No other sport offers the same challenges that Test cricket puts on its participants. The demands of succeeding in stifling conditions and on an array of pitches which can offer swing, seam, pace, bounce and spin over five days worth of six hours requires massive mental and physical strength.
Batsmen have to overcome a full examination of their technique and show constant vigilance (as said in Harry Potter) to build a big score. Fast bowlers have to be prepared to run in for a fifth spell at the end of a day in 40 degree heat and spinners have to wheel away on pitches which rarely offer any assistance until day three at the earliest.
Winter time in England means three things: football, darts and cricket. With Test series going on around the world there have been some interesting developments with more to come as we head into best time of the year for cricket watchers.
England
Cricket is blessed by so many fine and reasoned writers (and the one-eyed Malcolm Conn) that the literature following England's surrendering of the Ashes has been a pleasure to read. The following talking points have emerged: should the senior players be dropped? Is Ben Stokes the new Botham/Flintoff/Ealham (ok, nobody is that good)? Will Andy Flower stay on in his role?
England's performances in the first three Tests against an Australian side who had not won any of their preceding nine matches have been as woeful as most have seen in their lifetimes. Since the opening 90 overs in Brisbane, it's hard to remember England actually winning a single day in the series and have been pummelled in most of them.
But talk of dropping many of the senior players is far too premature. James Anderson has had his first bad series for years and has not been helped by being forced on to the field day-after-day after batting collapses. Graeme Swann is still the best spinner in England and there are no viable alternatives. Matt Prior looks completely devoid of form and should - in my view - be taken out the firing line for the remaining two Tests and be given the start of the county season (following a rest) to get form and confidence back.
Clearly, Alastair Cook will not be dropped and hopefully home series against a weak Sri Lankan attack and an Indian side who he has feasted on in the past will ease him back into the runs.
The other issue is Kevin Pietersen. His dismissals this time around are indefensible and cannot be excused just because he plays aggressively. When a team is under pressure you want your players to fight like Cook did, rather than chip aerially to two mid-wickets or take on long-on against the wind.
Since England hammered India at home in 2011 to become the number one ranked side, Pietersen has hit been massively hit-and-miss. In 24 Tests since he has hit brilliant centuries in India and Sri Lanka and at home to South Africa and Australia. But for someone who reached his 100th Test in Brisbane, the way he's played this series has been horrible to watch.
Pietersen has always been allowed leeway because of the way he plays. But for a man of his talent to average under 48 is criminal. He should be up there with Clarke, Amla, De Villiers, Chanderpaul and now Pujara as Test cricket's most consistent scorers.
For a man who is enthral with the IPL and the love he gets from the Indian crowd, there will always be a worry he packs Tests in to play the quicker formats in front of huge audiences. That will become more likely if his knee problems re-occur.
With England's batting being nothing short of woeful in the past 12 months, and with their rock Jonathan Trott possibly gone for good, England need more consistency from their number four than the occasional match-winning knock if they are to recover.
Looking ahead
Michael Atherton made the excellent point that this Ashes debacle has given Cook a great chance to create his own team, one which moves away from the one his predecessor Andrew Strauss (alongside Flower) put together.
That does not mean move aside great swathes of players, but gradually freshen up the team. Stokes is the obvious example of an aggressive, tough cricketer which Australia have incorporated into their team. Although still extremely raw, there is no choice but to stick with him now and hope he can find his top game in Test cricket's harsh environment. Stuart Broad and Flintoff's early struggles as all-rounders show why the international game is not an ideal place to improve your game, but a lack of alternatives make it the only choice.
Steven Finn is the biggest worry. If he can rediscover his best form, England will have another weapon to utilise in all conditions, and in a five-man attack his bad days can be excused. Alongside bringing through another spinner, getting Finn back to where he was should be England's biggest ambition.
The only other change needs to come in the batting order. England's iconic series wins in Australia and India (and at home against the same country) came from big top order runs. For that reason it is time to see Ian Bell move up to three. He has spoken throughout his career of becoming a great number three and at this stage of his career it is time to see him setting up the innings rather than rescuing it. Ricky Ponting has always said that the best batsman should be at three and at the moment the only player who looks at ease with his game is Bell. It is time to put him back in that pivotal position.
My England side to take on Sri Lanka:
1. Cook
2. Carberry
3. Bell
4. Pietersen
5. Root
6. Stokes
7. Prior
8. Bresnan
9. Broad
10. Swann
11. Anderson
Back-ups: Ballance, Buttler, Finn
This team has a good blend of youth and experience and aggression and solidity. And the players ready to come in are young, exciting and match-winners.
Whether the man to oversee this transition is Flower depends on whether he has the motivation or not. If he does, then he should be given the chance.
But as bad as things have been, let's not forget that in 2010/11 many of these players walloped an Australian team that was comparable with the one on show now. Back then England's players were confident and in form and this time it is Australia's. But if these two teams were to meet anywhere in the world in a few months' time, I'd still back England to come out on top.
For an assessment on how Darren Lehmann has turned around Australia (written after the Brisbane Test) then you only have to look here http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2013/11/ashes-2013-14-four-reasons-behind-australias-resurgence/
World game showcases new stars
The Ashes may be the biggest Test series in the world, but it is not the only one going on at the moment. Here is the latest report on each nation:
New Zealand v. West Indies
New Zealand dominated England in a 0-0 draw at the start of the year. Although England's recent travails suggest this might not be such a Ron Burgundy (a big deal) it showed that the Black Caps are once again establishing themselves as a cricketing bogey team; not good enough to challenge at the top of the rankings, but a reliable team able to cause a surprise against a bigger name.
A new-ball pairing of Tim Southee and Trent Boult offers swing and control and New Zealand have their own new all-rounder in Corey Anderson who has chipped in with wickets in all five of his Tests and is a capable number six bat.
New Zealand have shown they are planning for the future by the introduction of the extremely raw leg-spinner Ish Sodhi who has a first-class record of 53 and has taken some tap at the hands of Shiv Chanderpaul.
Hamish Rutherford has made only one fifty since his debut 171 against England, but is being stuck with alongside the experienced Peter Fulton. The batting is still largely dependant on Ross Taylor who has cashed in against the West Indies and it is time for the continually promising Kane Williamson to improve his average of 35 which has been driven from sub-continent runs.
With the attacking blade of Brendon McCullum and tough runs from wicket-keeper BJ Watling, New Zealand have become a tough side to play against. Under the excellent captaincy of McCullum (who took over in bizarre circumstances from Taylor who subsequently took time out from the game), they appear to be on an upward trajectory after being bowled out for 45 against South Africa in McCullum's first match as captain.
Stat attack: The last 16 Tests in New Zealand have seen the team who win the toss field first
New Zealand v. West Indies
Poor travellers, players who seem more focussed on Twenty20 riches, and now their star spinner banned from bowling. It's hard to remember the last time West Indies did not seem to be something approaching a shambles and their performances in India and New Zealand have merely re-enforced this assumption.
Following two innings defeats in India, rain saved them from another loss in Dunedin. But any momentum gained from that unlikely escape disappeared in a three-day defeat in the following Test at Wellington.
There are problems everywhere: senior players injured, batsmen with poor records, fast bowlers who cannot take wickets and a skipper who few feel is worthy of his place in the team.
Captain Darren Sammy is at best a fourth seamer and lower-order hitter. He endured a torrid time in India and injured himself bowling in Dunedin, but made 80 in the second innings as West Indies score 507 following on. That innings came on the back of a knock of 218 by Darren Bravo, the cousin of Brian Lara who even seems to copy him in stance and shot selection.
Although the innings was aided by a fortuitous umpiring decision, it emphasised Bravo's status as one of the rising stars of the West Indies team. Alongside the continually reliant Shiv Chanderpaul who reached his 150th Test, there was at least some positive to cling on to, even if Marlon Samuels' loss of form has left the middle order vulnerable to collapse time and again.
Off-spinner Shane Shillingford is the undoubted star of the bowling attack, but his suspension for an illegal action has exposed the lack of fire-power the West Indies have.
After making tentative improvements under Ottis Gibson, this winter has seen the team fall back once again, even with a number three who looks to be the re-incarnation of one BC Lara.
Stat attack: In the last 10 years, West Indies have registered just one away win in Tests outside Bangladesh
South Africa v. India
A ruthless second Test win in Dubai against Pakistan tied the series and kept South Africa's unbeaten run on the road going. Eight wickets for Imran Tahir in his first Test since recording the worst figures in history suggested he may have been ready to finally complete the missing part in South Africa's already fearsome team.
Graeme Smith's 234 put aside fears over a terminal decline in form and it seemed inevitable that they would be too strong for an Indian side with a young and new batting line-up and a battery of fast bowlers who would struggle to get in any other Test side bar Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe (who barely play anyway).
But as things stand, things have not gone well for South Africa who have never beaten India at the Wanderers. Dale Steyn has been wayward, their middle-order collapsed and Morne Morkel went off injured and is unlikely to feature for the rest of the series.
After three days, India lead by 320 with eight wickets in hand and a rearguard like the one they pulled off in Adelaide 13 months ago - where they batted out 148 overs - looks like it might be needed again.
Worryingly, Jacques Kallis seems to be in a rut. In 10 knocks this year he has made two fifties and seven single figure scores. He looks vulnerable early on to the ball moving in and pinning him on the crease. At the age of 38 there is always the worry that a loss of form can prove terminal.
Added to this, Tahir has again bowled poorly and looks to have undone all his good work. A seemingly invincible side is slowly starting to show small signs of vulnerability. The rest of this India series and the following Tests against a resurgent Australia will show whether this is the case.
Stat attack: South Africa have gone 12 series and seven years without losing an away Test series
South Africa v. India
Playing their first away Test since January 2012 when they followed a 4-0 loss in England with a 4-0 loss in Australia (and with almost no time to acclimatise) it was hard to see India troubling South Africa. Their fast bowling attack - spearheaded by the returning 35-year-old Zaheer Khan - lacks potency and their batting line-up was completely fresh with Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid retired and Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir out of favour.
Virat Kohli (the new Tendulkar) and MS Dhoni had one oversees Test century each, but that was it. However, Kohli has taken his incredible one-day form to the Test arena, and alongside Cheteshwar Pujara (the new Dravid), they have replaced their great batsmen with players who may replicate them.
Pujara is a revelation and could have established himself as the best batsman in the world by 2015. Nobody else in world cricket seems to share Graham Gooch's love of daddy hundreds as much as Pujara. Although prolific in Indian conditions, his hundred at Johannesburg has shown he has the game to score anywhere.
New opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has the capabilities to be an aggressive opening batsman in the mould of Sehwag and the supporting cast have all come into the team after time waiting on the sides while the legends saw out their careers.
Coach Duncan Fletcher has seen out the crises from the England and Australia tours, and 2-1 home defeat to the former, and now looks to have a rejuvenated outfit. Spinner Ravi Ashwin has provided wickets and lots of runs at number eight in the order. Khan looks to have his nip back and newcomer Mohammed Shami has looked good in his first two Tests although it is incredibly early days. Even Ishant Sharma - once seen as a mainstay in the side after troubling Ricky Ponting before fading away - has begun to show some more consistency.
India's bowling is still weaker than most other sides in world cricket, but when they tour England next summer they will be a far more difficult proposition than the ageing team who were dismantled in 2011.
Stat attack: India's top six have 59 caps between them, compared to 479 for South Africa
The rest
Sri Lanka
Not played a Test since Bangladesh in March. Money issues and problems with the board have seen Sri Lankan cricket on a downward spiral. They play three Tests again Pakistan in the UAE over the New Year but will start as underdogs. The batting still looks reliant on two or three star players and the bowling on Rangana Herath who was Test cricket's top wicket taker in 2012.
Twenty20 captain Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne are two batsman seen as potential mainstays and mystery spinner Sachithra Senanayake (if given the chance) can help make up for a weak pace attack.
Pakistan
A creditable 1-1 draw against South Africa with a brand new partnership at the of the order shows that Pakistan remain very hard to beat in their adopted home. A world-class bowling attack keeps them competitive despite a batting line-up that has become overly reliant on 39-year-old skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Bangladesh
A decent one-day team but still struggle in the longer format. Drew with New Zealand at home recently but wins are still precious. Monimul Haque looks a promising batsman and Sohag Gazi is a useful spinning all-rounder, but improvements are slow.
Players to watch in 2014:
1. David Warner - can he continue his great form?
2. Shikhar Dhawana - 187 on debut promises much
3, Cheteshwar Pujara - a run machine with a great technique
4. Jacques Kallis - will look to turn around drop in form
5. Darren Bravo - has the talent but will look to kick on
6. Ben Stokes - a breakthrough innings, but can it be backed up?
7. Matt Prior - from player of the year to clinging on for his place
8. Trent Boult - under the radar but a top left-arm seamer
9. Ish Sodhi - leg spinners are always exciting but will test the management's patience
10. Sunil Narine - Shillingford's suspension opens the door for a regular spot
11. Steven Finn - England will be desperate to see him find his rhythm
Friday 20 December 2013
Sunday 24 November 2013
Boxing suffers a points defeat
For all the anger, disdain and astonishment at the decision by Howard Foster to stop the Froch-Groves fight in the ninth round, you had to look elsewhere for the biggest controversy of the night.
How, just how, did two judges have Groves only one point up when the fight was stopped? It's hard to imagine that anybody watching that fight did not think Groves had won or drawn six of the completed eight rounds, including a possible two-point difference in the opening three minutes.
Maybe Foster did boxing a favour by stopping the fight, because assuming Froch was awarded the ninth round he would only have needed to win two of the final three rounds to triumph on points. Or worse, an equal three rounds which the judges award to him anyway.
The uproar of a win on points for Froch would have been massive, even more so than a premature stoppage.
It was clear to everyone watching that the final result would be a Froch knockout or Groves winning on points. As it was, a knockout looked more likely and it is a shame that Froch's win has been tainted by not getting the chance to finish the job, having comeback from a disastrous first round and taken some fierce punishment thereafter. We should be applauding Froch's courage and spirit to somehow turn the fight around.
Equally, if Groves had been able to withstand the barrage and close out the fight, he should have enjoyed his triumphant moment. Boxing is unlike other sports in that fighters train for months to prepare for a bout, and often have only one opportunity in the ring against their opponent. It is a do-or-die moment and defeat can take months to be rectified.
Groves had his chance taken away from him and must now hope for a re-match for which there is no guarantee. Even if he is afforded another chance, Froch will be much more ready and unlikely to be so heavily out-boxed.
In some ways there should be sympathy for referee Foster, who had to make a quick decision and might have (prematurely at least) thought Groves' health was at risk.
There is a changing atmosphere regarding serious injury in sport, with the NFL having to pay out $765 million to more than 4,500 players and their families after they were accused of hiding the risks of concussion.
The links between concussion and the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) are becoming more well known and maybe early stoppages will become more of the norm in boxing.
Either way, it was a poor decision by Foster, one which current and former boxers derided. Groves seemed ready to go again and in the interviews straight afterwards showed no signs of ill health.
It was not as bad a decision as the judging though. Boxing has little credibility when it comes to the three men and women who decide the victor in a fight where both men are still standing at the end. There is no trust for them to reach the correct verdict after 12 rounds.
What it comes down to is we have been let down. A terrific fight - a real-grudge match with both men throwing themselves at each other and the crowd getting involved - has been soured by a decision in the ring and, equally, by shocking judgement from those giving the scores. No re-match will make up for that.
Saturday 5 October 2013
Bollocktics
Being the multi-talented guy that I am I'm veering away from sport because I feel like kicking off.
This week has seen a lot of political controversies and I'm fed up of some of the rubbish I've heard. So let's get it going in full rant mode.
Ok, so the Mail posted a horrendous article on Ed Miliband's Dad which even its own readers were appalled by. And then instead of letting it just quietly fade away they brazenly tried to defend themselves and only made things worse. Coming after the Philpott 'a vile product of welfare UK' front page, it's fair to say they have no defence.
I understand why people dislike/hate the Mail for the same reasons that people hate the Guardian. But there needs to be some perspective here. All newspapers do a lot of good, I mean just look at the amount of scrutiny they put every institution under and some of the campaigns they run. They put pressure on every major institution in this country and think about some of the scandals which would not be brought to our attention if not for them (think expenses scandal).
So while slating the Mail or any other paper just remember if the press is neutered by bitter politicians then we will be much worse.
Also, as poor as the Mail were, think about some of the stuff we heard when Thatcher died. Things like celebration parties and Union members wearing t-shirts about dancing on her grave. You can't criticise one and not the other.
And even worse, we are now getting questioned on morality by Alastair Campbell. Bloody hell what next? Maybe Sepp Blatter will claim he can clean up corruption in football (ok one sporting mention).
How he could say that he 'respected politics and politicians?' As spiteful and petty as the Mail were, I don't remember them helping us go into a meaningless and unjustifiable war.
As for Mehdi Hasan, it wasn't too long ago that he was pleading the Mail to become a columnist with them and saying how much he respected their stance in many issues. So his rant on Question Time about how the paper hates Britain etc which I kind of enjoyed (I do like a good rant) is pretty much bogus.
It was pretty, pretty, pretty apt that QT was staged at the University of Birmingham this week considering today they followed other unis in banning Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines.'
In the history of populist gimmicks this is without doubt the worst I've ever witnessed going alongside Cameron's 'hug a hoodie stuff' while he was riding a bike to work with his own driver behind him or whatever.
Before I address the point, have even just a quick glance at this article http://ukfeminista.org.uk/take-action/facts-and-statistics-on-gender-inequality/
Now, tell me what banning a chart song which plays on the radio all day is going to do? It's just a ridiculous and pointless decision. Maybe if people stopped wasting everyone's time with stupid gestures like this they could start addressing real issues surrounding rape, sexual abuse, gender pay etc.
