The Reverse Sweep

Our County Championship predictions - Thank God for Yorkshire

Can there be a league competition anywhere in the world, in any sport that is more dificult to predict than English cricket's County Championship? We doubt it.

Last season we confidently tipped that Warwickshire and Lancashire would be fighting a relegation battle rather than ending up dualling for the title on the final day.

This year we may even have surpassed that ignominious prediction given that our title tip Durham are floundering at the bottom of Division 1 with their batsmen suffering a collective lapse of form that make Ian Bell's struggles in the winter against Saeed Ajmal seem mild in comparison.

To compound our error, the team that we predicted would be battling it out with Durham for the title were, yes you've guessed it, Lancashire. We should have known that one title every 77 years is quite enough.

The weather hasn't helped and there is still plenty of time left, but in Division 1 at least we can probably already resign ourselves to the fact that we won't be cashing in our chips come September.

Whilst we are clearly appalling tipsters, it is still evident that trying to predict what is going to happen in the County Championship is even more difficult than picking the winning lottery numbers or trying to work out what will happen with the Euro crisis.

Thank God then for Yorkshire - and it's not often we find ourselves saying that. Despite the club doing as much a possible to shoot itself in the foot - chasing Ajmal Shahzad over the Pennines into the grateful arms of Lancashire and making Mitchell Starc go around the world one more time than Phileas Fogg - on the field at least they are justifying our tip that they would win Division 2. Chasing 400 to win at Bristol last weekend was mighty impressive indeed. 

But with Colin Graves armed and dangerous, we are sure that Yorkshire's promotion charge still has plenty of time to come off the rails yet.

Where next?

Read our Division 1 previews: Durham, Lancashire, Middlesex, Notts, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Division 2 previews: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northants and Yorkshire

County Championship of the week #6

Another 'bloody disgrace' at Yorkshire

10 reasons why neutrals should be glad Lancashire won the County Championship

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Another 'bloody disgrace' at Yorkshire

Life is rarely boring at Yorkshire and whilst chairman Colin Graves will doubtless try and pass the buck, he has presided over a right royal mess over the last week.

The bizarre release of the immensely talented Ajmal Shahzad is puzzling. Whilst according to Graves, he is a bit of a loose cannon and has a high opinion of himself, Yorkshire can ill afford to lose a player of Shahzad's ability. To lose him to bitter rivals Lancashire is to put it frankly embarrassing. 

It would be harder to find stronger personalities than the likes of Fred Trueman, Brian Close, Raymond Illingworth and Geoff Boycott - one has to wonder if Graves could have coped with this famous quartet of Yorkshire greats.

If the Shahzad situation wasn't bad enough, his short term replacement Mitchell Starc has had to fly back to Australia after being deported due to a visa error, which meant he was unable to get past UK customs. Graves quickly tried to put the blame on Cricket Australia, but surely Yorkshire should have ensured that Starc's paperwork was correct before he was allowed to board his flight.

In the wake of Yorkshire's relegation last season, Graves launched a very public attack on his players where amongst other criticisms, he said the squad were a 'bloody disgrace'. We're sure that many Yorkshire fans are probably using those exact words to describe Graves after the events of the last week. As Chairman, he has to take responsibility.

A bewildered Starc tweeted "Well that's a first! Being deported from England.. Surely nothing else can go wrong can it?!?!". Given that he is about to join Yorkshire - seemingly run by the cricket equivalent of Blackburn's owners Venky's, he probably hasn't seen anything yet.

Where next?

Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves gets straight to the point

The mystery of Ajmal Shazad's sacking solved

County Championship XI of the week #5

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The mystery of Ajmal Shazad's sacking solved

Perplexed? So were we. Just what made Yorkshire jettison the bowler that only last week coach Jason Gillespie described as "a fantastic bowler"? We've been investigating the possible reasons here at the Reverse Sweep.

Secret Texts

In a routine check on Shahzad's mobile phone, several congratulatory texts sent to Lancashire players in wake of their championship triumph last September were discovered and brought to the attention of Colin Graves. The chairman concluded it was a "bloody disgrace" and immediately reached for his axe.

Names

As a proud Englishman, Graves had previously presented Shahzad with an ultimatum to change his christian name on account of the wreckage caused to England's batting over the winter by one Saeed Ajmal. Shahzad refused - et voilà.

Upsetting Sir Geoffrey

It is little known that Shahzad is a bit of a prankster and an expert computer hacker. Having surreptitiously gained access to new Yorkshire president Geoffrey Boycott's iPad, Shahzad uploaded a virus, which meant that every time Boycott tried to open an application, a replay of that fearsome over to Boycott in 1981 from Michael Holding played. This proved too much for Boycott, who still bears the psychological scars and sticks of rhubarb to this day. 

Enraging Bres

Not content with incurring the wrath of Boycott, Shahzad frustrated by the knowledge that Tim Bresnan would be given the new ball at Scarborough against Leicestershire, was caught out enacting Tanya Aldred's witty line in this year's Wisden that Bresnan "still has the air of a man with an emergency cheese sandwich in his back pocket". Shahzad was caught red handed by his irate team mate with a baguette filled with camembert in one hand and Bresnan's cricket whites in the other.

Mind the hair

Shahzad could normally have counted on the support of his usual new ball partner Ryan Sidebottom, but an hour before being apprehended by Bresnan, he had been exposed as the culprit who sabotaged Sidebottom's beloved curling tongs during last week's numerous rain breaks at Chelmsford.

Morgan's solitary friend

Never ones to like a scab, Yorkshire's players were furious when they discovered that Shahzad was the only one of their number to have registered his support in the recently published survey by the Professional Cricketers' Association of the Morgan Report.

Dizzy

The final straw was when Shahzad's last supporter - Gillespie - finally tired of Shahzad humming the irritating early nineties tune by Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff whenever he was in his presence.

Don't believe any other rubbish you might hear.

Where next?

County Championship XI of the week #4

County Championship 2012 Preview: Division 2 - Yorkshire

Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves gets straight to the point

10 reasons why neutrals should be glad Lancashire won the County Championship

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship 2012 Preview: Division 2 - Yorkshire

In the words of their own Chairman, Yorkshire's players were a bloody disgrace as they were relegated last season. Their woes were compounded when Lancashire finally ended their 77 year long wait for the title.

Strengths

Where do you start? The squad is a seriously good one. Ryan Sidebottom oozes class with the new ball, Tim Bresnan should play a few games, Ajmal Shahzad can surely not endure as poor a season as last nor Adil Rashid. The batting is bristling with talent with Joe Root, Jonathan Bairstow and captain Andrew Gale leading the way. Phil Jacques is an excellent choice as overseas batsman and could do what Jacques Rudolph did for years.

Weaknesses

An unerring ability to shoot themselves in the foot. Expectations will be high so a good start will be necessary to prevent the loss of form and confidence suffered by the likes of Shahzad, Rashid and Adam Lyth last season

Main man

The star of Adil Rashid waned dramatically in 2011, but leg spinners tend to mature like a fine bottle of Chateau Lafitte - it takes time, care and patience. The arrival of Jason Gillespie as coach and the prospect of a long line of quivvering Division 2 batsmen could provide the spur that the 24 year old needs to revive his fortunes.

Look out for

Plenty of quips, barbs and controversy as Geoffrey Boycott takes a turn at being President. The sight of him in the nets with a stick of rhubarb will be one to behold.

Prediction

Champions - far too good for Division 2.

Where next? 

