There is panic in the English camp. Some people are suggesting bringing in Collingwood for Giles. Others want Bell out and Collingwood in. My advice: This is the best side England has got, most of which has aided England become the second best team in the world. Keep the faith and dont chop and change. It would only make the side worse. England may still not manage to win any test with the current side but what can they do? The Aussies are so much better than them!

Regarding the Aussies, I would say Gillespie should be retained. He is valuable, a potent strike bowler. his recent form has not been good but it is only a matter of time before he more than makes up for the lack of form. Please do not bring stock bowler Kasporwicz and change the winning XI.

Peter Roebuck rights about there being no shame in losing to Australia but ads a statement quite out of place in an article on the Ashes:

They must play cricket in Karachi and anywhere else. The world has shrunk.

I have stated my views on England’s decision not to play in Karachi earlier but it is good to know that my favourite cricket writer shares the same view.

Watching Lance Armstrong and the Australian cricket team one win his record 7th Tour de France, the other demolish England yet another time, you have to wonder what makes champions what they are.

The England cricket team is good. They will give a fight in the Ashes but it will be a surprise if they can manage to win even one test match. One of the commentators said he did not think the feat achieved by Armstrong today will be emulated in his life time at least. That helps us understand Armstrong’s feat just a bit. The true magnitude, one hopes, can be fathomed in due course.

I have read Armstrong’s highly inspirational autubiography It’s not about the bike. I think I may have to read it and other books on Armstrong in due course.

Truly great.

Lesson: You do not announce you are going to call it quits before a series. It could shut the doors closer than you think.

England’s best batsman since Graham Thorpe has had probably the worst exit. It does not damage any of Thorpe’s reputation but it is not the way he would have liked to have ended it. I gave kudos to the English selectors for selecting Pieterson after Thorpe’s declaration to call it quits at the end of the English summer and wrote then:

It may not help in winning the Ashes but it is the perfect attitude. Choose a youngster raring to go rather than a soldier with history of nothing from past Ashes spoils, playing a last battle, having already announced his retirement. I never understand the concept of announcing a retirement before a series or test match or a season or a tournament. It smacks of irresponsibility and shifts, if some times only partly, the attention from the actual battle at hand to a mere soldier. Don’t show a desire to quit before a major battle. There are other players raring to go with more rush in the blood.

Pieterson has grabbed his chance but Atherton, who always gives a logical insight gets it spot on:

If Thorpe wasn’t going to play against Australia he shouldn’t have been playing against Bangladesh. If Ian Bell was to be pencilled in for the Ashes he would have been much further down the road to being a complete, battle-hardened cricketer had he, and not Robert Key, toured South Africa.

Even though Graveney now states that there was no disputing the fact that Pieterson would be playing the first test and not Thorpe now, and calls it more of a media debate, I am very sceptical if the selection was as simple. Thorpe quits saying he was not given any signs by the selectors and Graveney maintains the selectors had not ruled out Thorpe for the future.

What is done is done and the contemplative Thorpe analyses the situation currently far better than he analysed situations a few weeks back:

To be honest, I myself thought that going back to me after having left me out of the first Test would be a backward step. Far better to remove the uncertainty.

The uncertainty has indeed been removed.

On a different note, internet connection comes back to my room which means more consistent blogging from yours truly.

Ian Botham: “I have not seen a more exciting day 1 of the Ashes series than this.”

Sums up the day.

When Ponting chose to bat on what looked like a good batting pitch as far as every one was concerned, every one was certain a score of 350-400 would be par. The English pace bowling quartet had other ideas though. What was most noticeable was the far too man shots Australian batsmen played early on. Yes, Australia bat aggressively and yes, that’s the way they have managed to get so many victories. But even by their standards, the shots played were more than necessary. One would imagine there would be some maturity to play in during the first session of a test match.

Hoggard took Hayden off a beauty and Harmison bowled accurately, on the good length, supported by Flintoff (his bowling impresses you more every time you watch him) and Jones. Despite some late flutter by Warne, Harmison had ensured it was advatage England with Australia wrapped up for 190.

It must be traumatic to be an English fan. McGrath – the cold assassin, the demolition man, the man who has taken wickets at less than 12 a piece at Lord’s, the man who has dismissed 33 English test batsmen before this test, added some more chapters to his legendary story. After 16.1 overs into the England inning and the score at 21/5, it was Australian supporters who were rejoicing. All 5 wickets to McGrath. The age of McGrath? 35. So much for talks that he is past his best!