And another thing, if you're banning one song then what about every other sexually suggestive song? You'd be banning a lot of songs and not just from male artists either. You might as well ban Rihanna while you're at it and Britney Spears etc. And I suppose Miley Cyrus' twerking is acceptable...
Another case in point: instead of spending time trying to ban lads' mags why not put more pressure on photoshopping of models which make many young girls (not that I'm an expert) feel pressurised about their appearance. And I'd like to add I don't remember seeing many bald male models, but that's unimportant right now.
I hate these gimmicky, attention-seeking campaigns. Correct me if I'm wrong, but spending a while debating whether to ban a chart song does not seem like a useful way to spend time.
I am glad to be away from student politics and into the real world. And where I can start twerking to Robin Thicke right now and nobody care.
Now let us all relax and prepare for the Ashes. It's less than 50 days now until I can stay up at night sipping on some G&Ts watching Jimmy snick them off.
This week has seen a lot of political controversies and I'm fed up of some of the rubbish I've heard. So let's get it going in full rant mode.
Ok, so the Mail posted a horrendous article on Ed Miliband's Dad which even its own readers were appalled by. And then instead of letting it just quietly fade away they brazenly tried to defend themselves and only made things worse. Coming after the Philpott 'a vile product of welfare UK' front page, it's fair to say they have no defence.
I understand why people dislike/hate the Mail for the same reasons that people hate the Guardian. But there needs to be some perspective here. All newspapers do a lot of good, I mean just look at the amount of scrutiny they put every institution under and some of the campaigns they run. They put pressure on every major institution in this country and think about some of the scandals which would not be brought to our attention if not for them (think expenses scandal).
So while slating the Mail or any other paper just remember if the press is neutered by bitter politicians then we will be much worse.
Also, as poor as the Mail were, think about some of the stuff we heard when Thatcher died. Things like celebration parties and Union members wearing t-shirts about dancing on her grave. You can't criticise one and not the other.
And even worse, we are now getting questioned on morality by Alastair Campbell. Bloody hell what next? Maybe Sepp Blatter will claim he can clean up corruption in football (ok one sporting mention).
As for Mehdi Hasan, it wasn't too long ago that he was pleading the Mail to become a columnist with them and saying how much he respected their stance in many issues. So his rant on Question Time about how the paper hates Britain etc which I kind of enjoyed (I do like a good rant) is pretty much bogus.
It was pretty, pretty, pretty apt that QT was staged at the University of Birmingham this week considering today they followed other unis in banning Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines.'
In the history of populist gimmicks this is without doubt the worst I've ever witnessed going alongside Cameron's 'hug a hoodie stuff' while he was riding a bike to work with his own driver behind him or whatever.
Before I address the point, have even just a quick glance at this article http://ukfeminista.org.uk/take-action/facts-and-statistics-on-gender-inequality/
Now, tell me what banning a chart song which plays on the radio all day is going to do? It's just a ridiculous and pointless decision. Maybe if people stopped wasting everyone's time with stupid gestures like this they could start addressing real issues surrounding rape, sexual abuse, gender pay etc.
And another thing, if you're banning one song then what about every other sexually suggestive song? You'd be banning a lot of songs and not just from male artists either. You might as well ban Rihanna while you're at it and Britney Spears etc. And I suppose Miley Cyrus' twerking is acceptable...
Another case in point: instead of spending time trying to ban lads' mags why not put more pressure on photoshopping of models which make many young girls (not that I'm an expert) feel pressurised about their appearance. And I'd like to add I don't remember seeing many bald male models, but that's unimportant right now.
I hate these gimmicky, attention-seeking campaigns. Correct me if I'm wrong, but spending a while debating whether to ban a chart song does not seem like a useful way to spend time.
I am glad to be away from student politics and into the real world. And where I can start twerking to Robin Thicke right now and nobody care.
Now let us all relax and prepare for the Ashes. It's less than 50 days now until I can stay up at night sipping on some G&Ts watching Jimmy snick them off.
Monday 2 September 2013
Summer of Sport: August 26-September 1
Monday
A bit like people reading this blog, people must have been thinking 'who cares?' with the story that English cricketers were sprinkling all over The Oval pitch after play on the final day. That is there main celebration after all
On a similar vein, Sky sources indicated that a new club was now in for Gareth Bale. Fortunately, it is now only a week until transfer deadline day.
A great afternoon with me flicking between Notts playing Kent in a must-win YB40 match and the Brits in action at the US Open. Happily, Laura Robson and Dan Evans won with Evans in particular causing an upset with a straight sets win over 11th seed Kei Nishikori.
Notts then secured their semi-final spot just moments before Monday Night Football started. Geoff Shreeves was unable to contain himself, gleefully announcing that Wayne Rooney started and Chelsea had no strikers with Lukaka (his word not mine) on the bench. Worse, my fantasy football captain Juan Mata was joining him. Cheers Jose.
Tuesday
The football last night was bad enough, but somehow Roy Hodgson seemed to think it was outstanding before announcing an England squad which had Raheem Stirling and James Milner in after their great starts to the season.
Plenty of drama in the League Cup which is carrying on from last season's stunning exploits. Incredibly, Notts County managed to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield having been battered for most of the match but then succumbed at the end even with Liverpool a man down having used all their subs.
Some interesting happenings tonight, showing why cup football is so thrilling. Peterborough spanked Reading 6-0 which go alongside their 5-0, 4-2 and 5-1 wins (all away from home) in six matches this season.
Yeovil caused the biggest controversy, scoring a late equaliser instead of giving the ball back to the Birmingham goalkeeper after an injury, before taking the lead in extra time and then deliberately allowing Brum to equalise. That's what we call shaky ethics. Birmingham won on penalties.
In the Shampions league Aaron Ramsey scored twice more, proving that his resurgence may be Arsenal's best signing this summer. And possibly last.
England announced their ODI team with separate squads to play Ireland and Australia. With several big names rested it prompted former captain Michael Vaughan to suggest fans should get a slight refund which in turn prompted Stuart Broad to call his comments disrespectful. And then the Yo Momma jokes came out...
An interesting story from the US Open where Wimbledon semi-finalist Jerzy Janowicz was knocked out by Argentine qualifier Maximo Gonzales, ranked 247 in the world. Complaining of a bad back, the Pole argued with the umpire, served underarm (which he was asked to serve again), lay on his stomach asking for a back massage and asked for pain pills but was told he had taken too much medication already.
Wednesday
11 changes from Forest but they still beat Millwall in extra time to progress to a third round tie at... Burnley. Oh great. The draw did deliver though with Liverpool getting Manchester United with Luis Suarez set to be available.
The other big story was Bale not turning up to training which is about as exciting as me telling you what I had for lunch.
And Andy Murray began his defence of the US Open with a straight sets win over Michael Llodra. Such is the farce that is the organisers of this event (think no covers for the court and the men having to play Saturday and Sunday) the defending champion had to wait until the end of the third day to complete his match.
Thursday
Shock of the day, Chelsea get a piss easy cup draw which happens in every competition (see FA Cup third round draw against lower league opposition at Stamford Bridge every year). Arsenal's celebrations as qualifying for the 16th year in a row lasted all of one day before they were told they were to play Dortmund, Napoli and Marseille. Time to whip out the cheque book Arsene and re-signing Flamini on a free does not count. I'll let him off if Pascal Cygan makes a comeback
England got smashed all around the Ageas Bowl by the Finch hitter although they responded well thanks to some decent hitting from Joe Root.
But normal service was resumed with the women winning their Ashes and another Aussie losing to a Brit at the US Open where Evans beat Bernard Tomic whose Dad wouldn't let him practice with him last year because Evans wasn't good enough. Evans' reward is a third-round against Tommy Robredo and having to buy Greg Rusedski dinner.
Friday
Not much action during the day but the evening delivered. After a tense press conference where he denied having an inferior record against Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho saw his team twice lose a lead and lose on penalties.
Soon after Murray progressed to the third round of the US Open, but it was another story which caught the eye. Englishman Brian Davis had a share of the lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship. This is a man who has had a foot injury since July after falling down some stairs trying to save his Chinese food. That's a heroic cause.
Saturday
Not a day to talk about the football. We were waiting until the hour mark for a single Premier League goal in the 3:00 fixtures whilst Forest blew a lead a Wigan and lost. But as bad as today was, I'm still disappointed there is an international weekend coming up.
At least there was something to cheer at the cricket where Alex Hales once again got out in the 90s in a winning cause. At least it meant the Aussies don't win any series against us. Hopefully that will continue.
Unfortunately Evans couldn't continue that winning feeling but it was a great effort from him and hopefully there is more to come.
Sunday
Sensational transfer news today. Kaka has rejoined AC Milan on a free transfer. Are you kidding me? That's an unbelievable piece of business there. Oh and Bale joined by Real but nobody cares.
Watching Liverpol beat Manchester United made me think. There really isn't much difference between the two sides if you add Luis Suarez in. It just goes to show how unbelievably good Fergie was. He's the only irreplaceable manager in world football so for United not to spend means they can only go backwards.
I've also been impressed with Brentan Rodgers if you don't listen to him speak. He's built from the back and made Liverpool hard to beat and stylish to watch and he's now added goals. His signings have done well and I can't think of any (off the top of my head) who haven't done well except maybe Fabio Borini who has been injured.
I'm a big believer that there is good value in the transfer market if you look in the right places and don't act like QPR signing rejects. Dortmund built a great squad on a budget, clubs like Udinese, Napoli and Porto sign great talent from South America and sell them off for a massive profit and Juventus signed Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente for a combined £12m. And remember they signed Andrea Pirlo on a free.
Back to the football and apparently Roy Hodgson was unhappy being sat with the scouts at Anfield. Maybe he should just enjoy his position as he could be removed in a month if results don't go well.
Unfortunately the North London derby didn't deliver but it was just that sort of weekend in England. At least Spain made up for it somewhat with a good match between Champions League sides Real Socielad and Atletico Madrid which the visitors won 2-1 and Valencia v. Barcelona. It was 1-0 Barca when I flicked over to see Murray wrap up his third round match and then a few minutes later when I turned back it was 3-1. And then a minute later 3-2 just before the half-time whistle was blown. A hat-trick from Messi and two goals for... Helder Postiga (yes really and the first was a bit of a worldie). Despite a host of missed chances, that was how it ended.
If you're missing Monday Night Football's absence tomorrow then it's worth checking out the golf where Sergio Garcia is in the lead, two shots ahead of the incredibly in-form Henrik Stenson. There is a stellar field out there and it's only going to get better for the next two weeks.
Oh and breaking news coming in. Mesut Ozil to Arsenal. Right. I thought he was off the Chelsea, they need that type of player to add to their squad.
Meanwhile...
Story of the Week: Goalkeeper gets sent off... then helps save a fan's life - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23847287
Good on Papiss Cise in allowing Newcastle fans to come round his house for a bbq. I'm not sure he would have done the same if he played for Liverpool
Michel Platini thinks transfer fees are robbery. Has he not seen Fifa's Presidential elections?
Good on Daniel Sturridge in getting out of his car to join in with a fan who was copying his celebration. I suppose it's easy to celebrate when you're banging them in for fun - http://gerrard8fanpage.lockerdome.com/articles/109071470
Mitchell Johnson is targeting an Ashes recall this winter. As are the England players (Perth aside)
Franck Ribery was awarded the Uefa Best Player Award for last season. Is it just me who finds this bizarre?
Tweets of the week: I couldn't decide between these two, so enjoy both. If you're on Twitter, David Johnson is the best in the business. And on that note I'll sign off for the summer. We've had Justin, the Lions, Murray at Wimbledon and the Ashes with cameos from Mo and the football. Cheers for reading and enjoy Transfer Deadline Day
JOHNO @davidaj09
A bit like people reading this blog, people must have been thinking 'who cares?' with the story that English cricketers were sprinkling all over The Oval pitch after play on the final day. That is there main celebration after all
On a similar vein, Sky sources indicated that a new club was now in for Gareth Bale. Fortunately, it is now only a week until transfer deadline day.
A great afternoon with me flicking between Notts playing Kent in a must-win YB40 match and the Brits in action at the US Open. Happily, Laura Robson and Dan Evans won with Evans in particular causing an upset with a straight sets win over 11th seed Kei Nishikori.
Notts then secured their semi-final spot just moments before Monday Night Football started. Geoff Shreeves was unable to contain himself, gleefully announcing that Wayne Rooney started and Chelsea had no strikers with Lukaka (his word not mine) on the bench. Worse, my fantasy football captain Juan Mata was joining him. Cheers Jose.
Tuesday
The football last night was bad enough, but somehow Roy Hodgson seemed to think it was outstanding before announcing an England squad which had Raheem Stirling and James Milner in after their great starts to the season.
Plenty of drama in the League Cup which is carrying on from last season's stunning exploits. Incredibly, Notts County managed to come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield having been battered for most of the match but then succumbed at the end even with Liverpool a man down having used all their subs.
Some interesting happenings tonight, showing why cup football is so thrilling. Peterborough spanked Reading 6-0 which go alongside their 5-0, 4-2 and 5-1 wins (all away from home) in six matches this season.
Yeovil caused the biggest controversy, scoring a late equaliser instead of giving the ball back to the Birmingham goalkeeper after an injury, before taking the lead in extra time and then deliberately allowing Brum to equalise. That's what we call shaky ethics. Birmingham won on penalties.
In the Shampions league Aaron Ramsey scored twice more, proving that his resurgence may be Arsenal's best signing this summer. And possibly last.
England announced their ODI team with separate squads to play Ireland and Australia. With several big names rested it prompted former captain Michael Vaughan to suggest fans should get a slight refund which in turn prompted Stuart Broad to call his comments disrespectful. And then the Yo Momma jokes came out...
An interesting story from the US Open where Wimbledon semi-finalist Jerzy Janowicz was knocked out by Argentine qualifier Maximo Gonzales, ranked 247 in the world. Complaining of a bad back, the Pole argued with the umpire, served underarm (which he was asked to serve again), lay on his stomach asking for a back massage and asked for pain pills but was told he had taken too much medication already.
Wednesday
11 changes from Forest but they still beat Millwall in extra time to progress to a third round tie at... Burnley. Oh great. The draw did deliver though with Liverpool getting Manchester United with Luis Suarez set to be available.
The other big story was Bale not turning up to training which is about as exciting as me telling you what I had for lunch.
And Andy Murray began his defence of the US Open with a straight sets win over Michael Llodra. Such is the farce that is the organisers of this event (think no covers for the court and the men having to play Saturday and Sunday) the defending champion had to wait until the end of the third day to complete his match.
Thursday
Shock of the day, Chelsea get a piss easy cup draw which happens in every competition (see FA Cup third round draw against lower league opposition at Stamford Bridge every year). Arsenal's celebrations as qualifying for the 16th year in a row lasted all of one day before they were told they were to play Dortmund, Napoli and Marseille. Time to whip out the cheque book Arsene and re-signing Flamini on a free does not count. I'll let him off if Pascal Cygan makes a comeback
England got smashed all around the Ageas Bowl by the Finch hitter although they responded well thanks to some decent hitting from Joe Root.
But normal service was resumed with the women winning their Ashes and another Aussie losing to a Brit at the US Open where Evans beat Bernard Tomic whose Dad wouldn't let him practice with him last year because Evans wasn't good enough. Evans' reward is a third-round against Tommy Robredo and having to buy Greg Rusedski dinner.
Friday
Not much action during the day but the evening delivered. After a tense press conference where he denied having an inferior record against Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho saw his team twice lose a lead and lose on penalties.
Soon after Murray progressed to the third round of the US Open, but it was another story which caught the eye. Englishman Brian Davis had a share of the lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship. This is a man who has had a foot injury since July after falling down some stairs trying to save his Chinese food. That's a heroic cause.
Saturday
Not a day to talk about the football. We were waiting until the hour mark for a single Premier League goal in the 3:00 fixtures whilst Forest blew a lead a Wigan and lost. But as bad as today was, I'm still disappointed there is an international weekend coming up.
At least there was something to cheer at the cricket where Alex Hales once again got out in the 90s in a winning cause. At least it meant the Aussies don't win any series against us. Hopefully that will continue.
Unfortunately Evans couldn't continue that winning feeling but it was a great effort from him and hopefully there is more to come.
Sunday
Sensational transfer news today. Kaka has rejoined AC Milan on a free transfer. Are you kidding me? That's an unbelievable piece of business there. Oh and Bale joined by Real but nobody cares.
Watching Liverpol beat Manchester United made me think. There really isn't much difference between the two sides if you add Luis Suarez in. It just goes to show how unbelievably good Fergie was. He's the only irreplaceable manager in world football so for United not to spend means they can only go backwards.
I've also been impressed with Brentan Rodgers if you don't listen to him speak. He's built from the back and made Liverpool hard to beat and stylish to watch and he's now added goals. His signings have done well and I can't think of any (off the top of my head) who haven't done well except maybe Fabio Borini who has been injured.
I'm a big believer that there is good value in the transfer market if you look in the right places and don't act like QPR signing rejects. Dortmund built a great squad on a budget, clubs like Udinese, Napoli and Porto sign great talent from South America and sell them off for a massive profit and Juventus signed Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente for a combined £12m. And remember they signed Andrea Pirlo on a free.
Back to the football and apparently Roy Hodgson was unhappy being sat with the scouts at Anfield. Maybe he should just enjoy his position as he could be removed in a month if results don't go well.
Unfortunately the North London derby didn't deliver but it was just that sort of weekend in England. At least Spain made up for it somewhat with a good match between Champions League sides Real Socielad and Atletico Madrid which the visitors won 2-1 and Valencia v. Barcelona. It was 1-0 Barca when I flicked over to see Murray wrap up his third round match and then a few minutes later when I turned back it was 3-1. And then a minute later 3-2 just before the half-time whistle was blown. A hat-trick from Messi and two goals for... Helder Postiga (yes really and the first was a bit of a worldie). Despite a host of missed chances, that was how it ended.
