Cricket: Ashes

The build-up to the winter's Ashes series has begun to heat up this week. England’s tour begins in December, and Koolaroo skipper Ricky Ponting has wasted no time in opening up the customary pre-match mind-game banter by attacking England’s batting line-up.


“I think the English rely on their bowling attack anyway,” said Ponting, “but there seem to be a few cracks there; i’m pretty sure there’s a few blokes in that side just looking over their shoulder at the moment.” Ponting singled out Strauss, Pietersen, and Cook as the question marks in England’s batting line-up, and the wily batsman has a point as all three talismanic batsmen have come under fire for their lack of recent Test match centuries. Speculation was rife that Alastair Cook was on the verge of being dropped until his century in the 3rd Test, and Kevin Pietersen’s dry spell stretches back almost a year.


There is reason for optimism, however, with a new generation of attacking bowling talent coming to fruition. Can the likes of Broad and world player of the year nominee Swann emulate the 2003 heroics of Harmison and Hoggard this winter? The Ashes series begins December 16th in Perth.