The Reverse Sweep

County Championship XI of the week #9

Paul Horton (Lancashire) - Whilst Joe Root's hundred at Northampton was a more classy knock, Horton carried his bat in a 225 minute rearguard for 49 not out, enabled others to play around him and secured his side a lead that finally led to the reigning champions breaking their duck for the season.

Michael Thornely (Leicestershire) - Overcame the disappointment of missing his maiden first-class ton by three runs in the 1st innings to secure it second time around to frustrate Glamorgan at Cardiff.

Nick Compton (Somerset) - The weather may have prevented him from reaching the Holy Grail of 1,000 first-class runs by the end of May, but achieving the milestone just one day late with his fourth ton of the season was still a mightily impressive feat for the grandson of the Brylcreem Boy.

Marcus North (Glamorgan) - Sublime hundred helped Glamorgan - the Australian's sixth county - top 550 at Cardiff even if it did provide an impressive template for Thornely and Eckersley to emulate shortly after.

Alex Gidman (Gloucestershire) - The captain stroked 129 as high-flying Derbyshire were surprisingly downed at Bristol.

Ben Stokes (Durham) - A first championship ton of the season set up a tremendous match at Chester-le-Street and demonstrated that the talented youngster's star is going in the other direction from that of his rapidly fading bottom of the table side.

Ned Eckersley (Leicestershire) - A career best 137 not out saw the keeper add 245 in 88 overs with Thornely and earn his side a draw at Cardiff.

Will Gidman (Gloucestershire) - Why settle for one Gidman brother in the XI when you can have two? Will took four for 29 to skittle Derbyshire for 95 and then after Alex's hundred followed up with four more in the 2nd innings at Bristol.

Luke Proctor (Lancashire) - A maiden first-class five for saw Durham shot out for just 102 in the basement battle at Chester-le-Street. Three more when the home side batted for the second time helped the champions finally record a first win of the campaign.

Kyle Hogg (Lancashire) - Grabbed four wickets as the support act to Proctor and as he did several times last season added vital runs with the bat - 33 in the 1st innings to earn a decent lead and a quickfire 13 not out to beat Onions and the clock in the nick of time as the match came to a tumultuous end.

Graham Onions (Durham) - A career best eleven for 95 was still not enough to foil Lancashire, but his season record of 34 wickets at 12.61 and a strike rate of 29.7 plus the fact he is a more like-for-like replacement for the rested Anderson means he could earn his first Test cap for two and a half years at Edgbaston later this week.

Where next?

The Holy Grail, Nick Compton, Indiana Jones and the dastardly Graeme Hick

Read our previous County Championship weekly XIs

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

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

County Championship 2012 Preview: Division 2 - Glamorgan

The slightly acrimonious departure of Alviro Petersen saw a second successive winter of discontent in Wales. Can they improve on last season's sixth place finish?

Strengths

With the loss of Petersen, the batting will depend heavily on opener Gareth Rees, captain Mark Wallace and William Bragg - the latter two who both reached 1,000 runs last year. The addition of Marcus North and Moises Henriques to share overseas player duties should help lighten the load. England prospect James Harris and spinner Dean Cosker lead the attack.  

Weaknesses

A huge load is placed on the young shoulders of Harris as the rest of the seam attack has a pedestrian look to it. The loss of Petersen will only slightly be reduced by the arrival of North, who unlike the South African is past his best.

Main man

Injury restricted him last season, but having had an operation over the winter James Harris is set and raring to go. Glamorgan's fortunes depend heavily on him continuing to impress leading the line and providing useful lower order contributions.

Look out for

Plenty of rancour if Petersen returns to Cardiff with Essex for the Championship game on may 2nd.

Prediction

7th - A season of struggle.

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 - Glamorgan

Check out all our Reverse Sweep cricket heroes and zeroes 

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Shane Watson wins lots of awards for nearly being good

 
Perhaps one of the best indications of Australian cricket being in the doldrums is the fact that Shane Watson has won the Allan Border medal for the second successive year. Not only that, but he won the awards for the best Test and ODI player too.

Now we’re not exactly big fans of Watson here at the Reverse Sweep, but this post isn’t intended to be a dig at Twatto, but more that someone who did okay – no more – can scoop all the big prizes.

Watson’s Test record for the qualification period was decent but hardly spectacular - 847 runs at 44.57 and 16 wickets at 29.25. He only scored the one hundred – an admittedly excellent knock at Mohali - and other than that he perfected the art of reaching 50 and then getting out as well as providing hilarity by serially running his batting partner out.

In ODIs, Watson’s record was similarly steady but hardly earth shattering with 858 runs at 40.85 and 20 wickets at 26.60. Again, he only registered the one hundred – that magnificent 161 not out against England at Melbourne.

But when you look who his closest challengers were, it is difficult to find an argument for not giving Watson the awards. In the Test category, Mitchell Johnson was runner-up and Mike Hussey was third. Anyone who saw Johnson bowl at Brisbane in the Ashes may find this rather amusing. They must have been rolling in the aisles when they discovered that Marcus North came fourth.

Whilst in the ODI category, Watson’s nearest challengers were Michael Clarke and Cameron White. Beating a man who is increasingly being booed by his own supporters is hardly something to write home about - if indeed, Watson can write anything more than his name.

And having won the second and third most prestigious prizes, Watson was obviously going to be a shoo-in for the Allan Border medal.

So, it seems Australian cricket has come to this. A bloke that did alright – nothing more – sweeps the board when the individual prizes are handed out, whilst a wayward fast bowler who only performs well on his home ground in Perth finishes second in the Test category.

History will record the years 2007-2011 as Australian cricket’s mediocre years. The only question is how much longer will this era last?

Where next?

Zeroes: Shane Watson

Zeroes: Mitchell Johnson

Check out all our other Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

Exclusive: The New Ten Point Pakistan Player Code of Conduct

Full coverage of the Ashes 2010/11 series

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

How England won the Ashes: Part 4 - Runs, runs, runs...

 
Despite England finally managing to win on Australia Day of all days, we are still not bothered too much by the never ending story that is the one-day series. Time to look back again, then…

With the notable exception of Jonathan Trott, England’s top six came into the Ashes series with doubts hanging over them after a collective poor return against Pakistan over the summer. Ian Bell, who had been injured for the Pakistan tests, was deemed a concern too given his previously poor record against Australia.

