proteas at Perth, Australia didn't sense a great victory or a great escape but nevertheless fought hard. Their minds were clouded by the events of the 3rd day and their disappointment overwhelmed them. Ricky Ponting followed up his 1st inning 101 to register a valiant 99 only to hand a catch and the empire, to Smith at short cover.
An hour after lunch on the 5th day, South Africa achieved their Holy Grail and a victory sweeter than any other. Australia's dominance at home, their last line of defense had fallen, signaling the end of a Great Australian Empire. For South Africa, Years of pain, anguish, blood, sweat and tears could finally be put to rest as a nation rises above its broken dreams, dreams on which Australia stood for so many years. For Smith and his team, the journey is almost over but as always, a new one is waiting to begin.
Farewell to Captain Mahela
Amidst the carnage, dead pitches and Australia's resurgence, Sri Lankan cricket fans have said Goodbye to their most successful leader. Unfortunately, for all involved, it wasn't the farewell anyone would have hoped for and it's quite understandable that the end of his reign has been overshadowed by the destructive events of Lahore. Either way, without delving on to the topic that has rightfully brought the game global attention, I think Mahela Jayawardene deserves a note.
It was said that Mahela was ear-marked for captaincy very early in his career. He debuted in the record breaking Test in Colombo where Sri Lanka pilled on 952/6 runs as Sanatha Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama made 340 and 225 respectively and combined to form the highest partnership in the history of Test cricket. Mahela made an attractive 66 with 10 boundaries and stamped his class and authority early as a stroke-maker in line with Aravinda De Silva.
But apart from all the promise, Mahela struggled to maintain consistency and at times failed to justify his place in the side. There were memorable performances but they were all too far and in between the droughts and lean patches. I recall his double century against India in the Asian Test Championship and more so his partnership with Marvan Attapattu, who he took over the captaincy from in 2006, in the last group game in Sharjah 00', which was made memorable by Muttiah Muralitharan recording 7 for 30. Mahela and Marvan put on 226 after the team was in a spot of bother at 25 for 2. Mahela scored a magnificent 128 off a 123 balls, every shot oozing with class and confidence.
But three years later, he struggled to assert any authority let alone score runs in the 2003 World Cup; accumulating only 15 runs in the whole tournament. Considering Sri Lanka was only eliminated in the Semi-finals is further damning evidence to what a poor, wretched campaign he endured. Many were calling for his head, including myself. It would be interesting to know what he went through back then. It is a struggle that many talented cricketers, sportsman and individuals go through and it is the "comeback" that speaks of their inner character.
He did come back with strong performances at home and continued to score heavily in Test cricket. Marvan Attapattu brought in a unique sense of captaincy to the side, giving each member belief and responsibility but a string of injuries bought his deputy, Mahela, into the frame and some, including myself questioned the decision, after all Kumar Sangakarra had shown as much class and leadership to be the obvious successor. But with the added responsibility of leadership, Mahela began to show his full potential both as a batsmen and a captain.
Under his reign, Sri Lanka became a potent force in Test cricket and had a string of victories in ODIs as well. Sri Lanka drew a famous series in England 1-1, drew a 2-Test encounter against New Zealand 1-1 and won their first victory in the Caribbean and a 1-all share of the series. It was the Caribbean that would witness Mahela's ultimate achievement. In the 2007 World Cup, Sri Lanka played a brand of exciting and enjoyable cricket that won huge praise and support. Their game was aggressive but not brutish, confident but not boisterous. Mahela himself made a mark in the semi-finals against a resurgent New Zealand team where he scored the best hundred, with due credit to Adam Gilchrist, of the tournament. It had the class of the Test century, coupled with the brutal climax. His innings all but punched the stuffing out of the Kiwis. Unfortunately, his team was unable to repeat the 96 heroics of Arjuna Ranatunge after being foiled by a whirlwind performance by Gilchrist, administrators and the weather.
After a highly successful campaign, Sri Lanka and Mahela fell back into a mould of inconsistency. The team's performances at home came under increasing scrutiny, losing 5-match ODI series to England and India with Jayawardene becoming the first captain to surrender 3 consecutive home series. While his luck at the toss was significant, especially against a powerful Indian line-up, it was not enough to excuse to poor performances. With mounting political pressure, Mahela decided to give up the captaincy and regain his prowess as a world-class batsman. With the 2011 World Cup, only two years away he thought it would give ample time for a new leadership to establish and prepare itself and if wisdom prevail that team will be led by his vice and best friend, Kumar Sangakarra.
Mahela and Kumar have become one of Sri Lanka's prolific pairs and share the world record for the highest partnership in all forms of the game; a magnificent 624 against South Africa with whom Mahela had a special relationship. In the process, he scored 374, the highest by a Sri Lankan or sub-continental player and given the illustrious names of Tendulkars, Gavaskars, Miandads etc. it truly was a special performance.
