Short of His Ground - England vs Australia Fourth Test Day One Verdict

Play was due to start at 11.00 at Headingley today, but I think we could account the beginning for Half Past Nine, when the expected news of Andrew Flintoff's exclusion from the Squad was confirmed officially. With the Tabloid's exclaiming that Steven Harmison would replace the Front-Line talisman, whilst the Broadsheet would acclaim for Warwickshire Batsman Jonathon Trott, Member's and Fans alike were to be excited for the Team News announcement at the Toss come 10.30. Even that was subdude, as Keeper Matt Prior suffered a rather alarming Back default, striking a Football during the Pre-match Warm Up. How many Cricketers have been Injured following a Kick-about? I'd love to contrive that statistic, Though I may consult Sky's very own Benedict Bermauge instead. The Rumours If you weren't to know, Included that of Paul Collingwood donning the Gloves until a replacement was drifted In, or The Keeping Coach to provide masterful keeping behind the Stumps on a temporary basis. Drawing back to my article on Wicket-Keeping, Who would have been available? Ambrose was in the middle of a First-Class Fixture for Warwickshire, with James Foster behind the Stumps at Essex. With a sigh of relief, Matt stretched off any concerns, and before the delayed toss at 10.40, He was passed fit to play. Looking at an absolute Bunsen Burner of a pitch, with the odd crack in the surface, Nobody could blame Andrew Strauss' integrity to Bat first, especially with Ricky Ponting echoing his opponents call should they have called correctly. The blasts of Jerusalem followed Strauss and Cook to the crease, and the rendition had barely finished, when Billy Bowden wrongly gave the skipper a life, after a Leg Before shout from Ben Hilfenhaus, which evidentially was clipping the top of Leg Stump. That was the Postal Stamp plastered on England's Innings, and Australia weren't licking their wounds for too long, as Peter Siddle frst tempted Strauss into an outside edge, with Bopara falling cheaply soon after. Only Alistair Cook and the recovering Matt Prior added any back-bone resistance, But both fell to predominent outside nicks. With England dismissed for just 102 after electing themselves to bat, Many were enlightened by Stuart Clark's Line and Length to claim his three wickets on Ashes 2009 debut. A Middle Length was backed up by an attempt at a straight length, decieved his three victims internally, but he was only bowling at 80mph. Rather complacent from England? Should Clark have actually struck straight, It would be hugely doubtful for all three batsmen to be trapped Leg-Before, and so a rather prolonged Line helped the New South Wales seamer some what to glory.

It was a tale of disregard with England's hopeful response, as Field's were set for Bad Bowling, and not of elaborate Line and Length. Most notbaly Steven Harmison directing a Leg Gully to the Offside Boundary. From watching the action in deluxe circumstances, W're not to know of how hard It was to bowl Middle and Full come the Final session of the Day, But the Line and Length expressed by the England Seamer's was atrocious in respect, especially after a prime demonstration from Stuart Clark and co. For Steven Harmison, He must either bowl his natural Shorter than Length line, or Full and straight asset. You must be pleased to acclaim for England's fight-back towards the end of the day, But so much more should have been made of the Line and Length they bowled with in the Australia First Innings.

Leading by nearly One Hundred Runs now, The Odds will be stacked against England, and with the weather offering now resistence to Ponting's men, They have to level the series now, with The Oval such a hard Venue to succeed at. On a nutorious ending, Jonathon Trott returned to his county of Warwickshire today, and is currently 40 unbeaten at Edgbaston. Bet they wished he played now?

Don the Gloves!