Pieterson and Jones had a small partnership but then Lee managed to take 2 to cap a memorable come back. He supported McGrath very well. Gillespie, who I reckon will bowl well in the series, didn’t bowl badly but didn’t bowl exceptionally either. The verdict is still out on him. I thought Warne was brought in a few overs too late. Should have been brought in half an early despite the ball being fairly new.

And yes regarding the pitch. It had a lot more variable bounce in the England inning. Alarming for a day 1 pitch. Nothing should be taken away from Harmison and McGrath who both bowled very well. Thoughts of the amazing Kandy test match where Australia battled Sri Lanka not so long ago come fleeting back during this amazing match. The game hinges more on which team manages to score more runs in the second inning. Australia will manage to have a lead of at least 50 runs now keeping aside some inspired batting with the tail by Pieterson. That will be a huge lead considering the low scoring match. But who is to say Australia cant score a 400 in their second inning. A lot of time is left in this match as there was in Kandy.

It is advantage Australia any way the match is looked at.

Okay the Ashes are well and truly underway. There have been bruises, runs, a couple of wickets and blood has also been drawn. Here are some wild predictions. The list was made up in a cricket forum I visit.

Team I’ll be supporting:Australia
Team who I think will take the Ashes home:Australia
Series score:3-0
Top batsmn from either side (most runs):Damien Martyn
Top bowler (most wickets):Jason Gillespie
Top English batsman:Vaughan
Top Australian batsman: Damien Martyn
Top English bowler:Matthew Hoggard
Top Australian bowler:Gillespie
Surprise package for England:Vaughan
Surprise package for Australia:Gillespie
Man of the Series:Gillespie

And…
Biggest Disappointment for England:Strauss
Biggest Disappointment for Australia:Langer
Winner at Lords:Australia
Man of the Match at Lords:Gillespie

Whatever happens in the drama which ensues at Lord in less than a week’s time, one thing is certain – England have already made a statement which smacks of confidence, the positive and brave attitude it has shown in the past one and half years. There is no Butcher being out with injury, Thorpe – the backbone of the English batting line up in the latter part of the 90s has been omitted and the English test side has younger look than at any point in the past 15 years.

I spoke on why Thorpe and not Pieterson should be chosen a few days back.

Its the first test and I put that argument again to play Thorpe despite a possible good showing by untested Pieterson in the remaining two one dayers because of it being the first test and risks in selection not the best thing to do at this point of time.

The selectors have shown faith in Pieterson for the beginning of such a crucial Ashes opening test that it totally surprised me. But it was a pleasant surprise. Whether Pieterson fails on succeeds now in the first test, the English team have made the first real statement of the Ashes. The one day games were just mouth candy. The English team have said – we are ready to make things happen rather than wait and merely hope that it happens. We are not going for the safe play. We are gritty, we are raring to go and we are willing to growl and make move. In other words, we just don’t hope to win the Ashes if Australia show some lack of form or if we show some miracle of brilliance. We are coming at you and will do all things to achieve the goal of winning the Ashes.

It may not help in winning the Ashes but it is the perfect attitude. Choose a youngster raring to go rather than a soldier with history of nothing from past Ashes spoils, playing a last battle, having already announced his retirement. I never understand the concept of announcing a retirement before a series or test match or a season or a tournament. It smacks of irresponsibility and shifts, if some times only partly, the attention from the actual battle at hand to a mere soldier. Don’t show a desire to quit before a major battle. There are other players raring to go with more rush in the blood.

In a similar irresponsible act by Steve Waugh before the series against India, the Australian selectors did not show the steel to blood Clarke immediately. It shifted attention of Australia in the series and remember how Clarke rose to the occasion in India when given the opportunity. Going back some time, Remember how Gilchrist rose to the ocassion when Healy was looking for a ‘last test’. Pieterson would try to make the most of the chance he has got. Pieterson is delighted at being selected. It’s a big thing for him. Thorpe is disappointed at not getting selected. He was expecting it. That for me undermines the correctness of the decision and shows how much which player was raring to go.

Should England go back to Thorpe if Pieterson fails in the middle of the Ashes. Or bring back Butcher when he comes out of injury? Not really. Have faith in the young, the new. Bring Key or blood Joyce.