If you're missing Monday Night Football's absence tomorrow then it's worth checking out the golf where Sergio Garcia is in the lead, two shots ahead of the incredibly in-form Henrik Stenson. There is a stellar field out there and it's only going to get better for the next two weeks.
Oh and breaking news coming in. Mesut Ozil to Arsenal. Right. I thought he was off the Chelsea, they need that type of player to add to their squad.
Meanwhile...
Story of the Week: Goalkeeper gets sent off... then helps save a fan's life - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23847287
Good on Papiss Cise in allowing Newcastle fans to come round his house for a bbq. I'm not sure he would have done the same if he played for Liverpool
Michel Platini thinks transfer fees are robbery. Has he not seen Fifa's Presidential elections?
Good on Daniel Sturridge in getting out of his car to join in with a fan who was copying his celebration. I suppose it's easy to celebrate when you're banging them in for fun - http://gerrard8fanpage.lockerdome.com/articles/109071470
Mitchell Johnson is targeting an Ashes recall this winter. As are the England players (Perth aside)
Franck Ribery was awarded the Uefa Best Player Award for last season. Is it just me who finds this bizarre?
Tweets of the week: I couldn't decide between these two, so enjoy both. If you're on Twitter, David Johnson is the best in the business. And on that note I'll sign off for the summer. We've had Justin, the Lions, Murray at Wimbledon and the Ashes with cameos from Mo and the football. Cheers for reading and enjoy Transfer Deadline Day
JOHNO @davidaj09
Arsenal have signed Mathieu Flamini! Thats like telling the World, you wipe your Arse with your right hand. Its best kept quiet Arsene #AFC
There is as Much chance of seeing Defoe in a #nffc shirt? As there is of me walking around Co-op with my balls hanging out. #thereisnochance
Monday 26 August 2013
Ashes review
Just to put myself up for scrutiny, I have used my earlier predictions just to see how accurate they were. So strap yourself in for the comprehensive series review with all the averages and comparisons with what I said before the Ashes started and what I thought afterwards. We begin with my three reasons why...
3 reasons England will win
1. A top three who should score runs - umm oops
2. Graeme Swann - 26 wickets
3. An excellent home record in Tests - continued once more
3 reasons Australia might cause an upset
1. Michael Clarke - 381 runs at an average of 47.62. Good but not enough
2. Michael Clarke (just kidding)
3. A good pace attack - Australia showed why they have one of the world's best pace attacks
4. History - Unlike the 1989 tourists, Australia proved unable to take their chances
Player by player guide:
Here is how the rankings system works:
England:
Alastair Cook: A talisman in big oversees wins but finds it harder against the moving ball at home. Fair to say he has good memories of playing Australia
Played 5 - 277 runs, average 27.7, top score 62
Three fifties which if even one had been converted to a hundred would have salvaged his series with the bat. As stated before, he finds it harder batting at home than abroad so should do better in the return series. Came under criticism for his field settings which in many ways is fair, but like predecessor Andrew Strauss his great strength is his leadership skills. Rating: 5
Joe Root: Has done everything asked of him so far in his career and now has a Test hundred to his name, but will have to make another step up to prove he should have been picked over Nick Compton. His off-spin could prove useful if pitches turn
Played 5 - 339 runs, average 37.66, top score 180. 3 wickets, average 11.33, best return 2/9
If an edge at Lord's had been taken then Root's series would have looked massively different, but he showed his class thereafter. Looked better when transferring his weight forward at The Oval and will most probably do well on the bouncier Australian pitches. As predicted his off-spin proved useful, with Root now seen as something of a golden arm and good enough to be a second spinner in helpful conditions. Rating: 7
Jonathan Trott: England's Mr Reliable would normally be a definite 9, but his standards have dipped slightly. His average since 2012 is 42.45, not because his form has dropped but because he has not been converting starts into hundreds like he used to. In this period he hit nine 50s and two hundreds but that also includes a number of other starts which he failed to convert. Like Cook he often struggles against left-hand seamers which might explain why he did not score big against New Zealand
Played 5 - 293 runs, average 29.3, top score 59. 1 wicket, average 28, best return 1/12
Continued the theme where he would get in then get out which is proving worrying. Many of his dismissals were tame such as caught down the leg-side or out flicking off his hip. Rating: 5.5
Kevin Pietersen: Like Cook and Trott he has scored big runs against Australia and looks in excellent touch once again. Assuming he is fully fit, expect probably one match winning innings, if not a consistent number
Played 5 - 388 runs, average 38.8, top score 113
As expected there was one excellent knock which - alongside the weather - prevented England from losing at Manchester although unlike some of his other stunning innings it did not lead to a win. Some poor dismissals as expected but batted responsibly at Trent Bridge in England's third innings and if not for bad light he would have played a hand in a win on the final day at The Oval. Another player who would not have enjoyed the pitches. Rating: 7
Ian Bell: It may have gone under the radar but Bell should feel his place in the side is under threat. From the start of 2012 he averages 32.07 with one hundred and once more he is getting out cheaply, a problem which he looked to have sorted out. A couple of quiet Tests and even his excellent fielding at short leg might not be enough to keep him in the side
Played 5 - 562 runs, average 62.44, top score 113
In a series which did not see run scoring at a premium, Bell shone throughout with important innings coming in every Test. His 562 runs is the joint third highest by an Englishman in a home Ashes series, putting him alongside Denis Compton and behind just David Gower and Graham Gooch.
Ironically, Bell was the player in the top five who was the least secure of his place in the team before the series but he threw away all doubts about his temperament which he admitted had held him back in the past. Without getting too carried away, Bell was the reason England won the series. Rating: 9.5
Jonny Bairstow: A lack of cricket both this winter and since the New Zealand Tests have hampered his progress but he is a good counter-attacking player and has shown already he has the bottle for the big stage
Played 4 - 203 runs, average 29:00, top score 67
A disappointing series which saw the Yorkshireman lose his place in the team for the last Test. A top score of 67 only came in an innings where he had earlier been caught off a no-ball and his overall strike-rate of 40.11 was too low for someone who is meant to give the innings an impetus. His wicket-keeping will take him Down Under but he must work on a technical fault if he is to have a bigger impact. Rating: 5
Matt Prior: After the winter his rating would have been even higher but an uncharacteristically poor summer so far, with few runs and unusual errors behind the stumps, have seen him slip from his normally incredible standards
Played 5 - 133 runs, average 19, top score 47, catches 18
Probably the worst series he has had since being recalled to the England set-up follows a series against New Zealand where you would have said exactly the same. The reigning England Player of the Year was due a poor series but he will bounce back quickly after a difficult summer which has regardless seen him come out with five wins and no losses in Tests. Rating: 4
Stuart Broad: Like Pietersen a man who will normally win you a match but might not deliver Test after Test. Showed his best form two years ago against India when he was all over their batsmen and England fans will hope for a repeat
Played 5 - 179 runs, average 25.57, top score 65. 22 wickets, average 27.45, best return 6/50
Broad's overall figures were boosted by some cheap wickets as Australia hit out at The Oval but they were a reward for some continually excellent bowling which did not always reap the rewards it deserved. The one match defining spell came at Durham which must go down alongside Anderson's at Trent Bridge for the best of the series. Having the wool over Clarke proved invaluable.
As for his batting, it proved useful and there are no complaints for not walking when many of the Australians didn't. Rating: 8.5
Graeme Swann: Quite simply, in my opinion, the one player England cannot afford to lose. A match winner with the ball, useful with the bat and an excellent slip catcher, England look extremely vulnerable when the off-spinner is not there
Played 5 - 126 runs, average 25.2, top score 34. 26 wickets, average 29.03, best return 5/44
With dry pitches supposedly for his benefit, Swann did his job well with another excellent all-round series. Maybe he didn't quite have the same dramatic effect as Broad and Anderson but he was consistent throughout and enjoyed Australia's left-handers. Rating: 8.5
James Anderson: Alongside Swann as the player England need most. Possibly the most skilled bowler in world cricket (if not the best) he will fancy his chances against the Australian openers before Swann starts wheeling away
Played 5 - 36 runs, average 7.2, top score 16. 22 wickets, average 29.59, best return 5/73
A masterclass at Trent Bridge (it is hard to do justice to that performance on that pitch) set lofty standards which were never matched but some wickets at The Oval were a happy ending after struggles at Old Trafford and Durham where he would have expected to do well. Rating: 8
Steven Finn: A worrying loss of form means Finn can not be relied upon here, but his pace and knack of picking up wickets will probably give him the edge over Tim Bresnan. Will need a quick start, though, with the more versatile Yorkshireman back to full fitness and form
Played 1 - 2 runs, average 2, top score 2*. 2 wickets, average 58.5, best return 2/80
With Broad off the field, Finn steamed in late on day one at Trent Bridge and knocked over Watson and Cowan in successive deliveries. After that, though, it all went wrong. As expected, the Middlesex paceman got the nod over Bresnan but his stuttering run-up continued to cause him problems and he suffered at the hands of Haddin on the final day. Fortunate that a difficult dropped catch did not cost his side, Finn can at least be reassured that he is still highly regarded and can get his place in the side back. Rating: 4
The rest: The Finn/Bresnan/Onions debate: Finn has the pace, the height and the knack of picking up wickets. Bresnan is accurate, can reverse the ball and bat. Onions is an excellent stump-to-stump bowler and is effective against left-handers. If the pitch is dry and rough I'd lean towards Bresnan and if it's green then Onions. Finn's form is a concern but he would still be a decent choice if selected.
Bresnan: Played 3 - 103 runs, average 25.75, top score 45. 10 wickets, average 29.6, best return 2/25
Considering he took no more than two wickets in an innings it seems bizarre to say Bresnan was an important player but he always seems to have an effect on the result. Back to his best after injury problems, his loss to a stress fracture in the back caused selection difficulties at The Oval, highlighting just how important his all-round package as a cricketer is. Rating: 8
Chris Woakes: Played 1 - 42 runs, average 42, top score 25. 1 wicket, average 96, best return 1/96
Put in as a batting all-rounder, there were glimpses of his talent but he bowled too many bad balls and was out flashing hard outside his off-stump. Runs in the second innings during a run chase show why for now he is a better bet as an ODI player. Rating: 5
Simon Kerrigan: Played 1 - 1 run, average n/a, top score 1*. 0 wickets
Had a good domestic season in division two but was torn apart by Watson. Will almost certainly be back though as he is seen as the most likely successor to Swann. I'm not going to be too harsh and give him a rating.
Australia:
Shane Watson: A Test batting average of 35.34 is misleading. Watson finds it difficult to hit hundreds, with his last coming at Mohali in October 2010, 20 Tests ago. But few players survive the new ball as well as him, and considering the fragility of the Aussie batting line-up (and the importance to protect Michael Clarke) putting Watson back to the top of the order is a shrewd move. If Lehmann can coax the best from him with bat and ball, Watson could be on of the stars of the series. Early indications are good if his runs against Somerset and Worcestershire are to go by
Played 5 - runs 418, average 41.8, top score 176. 2 wickets, average 89.5, best return 1/21
A series which seemed to have it all for Watson with: ridicule over his reviews and propensity to be out lbw, talk over his relationship with Clarke, movement up and down the order, and finally redemption at the end. After all the laughter, Watson ended the series with the most runs by an Australian and now secure in the number three spot for the time being.
As for his bowling, it did not prove penetrative but sending down 38 maidens from 85.3 overs was a real boost for his captain. Rating: 7.5
Chris Rogers: Cricket Australia haven't got much right recently, but picking the Middlesex opener is an exception. A first-class average of 50, a domestic average of 65.83 this season, and plenty of experience opening in England, Rogers is the perfect choice alongside Watson. Taking that record to the international stage, though, will not be easy
Played 5 - 367 runs, average 40.77, top score 110
A Swann full-toss aside, this was a good series for the 35 (nearly 36) year-old. A maiden Test hundred at Durham was the highlight after coming close at Old Trafford and it can be said that he is one of the few Australian batsmen that has enhanced his reputation. Should do well in the return series where pitches will not suit Swann as much. Rating: 7
Ed Cowan: A dogged batsman who sells his wicket dearly, Cowan was well liked by previous coach Mickey Arthur but is not a scorer of big runs. Has scored for Nottinghamshire this summer, but showed his failings with four fifties and no hundreds. Will probably keep his place in the team even if it's in a different position to one he is used to
Played 1 - 14 runs, average 7, top score 14
A golden duck and 14, both times out flashing loosely outside off-stump at times when England needed a wicket. Maybe it was harsh that he was dropped, but clearly he is not a cricketer who Darren Lehmann fancies and he will have to score well in the Sheffield Shield to get his place back. Might have been an inglorious end to his Test career. Rating: 3
Phil Hughes: The biggest enigma of Australian cricket, Hughes has a suspect technique which saw him dropped last time he was here. In five Tests against England he has scored just 154 runs with a top score of 36. In India he at one staged faced 39 consecutive balls against spin, scoring no runs and being dismissed four times.
Hughes has pedigree though, with back-to-back hundreds in South Africa and runs against Sri Lanka in the Australian summer. England bowlers will be glad to see him, though
Played 2 - 83 runs, average 27.66, top score 81*
A really good showing in his first knock made it seem like things could be different for Hughes, but three innings and two runs later he was once more dropped after the Lord's Test as he had been in 2009. Interesting to see where he goes from now on with that number six spot in the order still up for grabs. Rating: 5
Michael Clarke: His batting has already been mentioned but his captaincy is also very good. He won in the West Indies declaring behind in the first innings and in India he declared his side's first innings at 237-9 just to get a few overs at the Indian openers on the first evening. Like Brendon McCullum, Clarke will attack England at all opportunities
Played 5 - 381 runs, average 47.62, top score 187
A big knock at Old Trafford which came with his side under pressure and 2-0 down in the series, but even then he did not look comfortable with plenty of loose strokes. Roughed up by Broad, it is clear Clarke is not as comfortable as he has been in racking up big scores since the start of 2012 but he again looked classy against spin, despite his aberration to Root.
As for his captaincy, he is one of the best on the field I have ever seen with England's top order suffocated through imaginative field placings and his willingness to attack at all costs and really go for a win is a great credit to him. Rating 7.5
Steven Smith: A late addition to the side after Warner's suspension and Clarke's back problems, Smith is only meant to be with the tourists until the second Test but could gatecrash the side. Scored 133 for Australia A against Ireland and 161 from four innings in India. Runs against Worcestershire will only have helped his cause. Is seen as a batsman but bowls handy leg-spin
Played 5 - 345 runs, average 38.33, top score 138*. 4 wickets, average 26.5, best return 3/18
Big runs in the final Test saved his series like with Watson but there was not enough when it counted, bar his three wickets at Lord's. As suggested, despite being a late replacement in the squad he started the series and his leg-spin did prove handy, but it was those runs which have cemented his place in the side. Can clearly play but looks susceptible against the moving ball. Rating: 6.5
Brad Haddin: Lost his place as wicket-keeper to Matthew Wade through no fault of his own but is the sort of character Lehmann will want in the side and has scored runs against England in the past. The vice-captain bats in a similar counter-attacking vein to Matt Prior but is not as secure with the gloves on
Played 5 - 206 runs, average 22.88, top score 71, catches 29
Out-performed his opposite number with bat and gloves, securing a record 29 catches in a series. Not prolific but scores tough runs as seen at Trent Bridge. A bit more consistency with the bat is all that could have been asked of him. Rating: 7
Peter Siddle: Often underrated by those outside Australia, Siddle will steam in all day, give the batsmen no respite and can take wickets with the new and old ball. Siddle proved himself as the leader of the attack when he bowled himself to exhaustion in Adelaide where he tried to take the final South African wickets, and he did well in the last two Tests in India.
Siddle's Test average of 28.84 is pretty good and in his two series against England he has averaged 30.8 and 34.56. Also useful with the bat (he top scored with half centuries in both innings of the final Test in India), Siddle will almost certainly keep his place despite a slow start to the tour
Played 5 - 84 runs, average 10.5, top score 23. 17 wickets, average 31.58, best return 5/50
Similar bowling average as in his two other Ashes series, Siddle backed up his opening burst in the first day of the 2010/11 series with another salvo here, but he faded a bit towards the end. Can be proud of his efforts considering he rarely got to use the new ball. Rating: 7.5
Mitchell Starc: A potential superstar. Similar to Mitchell Johnson in name, bowling action and the way he plays the game, Starc seems to be the better bet to be a mainstay of the Australian side. After one successful Test against India and the West Indies, Starc really announced himself in another of his one-Test series, this time against the number one ranked side in the world at Perth. Clean bowling Alviro Peterson and Jacques Kallis in successive overs with inswinging deliveries, Starc could repeat Johnson's performance against England at Perth from the last Ashes series if the ball swings. Likewise, he can prove expensive if conditions are not in his favour.
Starc is also probably the most talented tail-end batsman from either side. He averages over 32 with the bat from his nine Tests, including 68* from 64 balls against South Africa and an incredible 99 in the dust bowls of India
Played 3 - 104 runs, average 26, top score 66*. 11 wickets, average 32.45, best return 3/76
I predicted big things for Starc who didn't quite perform as well as expected. Still, it wasn't a bad series and he can be considered slightly unlucky to have been dropped twice after doing nothing wrong. Despite being seen as expensive, his economy was 2.97 for the series which is pretty good.