Read our Division 1 previews: Durham, Lancashire, Middlesex, Notts, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Division 2 previews: Derbyshire, Essex, Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Northants and Yorkshire

2011 County Cricket Review: including Heroes of the Season, Best and Worst XIs, and a whole host of other nonsense

County Championship 2011 Preview - Yorkshire

Yorkshire chairman Colin Graves gets straight to the point

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

A Year To Forget: County Championship Flops XI of the season

 
In our column last week for All Out Cricket, we named our County Championship XI of the summer but this only tells half the tale.

Who were the fool guys? Who flattered to deceive? Who had a downright disaster? Who flopped like Waterworld?

Yes, you’ve guessed it a County Championship XI of those who had a year to forget.

Yorkshire fans may want to look away now...

Where next?

Where next?

County Cricket 2011 Heroes: Glen Chapple

County Cricket 2011 Heroes: The Tiflex cricket ball

County Cricket 2011 Heroes: Marcus Trescothick

County Cricket 2011 Heroes: Rory Hamilton-Brown

County Cricket 2011 Heroes: Michael Carberry

County Championship XI of the season

County Championship Division 1 XI of the season

County Championship Division 2 XI of the season

Read all of our County Cricket coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Who should make the England Lions XI to play the Sri Lankans?

 
The England selectors will meet in the coming days to pick their Lions squad to face the Sri Lankan tourists in a game starting on 19th May at Derby.

They will have their work cut out as one of the features of what has been a fascinating start to the County Championship is the number of impressive performances by young English cricketers.

We’ve had a go at naming our XI:

Varun Chopra (Warwickshire) – The former England under-19 captain has started the season like a runaway train and deserves an opportunity to see whether he can flourish against an international bowling attack.

Adam Lyth (Yorkshire) – Whilst the young opener still needs to turn more of his fifties into big hundreds, he is still probably at the head of a queue that also includes Stephen Moore and Jimmy Adams. But for injury Alex Hales and Michael Carberry would also have come into the equation.

James Hildreth (Captain, Somerset) – Has had a bit of a slow start to the season after a phenomenal summer in 2010 and impressive performances for the Lions over the winter, but is still on the shortlist for the vacancy created in the Test side by the retirement of Paul Collingwood.

Ravi Bopara (Essex) – With Eoin Morgan opting for the riches of the IPL, Bopara is Collingwood’s probable replacement in the Test squad. He is running into form with the bat as an unbeaten match-winning ton in his last Championship match Glamorgan testifies. Underrated bowler.

James Taylor (Leicestershire) – Supremely talented and gutsy too, if his batting against a fiery Surrey attack on a lively Oval pitch last week is anything to go by. It is a case of when, not if, Taylor plays Test cricket. Other middle-order batsmen that could come into contention include Samit Patel, Andrew Gale and Ben Stokes.

Craig Kieswetter (Somerset) – It’s a borderline decision between the Somerset keeper and Stephen Davies, but Kieswetter has made the more impressive start to the season. Jonathan Bairstow may also get a mention in dispatches.

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) – Presumably the selectors know all they need to about Monty Panesar, so the game against Sri Lanka offers another opportunity to take a look at the young Rashid - still the pick of an ever-growing list of young English spinners that also includes Danny Briggs, Scott Borthwick and Simon Kerrigan.

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire) – Not many have started the season better than Warwickshire’s bowling all-rounder, who has 24 wickets in the Championship at 18.54 and 262 runs at 52.40. A real candidate for further England honours after demonstrating he had the temperament for international cricket in Australia over the winter.

Ajmal Shahzad (Yorkshire) – Has now been on the fringes of the England Test, ODI and T20 sides for a while now and deserves his chance to show what he can do against the tourists. Alex Hales’ jaw will vouch that Shahzad has fully recovered from the injury that saw his World Cup curtailed early.

Steve Finn (Middlesex) – With Chris Tremlett, Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad likely to be in a three-way race for two spots in the Test XI, the selectors will probably want to take a look at next cab on the rank Finn in a Lions shirt.

Jade Dernbach (Surrey) – The surprise late call-up to the World Cup looked the real deal against Leicestershire last week and will probably pip the likes of Steve Kirby, Stuart Meaker, James Harris, the returning Graham Onions and 17 year old Reece Topley to the final spot in the XI.

Where next?

County Championship XI of the week #5

Our ten to watch in 2011: Adam Lyth, Jade Dernbach,  Rory Hamilton-Brown, Samit Patel, Alex Hales, Danny Briggs, Ben Stokes, James Harris, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid

An England under-23 XI - the future looks bright

2010 County XI of the season

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Yorkshire

 
The White Rose county are swiftly becoming our second favourite team for their exciting young side and a seemingly endless supply of talented English cricketers. They were in the mix for the title right up until the final round of matches in 2010, before finishing third. Can they climb the final two steps in 2011?

Strengths

One would think that such a young side can only get better. The squad certainly looks well-balanced with a good leader in Andrew Gale and an abundance of talent in the batting ranks with the likes of Gale himself, Adam Lyth, Jonathan Bairstow, Anthony McGrath and the dogged Joe Sayers.

The bowling looks strong also with England stars Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad, backed up by the returning Ryan Sidebottom, Steven Pattinson and Oliver Hannon-Dalby. That’s the pace department taken care of and then you have spinners Adil Rashid and the hopefully rehabilitated David Wainwright.

All in all Yorkshire have the look of a side that could go all the way.

Weaknesses

The loss of Jacques Rudolph is massive – whereas as last season the likes of Lyth and Bairstow provided support to Yorkshire’s main batting star, this time they will have to be the ones getting the big hundreds. The talent in the squad means the likes of Bresnan, Shahzad and possibly Rashid and Gale will be called away by England.

Main man

After being messed around a bit by England, Adil Rashid took some time to get started last season but when he did wickets and runs flowed in equal measure. Expect the upward curve to continue in 2011.

Look out for…

A serious tilt at the title and more plaudits for Gale’s captaincy.

Prediction

3rd – If Rudolph was still around then we’d be backing them for the title, but otherwise we expect them to fall a bit short.

Where next?

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Sussex

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Somerset

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Nottinghamshire

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Lancashire

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Hampshire

County Championship Preview - Division 1: Durham

2010 County XI of the season

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

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Lay off England after World Cup proves a bridge too far

Two days later and England’s thumping defeat against Sri Lanka in the World Cup quarter final doesn’t feel any better.

Defeat by ten wickets with 63 balls still remaining is about as comprehensive as it gets.

Whilst England’s batsmen looked like they were batting on treacle, Dilshan and Tharanga never looked in any trouble as they cruised to victory.

The recriminations are in full swing. Whispers about Strauss’ future as ODI captain and the wholesale replacement of others abound.

The painful truth is that England simply weren’t good enough. They blundered through the group stages and failed to put in even one commanding performance.

But whilst the likes of Willis, Botham and Boycott will no doubt baulk at the idea, England never had a chance of success at this World Cup because of the ridiculous poisoned chalice of a schedule they were handed this winter.

Sure, England lacked match-winners and key players like Anderson underperformed, but these guys were dead on their feet.

Whoever agreed to a schedule that saw some players spend just three days at home between arriving back from Australia and embarking to the holding camp in Dubai for the World Cup needs to be summarily sacked.

Lest it not be forgotten, England won an Ashes series down under for the first time in 24 years this winter. The successful campaign was meticulously planned and ruthlessly executed.

But not unsurprisingly, these efforts had a physical, mental and emotional strain on the players.

Fatigue leads to injuries and England’s one day squad doesn’t have the strength in depth to cope with the absence of the likes of Broad, Pietersen and Shahzad.

Of those that remained, Anderson was a virtual imposter such was the emptiness of his tank and the likes of Bell, Prior and Swann all fell significantly from the peaks they reached during the Ashes series.