The man considered the biggest concern was Alastair Cook, with some pundits, including as shrewd a judge as Michael Atherton, calling for the opener to be dropped in favour of Eoin Morgan with Trott promoted to open. Thankfully, England’s selectors stuck with their man and Cook repaid them by transforming himself into a left-handed Herbert Sutcliffe to score more runs in a test series than any Englishman ever except Wally Hammond in 1928/29.

And it wasn’t just Cook. For those that grew up in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, you will doubtless be familiar with Roy Castle singing “dedication is what you need…if you want to be a record breaker”.

Perhaps this tune was played alongside KP's favourite Carly Simon song on the dressing room stereo, as this is exactly the mantra that England’s batsmen followed during the series. Having all got into nick in the crucial warm-up matches prior to the 1^st Test, England’s batsmen showed exemplary patience and good judgment throughout the series – except in the aberration that was Perth. But even though they left the ball much better than the Australians, England still managed to post a higher run-rate per over for the series – 3.5 to 3.1.

In seven innings, England reached 500 four times. They hit their highest totals ever in Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney, with the latter being England’s highest ever test total in Australia.

In those seven innings, England’s batsmen hit nine hundreds (Cook (3), Trott (2), Strauss, Pietersen, Bell and Prior) – with six being at least 135 or over, compiled 11 hundred partnerships and all of the top seven – with the exception of Paul Collingwood – comfortably averaged above 40 for the series.

The comparison with the Australians was stark. The home side only once passed 400 in ten innings, hit just three hundreds (Hussey (2) and Haddin), only had four century partnerships and three batsmen averaging over 40 for the series (Hussey, Haddin and Watson). And unlike Cook, Australia’s premier opener Watson was unable to even convert one of his several good starts into three figures. That meant that with Australia’s supposed best batsmen Ponting and Clarke having dreadful series', none of Australia’s top four registered even one hundred.

If that wasn’t enough proof of how much Australia were outgunned with the bat, how about the fact that their average runs per wicket lost in the series was 28.9 to England’s 51.1? Or even that England had Bell coming in at six instead of North or Smith. Now that is perhaps the most damning point of all!

Where next?

Read all the excerpts from KP's 2010 Ashes Diary

How England won the Ashes: Part 1 - Preparation

How England won the Ashes: Part 2 - Inspired selections

How England won the Ashes: Part 3 - Hunting as a pack

Ashes 2010/11: Australia series marks out of 10

Ashes 2010/11: England series marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including amongst others James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Graham Gooch, Dennis Lillee and Mitchell Johnson

Follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Ashes 2010/11: Australia series marks out of 10

 
Australia's selectors confusingly named a 17 man squad prior to the Brisbane Test, so it is perhaps fitting that 17 men - not the same 17 mind - were eventually used throughout the series. Here are how they rated:

Shane Watson - 6 (5 Tests, 435 runs at 48.33, HS 95; 3 wickets at 74.33, BB 1/30): 435 runs and four fifties wouldn't normally be a bad series return especially in a well-beaten side, but Watson's failure to go on to record even one big score after getting to 36 eight times demonstrated that he is still a lower-middle order batsman desperately trying to be an opener. Doesn't rotate the strike enough, although maybe his abysmal running between the wickets has something to do with that after being involved in three catastrophic run-outs in the series. A reluctant bowler.

Simon Katich - 4 (2 Tests, 97 runs at 24.25, HS 50): Probably has the same low opinion of Shane Watson as us after being run out without facing a ball in the batting paradise of Adelaide. Started the series with a typically gritty 50 and ended it prematurely in Adelaide on one leg bravely refusing a runner. Australia missed his battling qualities thereafter, but with a team to reconstruct it is unlikely that the 35 year old will wear the Baggy Green again.

Phillip Hughes - 3 (3 Tests, 97 runs at 16.16, HS 31): Looked all at sea when he came in at Perth especially against Tremlett, but improved steadily match by match. However, a top score of 31 in three Tests is not good enough for an opening batsman and he would appear to have so many technical deficiencies that one wonders whether he will ever make a successful test batsman. Another sold down the river by Watson's keystone cops running, but he served his revenge cold in the second innings at Sydney.

Ricky Ponting - 2 (4 Tests, 113 runs at 16.14, HS 51*): Could it have been any worse for Ponting? Became the first Australian skipper to preside over three Ashes reverses since Billy Murdoch - when Queen Victoria was on the throne. Then there was his batting, where he made less runs in the series than Siddle and Johnson. Finally, his epitaph as captain - and maybe even as a test player - was the unseemly incident with the umpires at Melbourne. A broken finger is the least of his problems. 

Usman Khawaja - 6 (1 Test, 58 runs at 29.00, HS 37): Came in for his debut Test at Sydney with an increasingly desperate Australian press hyping him so much we were expecting the new Brian Lara. Khawaja did reasonably well though, dismissively pulling his second delivery in test cricket for four and generally looking composed and relaxed at the crease. Expect to see much more of him in the Baggy Green.

Michael Clarke - 4 (5 Tests, 193 runs at 21.44, HS 80): With Ponting's form deserting him, it was up to the vice-captain to step up to the plate. Clarke failed dismally and was guilty of a number of careless dismissals - especially getting out to Pietersen in Adelaide after his one decent knock of the series. Became Australia's 43rd Test captain at Sydney and quickly found that Lara Bingle was easy to manage in comparison. Is Clarke the tough character required to lead the rebuilding project? We're not so sure.

Michael Hussey - 9 (5 Tests, 570 runs at 63.33, HS 195): Came into the series with the axe hovering over his head, but emerged as Australia's best performer. Batted like Superman at Brisbane and Perth and fully deserved his two centuries. And for three Tests he stood almost alone of Australia's top six in facing down the England attack. Faded at Melbourne and Sydney after the effects of the kryptonite wore off, but that should not detract too much from a fine series for Mr Cricket.

Marcus North - 2 (2 Tests, 49 runs at 16.33; 1 wicket at 110.00): Started the series with his head in the noose and was hung out to dry after the heavy defeat in Adelaide. Australia's best spinner in Brisbane and Adelaide - not that there was much competition, but looked all at sea with the bat especially against Swann. Another unlikely to don the Baggy Green again.

Steve Smith - 4 (3 Tests, 159 runs at 31.80, HS 54*; no wickets): Ridiculously picked as a number six by the increasingly erratic Australian selectors at Perth, Smith was clearly out of his depth. His leg-spin showed some promise, but he picked up no wickets and went at four and a half runs an over. He is not yet ready for test cricket with either bat or ball, although he certainly has some pluck as evidenced by his fifty on the final day of the series.