With the bat there was only one show of his explosive talent with 66* off 71 balls but as an all-rounder he has room to develop. Rating: 7
James Pattinson: Like Starc, Pattinson is 23 and is another who can become a world star. His bowling average from 10 Tests is 23.37 and he impressed with his pace against India. Like Starc (and indeed Siddle) he can bowl 90+ mph and has an excellent yorker. Again, as with Starc, he has suffered from injuries but has been back to full health and could be a big threat with ball in hand. Like his fellow bowlers he is also more than handy with the willow
Played 2 - 72 runs, average 36, top score 35. 7 wickets, average 43.85, best return 3/69
Only managed two Tests before going home injured once again but failed to show why he is so highly rated. A man capable of searing speed whilst moving the ball into the right-hander, he did not take enough wickets. With the bat, though, he looked accomplished with runs in both Tests. If he can stay fit he is still one for the future. Rating: 5.5
Nathan Lyon: Sorry to say but Lyon is the weak link of the Australian side. He is not a bad bowler, as his average of 33.18 shows, but it is clear that his own team do not rate him. Dropped after one Test in the spinners' paradise of India, the attempt to fast-tract Fawad Ahmed's citizenship after 15 first-class matches is revealing. Possessing a doosra he calls "Jeff", it would be no surprise if Lyon was jettisoned at some point
Played 3 - 12 runs, average 6, top score 8. 9 wickets, average 33.66, best return 4/42
I said he may get dropped but I at least thought he would start the series. For some reason Lyon is still trying to justify himself as Australia's best spin bowler but he again showed why they should keep faith with him. After bowling well at Old Trafford without luck and with Pietersen in the mood, he bizarrely got his rewards on the first day at Durham. Surely now he must be played in every match. Rating: 7
Ashton Agar: 19-year-old left-arm spinner who has hit three 50s from his nine first-class matches. Did well with Australia A and is a definite contender for Lyon's place
Played 2 - 130 runs, average 32.5, top score 98. 2 wickets, average 124, best return 2/82
Agar's debut was the story of the Ashes and his knock of 98 - just two runs away from becoming the first number 11 in Test history to hit a hundred - was astonishing. However, he did not threaten enough with the ball although he missed out on one wicket after Broad was given not out at Trent Bridge following his massive edge. Rating: 6
Jackson Bird: A control bowler with an excellent first-class record and 11 wickets from his two Tests against Sri Lanka at 16.18 runs apiece, he is another exciting seamer who could come in and took wickets against Worcestershire
Played 1 - 1 run, average n/a, top score 1. 2 wickets, average 62.5, best return 2/58
Did not do enough in his one Test to justify re-selection and ended up returning home with a back injury. Another seamer who is highly rated and will surely come again. Rating: 5
James Faulkner: A highly-rated all rounder (especially by Shane Warne) who bowls left arm over and is more than handy with the bat as he showed in the Champions Trophy. Will probably be a mainstay in the Australian team in all three formats in the future
Played 1 - 45 runs, average 22.25, top score 23. 6 wickets, average 16.33, best return 6/98
Looked fairly innocuous with bat and ball on a dead Oval pitch but ended up with six wickets. When Watson stops bowling Faulkner could come in as a batting all-rounder. Rating: 7.5
Ryan Harris: Another top seamer who can hold a bat, 33-year-old Harris averages 23.63 from 12 Tests and has troubled England in the past but is injury prone
Played 4 - 99 runs, average 19.8, top score 33. 24 wickets, average 19.58, best return 7/117
Supposedly injured for the first Test, Harris then countered expectations by playing the final four with Old Trafford and Durham being back-to-back. Unlike some of the younger players, Harris continually delivered excellent performers and for consistency was probably the best bowler of the series. Rating: 9
Usman Khawaja: A Test average of 29.22 from six Tests is not much, but he is highly rated and a 73 against Somerset will have done him no harm. Number six is the position which looks hardest to call with David Warner and Steve Smith around, so if given the chance Khawaja needs to start well
Played 3 - 114 runs, average 19, top score 54
Brought in for Cowan, a decent half-century at Lord's was as good as it got with Swann enjoying bowling to him. Like Hughes he does not look to have a good enough technique but Sheffield Shield runs might get him back in at number six. Rating: 4
Matthew Wade: A wicket-keeper whose Test average of 34.61 is only slight worse than Haddin's, Wade might find himself displaced because Haddin is seen as the better option with bat and gloves
The only tourist not to get a game!
David Warner: Almost certain not to start after being banned from the warm-up matches for punching Root, Warner could find himself in the middle order where he is less exposed to the new ball. A free scoring batsman with a respectable Test average of 39.46, his lack of form is a concern but a clean slate under Lehmann could be in his favour
Played 3 - 138 runs, average 23, top score 71
After being sent to South Africa where he made 193 for Australia A, Warner was brought back in with his side 2-0 down but he ended up flattering to deceive. A promising 71 at Durham looked to be winning the Test for his team but his dismissal to a good Bresnan delivery caused a collapse. Despite a poor series average he is likely to continue at the top of the order even with a habit of being caught flashing outside his off stump. Rating: 5
Overall prediction
Conditions and the toss at Trent Bridge will have a massive effect. If it's bowler-friendly and Australia win the toss the whole series can change. Otherwise, it's hard to see past an England win. I'm going 2-1 but I expect it to be tight throughout the series
Despite losing the toss Australia had favourable conditions to work with which they made the most of. However, failing to win that opening Test made it a monumental task to win the series. Unlike some others who made predictions, I did see a close series which in some ways it was with both sides having chances to win in four of the five Tests. As it was, England managed to sneak over the line in two of them.
Top run scorer prediction:
England - Trott, Australia - Clarke
Actual result: Bell, Watson
Top wicket taker prediction:
England - Anderson, Australia - Starc
Actual result: Swann, Harris
Final word...
1. Six of England's top seven may have struggled to make runs, but a reminder of their averages in 2010/11 suggests they will do better Down Under: Cook - 127.66, Trott - 89.00, Pietersen - 60, Bell - 65.8, Prior - 50.4
2. Australia, barring another crisis of their manufacturing, will start next series in much better shape than this one with four of their top five likely to start in Brisbane having hit a century in these five Tests. They know they can score runs and take wickets against England now and any fear factor will be gone. England will have to raise their game
3. In 2009, Australia had six of the top seven run scorers and the top three wicket takers. Here, they had four of the top six run scorers and bowling wise the averages are similar. What is clear, though, is that England have a winning habit. This, more so than the players, are what separates the sides
4. The ICC should make a grovelling apology. It was dark, the floodlights were on, the crowd was generating a great atmosphere and England were romping home. It was a fantastic occasion and a stunning ending to the biggest series in Test cricket which those present and watching at home would never forget. Instead, the mood was somewhat ruined by provisions that meant the players had to go off. And we wonder why Test cricket is sidelined for the limited overs versions
5. The pitches were crap. Before the series I believed we should make the pitches dry as it would give us an advantage but these five Tests have made me change my mind. From now on I hope to see quintessential English pitches which means swing at certain grounds, pace and bounce at others but also something there for the spinners
6. Stuart Broad doesn't walk and there is a massive outcry. Brad Haddin doesn't walk and I hear almost nothing. I don't want to hear any more criticism of Broad for standing his ground
3 reasons England will win
1. A top three who should score runs - umm oops
2. Graeme Swann - 26 wickets
3. An excellent home record in Tests - continued once more
3 reasons Australia might cause an upset
1. Michael Clarke - 381 runs at an average of 47.62. Good but not enough
2. Michael Clarke (just kidding)
3. A good pace attack - Australia showed why they have one of the world's best pace attacks
4. History - Unlike the 1989 tourists, Australia proved unable to take their chances
Player by player guide:
Here is how the rankings system works:
0 – Kesteven
1 – Horrendous
2 – Shocker
3 – Why always me?
4 – Liability
5 – Distinctly average
6 – Pretty, pretty, pretty… pretty good
7 – Gary Neville orgasm
8 – Shares in Kleenex have doubled
9 – Needs boning right now
10 – Babies were born on the back of his performances
In Italics is what I wrote before the series and after is my assessment and a rating.
In Italics is what I wrote before the series and after is my assessment and a rating.
England:
Alastair Cook: A talisman in big oversees wins but finds it harder against the moving ball at home. Fair to say he has good memories of playing Australia
Played 5 - 277 runs, average 27.7, top score 62
Three fifties which if even one had been converted to a hundred would have salvaged his series with the bat. As stated before, he finds it harder batting at home than abroad so should do better in the return series. Came under criticism for his field settings which in many ways is fair, but like predecessor Andrew Strauss his great strength is his leadership skills. Rating: 5
Joe Root: Has done everything asked of him so far in his career and now has a Test hundred to his name, but will have to make another step up to prove he should have been picked over Nick Compton. His off-spin could prove useful if pitches turn
Played 5 - 339 runs, average 37.66, top score 180. 3 wickets, average 11.33, best return 2/9
If an edge at Lord's had been taken then Root's series would have looked massively different, but he showed his class thereafter. Looked better when transferring his weight forward at The Oval and will most probably do well on the bouncier Australian pitches. As predicted his off-spin proved useful, with Root now seen as something of a golden arm and good enough to be a second spinner in helpful conditions. Rating: 7
Jonathan Trott: England's Mr Reliable would normally be a definite 9, but his standards have dipped slightly. His average since 2012 is 42.45, not because his form has dropped but because he has not been converting starts into hundreds like he used to. In this period he hit nine 50s and two hundreds but that also includes a number of other starts which he failed to convert. Like Cook he often struggles against left-hand seamers which might explain why he did not score big against New Zealand
Played 5 - 293 runs, average 29.3, top score 59. 1 wicket, average 28, best return 1/12
Continued the theme where he would get in then get out which is proving worrying. Many of his dismissals were tame such as caught down the leg-side or out flicking off his hip. Rating: 5.5
Kevin Pietersen: Like Cook and Trott he has scored big runs against Australia and looks in excellent touch once again. Assuming he is fully fit, expect probably one match winning innings, if not a consistent number
Played 5 - 388 runs, average 38.8, top score 113
As expected there was one excellent knock which - alongside the weather - prevented England from losing at Manchester although unlike some of his other stunning innings it did not lead to a win. Some poor dismissals as expected but batted responsibly at Trent Bridge in England's third innings and if not for bad light he would have played a hand in a win on the final day at The Oval. Another player who would not have enjoyed the pitches. Rating: 7
Ian Bell: It may have gone under the radar but Bell should feel his place in the side is under threat. From the start of 2012 he averages 32.07 with one hundred and once more he is getting out cheaply, a problem which he looked to have sorted out. A couple of quiet Tests and even his excellent fielding at short leg might not be enough to keep him in the side
Played 5 - 562 runs, average 62.44, top score 113
In a series which did not see run scoring at a premium, Bell shone throughout with important innings coming in every Test. His 562 runs is the joint third highest by an Englishman in a home Ashes series, putting him alongside Denis Compton and behind just David Gower and Graham Gooch.
Ironically, Bell was the player in the top five who was the least secure of his place in the team before the series but he threw away all doubts about his temperament which he admitted had held him back in the past. Without getting too carried away, Bell was the reason England won the series. Rating: 9.5
Jonny Bairstow: A lack of cricket both this winter and since the New Zealand Tests have hampered his progress but he is a good counter-attacking player and has shown already he has the bottle for the big stage
Played 4 - 203 runs, average 29:00, top score 67
A disappointing series which saw the Yorkshireman lose his place in the team for the last Test. A top score of 67 only came in an innings where he had earlier been caught off a no-ball and his overall strike-rate of 40.11 was too low for someone who is meant to give the innings an impetus. His wicket-keeping will take him Down Under but he must work on a technical fault if he is to have a bigger impact. Rating: 5
Matt Prior: After the winter his rating would have been even higher but an uncharacteristically poor summer so far, with few runs and unusual errors behind the stumps, have seen him slip from his normally incredible standards
Played 5 - 133 runs, average 19, top score 47, catches 18
Probably the worst series he has had since being recalled to the England set-up follows a series against New Zealand where you would have said exactly the same. The reigning England Player of the Year was due a poor series but he will bounce back quickly after a difficult summer which has regardless seen him come out with five wins and no losses in Tests. Rating: 4
Stuart Broad: Like Pietersen a man who will normally win you a match but might not deliver Test after Test. Showed his best form two years ago against India when he was all over their batsmen and England fans will hope for a repeat
Played 5 - 179 runs, average 25.57, top score 65. 22 wickets, average 27.45, best return 6/50
Broad's overall figures were boosted by some cheap wickets as Australia hit out at The Oval but they were a reward for some continually excellent bowling which did not always reap the rewards it deserved. The one match defining spell came at Durham which must go down alongside Anderson's at Trent Bridge for the best of the series. Having the wool over Clarke proved invaluable.
As for his batting, it proved useful and there are no complaints for not walking when many of the Australians didn't. Rating: 8.5
Graeme Swann: Quite simply, in my opinion, the one player England cannot afford to lose. A match winner with the ball, useful with the bat and an excellent slip catcher, England look extremely vulnerable when the off-spinner is not there
Played 5 - 126 runs, average 25.2, top score 34. 26 wickets, average 29.03, best return 5/44
With dry pitches supposedly for his benefit, Swann did his job well with another excellent all-round series. Maybe he didn't quite have the same dramatic effect as Broad and Anderson but he was consistent throughout and enjoyed Australia's left-handers. Rating: 8.5
James Anderson: Alongside Swann as the player England need most. Possibly the most skilled bowler in world cricket (if not the best) he will fancy his chances against the Australian openers before Swann starts wheeling away
Played 5 - 36 runs, average 7.2, top score 16. 22 wickets, average 29.59, best return 5/73
A masterclass at Trent Bridge (it is hard to do justice to that performance on that pitch) set lofty standards which were never matched but some wickets at The Oval were a happy ending after struggles at Old Trafford and Durham where he would have expected to do well. Rating: 8
Steven Finn: A worrying loss of form means Finn can not be relied upon here, but his pace and knack of picking up wickets will probably give him the edge over Tim Bresnan. Will need a quick start, though, with the more versatile Yorkshireman back to full fitness and form
Played 1 - 2 runs, average 2, top score 2*. 2 wickets, average 58.5, best return 2/80
With Broad off the field, Finn steamed in late on day one at Trent Bridge and knocked over Watson and Cowan in successive deliveries. After that, though, it all went wrong. As expected, the Middlesex paceman got the nod over Bresnan but his stuttering run-up continued to cause him problems and he suffered at the hands of Haddin on the final day. Fortunate that a difficult dropped catch did not cost his side, Finn can at least be reassured that he is still highly regarded and can get his place in the side back. Rating: 4
The rest: The Finn/Bresnan/Onions debate: Finn has the pace, the height and the knack of picking up wickets. Bresnan is accurate, can reverse the ball and bat. Onions is an excellent stump-to-stump bowler and is effective against left-handers. If the pitch is dry and rough I'd lean towards Bresnan and if it's green then Onions. Finn's form is a concern but he would still be a decent choice if selected.
Bresnan: Played 3 - 103 runs, average 25.75, top score 45. 10 wickets, average 29.6, best return 2/25
Considering he took no more than two wickets in an innings it seems bizarre to say Bresnan was an important player but he always seems to have an effect on the result. Back to his best after injury problems, his loss to a stress fracture in the back caused selection difficulties at The Oval, highlighting just how important his all-round package as a cricketer is. Rating: 8
Chris Woakes: Played 1 - 42 runs, average 42, top score 25. 1 wicket, average 96, best return 1/96
Put in as a batting all-rounder, there were glimpses of his talent but he bowled too many bad balls and was out flashing hard outside his off-stump. Runs in the second innings during a run chase show why for now he is a better bet as an ODI player. Rating: 5
Simon Kerrigan: Played 1 - 1 run, average n/a, top score 1*. 0 wickets
Had a good domestic season in division two but was torn apart by Watson. Will almost certainly be back though as he is seen as the most likely successor to Swann. I'm not going to be too harsh and give him a rating.
Australia:
Shane Watson: A Test batting average of 35.34 is misleading. Watson finds it difficult to hit hundreds, with his last coming at Mohali in October 2010, 20 Tests ago. But few players survive the new ball as well as him, and considering the fragility of the Aussie batting line-up (and the importance to protect Michael Clarke) putting Watson back to the top of the order is a shrewd move. If Lehmann can coax the best from him with bat and ball, Watson could be on of the stars of the series. Early indications are good if his runs against Somerset and Worcestershire are to go by
Played 5 - runs 418, average 41.8, top score 176. 2 wickets, average 89.5, best return 1/21
A series which seemed to have it all for Watson with: ridicule over his reviews and propensity to be out lbw, talk over his relationship with Clarke, movement up and down the order, and finally redemption at the end. After all the laughter, Watson ended the series with the most runs by an Australian and now secure in the number three spot for the time being.
As for his bowling, it did not prove penetrative but sending down 38 maidens from 85.3 overs was a real boost for his captain. Rating: 7.5
Chris Rogers: Cricket Australia haven't got much right recently, but picking the Middlesex opener is an exception. A first-class average of 50, a domestic average of 65.83 this season, and plenty of experience opening in England, Rogers is the perfect choice alongside Watson. Taking that record to the international stage, though, will not be easy
Played 5 - 367 runs, average 40.77, top score 110
A Swann full-toss aside, this was a good series for the 35 (nearly 36) year-old. A maiden Test hundred at Durham was the highlight after coming close at Old Trafford and it can be said that he is one of the few Australian batsmen that has enhanced his reputation. Should do well in the return series where pitches will not suit Swann as much. Rating: 7
Ed Cowan: A dogged batsman who sells his wicket dearly, Cowan was well liked by previous coach Mickey Arthur but is not a scorer of big runs. Has scored for Nottinghamshire this summer, but showed his failings with four fifties and no hundreds. Will probably keep his place in the team even if it's in a different position to one he is used to
Played 1 - 14 runs, average 7, top score 14
A golden duck and 14, both times out flashing loosely outside off-stump at times when England needed a wicket. Maybe it was harsh that he was dropped, but clearly he is not a cricketer who Darren Lehmann fancies and he will have to score well in the Sheffield Shield to get his place back. Might have been an inglorious end to his Test career. Rating: 3
Phil Hughes: The biggest enigma of Australian cricket, Hughes has a suspect technique which saw him dropped last time he was here. In five Tests against England he has scored just 154 runs with a top score of 36. In India he at one staged faced 39 consecutive balls against spin, scoring no runs and being dismissed four times.
