The Ashes Approaches

Ok so we are finally here, just 1 sleep away from the ashes and the cricketing world has received a shock with Brett Lee being ruled out for the 1st test definitely and possibly even the 2nd test aswell with a rib injury.

England on the other hand go into the series with a fit group of 13 players where it has already been assumed that Ian Bell is a backup batsman and will only play should any of the other batsmen get injured or possibly later on in the series if Paul Collingwood or Ravi Bopara have a bad run of games and they need replacing.

Which means that the only contention in the England ranks is who will take to the field for the 1st test tomorrow morning at Cardiff between Graham Onions and Monty Panesar. With the everybody that has been interviewed about the pitch over the last week seemingly not having a clue as to what the pitch will actually do it looks like being a very last minute decision, however surely with Australia only having a mediocre spin bowler in Nathan Hauritz then the way to go would have been to prepare a turning pitch and then pick 2 spinners and spin the Australians out.

With Brett Lee injured it looks like the pace attack from Australia could become Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Stuart Clark however if they choose to go for an all out pace attack and leave Nathan Hauritz on the bench then Ben Hilfenhaus could also play.

So with the weather settling into sunshine and showers across the UK and with both teams already in Cardiff this series is almost here, now we just have to hope that its as good as the 2005 Ashes and that England can win them back after a poor showing in Australia when we lost them 5-0. So until next time come on England lets teach those Aussies a lesson in test matches in English conditions and reverse swing them out!! :)