Brad Haddin - 7 (360 runs at 45.00, HS 136): Started off the series like a train with a brilliant century at The Gabba, which as part of his 300 partnership with Hussey seemed to have put Australia in control. Increasingly became derailed as the series wore on with careless dismissals and some none-too-pretty work with the gloves. How long will Haddin be able to fend off the challenge of young pretender Tim Paine?

Mitchell Johnson - 4 (15 wickets at 36.93, BB 6/38; 122 runs at 17.42, HS 62): The ultimate hit or miss cricketer. Atrocious in Brisbane, dropped for Adelaide, the matchwinner in Perth, poor in Melbourne and indifferent in Sydney. Bowled plenty of tripe and went at over four an over during the series, but when he gets it right - as he did in Perth - Johnson is unplayable and therein lies the paradox. Also blew hot and cold with the bat with two fifties and three ducks.

Ryan Harris - 6 (3 Tests, 11 wickets at 25.54, BB 6/47; 14 runs at 3.50, HS 10*): Came in at Adelaide and bagged a king pair, but was Australia's best (make that only) bowler without getting much reward. Cashed in at Perth with nine wickets, before going wicketless at Melbourne and picking up a stress fracture. Has the pace, ability and heart to make a return to the test side, but perhaps not the body.

Peter Siddle - 6.5 (5 Tests, 14 wickets at 34.57, BB 6/54; 154 runs at 19.25, HS 43): Started off the series with a bang at Brisbane with a hat-trick and six wickets, and then took another six for in his home test at the MCG. But only two other wickets in the other five innings he bowled in smacks of inconsistency and it is interesting that he was successful when bowling a slightly fuller length. Probably didn't expect to score more runs and have a better average than Ponting, but looks to have some promise with the bat. One for the Australian selectors to persevere with. 

Ben Hilfenhaus - 2 (4 Tests, 7 wickets at 59.28, BB 3/121; 55 runs at 11.00, HS 34): Was our tip as leading wicket-taker before the series but proceeded to bowl like a bowling machine stuck in one delivery. He had only played one test in Australia prior to the series and it transpired that he was a shadow of the bowler who did so well in the 2009 Ashes. Needs to watch religiously a DVD of how James Anderson bowled.

Doug Bollinger - 1 (1 Test, BB 1/130, 7 runs): Was full of talk before the series about how he was going to let Pietersen's ego get him out, but as plans go it was up there with playing russian roulette with a fully loaded gun given KP's double hundred. Went at 4.5 runs per over, showed poor fitness levels, and made Watson's body language look positive. Unsurprisingly, the selectors decided the champagne was flat after just the one test. 

Xavier Doherty - 1 (2 Tests, 3 wickets at 102, BB 2/41; 27 runs at 9.00): Plucked from nowhere by Australia's erratic selectors to replace Nathan Hauritz and started well with 2/41 in the 1st innings at Brisbane. The wheels fell off after that though with Doherty looking every inch what he was - a bowler with a first-class average of over 50. Went at over five an over in Adelaide, but did do what he was brought into the side for by getting Pietersen out - for 227!

Michael Beer - 2 (1 Test, 1 wicket at 112; 4 runs at 4.00): Was surprisingly picked in the squad for Perth after only a handful of first-class matches and was finally handed a debut at Sydney. Looked a better bet than Doherty, but the moment that he over-stepped and handed Cook a reprieve proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Australia. Did enough though to suggest that he may get another chance.

Where next?

1st Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

2nd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

3rd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

4th Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

5th Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

The Curious Case of Nathan Hauritz

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

Read KP's Ashes Diary exclusively at the Reverse Sweep

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Dear Santa...

 
With Christmas only two days away, we’d been wondering what some of cricket’s big names have asked Santa for.

Thanks to a renegade Elf in Santa's inner sanctum, all can now be revealed:

Shane Watson – the man who Carly Simon once wrote a song about has asked for his bedroom to be covered wall to wall and floor to ceiling with mirrors. He has also asked for a year’s supply of Kleenex. No, not for that! But in anticipation of more tears when he next gets out in the nervous nineties

Michael Clarke– a lifelike Lara Bingle rubber doll and a backbone

Jonathan Trott and Doug Bollinger – appointments with Jacques Kallis’ new hair consultant

Ricky Ponting – the hottest curry sauce of all – anything that means he can get amongst the runs again, but on no account does he want any Beer to go with it

Andrew Strauss- an exclusive membership of the club of Middlesex captains that have won an Ashes series down under. To date, Mike Gatting, Mike Brearley and Pelham Warner are the only members

Steve Smith– Being young he wants to learn, so he has asked Santa for  ‘The Marcus North Tutorial of Batting at Six’ and ‘The Idiots Guide to Leg-Spin by Chris Schofield'

Steve Finn– he had wanted clothes, but after being so expensive at the WACA he managed to bag a sponsorship deal with Prada, so the tall paceman now wants the same radar that Mitchell Johnson used in Perth

Matt Prior & Peter Siddle and Ian Botham & Ian Chappell – a pair of boxing gloves each so that they can take their respective war of words into the ring

Michael Hussey– some more kryptonite to ensure that he can reprise his Superman heroics at Melbourne and Sydney

Kamran Akmal  - A new set of wicketkeeper gloves made entirely out of velcro

Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif  - A damn good lawyer

Nathan Hauritz – Having got rid of his Australian kit at a recent garage sale, the discarded spinner now wants a fresh new kit from Santa in time to make a comeback in Sydney

MS Dhoni– some cotton wool in which to wrap up Zaheer Khan prior to every test match and particularly for the upcoming tours of England and Australia

Tim Bresnan and Jesse Ryder - a KFC Bargain Bucket per day for life

Ijaz Butt  - World War III

Harbhajan Singh– a set of Matthew Hayden’s cook books so that he can prepare a meal for his good friends Hayden and Andrew Symonds when he tours Australia later this year

Daniel Vettori - the Prime Ministership of New Zealand - well he does everything else. Either that or to wake up on Christmas Day as an Australian - there seems to be a vacancy for a spinner

Ian Bell – a DVD of the Famous Five, so he can prepare for his promotion up the batting order

Paul Collingwood – a guide to the best retirement homes in the North East of England

Mitchell Johnson – Kevin Pietersen’s phone number

Kevin Pietersen - A romantic dinner for two with Mitch

Where next?