Hughes has pedigree though, with back-to-back hundreds in South Africa and runs against Sri Lanka in the Australian summer. England bowlers will be glad to see him, though
Played 2 - 83 runs, average 27.66, top score 81*
A really good showing in his first knock made it seem like things could be different for Hughes, but three innings and two runs later he was once more dropped after the Lord's Test as he had been in 2009. Interesting to see where he goes from now on with that number six spot in the order still up for grabs. Rating: 5
Michael Clarke: His batting has already been mentioned but his captaincy is also very good. He won in the West Indies declaring behind in the first innings and in India he declared his side's first innings at 237-9 just to get a few overs at the Indian openers on the first evening. Like Brendon McCullum, Clarke will attack England at all opportunities
Played 5 - 381 runs, average 47.62, top score 187
A big knock at Old Trafford which came with his side under pressure and 2-0 down in the series, but even then he did not look comfortable with plenty of loose strokes. Roughed up by Broad, it is clear Clarke is not as comfortable as he has been in racking up big scores since the start of 2012 but he again looked classy against spin, despite his aberration to Root.
As for his captaincy, he is one of the best on the field I have ever seen with England's top order suffocated through imaginative field placings and his willingness to attack at all costs and really go for a win is a great credit to him. Rating 7.5
Steven Smith: A late addition to the side after Warner's suspension and Clarke's back problems, Smith is only meant to be with the tourists until the second Test but could gatecrash the side. Scored 133 for Australia A against Ireland and 161 from four innings in India. Runs against Worcestershire will only have helped his cause. Is seen as a batsman but bowls handy leg-spin
Played 5 - 345 runs, average 38.33, top score 138*. 4 wickets, average 26.5, best return 3/18
Big runs in the final Test saved his series like with Watson but there was not enough when it counted, bar his three wickets at Lord's. As suggested, despite being a late replacement in the squad he started the series and his leg-spin did prove handy, but it was those runs which have cemented his place in the side. Can clearly play but looks susceptible against the moving ball. Rating: 6.5
Played 5 - 206 runs, average 22.88, top score 71, catches 29
Out-performed his opposite number with bat and gloves, securing a record 29 catches in a series. Not prolific but scores tough runs as seen at Trent Bridge. A bit more consistency with the bat is all that could have been asked of him. Rating: 7
Peter Siddle: Often underrated by those outside Australia, Siddle will steam in all day, give the batsmen no respite and can take wickets with the new and old ball. Siddle proved himself as the leader of the attack when he bowled himself to exhaustion in Adelaide where he tried to take the final South African wickets, and he did well in the last two Tests in India.
Siddle's Test average of 28.84 is pretty good and in his two series against England he has averaged 30.8 and 34.56. Also useful with the bat (he top scored with half centuries in both innings of the final Test in India), Siddle will almost certainly keep his place despite a slow start to the tour
Played 5 - 84 runs, average 10.5, top score 23. 17 wickets, average 31.58, best return 5/50
Similar bowling average as in his two other Ashes series, Siddle backed up his opening burst in the first day of the 2010/11 series with another salvo here, but he faded a bit towards the end. Can be proud of his efforts considering he rarely got to use the new ball. Rating: 7.5
Mitchell Starc: A potential superstar. Similar to Mitchell Johnson in name, bowling action and the way he plays the game, Starc seems to be the better bet to be a mainstay of the Australian side. After one successful Test against India and the West Indies, Starc really announced himself in another of his one-Test series, this time against the number one ranked side in the world at Perth. Clean bowling Alviro Peterson and Jacques Kallis in successive overs with inswinging deliveries, Starc could repeat Johnson's performance against England at Perth from the last Ashes series if the ball swings. Likewise, he can prove expensive if conditions are not in his favour.
Starc is also probably the most talented tail-end batsman from either side. He averages over 32 with the bat from his nine Tests, including 68* from 64 balls against South Africa and an incredible 99 in the dust bowls of India
Played 3 - 104 runs, average 26, top score 66*. 11 wickets, average 32.45, best return 3/76
I predicted big things for Starc who didn't quite perform as well as expected. Still, it wasn't a bad series and he can be considered slightly unlucky to have been dropped twice after doing nothing wrong. Despite being seen as expensive, his economy was 2.97 for the series which is pretty good.
With the bat there was only one show of his explosive talent with 66* off 71 balls but as an all-rounder he has room to develop. Rating: 7
James Pattinson: Like Starc, Pattinson is 23 and is another who can become a world star. His bowling average from 10 Tests is 23.37 and he impressed with his pace against India. Like Starc (and indeed Siddle) he can bowl 90+ mph and has an excellent yorker. Again, as with Starc, he has suffered from injuries but has been back to full health and could be a big threat with ball in hand. Like his fellow bowlers he is also more than handy with the willow
Played 2 - 72 runs, average 36, top score 35. 7 wickets, average 43.85, best return 3/69
Only managed two Tests before going home injured once again but failed to show why he is so highly rated. A man capable of searing speed whilst moving the ball into the right-hander, he did not take enough wickets. With the bat, though, he looked accomplished with runs in both Tests. If he can stay fit he is still one for the future. Rating: 5.5
Nathan Lyon: Sorry to say but Lyon is the weak link of the Australian side. He is not a bad bowler, as his average of 33.18 shows, but it is clear that his own team do not rate him. Dropped after one Test in the spinners' paradise of India, the attempt to fast-tract Fawad Ahmed's citizenship after 15 first-class matches is revealing. Possessing a doosra he calls "Jeff", it would be no surprise if Lyon was jettisoned at some point
Played 3 - 12 runs, average 6, top score 8. 9 wickets, average 33.66, best return 4/42
I said he may get dropped but I at least thought he would start the series. For some reason Lyon is still trying to justify himself as Australia's best spin bowler but he again showed why they should keep faith with him. After bowling well at Old Trafford without luck and with Pietersen in the mood, he bizarrely got his rewards on the first day at Durham. Surely now he must be played in every match. Rating: 7
Ashton Agar: 19-year-old left-arm spinner who has hit three 50s from his nine first-class matches. Did well with Australia A and is a definite contender for Lyon's place
Played 2 - 130 runs, average 32.5, top score 98. 2 wickets, average 124, best return 2/82
Agar's debut was the story of the Ashes and his knock of 98 - just two runs away from becoming the first number 11 in Test history to hit a hundred - was astonishing. However, he did not threaten enough with the ball although he missed out on one wicket after Broad was given not out at Trent Bridge following his massive edge. Rating: 6
Jackson Bird: A control bowler with an excellent first-class record and 11 wickets from his two Tests against Sri Lanka at 16.18 runs apiece, he is another exciting seamer who could come in and took wickets against Worcestershire
Played 1 - 1 run, average n/a, top score 1. 2 wickets, average 62.5, best return 2/58
Did not do enough in his one Test to justify re-selection and ended up returning home with a back injury. Another seamer who is highly rated and will surely come again. Rating: 5
James Faulkner: A highly-rated all rounder (especially by Shane Warne) who bowls left arm over and is more than handy with the bat as he showed in the Champions Trophy. Will probably be a mainstay in the Australian team in all three formats in the future
Played 1 - 45 runs, average 22.25, top score 23. 6 wickets, average 16.33, best return 6/98
Looked fairly innocuous with bat and ball on a dead Oval pitch but ended up with six wickets. When Watson stops bowling Faulkner could come in as a batting all-rounder. Rating: 7.5
Ryan Harris: Another top seamer who can hold a bat, 33-year-old Harris averages 23.63 from 12 Tests and has troubled England in the past but is injury prone
Played 4 - 99 runs, average 19.8, top score 33. 24 wickets, average 19.58, best return 7/117
Supposedly injured for the first Test, Harris then countered expectations by playing the final four with Old Trafford and Durham being back-to-back. Unlike some of the younger players, Harris continually delivered excellent performers and for consistency was probably the best bowler of the series. Rating: 9
Usman Khawaja: A Test average of 29.22 from six Tests is not much, but he is highly rated and a 73 against Somerset will have done him no harm. Number six is the position which looks hardest to call with David Warner and Steve Smith around, so if given the chance Khawaja needs to start well
Played 3 - 114 runs, average 19, top score 54
Brought in for Cowan, a decent half-century at Lord's was as good as it got with Swann enjoying bowling to him. Like Hughes he does not look to have a good enough technique but Sheffield Shield runs might get him back in at number six. Rating: 4
Matthew Wade: A wicket-keeper whose Test average of 34.61 is only slight worse than Haddin's, Wade might find himself displaced because Haddin is seen as the better option with bat and gloves
The only tourist not to get a game!
David Warner: Almost certain not to start after being banned from the warm-up matches for punching Root, Warner could find himself in the middle order where he is less exposed to the new ball. A free scoring batsman with a respectable Test average of 39.46, his lack of form is a concern but a clean slate under Lehmann could be in his favour
Played 3 - 138 runs, average 23, top score 71
After being sent to South Africa where he made 193 for Australia A, Warner was brought back in with his side 2-0 down but he ended up flattering to deceive. A promising 71 at Durham looked to be winning the Test for his team but his dismissal to a good Bresnan delivery caused a collapse. Despite a poor series average he is likely to continue at the top of the order even with a habit of being caught flashing outside his off stump. Rating: 5
Overall prediction
Conditions and the toss at Trent Bridge will have a massive effect. If it's bowler-friendly and Australia win the toss the whole series can change. Otherwise, it's hard to see past an England win. I'm going 2-1 but I expect it to be tight throughout the series
Despite losing the toss Australia had favourable conditions to work with which they made the most of. However, failing to win that opening Test made it a monumental task to win the series. Unlike some others who made predictions, I did see a close series which in some ways it was with both sides having chances to win in four of the five Tests. As it was, England managed to sneak over the line in two of them.
Top run scorer prediction:
England - Trott, Australia - Clarke
Actual result: Bell, Watson
Top wicket taker prediction:
England - Anderson, Australia - Starc
Actual result: Swann, Harris
Final word...
1. Six of England's top seven may have struggled to make runs, but a reminder of their averages in 2010/11 suggests they will do better Down Under: Cook - 127.66, Trott - 89.00, Pietersen - 60, Bell - 65.8, Prior - 50.4
2. Australia, barring another crisis of their manufacturing, will start next series in much better shape than this one with four of their top five likely to start in Brisbane having hit a century in these five Tests. They know they can score runs and take wickets against England now and any fear factor will be gone. England will have to raise their game
3. In 2009, Australia had six of the top seven run scorers and the top three wicket takers. Here, they had four of the top six run scorers and bowling wise the averages are similar. What is clear, though, is that England have a winning habit. This, more so than the players, are what separates the sides
4. The ICC should make a grovelling apology. It was dark, the floodlights were on, the crowd was generating a great atmosphere and England were romping home. It was a fantastic occasion and a stunning ending to the biggest series in Test cricket which those present and watching at home would never forget. Instead, the mood was somewhat ruined by provisions that meant the players had to go off. And we wonder why Test cricket is sidelined for the limited overs versions
5. The pitches were crap. Before the series I believed we should make the pitches dry as it would give us an advantage but these five Tests have made me change my mind. From now on I hope to see quintessential English pitches which means swing at certain grounds, pace and bounce at others but also something there for the spinners
6. Stuart Broad doesn't walk and there is a massive outcry. Brad Haddin doesn't walk and I hear almost nothing. I don't want to hear any more criticism of Broad for standing his ground
Summer of Sport: August 19-25
Monday
The two poorest transfer bids of the summer are made on the same day, with Manchester United supposedly offering £28m for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini whilst Arsenal showed they mean business by offering a total just in double figures for Yohan Kebab. Arsenal seem to be the most incompetent team at trying to conduct transfers since the days of the Transfers Acquisition Panel at Forest.
The best thing about Monday is undoubtedly Monday Night Football. If Gary Neville on his own was great, adding Jamie Carragher has made it even better. Understanding Carragher isn't that hard despite his really thick scouse accent and already he was enjoying some good banter with Neville where the Mancunian joked about him being a burglar. Even better, the pair then teamed up to rip into Arsenal.
After that it was the Carragher show with Jamie really kicking off, his voice getting higher and higher as his anger rose at the state of defending on show from Newcastle. Even Joey Barton took the piss, tweeting: 'Can someone take the helium of Carragher for the after match stuff. Dogs all over England standing to attention every time he speaks...'
The match itself was about as enjoyable for Newcastle fans as a Kevin Pietersen press conference is for the written press. It could have been 6-0 very easily and Steven Taylor got himself sent off for nothing. As Carragher noted, if you're going to get sent off at least do it putting a tackle in.
Tuesday
It is a sad day knowing that the final Test of the summer will soon be here and then gone, leaving behind a raft of fairly meaningless limited overs matches. Credit to Australia for announcing their squad a day early, not that it would worry England who they put in their batting line-up. Mitchell Starc makes his third appearance (with none in consecutive matches) and James Faulkner comes in, a Shane Warne favourite alongside his hero Nathan Coulter-Nile.
There was some cricket on show today: The England Lions spanked Bangladesh A by 202 runs thanks to another century for Gary Ballance and 143* from 68 balls for Luke Wright who then took two wickets from his one over. Remarkably, Michael Carberry achieved the same feat with the ball. This being a man with 16 first-class wickets in his entire career. Funnily enough he will be on a hat-trick next time he bowls, whenever that may be.
On TV there was a cracker between Lancashire and Hampshire at Old Trafford which the home side won by five runs. And at the same time the first-leg of the final round of Champions League qualifiers was underway.
Now I offer no sympathy for going on about Real Sociedad (SocieLAD). Last season, La Real lost six times in their first 10 matches then only twice more after November 4. This included a 4-3 loss and 3-3 draw with Real Madrid and a 3-2 win over Barcelona as well as nine goals over two games against Valencia. So far their sexy football has continued. They scored two lovely dinked goals against Getafe at the weekend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbx4EEk2alw) and followed that up with two spectacular strikes at Lyon to all but seal their place in the group stage. As Andy Gray would say, 'Take a bow son.'
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/scissors-kick-golazo-antoine-griezmann-real-sociedad-v-lyon-gif/
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/real-sociedad-score-another-wonder-goal-haris-seferovic-v-lyon-gif/
Quick mention of Wigan 2-2 Doncaster. Leon Barnett scored a late equaliser for the Latics and ripped his shirt in celebration before casually jogging straight over to the dugout to get a new one. Also, good banter from Paul Dickov mocking former team-mate Grant Holt's size after an altercation on the dug-out.
Wednesday
A nice lively start to the day with comments coming from Aussie coach Darren Lehmann calling Stuart Broad a cheat and telling Australian supporters to send him home crying this winter. In mitigation, Boof is a man who likes a drink or two.
On the pitch things heated up with Jimmy Anderson sledging Shane Watson. Now, if an umpires call LBW decision had gone his way then it would have looked ok, but seeing as he made his third ever Test hundred it did not look so clever in the end, although Jimmy had him dropped in the slips soon after making three figures. Clearly he knew it was his day when he was given out LBW only to see it overturned on review.
Watson also left his mark on Simon Kerrigan who was taken apart and then started suffering from the yips. It's fair to say that Monty Panesar will now be booking his flight to Australia.
One thing I would say is it's easy to be critical of England for bringing both debutants in but I don't think it was the wrong decision. Kerrigan has taken 47 first-class wickets at 20.23 this season and Chris Woakes can point to averages of 42.77 with bat and 21.5 with ball. These are no mugs and if England were not taking this Test seriously then they would have rested Anderson.
In the Shampions League as Shteve McClaren would call it, Arsenal won 3-0 at Fenerbahce which will quieten the haters until they lose their next match which probably won't be too long. Elsewhere, Chelsea saw the match officials handing them the match against Aston Villa.
Thursday
Some interesting transfer news to end the day with Arsenal apparently on the verge of signing another free agent in Mathieu Flamini and Chelsea apparently pulling the robbery on Spurs to sign Will I An. At the same time, Spurs and Swansea both smashed in five in the Europa League and Gareth Southgate was made England under-21 manager so expect cheesy pizza adverts and bids for expensive Brazilian flops (ok that's impossible but I wanted to mention Afonso Alves somehow).
The cricket saw plenty of rain and lots more runs for Australia. Kerrigan's Jonathan Woodgate-esque debut was made complete by watching Jonathan Trott take a wicket. Let us hope for a big England dig in tomorrow.
Friday
Fair to say England did enjoy a lovely dig in. Very little to say except that Ian Bell's cover drive was worth the wait and the fan mocking David Warner with beer in hand was priceless.
Saturday
Massively Kimstevened by the rain at The Oval, meaning the focus was on the Premier League. Arsenal completed a good week by winning at Fulham, delaying the next calls of Wenger out until probably the North London derby in eight days time.
The funniest story came from Millwall where the kit man forgot... the kit. Not that Millwall resemble much of a football team anyway.
The most predictable story came from the Euro hockey where England's women lost to Germany at penalties.
A quick mention of James Faulkner's remark that the English crowd deserved their money back both for today's washout and yesterday's slow batting performance. It's Test cricket son, anything above two runs an over is far too quick.
Sunday
I'm not saying anything about the cricket, still too pissed off. However, it was good to see Shane Warne getting all hot and sweaty over Faulkner and Coulter-Nile again. Goes alongside his suggestion to bat Glenn Maxwell at number three during the India Test series earlier this year.
