The Ashes Blog

It’s been an interesting first two days in the tour match between Northants and the Australians. Let’s go through some of the Aussies who are under pressure:

Phillip Hughes: out cheaply in the first innings, and has so far made a lucky 65 not out in the second innings. He doesn’t look like he’s about to dominate the day like he used to, and I’d be tempted to dump him. No hard feelings, but it just looks like he’s lost his mojo in England.

Shane Watson: the guy is looking surprisingly good. Made runs, picked up cheap wickets – handy to have in the side, but could he open the innings? I reckon he could, and I don’t think it’s that big a gamble. Give him a go.

Mitchell Johnson: I really thought he’d come good in this game, but instead he finished with 42 for 0 from 7 overs. The selectors will be reluctant to dump him, but I wouldn’t blame them if they decided enough is enough.

Peter Siddle: was the leading wicket taker in the first innings, but was erratic.  If the selectors want to keep Johnson for another go, then perhaps Siddle needs to go.

Stuart Clark: bowled well, and looks reliable. I think Clark would fit well into the team, and he actually takes wickets. He’d be an ideal replacement for Peter Siddle.

So, based on performances so far, he’s my Aussie XI for Edgbaston:

Katich, Watson, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, North, Haddin, Johnson, Hauritz, Hilfenhaus, Clark

What do you think?

I thought I’d put up a couple of different angles on how things are shaping for The Ashes 2009. First up is a review from my father-in-law, a keen English cricket fan now living in Brisbane, Australia:

I think it will be close. Neither team looks a dominant force to me, though both are capable of playing winning cricket. If the wickets favour spin, I think England will probably win, though I rate Michael Clarke and Katich as good spinners, probably better than Hauritz. But it is unlikely that more than a couple of the pitches will help spinners much.

The weather is very good at the moment. It was hot for Wimbledon. But English weather ….

Here are my thoughts as an Australian fan:
Read the rest of this entry »

Day 1: Australians 337 for 8 (Hussey 143*, Katich 95)

There were some concerns for the Australians with a few of their top batsmen failing, but Mike Hussey looks like he could be back to form and ready to terrorise the England bowlers.

Phillip Hughes was once again dismissed cheaply, and I just wonder if he might have used up too much energy in playing for Middlesex. He’s a terrific player, and I’m not going to discount him, but he needs to get this run of low scores out of him as soon as possible. He is the sort of guy that can just turn it on at anytime … a little bit like Adam Gilchrist, you just never want to write him off.

However, another shining light was Mitchell Johnson, who once again showed the more qualified batsmen the way to go. You England fans shouldn’t underestimate this guy – he is seriously good. And I mean, Flintoff ‘05 good. Look out. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 1: Australians 349/7
Not a great start, with a few in the top order going cheaply. Hughes batted how I expect him to go during the Test matches – chasing hard, going for quick runs, and occasionally losing the fight as a result. But that’s ok, because I think more often than not his style will come off. My one concern is Captain Ponting, who made just 8. He needs runs to get him into the groove again. However, the Aussies recovered thanks to their lower order. Brett Lee showed he can bat, and if his bowling is good enough to get him in to the XI for the First Test, I reckon he could add some pretty valuable runs.

“I’ve heard this pitch compares a lot to Cardiff, although obviously it will be a different stage with a lot more pressure for the Test.

“It was good to spend some time out there. We’ve been going pretty hard in the nets, but it is good just to see where you’re at in the middle and things felt okay.

“The main point of this game was blowing some of the cobwebs out and part of the process towards stepping out for day one at Cardiff.
- Brad Haddin

Day 2: Sussex 311 … Australians 18/0
All of the Aussie quicks had a good day at the office, with Lee and Clark leading the way and Peter Siddle close behind. Hauritz was disappointing, and I can’t see him making the Test team. Read the rest of this entry »

Phillip Hughes, the 20 year old from country New South Wales, is set to replace Matt Hayden at the top of the order for the 2009 Ashes series. Assuming he doesn’t completely lose the plot in South Africa, and doesn’t sustain serious injury (which seems to be the curse of Aussie cricketers at the moment), he’ll walk out to bat with Simon Katich at Cardiff on July 8.

I think the decision is an excellent one. He’s young, talented, and a leftie. Even though he’s about three feet shorter than Hayden, Hughes looks set for a long career with the Australian cricket team, and I think we all just hope he lives up to the hype.

One concern is how he’ll cope with the English bowling conditions. He bats well in Australia, but it’s a bit different facing that seaming, swinging ball under cloudy English skies.

Will Phillip Hughes succeed in England? I’d be interested to hear what you think, so leave a comment below.

Update:
What a start by Hughes! Two Tests, four innings, and scores of 0, 75, 115, and 160. As Ricky Ponting said, “I’ll make sure his head doesn’t get too big over the next couple of weeks.”

At least Hughes will be well prepared for the 2009 Ashes series, having been signed up by Middlesex for the start of the season. And the signs are looking good for Hughes doing well in England. As Angus Fraser, Middlesex’s director of cricket, said:

“… he has just survived the most difficult assignment imaginable in facing Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel on their home pitches. Those are harder pitches and bowlers than he will face in England.”

I guess that answers the question I asked earlier – will Hughes handle the “seaming, swinging ball under cloudy English skies”?

Update – April 23, 2009:
Phillip Hughes scores a century on debut for Middlesex
The dream run continues for young Aussie opener Phillip Hughes, who has scored a hundred in his first innings for county side Middlesex. Granted, the pitch was a good one for batting, and the opposition bowlers were pretty ordinary, but it does answer the big question over how Hughes will go in English conditions. Another Aussie young gun, Mark Cosgrove, also scored a century in the same match, so perhaps the signs are good for Aussie batsmen in England in 2009.

Update – May 8, 2009:
Three centuries in four innings for Hughes
Phillip Hughes is loving this England gig, as he has just notched up his 3rd century for Middlesex. That takes his aggregate to 452 for twice out in four innings – a batting average of 276. Not too bad for a young fella on his first trip to England.