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes featuring Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz amongst others

Historic India-Pakistan peace summit flounders on cricket diplomacy

Read KP's Ashes Diary exclusively at the Reverse Sweep

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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

Where do demoralised Australia go from here?

 
In the end Australia left Adelaide with barely a whimper and long before the arrival of the thunderstorm that must have being praying on English minds overnight. 
 
In truth the only storm that counts is the one that is now engulfing Ricky Ponting and the Australian selectors as they try to find an XI that can compete with England and somehow win two and draw one of the three remaining tests in the series. Otherwise, Ponting is in danger of having his legacy as the best Australian batsman since Bradman besmirched. Instead, he will forever be known as the captain that lost three Ashes series.
 
As an honest Ponting admitted, Australia were “out-batted, out-bowled and out-fielded” by a rampant England team. And as he and the selectors pick through the wreckage, the temptation will be to make wholesale changes to the side that takes the field at the WACA next week.
 
There will be at least one change, with Simon Katich’s achilles problem ruling him out of the rest of the series and given his years will perhaps curtail his test career for good. Phil Hughes is likely to return at the top of the order. Elsewhere, Marcus North’s position at number six will come under scrutiny and then there are the bowlers. Of the four who played in Adelaide, only Ryan Harris comes out with any credit with the other three all in danger of losing their place.
 
Aside form Andrew Strauss’ injudicious leave, Doug Bollinger looked was simply dreadful - he wasn't quick enough, leaked too many runs and his body language was terrible. He certainly lacked the fizz that his name would otherwise imply. As such Mitchell Johnson’s exile may only last for one match.
 
Peter Siddle has experienced the highs and lows of test cricket in just a week - six wickets and a birthday hat-trick on day one of the series and 54 wicketless overs since. Whilst he continued to run in and give it everything, Siddle looked like what he is – a bowler returning from a long-time injury. It is likely to come down to a borderline decision between him and Ben Hilfenhaus – who was inexplicably left out at Adelaide.
 
Both may play if the selectors opt for four seamers – as Xavier Doherty’s brief sojourn in test cricket will surely be put out of its misery. The gamble simply hasn’t worked – hardly surprising given his first-class record. However, having dispensed with Nathan Hauritz before the series, are the Australian selectors prepared to look a bit foolish by going back to him cap in hand now? Or do they turn instead to the rookie Steve Smith, who could take North’s place and provide support to a four-seam attack? If so, Mark Cameron of New South Wales is a good outside bet to join Harris, Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus in the squad.
 
If Hauritz gets the nod and Australia retain the four bowler policy with Shane Watson as back-up seamer, North could survive for his home test. Cameron White - a possible alternative to Clarke as next captain, Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson are all contenders for North's spot if the selectors press the eject button.
 
For what it’s worth our squad would be as follows, with the XI highlighted in bold: Watson, Hughes, Clarke, Hussey, Ponting, White, Haddin, Johnson, Hauritz, Harris, Hilfenhaus, Siddle and Smith. We've been calling for Ponting to drop down the order for a while. It will allow him to compartmentalise the captaincy and give him a better chance of getting back to his imperious best with the bat.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

1st Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

2nd Test: England marks out of 10, Australia marks out of 10

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

2nd Test - Adelaide: Australia marks out of 10

 
Ricky Ponting will know that from the fourth ball of the Test, his team were given an absolute hammering by England in Adelaide. His selectors now have some open heart surgery to conduct before naming the squad for the WACA. Katich is out injured and North, Doherty and Bollinger could all be dropped. A third series loss as captain is looking inevitable at the moment for Ponting.

Here's how the Aussies rated in Adelaide:

Shane Watson – 6: Scored two fifties and again looked in good touch, but he really needs to start converting some of these fifties into hundreds. Bowled tidily. Needs to improve his calling and running between the wickets.

Simon Katich – 4: His dreadful run out for a diamond duck started Australia's slide but he fought hard with the bat second time around. With his achilles ruling him out of the series, has he played his last Test?

Ricky Ponting – 2: A dreadful match for the skipper. A golden duck was followed by a real struggle against Swann in the 2nd innings. This all-time great deserves better than the insipid bowling attack he has at his disposal.

Michael Clarke – 6: Poor run continued in the 1st innings but showed real character in the 2nd even if he rode his luck at times. His dismissal to KP must have hurt nearly as much as Lara Bingle's infidelity.

Michael Hussey - 8: Mr Cricket's renaissance continued as he was out in the nervous nineties for the second Adelaide Ashes Test in a row. Fifty in the second innings gave Australia hope, but will be disappointed with his dismissal on the final morning.

Marcus North - 4: The notorious poor starter got to 20 in both innings, but was unable to press on and he will do well to survive for Perth. Was again Australia's best spinner in the match, but he didn't exactly have much competition.

Brad Haddin - 6: Looked a million dollars with the bat in the 1st innings, but Anderson got him with a beauty second time around. Continues to look fallible with the gloves although he took a wonderful diving catch to finally get Cook out. 

Ryan Harris – 6: Was Australia’s best bowler in the Test by a country mile - not difficult admittedly - and bowled with real heart and fire. Not a number eight after his king pair and doubtless not a fan of the Review System either.

Xavier Doherty – 1: Did what he was brought into do by taking Pietersen's wicket. The trouble being that KP had 227 by then and he returned figures of 1/158 from 27 impotent overs. No control, no flight, no guile and no chance of playing Test cricket again. Lucky to get 1.

Peter Siddle – 4: The highs and lows of Test cricket. Six wickets in the 1st innings at Brisbane and 0/211 since. Bowled with his usual heart but looked tired and lacking in quality.

Doug Bollinger – 1: No improvement on Mitchell Johnson. Went at nearly five an over, showed dreadful body language and would have gone wicketless but for Strauss’ misjudgement. The champagne over his recall has gone flat already. Come back Mitchell, all is forgiven.

Where next?

Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

1st Test: England marks out of 10

1st Test: Australia marks out of 10

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

The Boundary View: Australia capsize to Jimmy - Adelaide, Day One

 
Anything you can do, I can do better (or should that be worse?)...

We doubt that Ricky Ponting was singing this to Andrew Strauss as he left the crease, but Australia certainly made the England captain's third ball dismissal in Brisbane look small fry compared to what was their worst start to a test innings in 60 years. Jonathan Trott can take some credit for all three wickets given that his run out of a hesitant Simon Katich enabled James Anderson to get an early shot at Ponting and Michael Clarke. Anderson didn't disappoint producing two brilliant balls to induce edges from both captain and vice-captain to Graeme Swann at second slip.