In Sangakarra, Sri Lanka have a born-leader; one like Mahela must have been earmarked to serve his national team. If he is chosen to lead this team to 2011 and beyond, rest assured that Mahela's contribution's to Sri Lanka as a batsmen and senior player will not diminish. So, as we say "Goodbye" to Mahela, we look forward to seeing more of his best in the years to come. Glorious cover drives, delicate cuts, one-handed slip catches and more.
It was said that Mahela was ear-marked for captaincy very early in his career. He debuted in the record breaking Test in Colombo where Sri Lanka pilled on 952/6 runs as Sanatha Jayasuriya and Roshan Mahanama made 340 and 225 respectively and combined to form the highest partnership in the history of Test cricket. Mahela made an attractive 66 with 10 boundaries and stamped his class and authority early as a stroke-maker in line with Aravinda De Silva.
But apart from all the promise, Mahela struggled to maintain consistency and at times failed to justify his place in the side. There were memorable performances but they were all too far and in between the droughts and lean patches. I recall his double century against India in the Asian Test Championship and more so his partnership with Marvan Attapattu, who he took over the captaincy from in 2006, in the last group game in Sharjah 00', which was made memorable by Muttiah Muralitharan recording 7 for 30. Mahela and Marvan put on 226 after the team was in a spot of bother at 25 for 2. Mahela scored a magnificent 128 off a 123 balls, every shot oozing with class and confidence.
But three years later, he struggled to assert any authority let alone score runs in the 2003 World Cup; accumulating only 15 runs in the whole tournament. Considering Sri Lanka was only eliminated in the Semi-finals is further damning evidence to what a poor, wretched campaign he endured. Many were calling for his head, including myself. It would be interesting to know what he went through back then. It is a struggle that many talented cricketers, sportsman and individuals go through and it is the "comeback" that speaks of their inner character.
He did come back with strong performances at home and continued to score heavily in Test cricket. Marvan Attapattu brought in a unique sense of captaincy to the side, giving each member belief and responsibility but a string of injuries bought his deputy, Mahela, into the frame and some, including myself questioned the decision, after all Kumar Sangakarra had shown as much class and leadership to be the obvious successor. But with the added responsibility of leadership, Mahela began to show his full potential both as a batsmen and a captain.
Under his reign, Sri Lanka became a potent force in Test cricket and had a string of victories in ODIs as well. Sri Lanka drew a famous series in England 1-1, drew a 2-Test encounter against New Zealand 1-1 and won their first victory in the Caribbean and a 1-all share of the series. It was the Caribbean that would witness Mahela's ultimate achievement. In the 2007 World Cup, Sri Lanka played a brand of exciting and enjoyable cricket that won huge praise and support. Their game was aggressive but not brutish, confident but not boisterous. Mahela himself made a mark in the semi-finals against a resurgent New Zealand team where he scored the best hundred, with due credit to Adam Gilchrist, of the tournament. It had the class of the Test century, coupled with the brutal climax. His innings all but punched the stuffing out of the Kiwis. Unfortunately, his team was unable to repeat the 96 heroics of Arjuna Ranatunge after being foiled by a whirlwind performance by Gilchrist, administrators and the weather.
After a highly successful campaign, Sri Lanka and Mahela fell back into a mould of inconsistency. The team's performances at home came under increasing scrutiny, losing 5-match ODI series to England and India with Jayawardene becoming the first captain to surrender 3 consecutive home series. While his luck at the toss was significant, especially against a powerful Indian line-up, it was not enough to excuse to poor performances. With mounting political pressure, Mahela decided to give up the captaincy and regain his prowess as a world-class batsman. With the 2011 World Cup, only two years away he thought it would give ample time for a new leadership to establish and prepare itself and if wisdom prevail that team will be led by his vice and best friend, Kumar Sangakarra.
Mahela and Kumar have become one of Sri Lanka's prolific pairs and share the world record for the highest partnership in all forms of the game; a magnificent 624 against South Africa with whom Mahela had a special relationship. In the process, he scored 374, the highest by a Sri Lankan or sub-continental player and given the illustrious names of Tendulkars, Gavaskars, Miandads etc. it truly was a special performance.
In Sangakarra, Sri Lanka have a born-leader; one like Mahela must have been earmarked to serve his national team. If he is chosen to lead this team to 2011 and beyond, rest assured that Mahela's contribution's to Sri Lanka as a batsmen and senior player will not diminish. So, as we say "Goodbye" to Mahela, we look forward to seeing more of his best in the years to come. Glorious cover drives, delicate cuts, one-handed slip catches and more.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Ashes are here!