Now I like Shane, he's always good value, but some of the stuff he comes out I find hard to take seriously. Looking through his Daily Telegraph articles you see: after the First Test Australia were going into the Second Test in a better position than England and would win 2-1. And after the Third Test he accused England of being arrogant and said if they didn't become more humble then the score would be 2-2. If you listen to Warne you would think Australia were favourites to win the series Down Under in three month's time.
Elsewhere, Forest came away with a creditable draw at Watford after a lovely Andy Reid finish. Disturbingly, I went out and on return discovered that Cardiff had beaten Manchester City. What happened?!
I think Vincent Tan, the Cardiff owner, needs some fashion advice as well with the Cardiff top put over a shirt and tucked into his trousers. Good work from Craig BelLAMY as well pouring water over referee Lee Probert who clearly has a sense of humour. Not sure he would have tried it with Howard Webb though.
At the golf, Adam Scott triumphed at the Barclays. Disappointingly, Tiger Woods was one shot away from getting in a play-off with Scott and his old caddie Steve Williams.
Meanwhile...
Story of the Week: Barry Fry delivering his own grand-daughter which pips Big Ron joining the CBB house
http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/20/posh-boss-barry-fry-helps-deliver-own-grand-daughter-3931522/
Shock news that Robert Lewandowski wants to join his side's biggest rival, gets offered more money and decides to sign a new contract with Dortmund. Comes out of the Wayne Rooney school of negotiation
Credit to Burnley who have launched the 'i-pie' app which allows fans to order food from their seat and collect it at half-time with it all ready and no cash needed to be handed over. Fair to say Andy 'the pie-man' Smith will be making an appearance soon
For those keeping an eye on the US Open the next fortnight, it will be interesting to see how two men at the opposite ends of the spectrum, Dan Evans and Roger Federer, fare. Let us enjoy this last major of the summer
Quote of the Week: Rahul Dravid from ESPNCricinfo talking about the relationship between Test cricket and Twenty20
"Test cricket, an older, larger entity is the trunk of a tree and the shorter game - be it T20 or ODIs - is its branches, its off-shoots," he said. "Now to be fair, it is the branches that carry the fruit, earn the benefits of the larger garden in which they stand and so catch the eye. The trunk though is the old, massive, larger thing which took a very long time to reach height and bulk. But it is actually a life source: chip away at the trunk or cut it down and the branches will fall off, the fruit will dry up."
Sport this week:
Manchester United v. Chelsea tonight and a Super Sunday double header of Liverpool v. Manchester United and the North London derby. The Super Cup between Bayern and Chelsea. Two great Spanish matches between Sociedad and Atletico Madrid and Valencia against Barcelona. The Deutsche Bank Championship. England v. Australia in two Twenty20 matches. And a little tournament called the US Open. Enjoy.
The two poorest transfer bids of the summer are made on the same day, with Manchester United supposedly offering £28m for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini whilst Arsenal showed they mean business by offering a total just in double figures for Yohan Kebab. Arsenal seem to be the most incompetent team at trying to conduct transfers since the days of the Transfers Acquisition Panel at Forest.
The best thing about Monday is undoubtedly Monday Night Football. If Gary Neville on his own was great, adding Jamie Carragher has made it even better. Understanding Carragher isn't that hard despite his really thick scouse accent and already he was enjoying some good banter with Neville where the Mancunian joked about him being a burglar. Even better, the pair then teamed up to rip into Arsenal.
After that it was the Carragher show with Jamie really kicking off, his voice getting higher and higher as his anger rose at the state of defending on show from Newcastle. Even Joey Barton took the piss, tweeting: 'Can someone take the helium of Carragher for the after match stuff. Dogs all over England standing to attention every time he speaks...'
The match itself was about as enjoyable for Newcastle fans as a Kevin Pietersen press conference is for the written press. It could have been 6-0 very easily and Steven Taylor got himself sent off for nothing. As Carragher noted, if you're going to get sent off at least do it putting a tackle in.
Tuesday
It is a sad day knowing that the final Test of the summer will soon be here and then gone, leaving behind a raft of fairly meaningless limited overs matches. Credit to Australia for announcing their squad a day early, not that it would worry England who they put in their batting line-up. Mitchell Starc makes his third appearance (with none in consecutive matches) and James Faulkner comes in, a Shane Warne favourite alongside his hero Nathan Coulter-Nile.
There was some cricket on show today: The England Lions spanked Bangladesh A by 202 runs thanks to another century for Gary Ballance and 143* from 68 balls for Luke Wright who then took two wickets from his one over. Remarkably, Michael Carberry achieved the same feat with the ball. This being a man with 16 first-class wickets in his entire career. Funnily enough he will be on a hat-trick next time he bowls, whenever that may be.
On TV there was a cracker between Lancashire and Hampshire at Old Trafford which the home side won by five runs. And at the same time the first-leg of the final round of Champions League qualifiers was underway.
Now I offer no sympathy for going on about Real Sociedad (SocieLAD). Last season, La Real lost six times in their first 10 matches then only twice more after November 4. This included a 4-3 loss and 3-3 draw with Real Madrid and a 3-2 win over Barcelona as well as nine goals over two games against Valencia. So far their sexy football has continued. They scored two lovely dinked goals against Getafe at the weekend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbx4EEk2alw) and followed that up with two spectacular strikes at Lyon to all but seal their place in the group stage. As Andy Gray would say, 'Take a bow son.'
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/scissors-kick-golazo-antoine-griezmann-real-sociedad-v-lyon-gif/
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/real-sociedad-score-another-wonder-goal-haris-seferovic-v-lyon-gif/
Quick mention of Wigan 2-2 Doncaster. Leon Barnett scored a late equaliser for the Latics and ripped his shirt in celebration before casually jogging straight over to the dugout to get a new one. Also, good banter from Paul Dickov mocking former team-mate Grant Holt's size after an altercation on the dug-out.
Wednesday
A nice lively start to the day with comments coming from Aussie coach Darren Lehmann calling Stuart Broad a cheat and telling Australian supporters to send him home crying this winter. In mitigation, Boof is a man who likes a drink or two.
On the pitch things heated up with Jimmy Anderson sledging Shane Watson. Now, if an umpires call LBW decision had gone his way then it would have looked ok, but seeing as he made his third ever Test hundred it did not look so clever in the end, although Jimmy had him dropped in the slips soon after making three figures. Clearly he knew it was his day when he was given out LBW only to see it overturned on review.
Watson also left his mark on Simon Kerrigan who was taken apart and then started suffering from the yips. It's fair to say that Monty Panesar will now be booking his flight to Australia.
One thing I would say is it's easy to be critical of England for bringing both debutants in but I don't think it was the wrong decision. Kerrigan has taken 47 first-class wickets at 20.23 this season and Chris Woakes can point to averages of 42.77 with bat and 21.5 with ball. These are no mugs and if England were not taking this Test seriously then they would have rested Anderson.
In the Shampions League as Shteve McClaren would call it, Arsenal won 3-0 at Fenerbahce which will quieten the haters until they lose their next match which probably won't be too long. Elsewhere, Chelsea saw the match officials handing them the match against Aston Villa.
Thursday
Some interesting transfer news to end the day with Arsenal apparently on the verge of signing another free agent in Mathieu Flamini and Chelsea apparently pulling the robbery on Spurs to sign Will I An. At the same time, Spurs and Swansea both smashed in five in the Europa League and Gareth Southgate was made England under-21 manager so expect cheesy pizza adverts and bids for expensive Brazilian flops (ok that's impossible but I wanted to mention Afonso Alves somehow).
The cricket saw plenty of rain and lots more runs for Australia. Kerrigan's Jonathan Woodgate-esque debut was made complete by watching Jonathan Trott take a wicket. Let us hope for a big England dig in tomorrow.
Friday
Fair to say England did enjoy a lovely dig in. Very little to say except that Ian Bell's cover drive was worth the wait and the fan mocking David Warner with beer in hand was priceless.
Saturday
Massively Kimstevened by the rain at The Oval, meaning the focus was on the Premier League. Arsenal completed a good week by winning at Fulham, delaying the next calls of Wenger out until probably the North London derby in eight days time.
The funniest story came from Millwall where the kit man forgot... the kit. Not that Millwall resemble much of a football team anyway.
The most predictable story came from the Euro hockey where England's women lost to Germany at penalties.
A quick mention of James Faulkner's remark that the English crowd deserved their money back both for today's washout and yesterday's slow batting performance. It's Test cricket son, anything above two runs an over is far too quick.
Sunday
I'm not saying anything about the cricket, still too pissed off. However, it was good to see Shane Warne getting all hot and sweaty over Faulkner and Coulter-Nile again. Goes alongside his suggestion to bat Glenn Maxwell at number three during the India Test series earlier this year.
Now I like Shane, he's always good value, but some of the stuff he comes out I find hard to take seriously. Looking through his Daily Telegraph articles you see: after the First Test Australia were going into the Second Test in a better position than England and would win 2-1. And after the Third Test he accused England of being arrogant and said if they didn't become more humble then the score would be 2-2. If you listen to Warne you would think Australia were favourites to win the series Down Under in three month's time.
Elsewhere, Forest came away with a creditable draw at Watford after a lovely Andy Reid finish. Disturbingly, I went out and on return discovered that Cardiff had beaten Manchester City. What happened?!
I think Vincent Tan, the Cardiff owner, needs some fashion advice as well with the Cardiff top put over a shirt and tucked into his trousers. Good work from Craig BelLAMY as well pouring water over referee Lee Probert who clearly has a sense of humour. Not sure he would have tried it with Howard Webb though.
At the golf, Adam Scott triumphed at the Barclays. Disappointingly, Tiger Woods was one shot away from getting in a play-off with Scott and his old caddie Steve Williams.
Meanwhile...
Story of the Week: Barry Fry delivering his own grand-daughter which pips Big Ron joining the CBB house
http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/20/posh-boss-barry-fry-helps-deliver-own-grand-daughter-3931522/
Shock news that Robert Lewandowski wants to join his side's biggest rival, gets offered more money and decides to sign a new contract with Dortmund. Comes out of the Wayne Rooney school of negotiation
Credit to Burnley who have launched the 'i-pie' app which allows fans to order food from their seat and collect it at half-time with it all ready and no cash needed to be handed over. Fair to say Andy 'the pie-man' Smith will be making an appearance soon
For those keeping an eye on the US Open the next fortnight, it will be interesting to see how two men at the opposite ends of the spectrum, Dan Evans and Roger Federer, fare. Let us enjoy this last major of the summer
Quote of the Week: Rahul Dravid from ESPNCricinfo talking about the relationship between Test cricket and Twenty20
"Test cricket, an older, larger entity is the trunk of a tree and the shorter game - be it T20 or ODIs - is its branches, its off-shoots," he said. "Now to be fair, it is the branches that carry the fruit, earn the benefits of the larger garden in which they stand and so catch the eye. The trunk though is the old, massive, larger thing which took a very long time to reach height and bulk. But it is actually a life source: chip away at the trunk or cut it down and the branches will fall off, the fruit will dry up."
Sport this week:
Manchester United v. Chelsea tonight and a Super Sunday double header of Liverpool v. Manchester United and the North London derby. The Super Cup between Bayern and Chelsea. Two great Spanish matches between Sociedad and Atletico Madrid and Valencia against Barcelona. The Deutsche Bank Championship. England v. Australia in two Twenty20 matches. And a little tournament called the US Open. Enjoy.
Monday 19 August 2013
Summer of Sport: August 12-18
Monday
Yes... yes... yes! All done, finished, over, terminado. The Ashes have been won, Australia have collapsed once again and the proper celebrations can begin.
What to make of the final day? At 100-0 I thought Australia were strong favourites, but fortunately the middle order once more folded like a pull-out sofa when Michael Clarke was dismissed. I'm not one to feel sorry for the opposition, but Clarke does seem to be getting some jaffas in this series.
Man of the moment was Stuart Broad who steamed in and got his rewards. This is why in England I don't think you can drop Broad; he always seems to have one match winning performance in him, just like Kevin Pietersen. Away from home it might be a different matter, but in England you expect him to deliver at some point in a series. Predictably, having spent all last summer slagging him off, Piers Morgan then decided to try and suck up to him as he does best which slightly spoiled the mood.
The comedy moment of the day came when the Honey Monster (no not Sam Travell) was being chased around the ground.
Some good news as well for Arsenal fans with Marouane Chamakh leaving. The same man who scored in six consecutive Champions League matches. Funny how things work out.
Tuesday
Good news for England fans, we finally won a match. Ok it was the under-21s and it was against Scotland but it still counts. The 6-0 thumping shows that our rivals up north are even more of an embarrassment than we are, typified by the howler from Scotland goalkeeper Jordan Archer in the build up for Connor Wickham's goal. If we don't qualify for Brazil then at least Roy Hodgson has a new job ready for him.
Wednesday
Luis Suarez says he now wants to stay at Liverpool. I'm going back to bed.
An England-Scotland match for football is the equivalent of a Stoke-Hull game... for football. Still, at least this match had goals. Ok, let's be honest, the only good thing was Rickie Lambert scoring, proving that England have no need to worry about qualifying for next summer's World Cup (unless Fifa move it to winter at the last minute) and will be clear favourites to lift the trophy.
International fixtures obviously do not whet the appetite compared to a normal league weekend but there were a few matches which caught the eye. Firstly, well done to Northern Ireland for finally winning a match after they beat Russia 1-0. On top of that, if you get a chance I'd recommend watching highlights of Bosnia 3-4 USA and Paraguay 3-3 Germany. Not to mention Zlatan bagged another hat-trick. Just the three this time though.
Thursday
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will sign players during the transfer window. I'm going back to bed.
Friday
Richard Scudamore says Premier League players' behaviour has improved. Seriously?!
Luis Suarez now wants to stay. Seriously? Just piss off already.
Thank goodness for Mo winning again
Saturday
What a day. The start of the Premier League began in style with a surprisingly entertaining 1-0 win for Liverpool over Stoke where Jonathan Walters missed another penalty and had his wikipedia entry changed as a result. This is the same Walters who last season scored two own goals and missed a penalty in the same match... and was in my fantasy team. I know what you're thinking, Jon Walters really?! But he was put down as a midfielder and he played every match so I thought it wasn't a bad choice.
If Walters had scored that it would been the biggest Kimstevening of a draw I've seen in a while with Liverpool peppering the Stoke goal all game. My prediction of Stoke being relegated looks good on the back of that woeful performance which Tony Pulis in the BT Sport studio would not have settled for.
However, I'm starting to regret not putting Liverpool to get fourth. I assumed Luis Suarez would be leaving which would counter the decent summer signings they made. However, the prospect of Suarez being added to this side is a little worrying. In addition, I was convinced Arsenal would sign two or three decent players and become slightly stronger. WRONG. Enjoy your season Arsene.
The image of the day was Philippe Coutinho standing up to Steven N'Zonzi but that was topped by the photo of Wayne Rooney waiting for a mate (https://twitter.com/ESPNUK/status/369027580092899328/photo/1)
Even better, one Norwich fan decided to dissuade fears that people from the city have certain genetic disorders by proving just how clever football fans are when abusing the opposition players http://blog.paddypower.com/2013/08/17/gif-norwich-fan-makes-worlds-longest-wnker-gesture/?AFF_ID=16562
Elsewhere, Forest won again, something I won't be saying again for a while with away trips to Watford and Wigan to end the month.
If the football wasn't enough (and I have barely touched upon it, especially RVP) then Twenty20 finals day wasn't bad either. After Northants dispatched Essex and pre-tournament favourites Hampshire lost to Surrey, we finally got to the final.
Now, this has to go down as one of the most one-sided finals ever but it was still well worth a watch with David Willey (no not he of Lillee, caught Dilly, bowled Willey fame) smashing the Surrey attack everywhere. Once he was out he was interviewed in the dug-out where he admitted to not liking Jade Dernbach which was convenient as he became Willey's hat-trick victim and last man out as Northants romped to victory.
The final was noticeable for two other things: Surrey's Gary Wilson getting cheered whenever he touched the ball and Paul Allott saying 'spit or...' before realising what he had done. Even worse, he could be heard off-mic moments later telling a co-commentator how he was about to say 'spit or swallow' before stopping himself.
If that was not enough, John Isner defeated Delpo to meet Rafa Nadal in the Cincinnati finals, Europe stormed into a 10.5/5.5 lead in the Solheim Cup, Australia lost again (this time at Rugby Union and against New Zealand) and Usain Bolt won the 200m.
Thank you Saturday
Sunday
Sunday could not match the exploits of Saturday but there were wins for Tottenham and Chelsea and at half-time Barcelona were 6-0 up on Levante with Iniesta and Neymar on the bench. All they need now is Andy Reid and their forward line will be complete.
Ian Holloway complained about the penalty awarded for Spurs against his Crystal Palace side, stating that some clubs gets penalties and others don't. Alongside his quotes was a graphic from the BBC Sport team which said that Tottenham did not receive a penalty at all last season.
Wins yet again for Nadal and Bolt but, more brilliantly, for Europe's Solheim Cup team who absolutely spanked the US 18-10 in their own patch. I'm sure Ian Poulter would have been happy to see the American crowd silenced.
Oh, and the men's 4x100m team were disqualified again. They're making Blackburn look respectable.
Meanwhile...