Hearing of Matt Prior's precarious Back default this morning, and the possibilities to draft in a Recognized Keeper from around the Domestic structure, It came to me of how many Wicket-Keeper's that have been selected in recent years. Ever since the heroics of Geraint Jones in 2005, the Keeper's position has become a come and go for the England Team, even under new leadership. During the 2006 Domestic First-Class Season, It was acclaimed that Jones had took a temporary strike in form, as do all the players posing the Three Lions at the moment, But not for Mr. Jones, Struck from the side to defend the Ashes down under, leaving the duties to that of Chris Read. The Keeper's duties were not secured in the Winter of 2006/07, but I'm positive any of the players could safely acclaim that their places were prominent after such a dismal showing, against the World's Best in Mcgrath and Warne. During the Winter tour to New Zealand in 2008, Phillip Mustard was given the gloves during the ODI Series, of which England failed to an extent, Meaning by mutual consent, that Phillip would have to be excluded from the English Summer to follow. Names have come and gone, and we still are not certain on a proclaimed Wicket-Keeper, especially of the One Day Format. Out of Nixon, Mustard, Ambrose, and Davies, What did they do wrong? The First was a key asset to the Triangular Series Victory post Ashes Series, Mustard was part of a Team Failure in New Zealand, Whilst Tim was mauled back to Edgbaston, despite excelling through-out 2008. Some may question the Batting Ability, but with Mustard scoring over Ninety in a Pro40 Fixture for Durham this week, Davies Impressing for a delluded Worcestershire, and Nixon acting as a leader at Grace Road, I think that would be put to bed quickly. With Foster's lack of Batting technicality, and Prior's 'Bye' Issue, Who will be next in the pipeline?

Steve Davies - A One Hit Wonder - Twenty20 vs West Indies - March 2009

Land of the Lord's

After declaring an Interest in such Journalism, I was greeted with this rather elaborate Blogging Server, From which I could not ellude in the circumstances. Starting off, Introductions and all; The Name's Matt, and I'm an eccentric Cricket supporter from the County of Warwickshire. Reading Cricket Blog's on this website over the past week, I felt it was neccessary to create my own, and I hope you enjoy the Posts to be published in the near future.

2009 has seen a rather intriguing, yet traditional campaign for the England Cricket Team. None was well, when The Pie Chucker, Sorry Kevin Pietersen and Coach Peter Moores, took up disputes following a good old thrashing in India. Hey, Maybe It was for the best? ... Or not. With past experience in 2006 as Captain, Opening Batsmen Andrew Strauss was given the duties to control the side, along with later abdude coach; Andy Flower in the carribean. Leading from the front, England were bowled out for 51 in the Second Innings of the Sabina Park encounter, forcing a rather erm... obscene loss? Early February saw a blast at the Squad, and rumours would fly around as to the new coach who was to be appointed. Little did they know, The man who led the team to an atrocious loss in Jamaica, would be he to control the side at Cardiff on 8th July. A much improved account of themselves in the Final Three Tests, this after the attack of the Ground in Antiguia, saw England only lose the series 1-0, and give up that precident Wisden Trophy, that was retained in 2007 back home. Oh Great, that and the Urn.

One name to inspire the selectors by the Trinidad encounter, was that of Right Arm Fast Seamer; Amjad Khan, who took one wicket for 111 runs on the flat turning pitch, and was over-looked dramatically for the Test Series to follow against the same opposition in May. A crushing Twenty20 defeat was to follow, with England officially announced as the worst country to participate in the shortened game. Anyone would think we had invented the format. None the less, The Squad didn't go home empty handed, and a 3-2 victory in the ODI Series, saw the 21 hour flight back home rather pleasent. Crackers, Goats Cheese, and Pride and Prejudice to enjoy on the flight .... They're dreaming.

After a whole month of no International Cricket, I was squandered to watch South Africa vs Australia in the One-Dayers for my spare joy. Amazed at how ordinary Ricky Ponting's men were performing, I was boosting up our Ashes chances, and writing this prior to the Fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, Boy am I excited. To Increase my evaded hopes, The Wisden Trophy was back in our hands, and with one hit blunder Amjad Khan not picked for the side, North-Eastern fast bowler; Graham Onions was a suprise addition to the team. The Lord's Test was the earliest to be played in England for some time, Unfortunately I do not have the time and effort to research exactly. I wouldn't ask Mr. Onions how the Test match went, You'll just have to look at the Honurs Board in the Member's Pavillion. A Fiver-'fa' on his debut, at the Home of Cricket, I bet he enjoyed his Sleep that night. It wasn't just Graham who enjoyed the Two Match Series, Ravi Bopara and Alistair Cook scored intense centuries, the first of which was Three Consecutive. With high hopes, Ravi could not deliver come Cardiff, nor could the rest of the squad. All hail Monty and Jimmy! (And Collingwood)