Perhaps with hindsight, England’s first choice players should have flown home for a much needed break immediately after the Ashes series finished in Sydney.

Then a second-string ODI squad could have battled for the final World Cup squad places in the utterly pointless seven match series with Australia.

But contracts between the cricket boards of Australia and England doubtless prevented that.

The schedule is not an excuse for England’s failure, but it is a reason. England aren’t good enough at ODI cricket either – especially in a World Cup in sub-continental conditions, which negated their main strengths further.

But before casting stones at Strauss, Flower and co, do remember that the main prize this winter – the urn – has been secured and whilst yet another World Cup campaign has ended in disappointment, it was always going to be a bridge too far.  

Where next?

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

Heroes: Bob Willis

An XI of unlikely World Cup heroes and a not so heroic 12th man

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

ODI Series: England marks out of 10

 
Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss are probably as pleased as we are here at the Reverse Sweep that the ridiculously elongated one day series is over. Never again, must England agree to play a seven match ODI series especially straight after a long and tiring Ashes series.

Not only has morale been sapped by a 6-1 caning at the hands of Australia, but injuries to several key players means that their World Cup hopes potentially lie in tatters.

England used a mind-boggling 19 players over the course of the series. Here's how they rate out of ten:

Andrew Strauss (179 runs at 25.57, 2 fifties, SR 82.48) - 5: Reached 63 twice but other than that the captain had a poor series with his muddled thinking in the field indicative of England's malaise.

Stephen Davies (42 runs at 21, SR 102.43) - 4: Hit a streaky 42 in the first match and was promptly then dropped from the World Cup squad to make room for Prior. Must be wondering what he has done to offend the selectors.

Matt Prior (138 runs at 23.00, 1 fifty, SR 90.19) - 4: England's obsession that their wicketkeeper has to open is doing Prior a dis-service as he would be much better employed down the order. Fell cheaply to the pace of Lee three times. 

Jonathan Trott (375 runs at 62.50, 2 100s, 1 50, SR 81.69) - 9: The leading run-scorer in the series scored over twice as many runs as any other England batsman. His 137 at Sydney in the sixth match was a great one day innings and proved that he could change gears when required.

Kevin Pietersen (185 runs at 30.83, 1 50, SR 90.24) - 5: Started like a dream in the first match at Melbourne before being run out by Mitchell Johnson's passable imitation of Wayne Rooney. Thereafter, KP disappointed getting out to a hopeless shot on more than one occasion.

Ian Bell (154 runs at 22.00, SR 70.00) - 3: Looked a million dollars when scoring a hundred against the Prime Minister's XI in the warm-up as an opener, and was then promptly moved down the order for the entire series.  Should open in the World Cup.

Eoin Morgan (106 runs at 17.66, SR 80.30) - 2: Was understandably rusty at the start of the series after three months of twiddling his fingers and carrying drinks, but failed to get into nick before breaking a digit to put his World Cup spot in jeopardy. Another who found some truly horrible ways of getting out.

Paul Collingwood (53 runs at 17.66, SR 86.88; 4 wickets at 20.75, ER 3.32) - 6: Started the series on the sidelines, but the break didn't do his batting much good. His bowling though was a revelation, being the only man on either side to have an economy rate of less than four runs per over.

Luke Wright (56 runs at 28.00, SR 86.15; no wickets, ER 5.36) - 2: Not even a bits and pieces player and how he can be in the World Cup squad ahead of Bopara defies belief.

Tim Bresnan (4 wickets at 27.00, ER 5.68; 47 runs at 23.50, SR 87.03) - 5: Broke down after two matches to join England's walking wounded and may now have lost his spot to Collingwood for the World Cup.

Michael Yardy (5 wickets at 60.20, ER 5.57; 137 runs at 45.66, SR 84.04) - 3: A couple of useful knocks with the bat could not hide the Sussex captain's ineffectiveness with the ball. A weak link in England's World Cup armoury.

James Tredwell (1 match, 16 runs and 0/44) - 1: Has Samit Patel's love of chapatis to thank for even getting one match. England effectively have a 14 man squad for the World Cup given Tredwell's presence in the squad. Maybe it is better to have someone who eats pies rather than bowls them?

Graeme Swann (1 match, 1/42 and 4 runs): 4: Another to fall victim to the injury curse and how England missed Swann's potency and control with the ball. Hopefully, he will now be rested and raring to go for the World Cup where England's fortunes are likely to improve of Swann fires.

Chris Woakes (7 wickets at 21.28, ER 5.65; 20 runs at 10.00, SR 50.00) - 5: Experienced the highs and lows of international cricket with 6/45 at Brisbane before being walloped for 73 runs in 9.2 wicketless overs in the next match at Sydney. One for the future.

Liam Plunkett (1 match, 2/49 and 20 runs) - 5: Plunkett came from a galaxy far, far away (i.e. the Caribbean) for the final match in Perth and defied jet lag to put in a creditable performance.

Ajmal Shahzad (6 wickets at 40.50, ER 5.15) - 3: Bowled excellently in Hobart, before fading away and then becoming another to pick up an injury. Shows promise but is maybe not as good as many are saying.

Chris Tremlett (6 wickets at 33.50, ER 5.20) - 5: Left out of the World Cup squad and then promptly bowled brilliantly at Hobart to take 3/22. Yet another England bowler who picked up an injury.

James Anderson (7 wickets at 34.00, ER 5.95) - 4: Was given a break back home for the first three matches and must have wished he'd have stayed there after being smashed for 91 runs at Sydney, before bouncing back with 3/48 at Perth.

Steve Finn (3 wickets at 56.33, ER 5.63) - 4: Bowled better than his figures suggest and really enjoyed himself with the bat in Brisbane.

Where next?

Reaction to England's World Cup Squad

An XI of cricketers that died young

Zeroes: Salman Butt

The best Test XI of 2010

The worst Test XI of 2010

4-0 to Jonathan Trott 

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

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.

Where next?

Back to back Ashes Series? Doomsday is here...

100 stories about the Ashes

An England under-23 XI featuring Chris Woakes

Reaction to England's World Cup Squad

Full coverage of the Ashes 2010/11 series

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

An XI of Asian Cricketers let down (for the most part) by England

 
The successors to Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinhji and the contemporaries of Nasser Hussain have for the most part not been dealt a good hand by the England selectors.

Monty Panesar was given plenty of opportunities before being usurped by Graeme Swann and Ajmal Shahzad may have made the cut for the World Cup.

Here is an XI of cricketers of Asian origin who have fallen by the wayside over the last decade or so. Some have been tried, found not to be good enough and discarded. Others have not helped themselves at times like the talented but unfit Samit Patel, but perhaps some could have been handled better by the selectors:

1. Vikram Solanki (Captain)– Indian born Solanki may have 51 ODI caps, but the selectors never seemed to fully trust this silky strokemaker and quite brilliant fielder. His 13 match streak in 2003, including a sparkling century against South Africa, was his longest consecutive stint in the side. Never got a Test opportunity, but perhaps should have.

2. Owais Shah – Finally nailed down a regular spot in the ODI side in 2007 after being jettisoned after 15 matches earlier in the decade. In his second coming, Shah averaged 35 in 53 matches and seemed set to be a fixture in the side for some time to come after a brilliant 98 against South Africa in the Champions Trophy of 2009. But question marks about his fielding, running between the wickets and propensity to be overwhelmed by nerves did for him in the end. All these failings were on show in his short six game Test career, which fell away after a promising 88 and 38 on debut against India.   