The first blood has been drawn by England and the Ashes and the small battles of the Ashes have now begun in all earnest. What was happening the last 2 months was drama with no substance and no one, not even the media writing it taking it that seriously.

As the Ashes draw near, the first XIs of England and Australia are not clear yet. Specifically one place for both
teams.

First Australia

The batting is settled but for the 3rd seamer spot its a close call between Gillespie, Kasporwicz and underdog but fast gaining in ground because of poor form of Gillespie - Shaun Tait. I would hope Gillespie can gain back his form and play the first test match. Otherwise my feeling is the Australians will play it safe and opt for Kasporwicz and if Kasporwicz or Lee performs poorly in the first test, Tait may come in the second/third test. It would be too much of a risk to go for Tait in the opening test of the series.

The dilemna is amazing for the fact that not many were giving Lee a chance 2 months ago. I have always backed him to play because Australia needs a strike bowler to perform rather than a stock Kasporwicz kind of bowler to fill in the overs like in India.

For England

The remaining batting spot has a battle between Pieterson and Thorpe as indicated lucidly by the selectors some days back. Bell has been confirmed to play for now atleast. Thorpe is dependable, Thorpe is consistent. Yet he finds himself with a possibility of being omitted. This shows England players are in form more than any thing else. Its the first test and I put that argument again to play Thorpe despite a possible good showing by untested Pieterson in the remaining two one dayers because of it being the first test and risks in selection not the best thing to do at this point of time.

Coming to the West Indies

Its a question of who is available and not whom can we omit. West Indies cricket is doomed as they dont realise such tussles only mean the public - from whom the money comes (the real shareholders of a sport) lose interest. If they go, the sponsors go (Digicel is showing apprehensions already) and then there is no money to dispute any thing over!

Ambrose presents a very interesting view point. How can the players demand more money if they dont perform? Every one has been jumping the gun on blaming the WICB but it may be the player’s fault as well. For me, it doesn’t matter whose ault it is. It is like a company suffers if there is a trade dispute. In this case the company is the West Indies Cricket.

If you get a hold of Pundits From Pakistan by Rahul Bhattacharya switch over to the chapters where he describes the enigma of Karachi - the city. Switch over then to the pages which show the atmosphere after the Karachi one dayer in 2004. Jagmohan Dalmiya declares that when India next tours Pakistan, the first test match will be held in Karachi. This after India’s refusal to play in the venue.

Such was the brilliance of the match in which nearly 700 runs were scored in a day, described so aptly in this archived piece by Bhattacharya that I remember I started cheering for Pakistan beyond a point. And when Md. Kaif took that brilliant catch, and every one in Cafe Coffee Day rejoiced, I quickly sank back on my seat.

Now we have England refusing to play a test in Karachi. Samiuddin, who is fast becoming the young voice of Pakistan cricket, voices his anguish. It is more to do with the fact that people, not players, not PCB officials have done any thing when a lot could have actually been done.

My stand is simple. If India and Pakistan can play a one dayer in Karachi some time after Musharaff had life threatening attacks, England has no case. If Pakistan guarantee player safety, England have no case. If specific players wouldn’t like to play in a specific match, in this case a Karachi test for fear of family and self, they can be allowed to opt out but I doubt many England players will try to make a stance in a crucial series in Pakistan like some did in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe when players opted out, though the scenario was different, and yet the English toured the country, the case brought up against Karachi is unnecessary.

Its been raining every where, Calcutta, Edgebaston and Wimbledon. That didnt stop some excellent sports to ensue yesterday. Whether it was classic McEnroe playing doubles with Fleming with trademark Nadal pants, or Hayden and Jones slugging it on the cricket pitch or the pencil thin, still growing Sharapova as the commentator so aptly described her.

That the England-Australia match contained classic cricket with a tussle all the while, entrhalled me. The bouncers, the early stroke play from Martyn, the building of pressure from Giles and Flintoff before an excellent partnership between Hussey and Symonds got Australia out of trouble was a pleasure to watch.

And Gough struck again and Lee managed a few runs before a low scoring final over to balance it and make every one smack their lips.

Almost too early though as the rain gods had the last laugh.

So Wimbledon Quarters today and another classic tussle between Brazil and Argentina likely in football. The rain gods will hopefully take a rest for the sports gods to have the say on this day.