The Ashes 2006-07

[Sam]

At last one of the most exciting cricket series in the world is set to start, when Andrew Flintoff's England side arrived in Australia early on Sunday morning. This signals the start of the most anticipated Ashes series in history.
Let's enjoy the series with anticipations and predictions, with supports and attacks (within the Board's rules), with passion and joy, with celebrations and frustrations, but everything in a decent way.

Here is the schedule of the series:

• 1st Test at Brisbane 23-27 November 2006
• 2nd Test at Adelaide 1-5 December 2006
• 3rd Test at Perth 14-18 December 2006
• 4th Test at Melbourne 26-30 December 2006
• 5th Test at Sydney 2-6 January 2007

Here is the short history of the Ashes:

Australia's first victory on English soil over the full strength of England, on August 29, 1882, inspired a young London journalist, Reginald Shirley Brooks, to write this mock "obituary''. It appeared in the Sporting Times.
Before England's defeat at The Oval, by seven runs, arrangements had already been made for the Hon. Ivo Bligh, afterwards Lord Darnley, to lead a team to Australia. Three weeks later they set out, now with the popular objective of recovering the Ashes. In the event, Australia won the first Test by nine wickets, but with England winning the next two it became generally accepted that they brought back the Ashes.

The text on the urn is as follows:- When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn;
Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;
The welkin will ring loud,
The great crowd will feel proud,
Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;
And the rest coming home with the urn.

It was long believed that the real Ashes - a small urn thought to contain the ashes of a bail used in the third match - were presented to Bligh by a group of Melbourne women. In 1998, Lord Darnley's 82-year-old daughter-in-law said they were the remains of her mother-in-law's veil, not a bail. Other evidence suggests a ball. The certain origin of the Ashes, therefore, is the subject of some dispute. After Lord Darnley's death in 1927, the urn was given to MCC by Lord Darnley's Australianborn widow, Florence. It can be seen in the cricket museum at Lord's, together with a red and gold velvet bag, made specially for it, and the scorecard of the 1882 match.

[israr]

Go England go, show that Australians are not invinvible at all. However, a small request to Australians: please don't spare Monty Panesar at all!

[Alien]

israr...
As humans, Australian team is likely to loose the cup once a decade or less.
As superhuman, Australian team will hammer them in the long run, any given day, any given time.

I cant wait when Lee's pace will set fire on Monty's turban.

[israr]

Originally Posted by adolf_hitler
I cant wait when Lee's pace will set fire on Monty's turban.

Exactly!!

[Bancan]

is this AH's first post on cricket related topic. any way. i think the aussies are gonna kill england. england is dead

[Alien]

I have posted b4...not many times though

[Hatebreed]

C'mon England!

[Tigers_eye]

Most exciting test series??? I guess this is for those who only saw the last Ashes series. For rest of us, the standard ashes series will be restored. Onesided boring one. England getting what it deserves. This time McGrath out of the line wouldn't matter at all even if that happens.

[israr]

Saw the last Ashes series ball-by-ball (glad to've seen the Edgbaston Test!), and I assume this time it will be more fiecer than the last time. Hope my statements are vindicated.

[Bearman]

---

Saw the last Ashes series ball-by-ball (glad to've seen the Edgbaston Test!),

I was there! Not on the last day unfortunately but saw Australia get bowled out on day 2, and then Warne's 'ball of the century' when Eng came out to bat.

What have you guys got against Monty any way?

[Tigers_eye]

Originally Posted by Bearman
...What have you guys got against Monty any way?

Welcome Bearman.
I have a big problem against Monty. He is over-rated. Didn't win any majors and his window of opportunity is closing down fast as Tiger is getting hungrier for Majors by the seconds. The Media hypes him up too much.

As for Panseer, I personally have no problem. I think he is better than Giles. But he is no top 10 bowler for sure who would take England to promise land like Warne, McGrath or Lee. He will be exposed. We don't like the players who media potrays as best. I know, it is not his fault.

[Hatebreed]

Originally Posted by Tigers_eye
Most exciting test series??? I guess this is for those who only saw the last Ashes series. For rest of us, the standard ashes series will be restored. Onesided boring one. England getting what it deserves. This time McGrath out of the line wouldn't matter at all even if that happens.