3. Mark Ramprakash – The most talented English batsman of his generation fell foul of his own failings, but also those of the selectors who dropped him more times than Kamran Akmal let Mike Hussey off the hook in the Sydney Test of 2010. Ramprakash played his last Test in 2002 at the age of 32, but despite his astonishing consistency and mountain of runs for Surrey since, the selectors have resisted the temptation to recall him one more time.

4. Aftab Habib– A surprise pick during the 1999 home series with New Zealand, which England lost to slide to the bottom of the test rankings, Habib was here today and gone tomorrow with just 26 runs in his three innings and falls into the category of those that weren't good enough.

5. Usman Afzaal– One that fell victim to the selectors aversion to those of a more portly nature, Afzaal admittedly didn’t set the world alight with just 83 runs in three tests during the 2001 Ashes series - although he did score a classy fifty at The Oval. He didn’t impress in other ways too. The Aussies were non-plussed by his cockiness and the flashy sponsored car that he rocked up in for his debut.

6. Ravi Bopara– To be frank, it is amazing that Luke Wright is ahead in the pecking order, but the immensely talented Bopara has become used to life on the fringes since bombing in the 2009 Ashes series. Three successive hundreds against the West Indies convinced the selectors that Bopara was the man to bat at three against Australia, when it was obvious that five or six were more suited to him. In one day cricket, he can fill a multitude of roles as an opener, late order hitter, useful bowler and electric fielder. May get a second coming in Tests, thanks to Paul Collingwood’s retirement.

7. Samit Patel – Patel did well in his 11 ODI in 2008 and in our view is a better bowler and batsman than both Tredwell and Yardy. However, Patel has fallen foul of England’s dislike of lardy cricketers and to be fair given that he reportedly failed a fitness test before the final XV for the World Cup was chosen, he only has himself to blame. That said, maybe it is better to have someone in the side that eats pies, rather than bowls them.

8. Adil Rashid– Nothing excites selectors and fans alike as a world-class leg-spinner, and Rashid has the potential to be just that. Selected for the 2009 World T20, Rashid did reasonably well. Since then though he has been messed about - most famously when withdrawn after one expensive over in Alastair Cook's farcical debut as captain in a T20 match against South Africa in 2009. Suddenly the England hierarchy lost faith and Tredwell leapfrogged Rashid for the tour of Bangladesh - surely the ideal place to blood the young leg spinner. Time is on Rashid’s side however, as he is still only 22.

9. Kabir Ali– It is perplexing that Kabir wasn’t given more than the solitary Test after taken five wickets on debut against South Africa at Headingley in 2003. He also performed reasonably well in his 14 ODI, taking 20 wickets at a shade over 34. However, his economy rate was over six runs per over and the final straw came when he was smashed for 72 off just six overs by Jayasuriya and Tharanga in 2006.

10. Sajid Mahmood– He may be quick, but despite being a cousin of boxer Amir Khan, Mahmood invariably lacks the killer punch and can make Harmison and Mitchell Johnson look accurate – such is his waywardness at times. Like many on this list however, Mahmood was mistreated by the selectors. After impressing against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the summer of 2006, he was promptly dropped for the Ashes series opener at Brisbane. When he was finally picked both form and confidence had gone and so was Mahmood just two tests later. He did make a brief limited overs comeback in South Africa in 2009, but his performances lacked the promise of his initial foray into international cricket.

11. Amjad Khan– Another of England’s one cap wonders, the Danish born Amjad played his only Test at Port-of-Spain in 2009 and took 1/122. A subsequent knee injury and loss of form means that others have leapfrogged him in the pecking order and barring a minor miracle, is unlikely to play for his adopted country again.

Where next?

How well are the England selectors handling Adil Rashid?

Mark Ramprakash: English cricket’s great lost talent

Reaction to England’s World Cup Squad – Prior the victor, but where is Bopara?

Ravi Bopara – England’s Michael Hussey

The Worst Test XI of 2010

The Best Test XI of 2010

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including amongst others Graeme Swann, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Shoaib Malik, Ijaz Butt, Imran Khan, VVS Laxman and Mushtaq Ahmed

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Who should England pick for their World Cup XV?

 
With England set to name their World Cup squad by Wednesday, we should probably be writing a long and serious piece on who should and shouldn’t be in the squad.

But like our current disenchantment with football - which has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the fact we support Liverpool (honest) - we are also none too bothered with any form of cricket that isn’t Test cricket.

It could just be a hangover from the Ashes, but with the unappealing prospect of a seven match ODI series between England and Australia, we don’t give two hoots about the World Cup at the moment.

And wasn’t one day cricket invented to provide a quick burst of enjoyment for paying public and couch potatoes alike? Seven match series’ are neither quick nor enjoyable – they are as painful to watch in full as The Phantom Menace. And don’t get us started on the length of the World Cup. Put it this way, our two year old will have graduated by the time it has finished.

So, we are going to name the XV we would pick if the Reverse Sweep was in the shoes of Geoff Miller, but we are not going to dwell too much on the reasons why we would choose these fifteen names.

Slow wickets, spin-friendly conditions, the heat and the risk of injury or delhi belly means that England should pick two wicket-keepers and three spinners in their XV, whilst ensuring that there is enough batting and seam bowling cover.

As such, we would go with the following:

Batsmen:

Strauss, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood and Morgan

Wicket-keepers:

Davies and Prior

Spinners:

Swann, Yardy and Patel

Seamers:

Anderson, Broad, Bresnan, Shahzad and Tremlett

So that means no Trott, Wright, Woakes, Tredwell, Kieswetter or Bopara. In our view, Trott is too one-paced for one day cricket and Prior and Patel can fill in as the spare batsman if required. Wright is pretty hopeless with bat and ball and it is probably a bit too early for Woakes, who lacks pace in any case.

In terms of the third spinner, Patel is a much better bet than Tredwell as would be Rashid. Finally, although we believe Kieswetter was dispensed with too early and are not convinced by Davies at the top of the order, it is probably too late to go back now and the much improved Prior deserves another chance.

We desperately wanted to fit Bopara in as we think his multi-facted batting, excellent fielding and useful medium pace could prove a boon on the sub-continent. But including Ravi for one of the batsmen we've picked is unthinkable, so the only way to get him in would be to compromise on the second keeper or third spinner, or take only four instead of five quicks. And that's a risk we're not prepared to take.

Can England win? Probably not. The conditions are against them and they lack an opener who can hit over the top (a la Marcus Trescothick), a quality second spinner to support Swann and pedigree in recent World Cups.

But they could well be good dark horses to back – just as there were in the World T20 last year. And we all know what happened there.

Where next?

Shane Watson: Finally the bride and not a bridesmaid 

How England won the Ashes: Part 1 - Preparation

How England won the Ashes: Part 2 - Inspired selections

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including amongst others Andy Flower, James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Marcus Trescothick and Douglas Jardine

Follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

How England won the Ashes: Part 1 - Preparation

 
Like many English cricket fans we are still basking in the joy of Ashes triumph and fully intend to gloat and glorify about it for some time to come. We make no apologies for this as having been starved of success down under for 24 long years and having copped plenty of flak from our Antipodean cousins, the shoe is now most definitely on the other foot.

As such over the next few days, the Reverse Sweep will look at some of the reasons why we believe that England triumphed and Australia choked. Preparation seems a good place to start.  

It was Thomas Edison who coined the phrase “genius is only 1% inspiration, but 99% perspiration” and in terms of having done all their homework prior to the big event, Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss would get a large tick in the box from Thomas.

In 2006 England arrived beset by injuries, had the untried axis of Fletcher and Flintoff at the helm and played a couple of jolly warm-up matches before taking the field for the 1^st Test at Brisbane thoroughly under-prepared. Unsurprisingly, they were royally rogered by an Australian side intent on revenge from 2005. The whole thing stunk of complacency, hubris, ineptitude and eventually farce.