Tweet of the Week: Billy Davies took over his adviser's Twitter account for one hour and when asked why he replied to himself in the third person he replied - 'Because Billy Davies is happy that way lol'
Picture of the Week: Arsene Wenger spotted at the Solheim Cup - https://twitter.com/skinnywray/status/368410192720822272/photo/1
Match of the Week: I would love to have seen what this pitch was like. Must have been an absolute Jordan Rhodes http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/630767.html
More good work from Paddy Power who sponsored non-league side Farnborough and got their players to change their names to the greatest footballers of all time even though the non-league officials did their best to stifle it - http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2013/08/12/4181922/extra-time-non-league-farnborough-sign-messi-pele-and
Two things from last week which I shamefully forgot to mention. First is news that Dale Steyn is featuring in an Adam Sandler film http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/features/211932-lights-camera-and-dale-steyn-in-action-pacer-in-hollywood-film-with-adam-sandler
Second, Chesterfield's Gary Roberts somehow escaped a booking for pulling down an opponent's shorts right in front of the referee - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-chesterfields-cheeky-gary-robert-2151755
Comedy moment of the Week: I'm sure you have all seen it but here is Sky Sports' Nick Collins falling over. It shouldn't be funny when you know it's coming, but it still is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emyu6kDnSKw
Article of the Week: Robbie Savage explains 11 ways that footballers can get a transfer which they want, including not trying during a match, ringing up the chairman in the evening and getting a cameraman to pretend he was training on his own. All of which he did. And to think he was not a crowd favourite - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23703265
Rumours abounding that the hugely successful PGA Tour is looking to buy the slowly deteriorating European Tour. Wouldn't that be like the Premier League buying up Scottish football?
The Leroy Rosenior award for the shortest time in the job goes to: Jimmy Connors who managed one match as Maria Sharapova's coach before departing
Kimstevening of the Week: Ok, it was only for a draw and not to win so it cannot be a full Kimstevening. But well done Ajaccio who went to PSG and came out with a point. A few statistics for you according to one source, with others having a slight variation - PSG had 77% possession, 39 goal attempts (with 17 on target) whilst Ajaccio had one shot on goal and scored. Seeing as the visitors have Ronald Zubar and Adrian Mutu in their team with Fabrizio Ravanelli as manager, I might be supporting them this season in Ligue 1
Sport next week...
Football, more football and more football, as well as The Ashes. Will be interesting to see how Arsenal fare against Fenerbahce and Forest are on Sky against Watford on Sunday, kick-off 1:15. Also, the first tournament of the FedExCup begins on the PGA Tour this week
Yes... yes... yes! All done, finished, over, terminado. The Ashes have been won, Australia have collapsed once again and the proper celebrations can begin.
What to make of the final day? At 100-0 I thought Australia were strong favourites, but fortunately the middle order once more folded like a pull-out sofa when Michael Clarke was dismissed. I'm not one to feel sorry for the opposition, but Clarke does seem to be getting some jaffas in this series.
Man of the moment was Stuart Broad who steamed in and got his rewards. This is why in England I don't think you can drop Broad; he always seems to have one match winning performance in him, just like Kevin Pietersen. Away from home it might be a different matter, but in England you expect him to deliver at some point in a series. Predictably, having spent all last summer slagging him off, Piers Morgan then decided to try and suck up to him as he does best which slightly spoiled the mood.
The comedy moment of the day came when the Honey Monster (no not Sam Travell) was being chased around the ground.
Some good news as well for Arsenal fans with Marouane Chamakh leaving. The same man who scored in six consecutive Champions League matches. Funny how things work out.
Tuesday
Good news for England fans, we finally won a match. Ok it was the under-21s and it was against Scotland but it still counts. The 6-0 thumping shows that our rivals up north are even more of an embarrassment than we are, typified by the howler from Scotland goalkeeper Jordan Archer in the build up for Connor Wickham's goal. If we don't qualify for Brazil then at least Roy Hodgson has a new job ready for him.
Wednesday
Luis Suarez says he now wants to stay at Liverpool. I'm going back to bed.
An England-Scotland match for football is the equivalent of a Stoke-Hull game... for football. Still, at least this match had goals. Ok, let's be honest, the only good thing was Rickie Lambert scoring, proving that England have no need to worry about qualifying for next summer's World Cup (unless Fifa move it to winter at the last minute) and will be clear favourites to lift the trophy.
International fixtures obviously do not whet the appetite compared to a normal league weekend but there were a few matches which caught the eye. Firstly, well done to Northern Ireland for finally winning a match after they beat Russia 1-0. On top of that, if you get a chance I'd recommend watching highlights of Bosnia 3-4 USA and Paraguay 3-3 Germany. Not to mention Zlatan bagged another hat-trick. Just the three this time though.
Thursday
Arsene Wenger says Arsenal will sign players during the transfer window. I'm going back to bed.
Friday
Richard Scudamore says Premier League players' behaviour has improved. Seriously?!
Luis Suarez now wants to stay. Seriously? Just piss off already.
Thank goodness for Mo winning again
Saturday
What a day. The start of the Premier League began in style with a surprisingly entertaining 1-0 win for Liverpool over Stoke where Jonathan Walters missed another penalty and had his wikipedia entry changed as a result. This is the same Walters who last season scored two own goals and missed a penalty in the same match... and was in my fantasy team. I know what you're thinking, Jon Walters really?! But he was put down as a midfielder and he played every match so I thought it wasn't a bad choice.
If Walters had scored that it would been the biggest Kimstevening of a draw I've seen in a while with Liverpool peppering the Stoke goal all game. My prediction of Stoke being relegated looks good on the back of that woeful performance which Tony Pulis in the BT Sport studio would not have settled for.
However, I'm starting to regret not putting Liverpool to get fourth. I assumed Luis Suarez would be leaving which would counter the decent summer signings they made. However, the prospect of Suarez being added to this side is a little worrying. In addition, I was convinced Arsenal would sign two or three decent players and become slightly stronger. WRONG. Enjoy your season Arsene.
The image of the day was Philippe Coutinho standing up to Steven N'Zonzi but that was topped by the photo of Wayne Rooney waiting for a mate (https://twitter.com/ESPNUK/status/369027580092899328/photo/1)
Even better, one Norwich fan decided to dissuade fears that people from the city have certain genetic disorders by proving just how clever football fans are when abusing the opposition players http://blog.paddypower.com/2013/08/17/gif-norwich-fan-makes-worlds-longest-wnker-gesture/?AFF_ID=16562
Elsewhere, Forest won again, something I won't be saying again for a while with away trips to Watford and Wigan to end the month.
If the football wasn't enough (and I have barely touched upon it, especially RVP) then Twenty20 finals day wasn't bad either. After Northants dispatched Essex and pre-tournament favourites Hampshire lost to Surrey, we finally got to the final.
Now, this has to go down as one of the most one-sided finals ever but it was still well worth a watch with David Willey (no not he of Lillee, caught Dilly, bowled Willey fame) smashing the Surrey attack everywhere. Once he was out he was interviewed in the dug-out where he admitted to not liking Jade Dernbach which was convenient as he became Willey's hat-trick victim and last man out as Northants romped to victory.
The final was noticeable for two other things: Surrey's Gary Wilson getting cheered whenever he touched the ball and Paul Allott saying 'spit or...' before realising what he had done. Even worse, he could be heard off-mic moments later telling a co-commentator how he was about to say 'spit or swallow' before stopping himself.
If that was not enough, John Isner defeated Delpo to meet Rafa Nadal in the Cincinnati finals, Europe stormed into a 10.5/5.5 lead in the Solheim Cup, Australia lost again (this time at Rugby Union and against New Zealand) and Usain Bolt won the 200m.
Thank you Saturday
Sunday
Sunday could not match the exploits of Saturday but there were wins for Tottenham and Chelsea and at half-time Barcelona were 6-0 up on Levante with Iniesta and Neymar on the bench. All they need now is Andy Reid and their forward line will be complete.
Ian Holloway complained about the penalty awarded for Spurs against his Crystal Palace side, stating that some clubs gets penalties and others don't. Alongside his quotes was a graphic from the BBC Sport team which said that Tottenham did not receive a penalty at all last season.
Wins yet again for Nadal and Bolt but, more brilliantly, for Europe's Solheim Cup team who absolutely spanked the US 18-10 in their own patch. I'm sure Ian Poulter would have been happy to see the American crowd silenced.
Oh, and the men's 4x100m team were disqualified again. They're making Blackburn look respectable.
Meanwhile...
Tweet of the Week: Billy Davies took over his adviser's Twitter account for one hour and when asked why he replied to himself in the third person he replied - 'Because Billy Davies is happy that way lol'
Picture of the Week: Arsene Wenger spotted at the Solheim Cup - https://twitter.com/skinnywray/status/368410192720822272/photo/1
Match of the Week: I would love to have seen what this pitch was like. Must have been an absolute Jordan Rhodes http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/630767.html
More good work from Paddy Power who sponsored non-league side Farnborough and got their players to change their names to the greatest footballers of all time even though the non-league officials did their best to stifle it - http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/4160/extra-time/2013/08/12/4181922/extra-time-non-league-farnborough-sign-messi-pele-and
Two things from last week which I shamefully forgot to mention. First is news that Dale Steyn is featuring in an Adam Sandler film http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/features/211932-lights-camera-and-dale-steyn-in-action-pacer-in-hollywood-film-with-adam-sandler
Second, Chesterfield's Gary Roberts somehow escaped a booking for pulling down an opponent's shorts right in front of the referee - http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-chesterfields-cheeky-gary-robert-2151755
Comedy moment of the Week: I'm sure you have all seen it but here is Sky Sports' Nick Collins falling over. It shouldn't be funny when you know it's coming, but it still is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emyu6kDnSKw
Article of the Week: Robbie Savage explains 11 ways that footballers can get a transfer which they want, including not trying during a match, ringing up the chairman in the evening and getting a cameraman to pretend he was training on his own. All of which he did. And to think he was not a crowd favourite - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23703265
Rumours abounding that the hugely successful PGA Tour is looking to buy the slowly deteriorating European Tour. Wouldn't that be like the Premier League buying up Scottish football?
The Leroy Rosenior award for the shortest time in the job goes to: Jimmy Connors who managed one match as Maria Sharapova's coach before departing
Kimstevening of the Week: Ok, it was only for a draw and not to win so it cannot be a full Kimstevening. But well done Ajaccio who went to PSG and came out with a point. A few statistics for you according to one source, with others having a slight variation - PSG had 77% possession, 39 goal attempts (with 17 on target) whilst Ajaccio had one shot on goal and scored. Seeing as the visitors have Ronald Zubar and Adrian Mutu in their team with Fabrizio Ravanelli as manager, I might be supporting them this season in Ligue 1
Sport next week...
Football, more football and more football, as well as The Ashes. Will be interesting to see how Arsenal fare against Fenerbahce and Forest are on Sky against Watford on Sunday, kick-off 1:15. Also, the first tournament of the FedExCup begins on the PGA Tour this week
Monday 12 August 2013
Summer of Sport: August 5-11
Monday
So, it is the 5th of August and the Ashes have been retained. It does feel slightly anti-climatic, almost like a team who win a first leg 5-0 away from home only to lose the return at home 2-0 with the tie already concluded. Still, that didn't stop the England boys from celebrating well as these pictures show http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2384993/Ashes-2013-Graeme-Swann-beer-England-fans-Old-Trafford.html?ITO=socialnet-twitter-dmailsports&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=socialnet-twitter-dmailsports
It was a shame about the weather but the Australians can't complain too much. The forecast had been dodgy for a while like it had been at Adelaide in 2010 where England got the match wrapped up early on the 5th day. And you only have to remember the last time an Ashes Test was staged at Old Trafford where rain badly hit proceedings and Australia were nine wickets down at the end.
The transfer window carousel shows no signs of letting up. Again we are back towards Wayne Rooney moving to Chelsea having quickly moved on from Bale and Suarez. If at least two don't move then I will feel short-changed after this incessant speculation.
Tuesday
Managed to squeeze in one Forest match before heading away. With money now something of a slight issue it was to be a £12 ticket for Hartlepool in the first round of the League Cup. With the League Two side bringing about a 100 fans who sat in silence the atmosphere suffered, although the home fans did their best to make up for that in what felt like a pre-season romp of 3-1.
Things kicked off a bit on Twitter with the publication of an interview with Luis Suarez in two national newspapers. Now I like to think I'm very talented at making false excuses to justify something I'm done, e.g. claim I need BT Sport for research. But Suarez is clearly a master. This is a man, let us remember, who signed a new contract last summer and said before the end of last season that he would stay with the club even if they did not make the top four. Then he said he wanted to leave because of the English media reporting his racism, biting and diving. So, in this interview, he played the innocent card, claiming he was the one being punished and not the club. Even worse, he had banked everything on a clause in his contract which turned out to be wrong.
Let us not forget that Liverpool made themselves look ridiculous by publicly defending him after every misdemeanour. Of course this was because he was so important to them (they never would have done the same for Stewart Downing aka Left Wing Jesus) but to then get the lawyers in is a petty response.
However, I'm glad Suarez spoke out. Too many managers deny there is a problem with their star player wanting to leave. But when they make their problems public then they can't keep denying it, so Brentan Rodgers finally sent him to train alone. Why he waited this long I do not know.
Wednesday
Accusations today made by Channel 9 in Australia which suggested that Kevin Pietersen was using vaseline to stop edges showing up on HotSpot. Now, out of all the uses of vaseline this would not be in my top five.
Regardless, these accusations rival Suarez in the pettiness stakes. Unless there is proof then just keep quiet.
Some good cricket action in the third quarter-final of the Twenty20s. Michael Carberry made his maiden ton in this format, with the final two runs coming off the last ball of the innings. Carberry is so quick he made it back for the second despite the ball going only a few yards away. He goes alongside Graham Napier and Alex Hales as three players who always seem to turn it on when the Sky cameras turn up.
Thursday
Trying desperately to ignore all the transfer rumours which are doing my head in. Except for Kelvin Wilson to Forest which I like.
Went to my final sporting action in Nottingham with the quarter-final against Essex. Despite the result it was definitely a most enjoyable occasion with lots of people I had not seen in a while showing up. As for the cricket, it seemed crazy at the time that Notts didn't bat first after winning the toss. Did they not see Essex collapse chasing during their last match against Surrey? As it was, despite good starts in both innings it was a comfortable loss, once again in a quarter-final. If Tim Henman was the man who could never get past a semi, then Notts are fast becoming a team who can't even get it to that stage. Maybe they should start using some of KP's vaseline.
At the Rogers Cup Andy Murray lost to Ernests Gulbis. Cue lots of online trolls claiming he's never going to be good enough to win that tournament.
Even better, the final golf major of the year is underway. Having seen my tips for the first three flounder, I have a sneaking feeling Paul Casey would mount a challenge and that Rory McIlroy will have a much better week having hit rock bottom at The Open and shown some form at the World Golf Championship last week.
One quick thought. Will golf organisers one day put Luke Donald, Boo Weekley and Matt Kuchar in the same group one week? Think about it...
Friday
A difficult day for me to keep up with things but the obvious story came at Durham where England collapsed again in their first innings and gave Australia a clear advantage. Special mentions must go to the following for their efforts: Alastair Cook - strike-rate 31.09, Joe Root - strike-rate 30.76, Ian Bell - strike-rate 35.29, Jonny Bairstow - strike-rate 18.18, Matt Prior - strike-rate 29.31, Tim Bresnan - strike-rate 24.48, Stuart Broad - strike-rate 25.00. Terrific effort boys, some real, hard, Test match cricket going on there. Bairstow in particular deserves special mention. His 14 runs off 77 balls is the equivalent of 14 runs from 13 overs (minus one delivery) and took exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes to make. That is exactly what we like to see. And to think Nick 'Compdog' Compton was dropped because they didn't think he scored quick enough.
Only thing to say about the golf is I'm very disappointed by Casey and Lee Westwood. But good to see Justin Rose back there and a decent effort from Jason Dufner who was just one shot off becoming the first person to shoot 62 in a major. Meanwhile, it looks as if Tiger Woods will have to wait until Augusta to target major number 15.
Saturday
This might seem bizarre, but as much as I celebrated Forest's last minute winner at Blackburn, this performance has made me think there is no chance of a top two finish this season (as unlikely as it always was). The reason I say this is the negativity shown by Billy Davies makes it seem unlikely Forest will get enough wins away from home to compete at the very top.
Let me give you some stats from Davies' two full seasons in charge at Forest:
2009-10: Forest - final position: 3rd, away wins: 4, away goals scored: 20, away goals conceded: 27
2010-11: Forest - final position: 6th, away wins: 7, away goals scored: 26, away goals conceded: 28
In that first season, Forest had less away wins then every other side going down to Derby in 14th and only five teams scored less on their travels. In contrast, top of the table Newcastle had 12 away wins and second place West Brom had 10, as did 4th place Cardiff.
In the second season, Forest had the worst away record inside the top six. QPR and Norwich who earned automatic promotion had 10 wins, Swansea in third had nine and Cardiff in fourth had 11. Interestingly, Forest's points tally was only four less in 2010/11 than it was the previous season when they came third.
The point I'm making is that by often playing one up front, packing the midfield and trying to hit on the break, Forest would draw or lose too many matches as they were not prepared to gamble whilst the sides who ended up in the automatic places would get enough wins. In the latter season, only Swansea in the top six had a negative away goal difference (apart from Forest) as their nine wins came at a cost of eleven defeats.
Bring it forward to 2011/2 and you see Reading top - 13 away wins, Southampton 2nd - 10 away wins, West Ham 3rd - 13 away wins. Even last season, the top three managed double figures in away wins.
What worries me is Forest can go to an average side like Blackburn Rovers and set up not to lose when they are a team who were knocked out the League Cup by Carlisle during the week and are heavily reliant on one player. Yes, it came off this time, but that hadn't looked likely at all during the second half. Let's hope with such a good team that Davies will look to press for more away wins this season and not rely solely on clean sheets which are so hard to come by.