It is a sporting event like no other; one that has captured and captivated generations from both sides for over a century. And how fitting that this most unique and grandest of competitions is played for a simple urn, one that makes the Undertaker’s urn look extravagant. The Ashes are almost here…
I remember my first Ashes Test. I was a young boy who had just discovered the wonderful world of Test cricket in the summer of 1996 with MTV’s telecasts of India’s and Pakistan’s tour of England. Australia and England opened the series 1997 at Edgbaston - a name I would remember for years to come as a venue for high quality cricket. Mark Taylor’s Australia was dismissed for just over a 100 and England began to build a massive lead through future captain Nasser Hussein’s double hundred and Graham Thorpe’s 138. Taylor fought for all his worth and managed to give England a target of 119, which they achieved easily to go 1-0 for the series.
The 2nd Test at Lord’s was marred by rain but not before Glenn McGrath proved his credentials as one of the up and coming greats of the modern era with 8 for 38. During that Six Test series, which ended 3-2 in favor of Australia, I witnessed for the first time what the Ashes meant for these two nations. The series was akin to a war, with every game representing a battle and within each Test, there were skirmishes; McGrath v Atherton, Warne v England, Flintoff v Ponting, Warne v KP etc. Perhaps the very reason that the Ashes have stayed the ultimate Test series is not merely down to its age or numbers, but to its clash of personalities.
England and Australia share a strange history, one which unites and divides them simultaneously. After all, who are Australians but… yes you know where I am going. During the magical series of 2005, one commentator put it as bluntly as – It’s those former convicts coming back to England to slaughter the vicious pigs who sent them there! Thus, Australia’s arrival in England has been a bit more special than the tour down under and since Australia had become dominant at home for almost two decades, tours of England were more competitive.
This summer promises to be the most tightly fought Ashes since anyone would care to remember. Australia isn’t the dominant force they were just 3 years ago when they served up the ultimate hammering, 5-0 whitewash down under. While England was confident in 2005, they still had to battle against two greats of cricket history, McGrath and Warne. This time around, only one legend stands in their way along with a few hopefuls. England on the other hand, have come through some early turbulence to settle down, placing all their eggs in one Ashes’ basket. Two architects of the 2005 triumph are still in England’s camps but this encounter might as well be decided by the new faces, by the boys who might become men. The Ashes have been an opportunity to step back to the past, enjoy a good cuppa tea and reminisce on the good ole days but 2009 is about the future, not merely of the players on the field but the very existence of the game.
So, without further adieu, let the battles begin and may they be glorious.
I remember my first Ashes Test. I was a young boy who had just discovered the wonderful world of Test cricket in the summer of 1996 with MTV’s telecasts of India’s and Pakistan’s tour of England. Australia and England opened the series 1997 at Edgbaston - a name I would remember for years to come as a venue for high quality cricket. Mark Taylor’s Australia was dismissed for just over a 100 and England began to build a massive lead through future captain Nasser Hussein’s double hundred and Graham Thorpe’s 138. Taylor fought for all his worth and managed to give England a target of 119, which they achieved easily to go 1-0 for the series.
The 2nd Test at Lord’s was marred by rain but not before Glenn McGrath proved his credentials as one of the up and coming greats of the modern era with 8 for 38. During that Six Test series, which ended 3-2 in favor of Australia, I witnessed for the first time what the Ashes meant for these two nations. The series was akin to a war, with every game representing a battle and within each Test, there were skirmishes; McGrath v Atherton, Warne v England, Flintoff v Ponting, Warne v KP etc. Perhaps the very reason that the Ashes have stayed the ultimate Test series is not merely down to its age or numbers, but to its clash of personalities.
England and Australia share a strange history, one which unites and divides them simultaneously. After all, who are Australians but… yes you know where I am going. During the magical series of 2005, one commentator put it as bluntly as – It’s those former convicts coming back to England to slaughter the vicious pigs who sent them there! Thus, Australia’s arrival in England has been a bit more special than the tour down under and since Australia had become dominant at home for almost two decades, tours of England were more competitive.
This summer promises to be the most tightly fought Ashes since anyone would care to remember. Australia isn’t the dominant force they were just 3 years ago when they served up the ultimate hammering, 5-0 whitewash down under. While England was confident in 2005, they still had to battle against two greats of cricket history, McGrath and Warne. This time around, only one legend stands in their way along with a few hopefuls. England on the other hand, have come through some early turbulence to settle down, placing all their eggs in one Ashes’ basket. Two architects of the 2005 triumph are still in England’s camps but this encounter might as well be decided by the new faces, by the boys who might become men. The Ashes have been an opportunity to step back to the past, enjoy a good cuppa tea and reminisce on the good ole days but 2009 is about the future, not merely of the players on the field but the very existence of the game.
So, without further adieu, let the battles begin and may they be glorious.
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