Messrs Flower and Strauss however left no stone unturned. Following a team-building boot-camp in Bavaria, England played three proper first-class matches upon arriving in Australia, which they played to win. They sent their first-choice bowling line-up to Brisbane early to acclimatise whilst the likes of Tremlett, Bresnan and Shahzad blasted England to a 10 wicket win over Australia A.

Australia on the other hand, played a one day series with Sri Lanka just prior to the first Test, named a 17 man squad and then jettisoned their first-choice spinner Nathan Hauritz for a punt on the untried Xavier Doherty. The whole thing smacked of uncertainty and a lack of planning.

Consequently, when England were blown off course first by Peter Siddle and then Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin in the 1^st innings at Brisbane, they were able to come back in the second with the infamous 517/1. In part this was down to the ineptitude of the Australian bowling, but it was also because the England players had been well-prepared, well-drilled and knew exactly what they were doing.

The best-prepared side won at a canter in 2006, exaggerating the already large gap between the sides. But with the two sides supposedly so evenly matched before the series started, it was England’s preparation and their ability to hone and execute well-defined plans that was one of the keys to their triumph.

Flower and Strauss - Edison would be proud of you.

Where next?

The curious case of Nathan Hauritz

Ashes 2010/11: Australia series marks out of 10

Ashes 2010/11: England series marks out of 10

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes 

Follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

4th Test: Melbourne - Preview: Can England reprise glory of 1986?

 
The last time England retained the Ashes down under was in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in 1986 when they crushed Australia by an innings and 14 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. With the debacle at Perth now behind them, Andrew Strauss' side has a second opportunity to retain the urn at the same Melbourne Cricket Ground over the coming days.

In the lead-up to the 4th test there has been much speculation about the late switch to a much greener looking pitch, which has given hope to Australians that Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris will find a similarly helpful, fast and bouncy wicket to the one that suited them so much at Perth. This is probably wishful thinking on behalf of the home side and the usual slow Melbourne pitch is a much more likely proposition.

This means that Australia will have to think hard about the make-up of their side. Do they risk going in again with four specialist quicks and the part-time spin of Steve Smith? Or do they hand Michael Beer a test debut in place of either Peter Siddle or Ben Hilfenhaus? Dropping the former would mean that Australia would lose its chief snarler in what appeared to be a new 'in your face' approach in Perth.

England also have decisions to make as to the make-up of the bowling attack, although Andy Flower confirmed earlier this week that they will stick to their four-man bowler approach in the absence of a world-class all-rounder. This is no surprise especially as Matt Prior isn't in the form to justify an elevation to number six.

Likely line-ups

England are likely to be unchanged although Tim Bresnan or Ajmal Shahzad may come in for Steve Finn if the latter is deemed to need a rest by the England management. other than that the only change could be Ian Bell being promoted to five ahead of Paul Collingwood.

For Australia, Ricky Ponting is almost certain to play despite a broken little finger and surely they won't repeat their error of The Oval 2009 by going in without a specialist spinner? If Beer does get the nod, expect Siddle to be the one carrying the drinks. Australia also has the option of bolstering the batting by playing Ponting's stand-by Usman Khawaja instead of Smith at number six.

Look out for…

We tipped Kevin Pietersen to end his long quest for a century in our preview of the Adelaide Test and despite crashing back down to earth in Perth, we fully expect him to reach three figures here again in Melbourne.

Ricky Ponting is too great a batsman not to stamp his influence on this series and despite his broken digit and poor run of scores, we would be very surprised if he doesn't make a significant score on the biggest of stages.

Finally, Graeme Swann had a quiet game in Perth after his seven wickets in Adelaide, but the surface at the MCG is likely to suit him better and we wouldn't be surprised to see him star in the 2nd innings. Australia may come to regret not picking their best spinner - the in-form Nathan Hauritz instead of the untried Beer.

Previously at Melbourne

Scene of the first ever Test match in 1877, there have been 53 encounters between England and Australia at the cavernous Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia has the advantage with 27 wins to England’s 19 and perhaps a clue to the outcome of the 2010 edition is that there have only been 7 draws.

2006 – Australia won by an innings and 99 – England suffered a Boxing Day hangover as they were bundled out for just 159 with Warne taking his 700^th Test wicket. England struck back by reducing Australia to 84/5 before Hayden and Symonds both reached 150. England then capitulated for a second time for 161 for yet another woeful defeat on the most dispiriting of tours.

2002 – Australia won by five wickets – Justin Langer hit 250 as Australia amassed a powerful 551/6 and then England only managed 20 more runs than Langer made on his own. They did better after following on with Michael Vaughan scoring a sparkling 145 as England at least set Australia a target. They then restored further pride by taking five wickets as Australia stumbled over the winning line.

1998 – England won by 12 runs – A pulsating test match with a dramatic climax. Rain ruined day one but Alec Stewart scored a captain’s hundred as England made 270. Steve Waugh (122) then masterminded runs from the tail as Australia led by 70. And when England could only make 244 in their second innings and Australia reached 130/3 in pursuit of 162 all seemed lost. Step forward Dean Headley – who engineered a spectacular collapse and a famous England win.

1986 – England won by an innings and 14 – Mike Gatting’s side secured the retention of the urn with a crushing victory in the Boxing Day Test. Gladstone Small and Ian Botham took five apiece as Australia could only muster 141. Then Chris Broad’s third successive hundred provided the bedrock of England’s 208 1^st innings lead. Phil Edmonds and John Emburey then spun England to victory.

1982 – England won by 3 runs – The forerunner to Edgbaston 2005. An extremely tight match saw all four innings total between 284 and 294. When Australia were 218 for nine chasing 292 all looked lost for the home side. But Border and Thomson took them to within sight of the finishing line before that man Botham struck inducing an edge from Thomson that Tavare parried into the hands of a grateful Miller.

Prediction

If the weather holds true then the MCG is a result wicket and we fully expect England to win a tight encounter and therefore retain the Ashes with the final test in Sydney still to come.

Where next?

Dear Santa...

Read KP's Ashes Diary exclusively at the Reverse Sweep

Dean Headley's 15 minutes of fame

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

The 25 Greatest Ashes Tests of them all: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

3rd Test: Perth - Preview: Can England wrap up the urn by Christmas?

 
Australia has confirmed its overwhelming cricketing superiority over its former colonial masters in the last two Ashes Tests at Perth, winning at a canter in 2002 and 2006 to gain an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

But this time is different, and having survived the Gabbatoir and then extinguished the horrors of Adelaide in 2006, England know a win at the WACA - where they have only won once - would see them retain the Ashes before Christmas.

They may never get a better chance. Australia would appear to be in complete disarray with the selectors doing a passable impersonation of England in the 1990's. Simon Katich's injury means that Phil Hughes comes in to open the innings and Steve Smith replaces the discarded Marcus North in the lower middle order. The seamers may be juggled again, but the biggest surprise of all is the pick of left arm spinner Michael Beer - a man with just six first-class matches to his name.

England have no such problems and James Anderson will hope to make a similarly impressive contribution as Kevin Pietersen when he popped back to England for the birth of his son in the World T20 - even if Bob Willis may not be amused. England have dominated the last seven days of the series and if they can repeat the trick at the WACA then the urn will be theirs and Australia may just capitulate completely.

Likely line-ups

The only selection debate for England is whether to go with Tremlett, Bresnan or Shahzad to replace the injured Broad. Otherwise they will be unchanged.