Hussey and the drink from Krypton

We don't know what drinks they are serving in the last chance saloon these days, but whatever Michael Hussey drank must have had some kryptonite in it - unlike the tipple served today to Marcus North. For the second match in a row, the man who we described before the series as looking shot as a test batsman (which goes to show how much we know), got his side out of a very large hole. Once again, he enjoyed some luck at the start with Anderson dropping a difficult caught and bowled when he had only made 3. But also as at Brisbane, he was positive and busy at the crease and played Swann with ease - that is until the England spinner finally got one to spin to induce Hussey's edge seven runs short of what would have been his third hundred in his last three innings against England.

Michael Clarke's dial-a-number

Whilst the ball from Anderson that got Clarke was a good one, he didn't exactly look comfortable in his brief six ball stay at the crease - playing and missing twice at Broad and also looking seriously uncomfortable at a ball the same bowler directed towards his ribs. Clarke's last six test innings have amounted to 14, 4, 14, 3, 9 and now 2 - not good figures for Australia's vice-captain unless it is Lara Bingle's telephone number of course. 

UDRS fails again

We're not big fans of the Umpire Decision Review System at the Reverse Sweep - mainly because it doesn't do what it says it does on the tin. Snicko showed that Michael Clarke was caught behind for nought at Brisbane and it also showed that Ryan Harris got a thin edge to his first ball leg before today. Neither error was overturned when referred to the video umpire, which kind of makes a mockery of the supposed purpose of UDRS. Until the system can uphold or overturn all decisions correctly - including the use of Snicko, just get rid of it.

Player of the day

Four years ago, James Anderson was smacked all over the Adelaide Oval and returned match figures of 1/108 from just over 22 overs. As at Brisbane - though this time with more luck, Anderson showed he is twice the bowler now and used the new ball perfectly to start Australia's slide. 

Zero of the day

It has to be Simon Katich, who only has himself to blame for departing for a duck without facing a ball and thus missing the chance to bat on the batting paradise that is the Adelaide Oval. His error didn't just cost Australia his wicket either as it brought a vulnerable Ponting and Clarke out early to face the new ball.

What happens next?

We won't know how good (or bad) the pitch is until both teams have batted on it, but it would seem Australia are at least 300 runs short of a par score. If England have another day tomorrow  like day 4 or 5 at The Gabba, then this Test match should be theirs for the taking.  

Where next?

Follow the Reverse Sweep on Twitter

Adelaide Hero: Wally Hammond

1st Test, Brisbane - Marks out of 10: England and Australia

The Boundary View at Brisbane: Day 5 -  Records & Filth at The Gabba,  Day 4 - The Empire Strikes Back, Day 3 - The Hussey & Haddin Show, Day 2 - Mr Cricket Thwarts England, Day 1 - Siddle's Joy of Six

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

1st Test - Brisbane: Australia marks out of 10

Ricky Ponting cut a thoughtful figure after his powder-puff attack failed to get an English wicket on day five and the game petered out into a draw. Other than two Peter Siddle spells on day one and the occasional good ball from Ben Hilfenhaus, Australia's bowlers looked toothless. With Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris added to the squad for the Adelaide Test, changes could well be afoot.

Here's how the Aussies rated at Brisbane.

Shane Watson - 6: Good with the ball on the first morning but poor thereafter. Looked assured enough with the bat as England tested his propensity to get caught trapped in front. Acrimonious battle with Anderson was absorbing.

Simon Katich - 6: A solid fifty in the 1st innings before falling to Finn's brilliant return catch, but will head on to Adelaide with a sore foot and a cheap dismissal second time around against Broad on his mind.

Ricky Ponting - 5: Followed the ball too much in the field on days 4 and 5, although he must feel like a platoon leader whose men have no ammunition such is the paucity of his bowling options. Followed his leg-side dismissal in the 1st innings to come out with all guns firing in his second knock to show that at least he has some bullets of his own.

Michael Clarke - 2: A game to forget. Scratched around for a pretty desperate 9 from 50 balls after being erroneously reprieved before he had scored by the Review System and then dropped two catches.

Michael Hussey - 9: Showed real character to emerge from the last chance saloon with his place in the side intact. Rode his luck - especially against Anderson - but deserved his good fortune and could now choose his own moment to enjoy his test swansong. 

Marcus North - 4: The best spinner on display in the match, but failed with the day job once again. Will play at Adelaide, but will he stay be there come the end of the series?

Brad Haddin - 8.5: Not the best keeper - as evidenced when dropping Anderson to deny Siddle a 7th wicket, but a high quality batsman. We doubt he'll ever play a better or more restrained innings than he did here.

Mitchell Johnson - 0: No wickets. No runs. No catches. No points. Bowled absolute filth throughout and the comedy moustache just added to the joke - see Zeroes: Mitchell Johnson.

Xavier Doherty - 4: Not a pitch to make your debut on as a bowler. Bowled tidily enough but looked what he is - a spinner with a first-class average of over 50.

Peter Siddle - 8: A Jekyll and Hyde performance from Siddle. Was brilliant in the 1st innings as he took a hat-trick and six wickets on his birthday, but poor and expensive second time around.

Ben Hilfenhaus - 5: Looked unplayable in the first over of each innings - well that's how Strauss made it look anyway. But thereafter looked down on pace and was played with relative ease.

Where next?

1st Test - Brisbane: England marks out 10

All-time Australian Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin Kings

All-time England Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin King

The Boundary View: Mr Cricket Thwarts England - Brisbane, Day Two

 
Balance tips to Australia as Hussey exits the Last Chance Saloon

We've written recently that Michael Hussey looked shot as a test batsman. Now that we've wiped the egg off our face - and in our defence he only averaged 34 in his previous 28 tests - we have to commend him on a courageous innings.  Make no mistake when Hussey came to the crease he was playing for his career and when an edge dropped just short of slip to the first ball he faced, the butterflies in his stomach must have been fluttering harder. But he made most of his good fortune and bravely attacked rather than going into his shell - hitting Swann for three boundaries and a six early in his innings and being especially quick onto the pull when the bowlers dropped short.  Hussey's positivity balanced well with an uncharacteristically patient innings from Brad Haddin as Australia recovered from a precarious 143/5 to close just 40 runs behind England's 260.

