Why the Australia-England ODI series is as bloody as the Battle of Stalingrad

 
The Battle of Stalingrad may have seen perhaps the highest number of casualties of any battle in warfare, but the current ODI series between Australia and England can’t be far behind – and it feels like it has lasted nearly as long as that bloody battle between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union too.

Certainly, the wisdom of having a seven match series straight after the Ashes, and so soon before the World Cup, has been exposed as the sheer folly most of us knew it was. Players on both sides have been dropping like flies throughout the series.

Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann have already flown home early and Ajmal Shahzad and Chris Tremlett are about to join them.

For Australia, it is not much better with Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Shaun Marsh all being felled to join Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey on the sidelines.

The sixth match of the series today was particularly bloody. Jonathan Trott and Steve Smith both required runners and Paul Collingwood was unable to bowl after jarring his back whilst batting. And if Shaun Tait's glass body managed to get through without a crack it will have been a miracle. At this rate, the final match of the series in Perth will be seven-a-side.

Indeed, things have got so bad for England that Liam Plunkett has been called up. Any additional injuries could see the unthinkable happen – the return of Sajid Mahmood.

If that happens, England’s hopes for the World Cup will be as buggered as the Wehrmacht’s Sixth Army was at Stalingrad.

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Comments

[Vim]

I don't think the West Aussies want to see Saj Mahmood ever again, even playing for the opposition.

[The Reverse Sweep]

Vim, I think England, Lancashire and WA fans would all agree that Saj should be nominated as the first cricketer to live on the moon. Either that or he should just join Ginsters, given the amlount of pies he bowls