Australia are pondering over a three or four man seam attack, with Beer making his debut if it is the latter and either Siddle or Hilfenhaus missing out if it is the former. 

Look out for…

Chris Tremlett has not been confirmed as Broad’s replacement yet, but if he plays his fourth test and his first since 2007, he should enjoy the bouncy WACA wicket and a man of the match performance is not out of the question.

It will be a surprise if Mitchell Johnson doesn’t come back into the Australian line-up, with Ponting and his selectors fully aware that the misfiring Johnson is their most likely match-winner on his home ground. He took 8 for 61 on this ground against South Africa in 2008-09, so England’s batsmen may finally be about to find what all the fuss is about.

The Pitch – It would seem that the WACA pitch could return to the lively track of old if curator Cameron Sutherland is to be believed: "We're going to aim for a fair bit of grass on top this year. Certainly, we want a result and we're confident that we'll have a pitch that will produce a result." Could this play into England’s hands given they would appear to have the most settled and potent attack?

Previously at Perth

A look back at the record books shows that England have an abysmal record at Perth, winning only one out of 11 Tests. Australia have won seven and England have been on the receiving end of some fearsome beatings in the last five WACA contests.

2006 – Australia won by 206 runs – Monty Panesar made a belated entry into the series and took five for 92 on day one as Australia were bowled out for 244. England were unable to take advantage though and folded for 215 before Australia racked up the runs second time around with Hussey, Clarke and Gilchrist all making hundreds – the latter off only 57 balls. Cook made a hundred, but England could only reach 350 and the Ashes were gone.

2002 – Australia won by an innings and 48 - England and in particular Alex Tudor were terrorised on a quick Perth wicket by Brett Lee. England could only make 185 and 223 as the game finished on the 3^rd day, which meant that Australia had secured the Ashes again on just the 11^th day of the series

1998 – Australia won by 7 wickets – Another dreadful Perth experience for England as they were shot out for just 112 on the opening day in just 39 overs. Tudor had a better WACA experience than he would have four years later and took four for 89 on debut. Again, England were only able to take the game into the third day.

1978 – England won by 166 runs - England’s only Test win at the WACA came against an Australian team ravaged by World Series Cricket defections. David Gower scored 102 and Rodney Hogg took 10 wickets as Australia fell well short of their victory target of 328.    

Prediction

Despite the curator's promise of a green and bouncy wicket, the WACA has lost much of its hostile reputation in recent years, so England's top six could be set to cash in again. This Englishman may regret his bravado, but we go for England to break their Perth hoodoo to give Strauss the best of early Christmas presents.

Where next?

Michael Beer's shock selection for the WACA explained

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

The Boundary View: Swann soars as England stroll - Adelaide, Day Five

 
Swann soars

So, Brisbane was just a blip for Graeme Swann after all despite the doom and gloom merchants suggestingthat he was just the latest off-spinner to find Australian wickets a graveyard. Here in Adelaide though Swann has provided both wickets and control to produce match figures of 70.1-14-161-7. The pitch may have been on his side in the second innings, but Swann bowled beautifully and will be confident that he can strut through the rest of the series now.

King pair

Ryan Harris may have been the pick of a rather dismal Australian attack in Adelaide, but he is no test match number eight. He followed his unlucky golden duck in the 1st innings by padding up to James Anderson first ball to complete a king pair. Again he referred the decision - more in hope than expectation this time - and again the decision went against him. With Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Broad both recording ducks at Brisbane, no number eight has yet scored a run in the series.

Soft centres?

In the Sunday Times this weekend, Martin Johnson suggested that the Australian cricket team's toothlessness could be down to the "namby-pamby nanny state" that the country has become. We're not sure about that - witness Simon Katich's bravery yesterday - but Australia certainly folded today with barely a whimper. The writing was on the wall as soon as Steve Finn forced Michael Hussey to miscue an attempted pull straight to James Anderson at mid-off. Anderson, who had been poor in the innings thus far, then got Brad Haddin and Harris in successive balls. When Marcus North was adjudged leg before after a review to Swann two balls later it was all over for Australia.

Like father, like son?

Not this time. In the build-up to the series a number of pundits (including us) suggested that Stuart Broad could emulate his father Chris - who hit three hundreds in the 1986/87 series - by playing a starring role in a successful jaunt down under. But the worst fears were confirmed as Broad Junior was ruled out of the rest of the tour with the stomach injury he suffered bowling on the fourth day. Only two matches ago, Broad was scoring 169 at Lord's - talk about the highs and lows of Test Cricket. 

Commentator's Curse?

Finn had just taken Hussey's wicket and the Sky Commentary team were heaping the praise with Shane Warne enthusing about how well Finn had bowled in Adelaide. So what happened next? Finn bowled a delivery straight out of the Mitchell Johnson school of bowling - it started wide and wentwider as it went miles past North's leg stump and down to the boundary. Definitely a case of commentator's curse as Warne opined himself.

Player of the day

Graeme Swann was asked to produce the goods and he didn't disappoint with his 10th five wicket haul in Test cricket.

Zero of the day

It's hard to look past Marcus North, who is now likely to leave the last chance saloon with a one way ticket to the obscurity of domestic cricket.

Prospects for Perth

Australia look in disarray and will need every one of the nine days before the Perth test starts to get their house in order. There will be more changes - Katich, who is out of the series now with his achilles, is one. North looks vulnerable as does Doherty and Doug Bollinger hardly covered himself in glory. England will be on a high and other than a shootout between Tremlett, Shahzad and Bresnan for Broad's place, will head to Perth via Melbourne with none of the worries etched on Ricky Ponting's brow.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Day 4 at Adelaide dissected: Two out of three ain't bad

Day 3 at Adelaide dissected: Double Trouble & The Able KP

Day 2 at Adelaide dissected: Cook serves up a dish of deja vu and That won't work either, Punter...

Day 1 at Adelaide dissected: Australia capsizes to Jimmy  and Dear Jimmy...

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test: Adelaide - Preview: Can England make psychological blows count?

 
England's fightback at Brisbane was nothing short of astounding as they turned likely defeat into a psychologically advantageous draw. Like most England fans, we were thinking "here we go again", as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook just survived to the close on the end of the 3rd day still over 200 runs behind.

But we were wrong and the 'Gabbatoir' became Australia's slaughterhouse over the next two days as first Strauss and Cook, and then Cook and Trott wrote their way into the record books. How could we ever have doubted you, England?

If a scorecard of 517/1 gave England the edge at the Gabba, then the subsequent dropping of Australia's misfiring attack leader Mitchell Johnson is another psychological blow for Ricky Ponting and his men. Whilst Johnson's performance in Brisbane was dreadful, removing him from the team after one test suggests there is panic and uncertainty in the Australian camp.

Adelaide is likely to be another paradise for batsmen to fill their boots and for bowlers to toil and if Brisbane taught as anything, it is that both teams are going to struggle to take 20 wickets on good pitches. That said, Australia were unable to make scoreboard pressure count in England's second innings at The Gabba and it will be interesting to see what happens if the roles are reversed in Adelaide.

For Australia, Marcus North has taken Michael Hussey's stool in the last chance saloon and there are question marks as to whether Doug Bollinger and/or Ryan Harris will come in. Michael Clarke also looked out of sorts in Brisbane and Xavier Doherty probably has just this match left to show that he is a better bowler than a first-class average of 50 suggests.

England look in better shape. The top three scored hundreds in Brisbane and both Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell looked in fine fettle. England's seamers looked sharper than their Australian counterparts too - Peter Siddle apart - and James Anderson showed that he is a completely different bowler from four years ago. England's only real problem centres on Swann, who had a poor Test to bring back all the question marks over the effectiveness of off-spinners on Australian wickets.