A good two days for the Australian selectors

Australia's selectors took a lot of flak when first naming a 17 man squad for this test and then for a number of contentious selections in the final XI. But Peter Siddle and Xavier Doherty repaid the faith of Chappell, Hilditch and co yesterday and Hussey did the same today. If Marcus North had done the same then the selectors would have had a full house, but three out of four isn't bad.

Swann attack

Australia's strategy against Graeme Swann is clear - they intend to attack him and hit him out of the attack. At first, the tactics were a success as the spinner's first four overs cost 34 runs. But Swann is nothing if not tough and even if it wasn't one of his better days he fought back well to have North caught at slip and concede just 25 runs from his next 16 overs. 

Resilient England

Swann's refusal to buckle was mirrored by that of his team mates. Previous England teams would have given up the ghost after being bowled out for 260 and then seeing Australia reach 78/0. But Strauss and Flower have created a culture of resilience and with all the seamers bowling well to restrict Australia to a run rate of less than three runs an over, England fought their way back into the match. Australia have the slight edge, but with a new ball available immediately tomorrow morning and his bowlers refreshed from a night's sleep, Strauss will be confident that they can bounce back again.

Anderson and Watson go toe to toe 

The battle in the first session of the day between Anderson and Watson was Test Cricket at its best with some real needle and genuine mutual animosity going on between the pair - indeed it seems clear that Watson is not popular amongst the England players: hmm we wonder why? At first the Australian held the upper hand and was batting well. He looked particularly smug when England's spurious referral to the third umpire for a leg before that was bouncing over was refused. But maybe it unsettled Watson as he edged the very next ball to Strauss at slip to give Anderson the last laugh this time. 

Finn's spectacular dive

Steve Finn's inability to stay on his feet has caused much amusement during his short test career. But he used it to good effect to take a sharp full length diving caught and bowled to dismiss Simon Katich. For once, it was Finn that was laughing as he got to his feet. It was a dive of which Cristiano Ronaldo himself would have been proud.

Player of the day

It has to be Hussey for his career saving innings, even if England were guilty of dropping it short to him too often.

Zero of the day

A close call between Ricky Ponting for getting caught down the leg side just after lunch and Michael Clarke for his strange innings of 9 from 50 balls. We go for Clarke.

What happens next?

Tomorrow is boiling up to be the crucial one in the match. If Australia can see-off the new ball then they should be able to carve out a potentially decisive 100-150 run lead. However, if England make early in-roads we are likely to be down to a one innings match.

Where next?

The Boundary View: Siddle's Joy of Six - Brisbane, Day One

Zeroes: Shane Watson

10 reasons to love Graeme Swann

Ashes 100-1: 1 - Ten tips for the Ashes

 
It's been a real labour of love, but today sees the last post of our 100 day Ashes countdown collaboration with our good friends at World Cricket Watch. 100 posts in 100 days - it's been tough at times but on the whole its been enjoyable.

So with less than one day to go until Messrs Strauss and Ponting toss the coin and proceedings get underway at The Gabba, here are our ten tips for the series:

1. Despite England bowling out Australia for 80 at The Gabba to win the 1st Test, the Channel 9 commentary team are scathing in their criticism of Andrew Strauss' supposed negative captaincy

2. In an effort to cure his dodgy back, Michael Clarke gets back together with Lara Bingle. 

3. After scoring his first hundred for 20 months at Adelaide, KP decides that facial hair brings him good luck and by the time of the Sydney Test, he has a beard that would make Hashim Amla and Mohammad Yousuf proud.

4. Mitchell Johnson's first ball of the series goes straight to third slip and back in the Sky studio in London,  a certain Steve Harmison cannot contain his glee. Meanwhile, Mitchell's Mum - never one to shy away from publicity - does a centrefold spread in Playboy Australia.

5. Leading runscorer in the series? Ian Bell. Leading wicket-taker? Ben Hilfenhaus. Most grumpyplayer? Ricky Ponting. Most boring press conference? Michael Clarke every time.

6. At the Christmas Party proceeding the Melbourne Test, the karaoke choices if the players prove pretty telling. Shane Watson opts for 'Mr Vain', Stuart Broad 'You're So Vain', Ricky Ponting 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now', Jonathan Trott and Michael Clarke duet on 'Being Boring'before Kevin Pietersen rounds off proceedings with 'I Am The One and Only'.

7. Michael Hussey and/or Marcus North will be dropped before the end of the series for Usman Khawaja and/or Callum Ferguson.

8. The Australian selectors announce a collaboration with Simon Cowell called Spin Factor so that the public can pick the long-term successor to Shane Warne. After Doherty plays at The Gabba, Smith gets a turn at Adelaide, O'Keefe at Perth and Hauritz at Melbourne before the public pick the wildcard Bryce McGain in a special New Year's Day programme on Channel 9. McGain plays at Sydney and takes eight wickets.

9. Starved of action on the field, Tim Bresnan's weight balloons to 20 stone by the end of the series. Desperate to lose the pounds before the one dayers, he employs Jesse Ryder's fitness instructor. 

10. And the most important tip of all? We go for England to retain the Ashes in an extremely tight series either by virtue of drawing the series 2-2 or by sneaking a 2-1 or 3-2 win.

Let the action begin.

Where next?

Read all the articles of our Ashes 100 day countdown

10 reasons why Australia / England will win the Ashes

Ashes Squad Player Profiles: Australia and England

All-time Australian Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin Kings

All-time England Ashes XI: The Openers, Number 3, 4 and 5, All-rounder, Wicketkeeper, Fast bowlers, Spin King

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 

Ashes 100-1: 10 - Australia 17 Man Squad Keeps England Guessing

 
This morning we were rather mocking in our views on the Australian selectors picking a 17 man squad for the Brisbane Test - see Australia win the Ashes 17-16 - David Siddall of World Cricket Watch sees things differently...

So this morning cricket Australia announced an obscenely large 17 man squad 10 days before the Ashes because of apparent “financial and marketing strain” placed upon them. The squad of 17 is larger than the entire England touring party and contains 3 spinners in Hauritz, Doherty and Smith which also seems somewhat excessive.

What turned about to be a media non-event has been met by a scathing attack from Peter English at CricInfo. If the selectors hands were truly forced to name a squad so early by the marketing powers that lie within Cricket Australia, I feel Mr English’s attack is unwarranted and contravenes what’s best for the Australian cricket team.