[thebest]

This is Ponting's quote "Everyone back in Australia is saying we're going to start favourites, and if that's the case then it probably does take a bit of the pressure off and puts it on to them."
Can someone explain me how? Isn't it a tag on favourite put more pressure?
Can some one remind this loud mouth that "They were favourite in 2005 also"?

[Bearman]

This is Ponting's quote "Everyone back in Australia is saying we're going to start favourites, and if that's the case then it probably does take a bit of the pressure off and puts it on to them."
Can someone explain me how? Isn't it a tag on favourite put more pressure?
Can some one remind this loud mouth that "They were favourite in 2005 also"?

Its an example of the mind games Australians think they have to play every time they open their mouths.
It ends up leaving their poor heads quite confused. I read an article by an Aussie journalist that said "most Australians expect a white wash" and then later said "Australians realise this is the one of the beat Test teams to visit for a long time".

[Alien]

I heard Tait is going to be unleashed on England. That would be fun to watch, Lee and Tait smashing English bat to bits.

If the guy can keep his line and lenght right, wickets will come rolling like hot cakes.

[Xavier]

More troubles for England as Trescothick is leaving the team affected again by his "stress-related illness"!
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausve...ry/267867.html

his absence sums to those of Simon Jones and Vaughan... this series could be a very tough one for England against an australian team much stronger than the one in the last Ashes series!

[Tigers_eye]

I would like to have a crack at Tresco since he is not coming back and bite me with a double century in near future.

"Too much of spying with binaculars does take out the interest and focus for a batsmen. Trying to focus on off the field issues puts too much stress for sure. No wonder Tresco hopped on the plane. He wouldn't be able to do that in a foreign environment." Cats_eye transformed into Tigers_eye.
Beware everyone.

[amadergaan]

does anyone know of any sites which is streaming the ashes? (except for cricfreak)

[Andy-Flower]

i agree with Tiger_eye Monty is a good bowler but he's overated...and i bet you if he gets a place in the English team...Australia will attack him early in the series to unsettle him once and for all. Australia is too strong and most of their players have a lot to prove...Langer will want to put Phil Jacques out of the picture for good and justfy his inclusion, i mean he's an Old guy and i'm sure he will want to end his carrier with a bang..

McGrath will want to kill his recent critics...Mitchell Johnson will be breathing right at his throat.

Aussie is just too talented mayne! dropping the likes of Symonds and Michaek Clarke says it all...Brad Hodge has been scoring BIG SCORES!! and taking wickets in the Australian League but he's not even in the top 16 of the likely players..

Hope England loose by at least an innings and 245 runs in the first game

[Rabz]

C'mon Aussie C'mon
C'mon
C'mon Ausie C'mon..

nail the Poms down hard...

as if we didnt had enough Poms here in Sydney, now have to deal with extra 40,000 odd more... every club pubs and the city streets are filled with them..(not that i mind the pommy chicks...)

my prediction ?
3-1 to Aussies...

[Xavier]

My prediction is 2-1 for Australia, they look much stronger at the moment but english batting side is not that bad and I expexct them to put a brave fight.

This series could be the "last dance" for many of aussies greats: Langer, Hayden, Martyn, Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath are all 35+ and will probably retire before next Ashes series in 2009. New generation is the one of Jaques, Watson, Johnson... but will Australia still be so strong?

btw Clarke will play 1st Test as Watson is going to miss it by injury.

[Tigers_eye]

5 game series. 3-0 Aus. May be 2-0. I don't see this (Wounded) England team winning at Australia. Specially when this series may be the last series for Warne, McGrath, Langer, Hayden.

[sadi]

Whitewash!!!

[Xavier]

20 minutes to go!

Australia have won the toss and will bat, Michael Clarke in for allrounder Watson, Stuart Clark is the 3rd pacer. Giles will be english spinner, Panesar is out!

(half past midnight here... I guess I'm going to sleep!)

[Miraz]

I don't know whether morning shows the day is true for cricket or not.

if true, England have a real bad start. 9 run from the first over of Harmison.