Both teams will be looking to win the toss and post a big 1st innings score and then see if they can make scoreboard pressure count.

Likely line-ups

England are likely to be unchanged barring any late injuries, although there has been some mutterings that Ajmal Shahzad, whose ability to get reverse swing should suit the Adelaide wicket, may come in for Steve Finn.

For Australia, we know that there will be at least one change with Bollinger or Harris coming in for Johnson. Both may play if the selectors decide to leave Ben Hilfenhaus out too.

Look out for...

Kevin Pietersen looked better than he has for ages during his 43 at Brisbane and a big score cannot be that far away. He scored 158 in the last Adelaide Test and being fond of the limelight, he will be especially determined to steal away some of Cook's thunder. 

Marcus North has a habit of saving his skin just when you think he is a goner, so don't be surprised if he hits his sixth Test hundred - and his first in Australia.

The resumption of the war of words between Shane Watson and James Anderson, which threatened to boil over at times in Brisbane and which should continue to provide excellent theatre.

Previously at Adelaide

Australia have won 16 of 29 Tests against England at Adelaide, whilst the visitors have triumphed on eight occasions. Here is what happened in the last four, along with Adelaide's most famous Test of all:

2006 - Australia won by six wickets: The nadir of a dreadful series for England saw them start the final day 97 runs ahead with nine wickets left on a flat track before Shane Warne induced an almighty panic, leading to the most ignominious of defeats.

2002 - Australia won by an innings and 51: Despite a brilliant 177 from Michael Vaughan, England could only muster 342 batting first. A ruthless Australia responded with 552 for nine with Ponting hitting 154 and England then folded for 159 in their second innings.

1998 - Australia won by 205 runs: At 187/3, with Hussain and Ramprakash going well, England were looking good in response to Australia's 391, but then came the all-too familiar batting collapse as the last seven wickets fell for 40. Chasing an unlikely 443, England succumbed in their 2nd innings too - this time for 237 - and Australia had retained the Ashes again.

1995 - England won by 106 runs: England's last win in Adelaide was their only moment of joy in the 1994/95 series. Australia led by 66 on 1st innings, but a belligerent 88 off just 95 balls by Phil De Freitas enabled England to set the Aussies 263 to win. Devon Malcolm and Chris Lewis then took four wickets apiece as Australia could only make 156.

1933 - England won by 338 runs: The most infamous Test match ever? It nearly broke an Empire. With the series locked at 1-1, England slipped to 30 for four before recovering to 341. Then the real drama unfolded as first Woodfull and then Oldfield were felled by Larwood. Cables were exchanged between the ACB and MCC, mounted police kept a baying crowd from rioting and Jardine maintained his iron rule as England cantered to victory. 

Prediction:

It is difficult to see either side taking 20 wickets, so we go for a draw. However, if England win the toss and post a big first innings score, don't be surprised to see the Aussies collapse like at Lord's and The Oval in 2009.

Where next?

England's best Test performances of the noughties

Ten tips for The Ashes

Zeroes: Mitchell Johnson

The 25 Greatest Ashes Tests of them all: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3

Ashes 100-1: 5 - England vs Australia A: England marks out of 10

 
Mission accomplished. England have successfully negotiated their three warm-up matches winning two comfortably and having the better of a rain affected draw against South Australia. On previous tours, England have been embarrassed by Australia A - but not this time as the second string bowling attack and the blade of Ian Bell proved too much for Cameron White's fledglings in Hobart.

So England now move on to Brisbane and the real action with pretty much all cylinders firing. Strauss, Cook and Bell have all hit hundreds, Collingwood looks to have regained his touch, the first and second string bowlers have all hit their straps and there are no injuries. There are some concerns over Kevin Pietersen - but he tends to save his best for the big occasion - and Jonathan Trott, whose highest score to date is 41. But these are reasonably minor worries and overall England look in fine fettle.

Sky Sports are to be applauded for showing the Australia A game as with our insomniac five month daughter, it has enabled the small hours to pass more pleasurably over the last four nights. As such, here is how the England XI rated over the game plus our view on their readiness for the series:

Andrew Strauss – 6: Looks in really good touch even if he only scored 10 in the first innings. His defensive field placings really got up the nose of the Channel 9 commentators, but overall marshalled his troops well. Verdict: Two centuries in three warm-ups mean Strauss is ready to make-up for his poor 2006/07 series

Alastair Cook – 7: Continued his upturn in form from the first warm-up match but again looked scratchy until he’d played himself in. Poor shot to get out, but looks ready for the Gabba. Verdict: As ready as someone with Cook's technical flaws could be 

Jonathan Trott - 6: Hit his highest score of the tour and looked comfortable enough until he was beaten for pace by Cameron for a horrible looking dismissal. Verdict: Was due a run of low scores after his run filled English summer and appears to be pretty unflappable, so more or less ready

Kevin Pietersen – 3: It looked like the old swagger and confidence had returned, but his nightmares against left arm spinners resurfaced when inexplicably playing down the wrong line to a straight one from O’Keefe. It will be fascinating to see if he can return to past glories when the real action starts. Verdict: Could have done with one big score in the warm-up matches, but we are still backing him to fire

Paul Collingwood – 8: A second successful score of 80+ means the Trojan of the Trenches looks ready for hand to hand combat with the Australians in Brisbane. Verdict: Looks back in nick and ready for action

Ian Bell – 9.5: A sublime and dreamy innings from a man who appears to be in the form of his life. The way he took apart Smith was both brilliant and ruthless. Verdict: Finally, it looks like Bell’s time to shine against the Australians has arrived.

Matt Prior – 6: Continues to impress with the gloves where the improvement since he first appeared for England is massive. Decent enough cameo with the bat – albeit with a disappointing dismissal. Verdict: Would have liked to have scored more runs in the warm-up matches

Tim Bresnan - 7: Six wickets with the ball and a useful 36 with the bat means it was a successful match for the willing Yorkshireman. But test class? We're not so sure. Verdict: Won't lack for application if he gets a chance in the series, but is he good enough?

Ajmal Shahzad - 6: Not even in the squad, but was the best performer with the ball in the first innings especially in the first session of the match. Slipped back in the second innings but the feeling persists that his bowling style may suit Adelaide. Verdict: Unlikely to get a chance, but showed that England have real strength in depth

Chris Tremlett – 8: Is the next cab on the rank for a place in the bowling attack and match figures of 7/121 shows that the big Surrey bowler will be ready when called upon. Flower and Strauss should seriously consider putting him in the XI at Brisbane - even if that would be harsh on Finn. Verdict: Looks, fit, focused and in-form. Get him in.

Monty Panesar – 7: Looks to have recaptured his enjoyment for the game. Took a stunning catch, did his job at nightwatchman with aplomb and bowled with control and accuracy, before finally being rewarded with three second innings wickets. Verdict: If England opt for two spinners at Adelaide and/or Sydney then Monty is ready

Where next?

See THAT catch by Monty again and again and... 

England's Ashes preparations: Is it all going a bit too smoothly?

10 reasons why Australia / England will win the Ashes

Ashes Squad Player Profiles: Australia and England

England's Ashes Preparations - Is it all going a bit too smoothly?

Normally at this point on an England Ashes tour the talk would be of injuries, embarrassing performances against State and representative sides, selection conundrums and the likely margin of defeat in the test series. Even on England's last successful jaunt down under in 1986/87, Martin Johnson (no, not that Martin Johnson) - then of The Independent, famously tagged them as the team that 'can't bat, can't bowl and can't field' after some dismal performances in the warm-up matches.
 