An interesting sidenote exists here if we take a holistic approach to analysing the squad for a moment. The names selected for the squad itself have not gone down so well with certain sections of the fans. Some notable exceptions are Cameron White (a possible candidate for the captaincy), Philip Hughes (considered the next Bradman not so long ago) and Andrew McDonald (arguably the most in form all rounder in Australia). Yet to be frank, these exceptions come as no surprise with all three of the candidates much more likely to play a role in the inevitable rebuilding process.

Going back to the issue of the colossal squad then picking 17 players makes more sense than a streamlined 12 or 13. A lot of cricket is to be played in the week leading up to the opening test as there is a full round of the Sheffield Shield alongside the Australia A – England game at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

Frankly it is better for Australia to keep England guessing rather than locking in a team compromising of a few too many players struggling for form. What if Usman Khawaja scores a big ton against England and continues his rich vein of form? What if Xavier Doherty takes a five wicket haul? What if Marcus North and Michael Hussey continue to fail with the bat? These are questions that the Australian selectors need to know the answers to before they trim down their squad to a more respectable size.

Australia squad Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Xavier Doherty, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

Ashes 100-1: 17 - Could Xavier Doherty force me to eat my Wisden collection?

 
Today in our Ashes countdown, David Siddall of World Cricket Watch takes me to task on my withering assessment last week on Xavier Doherty's chances of playing in the upcoming Ashes series. With the paucity of spin options on offer to Ricky Ponting, I am prepared to concede that Mr Siddall may have a point and that I may be eating humble pie (or to be more accurate Wisden Pie) at some point over the next few weeks.

A few days back David Green delivered the verdict on the Australian squad (visit his Ashes 2010 Australian Squad Profiles). One notable profile was that of Xavier Doherty.

“Xavier Doherty – A first-class average of 50 with the ball suggests his mention in dispatches is perhaps a ploy to wind up that habitual victim of slow-left armers – Kevin Pietersen. If he plays in the series, we will eat our collection of Wisdens.”

Not one to mince his words, The Reverse Sweep, would eat his collection of Wisdens if he plays. As he rightly points out a first class average of 50 does not hold up to much and the figures don’t lie. But what Mr. Green does ignore is the fragility of the spin selection for the Australian starting lineup.

If we learned anything from the two tests in India, it was that Ricky Ponting has no faith in Nathan Hauritz. When the going got tough in Mohali and India, courtesy of VVS Laxman, chased down the most unlikely of targets it wasn’t Hauritz who Ponting turned to. He seemingly had more faith in the part time off spin of Marcus North. Faith that evidently wasn’t rewarded.

Amongst the World Cricket Watch team present at the MCG last Wednesday night, witnessing the wonderful “little” Sri Lankans beat Australia, there was a consensus that the Australian spin position is the spot that is the most up-for-grabs of them all. A sentiment exists that if any spinner does something spectacular in the Sheffield Shield, then they have every chance of featuring during the upcoming Ashes series. And that is exactly what Xavier Doherty did by claiming 5-83 in the first innings of Tasmania’s match against Victoria. Then having been called up to the Australian one day side he produced a bowling masterclass taking 4-46. And at one point had figures of 3 for 3.

A berth in the first test squad announced later tonight is extremely unlikely granted. But if Xavier produces the goods in one more Sheffield Shield game who’s to say whether he might not feature later in the series with the Reverse Sweep being forced to devour his cherished Wisdens.

Where next?

Is Australia's spin cupboard bare?

Zeroes: Michael Hussey

Let's play the Australian cricket captain lottery

Ashes 100-1: 20 - Let's play the Australian Cricket Captain Lottery

 
With just 20 days to go until the Ashes and rumours abound of disention within the Australian camp, Matthew Wood, World Cricket Watch columnist and writer at Balanced Sports, invites everyone to have a go at the Australian captaincy lottery.

The news that the Australian dressing room is split into camps for and against Michael Clarke’s fait-d’accompli ascension to the captaincy is hardly surprising.  Rarely is there a clear-cut situation after a captain departs the international scene, it just happens that Australia’s Golden Age of cricketers were born far enough apart to produce three fantastic individual performers in Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, who were each the natural successor to the previous captain.

The current Australian cricket team does not resemble those strong teams of the past.  Indeed, it resembles more the squad of a divided central board: a board that plays favourites and is looking only towards short term results.  Clarke has been management’s Golden Hair’d Boy since before his elevation to the captaincy of Australia A in 2003 over more experienced teammates.  True, he’s been about the only certainty to retain his place in the national setup Post-Ponting, but his lack of ability to lead publicly – like the current Aussie skipper – only casts more doubt on his ability to be effective in a role which infamously shoulders nearly as much pressure as the role of Australian Prime Minister.

It was news to me that Marcus North and Callum Ferguson were considered by corners of the dressing room a more worthy Test captain than Clarke.  That Cameron White – he of nearly ten years’ Victorian captaincy – was also named was less surprising.  (We actually posited on the best selections for captain previously -  check out the Great Cricket Debate and the Australia Ashes Squad Profiles posts) But after the last few months it’s emerged that Clarke is no longer unanimously the best choice to captain Australia after Ponting’s abdication.

Are there any more questions as to why?  Watch one of his pressers and you’ll know.  He’s about as transparent as shopfront glass and just as interesting.  It’s not just that though: it’s his lapsed romance with “Australia’s Classiest Lass” Bingle, it’s also his dressing-room confrontation with Simon Katich after a win last year and especially his veiled criticism of IPL-playing teammates in such a “holier-than-thou” manner.  That he’s nearly thirty and still bears the nickname “Pup” speaks volumes about his standing amongst his teammates: nicknames like “Rookie” or “The Kid” tend to disappear as the player assumes more authority but not in this case.

At present, both North and White are flawed selections, however.  This is simply because neither of them are able to justify their place in the Test team through their performances.  If a captain is unable to lead publicly then they must do so via their on-field prowess.

This, particularly, is what makes Clarke’s case compelling – he is now rivalled only by his openers as a Test batsman.  North and White, though both decidedly more affable and having more domestic leadership experience, have been unable to establish themselves in the Test side due to a lack of consistency, skill, opportunity or New South Wales blood.  In order to justify his position as skipper, a captain must deliver on-field and cricket history is rife with examples of leaders picked for their interpersonal or schmoozing skills but lacking the requisite on-field graft: Mike Brearley.  Brian Booth.  Lee Germon.  Mike Denness.  Darren Sammy.  Chris Cowdrey.  It’s no coincidence that three of the aforementioned are English, installed by an MCC board attempting to still the waters of revolution.  The revolution is coming again: this one Free Agency, pioneered by the West Indies, if only this time by necessity and money rather than by any pioneering spirit.