Anticipation was immense, The Big Guns were set to deliver, Dimi and Napier in the side, along with the Quick Reflex actions of James Foster, and an easy task of The Netherlands to overcome first up. Could It get any better? ... 'Hopeless' 'Pathetic' 'Embarrassing', Does anyone still have the Tabloid Papers from Saturday 6th June 2009? Needless to say, They fought back against eventual winners Pakistan, and an incredible victory over India set up a decisive clash with The W'Indies for a Semi-Final place in a Competition we were written off for. After thrashing Chris Gayle's side in the Test and ODI Series in the Queen's land, I think It was safe to say that we would lose. It didn't help with the terrentrial thunder storms that met the member's pavillion on that day. High Hopes had been dashed, but the mockery of Group Stage Aussies continued, when at a blistering Hove surface, Mr. Ponting dropped a sitter at Point I believe. Sky Sports News, The Footage was that conclusive. Bravo.

The First Test was a mere four days away in the Welsh Capital, and Giles Clarke and co. had announced the 13 man Squad to get mauled by the following week. The main talking point was the Inclusion of Monty Panesar, over Adil Rashid, but with Monty taking three wickets at Edgbaston the previous week, It was a done deal. Monty and Graeme could not help their side take ten wickets through-out the day, and It was only for heroics from Paul Collingwood, that allowed the hosts (Well, England) to be 1-0 up now following the Freddie show at the Home of Cricket. Through-out the Test, Kevin Pietersen's attempted sweep shot, from a Ball that was very tempting to be cut on the Off-Side, bought a lot of Media Attention, as the Ball richoched off his Three Lions Helmet, effectively killing one in the process. Atleast his Helmet didn't fall off and clatter the Stumps as in 2007 though. I think we could safely acclaim that the attempt would not be found in the MCC Manual. Don't try It at Home Kids...

Lord's has not been a happy hunting ground for England, and with the showing at the SWALEC Stadium, that looked to continue. Having had three injections on his right knee, Freddie was declared fit to play, and KP participated despite a humbling achilles injury. An elaborate opening partnership from the skipper, and Cook saw 200 runs on the board by Tea on the First Day, and the latter fell for a conclusive 95 runs before the close of play, Along with Bopara, Pietersen, Collingwood and all. Closing the day 300 plus for the loss of five wickets, appeared as dejavu from Cardiff, but sentiments of Swing were present on Day Three, where the Aussies were unable to avoid the follow on. You don't get many chances to make Australia follow on, and with the oppurtunity to go 1-0 up, who could refuse? ... That was the view of many, but on a Dusty and flat surface, Strauss' men led an aggressive second innings, which included the most remarkable dismissal ever, when Marcus North removed Matt Prior from deep at the boundary via direct hit. Matt Prior's reaction soon after to the press was quite logic, claiming; 'Let Marcus have 100 attempts at striking the stumps from there, and I bet 99 times he will miss' Come on North, I'd love to see that! Who'd broadcast It though? would have to be blasted out to the tunes of Beethoven ... on LivingTV. Most Haunted? More like the Golden Palace, After 75 long years, England had beat Australia at the Home of Cricket, due to the respect of Andrew Flintoff, in Australia's second Innings. Full Respect must be sent out to Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin who added a remarkable sixth wicket partnership, to give Australia a grasping hope.

Rain Interrupted Two Days of Play at Edgbaston, but England were with a Fighting chance on the final day, but resistence once again from leading run scorer of the series Michael Clarke, and Brad Haddin, kept the score at 1-0 to the hosts, ahead of the Yorkshire Test match.

If England win this Series, But lose prosperously to India, Surely Ponting's men can't be Number One in the World? ... We'll have to see.