This time things are completely different as Ian Bell showed today with his sublime hundred against Australia A at Hobart, which came just as England were experiencing a bit of a wobble. Just as important is there are no injuries to worry about - touch wood. Furthermore, England were impressive in victory against Western Australia in their first warm-up match, had the better of South Australia in their second and have looked impressive for the most part against Australia A after two days of their final warm-up match.
 
All of the top six, with the exception of Jonathan Trott, have reached fifty at least once and Andrew Strauss and Bell in particular look in fine fettle. The first choice bowling quartet have hit their straps to such an extent that Andy Flower decided to rest them from the Australia A match and send them to Brisbane early to acclimatise to the unique conditions of the Sunshine State. And the second string attack of Tremlett, Shahzad, Bresnan and Panesar showed on the opening day in Hobart that they are ready to step into the Test XI if and when required by shooting out Australia A for 230.
 
There are some mild concerns of course. Question marks still persist over Alastair Cook despite a hundred against South Australia and his 60 against Australia A - there is nothing wrong with his mental strength or concentration but the flaws in his technique that troubled him throughout the English summer are still evident. The other batting concern is Kevin Pietersen, who despite saying that he 'feels on fire' and delivering some cocksure cameos in the warm-up matches to date, still seems to be having inexplicable trouble when he comes up against innocuous left arm spinners. His dismissal today against O'Keefe was frankly shambolic - KP would doubtless take a gaggle of left arm spinners into Room 101 along with his captain when at Nottinghamshire Jason Gallian, Graeme Smith and Peter Moores.
 
But overall things couldn't have gone better and the ECB's wisdom of insisting on three first-class warm-up matches prior to the 1st Test could well pay handsome dividends come Brisbane. Certainly England will have no excuses for being undercooked this time. Strauss and Flower's only probable additional wish would have been to play one of the warm-up matches in Brisbane - but Cricket Australia were never going to allow that.
 
All the problems seem to be Australia's. They've lost their last three tests and have question marks over the form and fitness of a number of players. In the first category are Hussey, North and Johnson (despite his hundred for Western Australia in the current Shield match), whilst severalplayers - Katich, Haddin, Bollinger and Siddle have only recently returned from injury lay offs and Michael Clarke's back is causing some concern.
 
All this and the ridiculous posturing of Cricket Australia's marketing department, may explain why the selectors announced an initial squad of 17 for the Brisbane test. But it would seem that the selectors are split on whether to introduce new blood in the shape of Khawaja and Ferguson (who both failed in the 1st innings at Hobart) or stick for now with the likes of Hussey and North who both fell cheaply again in the current round of Shield matches.
 
Indeed, none of Australia's likely top seven for Brisbane have performed for their state sides over the last few days. With Clarke resting his aforementioned back, Watson made 6 and 15, Katich 1 and 36, Haddin 10 and 17, and Ponting 7 and 27 in the New South Wales - Tasmania match at the SCG.
 
As a result of all the uncertainty surrounding the home side, England have almost slipped under the radar. The usual venom of the Australian press has been directed at their own team and when added to everything else that has gone in their favour to date, England couldn't have asked for better preparation for what promises to be a pulsating series.
 
Have things gone too smoothly? Maybe, but this England side has proved its resilience plenty of times in the last 18 months and they have the character and unity to batten down the hatches when the inevitable challenges come their way. That said, Flower will still be praying that his side avoid crossing the path of too many black cats before his side steps on to the Gabba next Thursday - as we've said before this series is likely to be too close to call and the team that has the better luck could well prevail.

Where next?

10 reasons why Australia / England will win the Ashes

Ashes Squad Player Profiles: Australia and England

Australia win the Ashes 17-16 

Is this how England's World Cup squad should look?

So the Ashes squad was named yesterday and other than Shahzad for Bresnan, we were happy with the selectors choice even if the decision to omit Rashid from the Performance Squad was strange to say the least (see our reaction to the Ashes squad announcement here).

The battle for the little urn isn't the only major event that the England team will embark upon this winter. There is also the small matter of the World Cup and with the one day series with Pakistan having concluded this week (see our marks out of ten for the England squad here), then it seems an opportune time to pick our intrepid XV who will battle to lift a trophy that no England side has won.

Mike Atherton recently chaired a panel of so-called cricket experts comprising Darren Gough, Alec Stewart and Derek Pringle to name their England XV for the World Cup. They surprisingly left out Andrew Strauss, who promptly scored his 126 at Headingley in the hours that followed the transmission of the panel's choice.

As such we wisely chose to wait for the end of the series (no television deadlines for us). We do concur though with one of the views of the panel, who suggested that England should utilise an extended squad for the seven (oh no, not seven again) one day internationals against Australia that immediately proceed the World Cup.

This will enable England to rest key players and then make the borderline decisions that will be required to arrive at the final XV by picking players in form. As such, we will name 20 players, but highlight at the end the 15 we would choose now so no one can accuse us of sitting on the fence.

Batsmen

With Strauss, Morgan, Pietersen and Collingwood probably assured of their places in the final squad, it will likely come down to two from Bell, Trott and Bopara. Each offers something different. Bell is the most talented batsman of the three and as he showed in the recent CB Final is capable of shifting through the gears to play a match-winning innings. Trott averages just under 50 in his 11 ODIs and whilst there is some concern over his strike rate, it is difficult to argue against the volume of runs. But if he doesn't bat in the pivotal number three role (where KP is arguably a better bet), can Trott fit in anywhere else in the middle order? Bopara would seem the best suited of the three to the number six role as he can repair, embellish and support a one day innings in equal measure depending on what is required. His medium pace could also prove useful on the slower sub-continent wickets.

Wicketkeepers

Davies would seem to be in pole position to open the batting with Strauss and wear the gloves in the tournament following a good showing against Pakistan. That leaves Kieswetter and Prior to battle it out for the second wicketkeeper slot if indeed England decide to pick a second keeper in the final XV (it could come down to a choice between a second keeper and a third spinner). In our view, Prior has had enough chances at one day level without ever really convincing so should be left to concentrate on test cricket where he has shone over the last 18 months. Kieswetter's ability to hit over the top may actually make him better suited than Davies to the wickets on the sub-continent, but he may complete his hero-to-zero 12 months by failing to make the cut.

Spinners

Two spinners will be needed in the XI in the World Cup, so three may well be required in the squad. Swann and Yardy are clearly in pole position, but the latter doesn't take many wickets and proved expensive in the series against Pakistan. Samit Patel is a better batsman and bowler than Yardy and in our opinion should be selected irrespective of his supposed girth. The other option is Rashid, but unless the selectors have decided to keep him as a secret weapon then his omission from the Performance Squad tells us everything we need to know.

Bowling all-rounders

Despite rarely taking wickets with the new ball and being regularly carted around for runs, the selectors seem set on retaining Bresnan in the XI. Wholehearted trier? Yes. Useful runs down the order? Yes, sometimes. Bowls the occasional good spell with the old ball. Occasionally. But surely England need a more potent option to open the bowling? The other permanent feature in England ODI squads is Luke Wright. We wouldn't take him in our XV, but hell why not give him the chance to prove us wrong in Australia.

Seamers

We actually agree with the selectors decision not to blood Steve Finn in ODI cricket and he should be left to concentrate on tests for the time being. Anderson and Broad pick themselves and to that illustrious duo we would add the names of Shahzad and Tremlett.

So, the Reverse Sweep longlist of XX for the one day series with Australia is (with our current choice for the World Cup XV in bold): Strauss, Trott, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Bopara, Davies, Kieswetter, Prior, Swann, Yardy, Patel, Rashid, Bresnan, Wright, Broad, Anderson, Shahzad, Tremlett.