There always remains the ability to grow into the public leadership role as Alan Border did.  Border, a notoriously private man off the field, grew taciturn at even implied criticism yet was able to turn his media discomfort into an advantage as he created a whole new persona for himself as “Captain Grumpy”.  The problem with Clarke is that he’s had international leadership experience now for the best part of five years and has yet to grow into this role.  He hasn’t shown a maturity of personality that’s come with this experience, just a realisation that his performances have to justify his exalted status and as such he withdrawn into himself both on the field and off.  Rather than grow and expand his focus outward, Clarke has retracted with his eyes firmly on himself.  It’s not selfish, because I’m certain he sees himself as leading via performance rather than by inspiration.

And that’s not to say that one must choose to lead by performance or by inspiration.  Both Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh were able to do so successfully.  So were Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv Richards – in fact, all the great captains were able to combine the two elements.  Border grew into leading both ways.  It’s just one tends to, by their own experience, develop – value, even – one style more than the other.

Ponting’s imminent pasturing is not the real reason to sweat on a new captain.  The skipper has shown no signs of wanting to retire nor would it make any sense for him to play on under a new captain, so if Australia wants him, then get him as captain.  The greater concern is that unlike their famous “We love the Underdog” mentality, the turmoil surrounding the national team corresponds with dramatically falling interest levels in cricket in Australia.  The current squad doesn’t need an heir apparent, it needs stability to come from anywhere: performances, selections, the future.  A captain with the ability to combine performance and attitude will emerge in time, but perhaps not in time enough to still Australia’s slide into cricketing no-man’s-land…

Who would be your choice for captain?

Ashes 100-1: 21 - Australia Ashes Squad Profiles

 
Yesterday we profiled the sixteen hungry men tasked with retaining the Ashes for England on Australian soil. Today, we look at their hosts who will be aiming to win their sixth successive home Ashes series:

Ricky Ponting – A fading force with the bat and a captain on the verge of becoming the first Australian skipper to lose three Ashes series. The next two months are likely to embellish or potentially curtail a fine career.

Michael Clarke – Was arguably the best batsman on either side in the 2009 series, but has looked out of sorts since his much publicised split with Lara Bingle. His press conferences are an unbeatable cure for insomniacs.

Shane Watson– Has proved an unlikely success as an opener - and as such is after Ponting, Australia’s key batsman - but is a walking LBW early on. Innocuous medium pace is more dangerous than it looks – just ask Pakistan’s batsmen.

Simon Katich – As difficult to dislodge as the most plucky of barnacles - until he reaches 80 or 90 that is. Not the prettiest to watch at the crease, which even the man himself acknowledged recently when he said that "I think more people get enjoyment out of watching me bowl than bat".

Michael Hussey – Only averages 34 in his last 28 tests and may be lucky to survive the series especially as Kamran Akmal will not be behind the stumps.

Marcus North – Just when you thought he was out for the count, North sprung back off the canvas (and not for the first time either) with a career saving hundred at Bangalore. That revival does not hide the fact though that North is another unlikely to last the series if Australia make a poor start.

Callum Ferguson – Has a “big chance” of making his test bow at Brisbane according to Tim Nielsen. But a first-class average in the mid-thirties will not have England quaking in their size nines.

Usman Khawaja – Immensely talented New South Wales batsman with a first-class average of 54 who could become the first Muslim to play cricket for Australia.

Phil Hughes – Tagged as the “new Bradman” when he exploded onto the test scene against South Africa in 2009 before being rapidly dispensed with. A first-class average of 60 suggests Hughes is better than his brief appearance in the 2009 series suggested.

Cameron White – Test career has been harmed by the fact that White is a blond Victorian who bowls a bit of leg-spin. An Australian middle-order with White at five would look a much tougher proposition for Strauss and co.

Brad Haddin – An exceptionally good number seven – albeit with a propensity for being over-reckless at times. Not so good with the gloves and his place must be under pressure from the impressive Paine.

Tim Paine – Impressed with bat and gloves in India and is clearly the long-term bet to cement a place in the test side. Will probably be Haddin’s understudy this time, however.

Nathan Hauritz – The nation that brought us Warne, O’Reilly and Grimmett now gives us the impotent Hauritz. In a contest between two evenly matched sides, the disparity between him and Swann could prove crucial in the final reckoning.

Steve Smith – If Australia choose to be adventurous, the young leggie could bat at seven ahead of four pacemen. But they won’t and Smith will start the series on the sidelines. A promising batsman, but significant work would appear to be needed on his bowling.

Xavier Doherty – A first-class average of 50 with the ball suggests his mention in dispatches is perhaps a ploy to wind up that habitual victim of slow-left armers – Kevin Pietersen. If he plays in the series, despite his impressive ODI bow yesterday, we will eat our collection of Wisdens.

Mitchell Johnson – His waywardness may make Harmison look metronomic in comparison, but he has an uncanny ability to take wickets with bad balls and is a different proposition on home pitches. England will underestimate Mummy’s Boy at their peril.

Ben Hilfenhaus – The best bowler on show on either side in the 2009 series is to some extent unproven on Australian wickets at the highest level having only played one of his 13 tests at home. That said, is a good bet to be the leading wicket taker in the series.

Doug Bollinger – The children’s TV lookalike (see Doug Bollinger's moonlighting again) is not as brave as Australian quicks of previous vintageif his absence from the final stages of the Mohali Test is anything to go by. Will test Strauss’ perceived weakness against left-arm new ball bowlers.

Peter Siddle – The man with the white lipstick is a solid if unspectacular performer and his recent injury problems mean he is likely to start the series on the sidelines.

Ryan Harris – A rag to riches tale has seen the late-blooming Harris emerge as an international bowler in the last 12 months. Another with recent injury worries.

Peter George – Innocuous on debut at Bangalore, but his height and natural bounce will be clearly more suited to home wickets should injuries give him an opportunity.

Tim Nielsen (Coach): The man who drew the short straw when taking over from Buchanan. His task of returning his charges to former glories looks a tougher one each day.

Where next?

Check out our full Ashes 100-1 countdown

England fly down under with hopes high

What can England learn from Australia's Indian woes?