Ok, rant over. Now, being in a place with slow internet it will mean I cannot give as rounded an update as usual, but I will do my best. Away from Forest, the cricket once again did not go England's way. It's fair to say they have not won a single day of the Ashes since the 4th and final day at Lord's. What should be remembered is that some of the batsmen appear to be struggling for form, Alastair Cook and Matt Prior especially. I wouldn't put Jonathan Trott in there as apart from Old Trafford he has looked in good touch but just not converted his starts. The difference between the two sides is, last time Down Under the opposite appeared to be true and England were good enough to take advantage whilst Australia have missed their chance.
Today was probably the one spell where Stuart Broad looked ready to win England the match. Like Pietersen with the bat, he tends to put in one match defining performance each series but this time he was unlucky not to get Chris Rogers out despite being all over him like a cheap suit (as Shane Warne would say). Rogers duly tonned up, reminding people that he averages 50 in first-class cricket for a reason.
For the first time this year there does not appear to be a British challenge for one of golf's biggest prizes which is disappointing. The leaders are Dufner and Furyk with a couple of Swedes close in. Still, after a year dominated by the big guns delivering under pressure, it can be interesting to see a group of less well-known players dealing with pressure they're not used to so roll on the final day,
Sunday
The end of the week which so often signals the final acts of a grand sporting occasion. That was certainly the case in the PGA Championship where Jason did not Duff it up as he closed things out. After blowing a five-shot lead with four to play in the same tournament two years before losing in a play-off to Keegan Bradley, it was good to see him triumph. Not that I saw him triumph, with my internet being as reliable as Luis Suarez's contract writer.
So my tip for Paul Casey did not come through (unsurprisingly) despite being in a good place during his second round before letting it slip away. However, I did predict a much better week for Rory McIlroy and a tie for eighth does signify that. A triple bogey ruined his round, but there is no reason he can't look at registering one win now this season.
Special mention must go to Henrik Stenson who registered his third straight top-three finish which includes The Open. If you have been going each-way on Stenson then you have been making a killing. Also, Jason Day's charge earlier in the day meant that once again he was not far away from the leaders during the final round. The Aussie reminds me a bit of Angel Cabrera, a man who seems to turn it on at the biggest events. He has been a pretty reliable each-way bet for some time.
Elsewhere, Robin van Persie duly won the Community Shield, meaning a little bit of pressure has gone off David Moyes. Just a little. For Wigan it means they now have three weeks to prepare mentally for the challenge of facing Forest who should put in a better effort than last year's League Cup humiliation (let's not go there).
In the cricket, finally we were able to celebrate England winning a day! Wickets in the morning, runs in the afternoon and arise Sir Ian Bell, Sherminator turned Terminator. Try saying that quickly. Like all great Test matches, this one has had suitable ebb and flow and is poised to go right down to the wire with rain also ready to intervene. Let's see what we have in store.
Finally, as I'm in a ranting mood this week, I believe we have seen why the DRS has to stay. In a shameless yet relevant plug, I typed up an article on why the system is important to cricket (http://www.alloutcricket.com/ashes/blogs/lay-off-drs-its-the-third-umpire). The number of overturned decisions in this Test match has shown why the system, for its faults, is needed. Most of the controversies this series have been because of the third umpire and not the technology and you only have to look at Chris Rogers' innings to see why we must stick with the system which should hopefully be boosted by 'Snicko' soon. Given wrongly caught out, he was able to overturn the decision but when given not out this morning, England were able to review and hot spot showed he was indeed out. I don't care what the ICC say, there is no way 90%+ of decisions before the technology came in were correct, and I don't want to see a match ruined because of a mistake when it is so difficult being an umpire. Just imagine a scenario like day 5 at Trent Bridge where Brad Haddin edges one behind with 15 runs needed to win but is given not out and there is nothing anyone can do.
Meanwhile...
US baseball hit by doping scandal. On a headline scale of: 'Didier Drogba scores against Arsenal again' to 'Tahiti win World Cup... again', this must go down alongside 'Italian football hit by match-fixing scandal' in terms of its shock. The Drogba headline can be switched with Usain Bolt after he won the World Championships 100m. Or even 'Team GB drop baton.'
Story of the Week: Monty Panesar supposedly pissing on bouncers. Just so completely unexpected from Monty who is said to have gone off the rails and is expected to leave Sussex at the end of the season
Performance of the Week: Glenn Maxwell was on 38 off 40 balls for Australia A against India A. 39 balls later and he was on 145
Tweets of the Week: David Lynn made the big mistake of putting the wrong fuel in his car this week for his trip to Niagara Falls, allowing his mate Ian Poulter to inform the world and ask his Twitter followers to send in their best photos. If you go on his profile and look through his photos you will see quite a few but this one is most probably my favourite https://twitter.com/jeffdance1/status/365464229450502144/photo/1
I know I'm a bit late... but why have Tottenham let Clint Dempsey leave?
Geoffrey Boycott cutting an interview short to go watch CSI was excellent, but in case you haven't heard it, having Katy Perry read him a message just about tops it. Geoffrey's response to the message is worth listening to as well the sly dog - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dz5mh
The Bundesliga was back with a bang this weekend with goals, goals and more goals. I fully recommend catching hour long highlights at 10pm Monday on ITV4
Hull City change their name to Hull City Tigers to generate more appeal oversees. Have the owners seen Hull play recently? I don't care what they're called nobody wants to watch them
Rafa Nadal wins in Toronto. The US Open has just become more interesting
Some interesting words from Stephen Fry who wants to see the 2014 Winter Olympics taken away from Russia because of their new anti-gay laws. I'm all with Fry, but there is one problem for me and that is who do you offer major sporting events to if you starting getting all political? How many countries are established democracies and liberal enough for an Olympics or a World Cup? I can think of very few who I'd like to see get these big events although admittedly Russia is very low down on the list of deserving countries
Sport this week...
It may or may not be the return of the Premier League
Seriously...
I'm still trying to work out how Nathan Lyon got four-fer on the first day at Durham
So, it is the 5th of August and the Ashes have been retained. It does feel slightly anti-climatic, almost like a team who win a first leg 5-0 away from home only to lose the return at home 2-0 with the tie already concluded. Still, that didn't stop the England boys from celebrating well as these pictures show http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2384993/Ashes-2013-Graeme-Swann-beer-England-fans-Old-Trafford.html?ITO=socialnet-twitter-dmailsports&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=socialnet-twitter-dmailsports
It was a shame about the weather but the Australians can't complain too much. The forecast had been dodgy for a while like it had been at Adelaide in 2010 where England got the match wrapped up early on the 5th day. And you only have to remember the last time an Ashes Test was staged at Old Trafford where rain badly hit proceedings and Australia were nine wickets down at the end.
The transfer window carousel shows no signs of letting up. Again we are back towards Wayne Rooney moving to Chelsea having quickly moved on from Bale and Suarez. If at least two don't move then I will feel short-changed after this incessant speculation.
Tuesday
Managed to squeeze in one Forest match before heading away. With money now something of a slight issue it was to be a £12 ticket for Hartlepool in the first round of the League Cup. With the League Two side bringing about a 100 fans who sat in silence the atmosphere suffered, although the home fans did their best to make up for that in what felt like a pre-season romp of 3-1.
Things kicked off a bit on Twitter with the publication of an interview with Luis Suarez in two national newspapers. Now I like to think I'm very talented at making false excuses to justify something I'm done, e.g. claim I need BT Sport for research. But Suarez is clearly a master. This is a man, let us remember, who signed a new contract last summer and said before the end of last season that he would stay with the club even if they did not make the top four. Then he said he wanted to leave because of the English media reporting his racism, biting and diving. So, in this interview, he played the innocent card, claiming he was the one being punished and not the club. Even worse, he had banked everything on a clause in his contract which turned out to be wrong.
Let us not forget that Liverpool made themselves look ridiculous by publicly defending him after every misdemeanour. Of course this was because he was so important to them (they never would have done the same for Stewart Downing aka Left Wing Jesus) but to then get the lawyers in is a petty response.
However, I'm glad Suarez spoke out. Too many managers deny there is a problem with their star player wanting to leave. But when they make their problems public then they can't keep denying it, so Brentan Rodgers finally sent him to train alone. Why he waited this long I do not know.
Wednesday
Accusations today made by Channel 9 in Australia which suggested that Kevin Pietersen was using vaseline to stop edges showing up on HotSpot. Now, out of all the uses of vaseline this would not be in my top five.
Regardless, these accusations rival Suarez in the pettiness stakes. Unless there is proof then just keep quiet.
Some good cricket action in the third quarter-final of the Twenty20s. Michael Carberry made his maiden ton in this format, with the final two runs coming off the last ball of the innings. Carberry is so quick he made it back for the second despite the ball going only a few yards away. He goes alongside Graham Napier and Alex Hales as three players who always seem to turn it on when the Sky cameras turn up.
Thursday
Trying desperately to ignore all the transfer rumours which are doing my head in. Except for Kelvin Wilson to Forest which I like.
Went to my final sporting action in Nottingham with the quarter-final against Essex. Despite the result it was definitely a most enjoyable occasion with lots of people I had not seen in a while showing up. As for the cricket, it seemed crazy at the time that Notts didn't bat first after winning the toss. Did they not see Essex collapse chasing during their last match against Surrey? As it was, despite good starts in both innings it was a comfortable loss, once again in a quarter-final. If Tim Henman was the man who could never get past a semi, then Notts are fast becoming a team who can't even get it to that stage. Maybe they should start using some of KP's vaseline.
At the Rogers Cup Andy Murray lost to Ernests Gulbis. Cue lots of online trolls claiming he's never going to be good enough to win that tournament.
Even better, the final golf major of the year is underway. Having seen my tips for the first three flounder, I have a sneaking feeling Paul Casey would mount a challenge and that Rory McIlroy will have a much better week having hit rock bottom at The Open and shown some form at the World Golf Championship last week.
One quick thought. Will golf organisers one day put Luke Donald, Boo Weekley and Matt Kuchar in the same group one week? Think about it...
Friday
A difficult day for me to keep up with things but the obvious story came at Durham where England collapsed again in their first innings and gave Australia a clear advantage. Special mentions must go to the following for their efforts: Alastair Cook - strike-rate 31.09, Joe Root - strike-rate 30.76, Ian Bell - strike-rate 35.29, Jonny Bairstow - strike-rate 18.18, Matt Prior - strike-rate 29.31, Tim Bresnan - strike-rate 24.48, Stuart Broad - strike-rate 25.00. Terrific effort boys, some real, hard, Test match cricket going on there. Bairstow in particular deserves special mention. His 14 runs off 77 balls is the equivalent of 14 runs from 13 overs (minus one delivery) and took exactly 1 hour and 45 minutes to make. That is exactly what we like to see. And to think Nick 'Compdog' Compton was dropped because they didn't think he scored quick enough.
Only thing to say about the golf is I'm very disappointed by Casey and Lee Westwood. But good to see Justin Rose back there and a decent effort from Jason Dufner who was just one shot off becoming the first person to shoot 62 in a major. Meanwhile, it looks as if Tiger Woods will have to wait until Augusta to target major number 15.
Saturday
This might seem bizarre, but as much as I celebrated Forest's last minute winner at Blackburn, this performance has made me think there is no chance of a top two finish this season (as unlikely as it always was). The reason I say this is the negativity shown by Billy Davies makes it seem unlikely Forest will get enough wins away from home to compete at the very top.
Let me give you some stats from Davies' two full seasons in charge at Forest:
2009-10: Forest - final position: 3rd, away wins: 4, away goals scored: 20, away goals conceded: 27
2010-11: Forest - final position: 6th, away wins: 7, away goals scored: 26, away goals conceded: 28
In that first season, Forest had less away wins then every other side going down to Derby in 14th and only five teams scored less on their travels. In contrast, top of the table Newcastle had 12 away wins and second place West Brom had 10, as did 4th place Cardiff.
In the second season, Forest had the worst away record inside the top six. QPR and Norwich who earned automatic promotion had 10 wins, Swansea in third had nine and Cardiff in fourth had 11. Interestingly, Forest's points tally was only four less in 2010/11 than it was the previous season when they came third.
The point I'm making is that by often playing one up front, packing the midfield and trying to hit on the break, Forest would draw or lose too many matches as they were not prepared to gamble whilst the sides who ended up in the automatic places would get enough wins. In the latter season, only Swansea in the top six had a negative away goal difference (apart from Forest) as their nine wins came at a cost of eleven defeats.
Bring it forward to 2011/2 and you see Reading top - 13 away wins, Southampton 2nd - 10 away wins, West Ham 3rd - 13 away wins. Even last season, the top three managed double figures in away wins.
What worries me is Forest can go to an average side like Blackburn Rovers and set up not to lose when they are a team who were knocked out the League Cup by Carlisle during the week and are heavily reliant on one player. Yes, it came off this time, but that hadn't looked likely at all during the second half. Let's hope with such a good team that Davies will look to press for more away wins this season and not rely solely on clean sheets which are so hard to come by.
Ok, rant over. Now, being in a place with slow internet it will mean I cannot give as rounded an update as usual, but I will do my best. Away from Forest, the cricket once again did not go England's way. It's fair to say they have not won a single day of the Ashes since the 4th and final day at Lord's. What should be remembered is that some of the batsmen appear to be struggling for form, Alastair Cook and Matt Prior especially. I wouldn't put Jonathan Trott in there as apart from Old Trafford he has looked in good touch but just not converted his starts. The difference between the two sides is, last time Down Under the opposite appeared to be true and England were good enough to take advantage whilst Australia have missed their chance.
Today was probably the one spell where Stuart Broad looked ready to win England the match. Like Pietersen with the bat, he tends to put in one match defining performance each series but this time he was unlucky not to get Chris Rogers out despite being all over him like a cheap suit (as Shane Warne would say). Rogers duly tonned up, reminding people that he averages 50 in first-class cricket for a reason.
For the first time this year there does not appear to be a British challenge for one of golf's biggest prizes which is disappointing. The leaders are Dufner and Furyk with a couple of Swedes close in. Still, after a year dominated by the big guns delivering under pressure, it can be interesting to see a group of less well-known players dealing with pressure they're not used to so roll on the final day,
Sunday
The end of the week which so often signals the final acts of a grand sporting occasion. That was certainly the case in the PGA Championship where Jason did not Duff it up as he closed things out. After blowing a five-shot lead with four to play in the same tournament two years before losing in a play-off to Keegan Bradley, it was good to see him triumph. Not that I saw him triumph, with my internet being as reliable as Luis Suarez's contract writer.
So my tip for Paul Casey did not come through (unsurprisingly) despite being in a good place during his second round before letting it slip away. However, I did predict a much better week for Rory McIlroy and a tie for eighth does signify that. A triple bogey ruined his round, but there is no reason he can't look at registering one win now this season.
Special mention must go to Henrik Stenson who registered his third straight top-three finish which includes The Open. If you have been going each-way on Stenson then you have been making a killing. Also, Jason Day's charge earlier in the day meant that once again he was not far away from the leaders during the final round. The Aussie reminds me a bit of Angel Cabrera, a man who seems to turn it on at the biggest events. He has been a pretty reliable each-way bet for some time.
Elsewhere, Robin van Persie duly won the Community Shield, meaning a little bit of pressure has gone off David Moyes. Just a little. For Wigan it means they now have three weeks to prepare mentally for the challenge of facing Forest who should put in a better effort than last year's League Cup humiliation (let's not go there).
In the cricket, finally we were able to celebrate England winning a day! Wickets in the morning, runs in the afternoon and arise Sir Ian Bell, Sherminator turned Terminator. Try saying that quickly. Like all great Test matches, this one has had suitable ebb and flow and is poised to go right down to the wire with rain also ready to intervene. Let's see what we have in store.
Finally, as I'm in a ranting mood this week, I believe we have seen why the DRS has to stay. In a shameless yet relevant plug, I typed up an article on why the system is important to cricket (http://www.alloutcricket.com/ashes/blogs/lay-off-drs-its-the-third-umpire). The number of overturned decisions in this Test match has shown why the system, for its faults, is needed. Most of the controversies this series have been because of the third umpire and not the technology and you only have to look at Chris Rogers' innings to see why we must stick with the system which should hopefully be boosted by 'Snicko' soon. Given wrongly caught out, he was able to overturn the decision but when given not out this morning, England were able to review and hot spot showed he was indeed out. I don't care what the ICC say, there is no way 90%+ of decisions before the technology came in were correct, and I don't want to see a match ruined because of a mistake when it is so difficult being an umpire. Just imagine a scenario like day 5 at Trent Bridge where Brad Haddin edges one behind with 15 runs needed to win but is given not out and there is nothing anyone can do.
Meanwhile...
US baseball hit by doping scandal. On a headline scale of: 'Didier Drogba scores against Arsenal again' to 'Tahiti win World Cup... again', this must go down alongside 'Italian football hit by match-fixing scandal' in terms of its shock. The Drogba headline can be switched with Usain Bolt after he won the World Championships 100m. Or even 'Team GB drop baton.'
Story of the Week: Monty Panesar supposedly pissing on bouncers. Just so completely unexpected from Monty who is said to have gone off the rails and is expected to leave Sussex at the end of the season
Performance of the Week: Glenn Maxwell was on 38 off 40 balls for Australia A against India A. 39 balls later and he was on 145
Tweets of the Week: David Lynn made the big mistake of putting the wrong fuel in his car this week for his trip to Niagara Falls, allowing his mate Ian Poulter to inform the world and ask his Twitter followers to send in their best photos. If you go on his profile and look through his photos you will see quite a few but this one is most probably my favourite https://twitter.com/jeffdance1/status/365464229450502144/photo/1
I know I'm a bit late... but why have Tottenham let Clint Dempsey leave?
Geoffrey Boycott cutting an interview short to go watch CSI was excellent, but in case you haven't heard it, having Katy Perry read him a message just about tops it. Geoffrey's response to the message is worth listening to as well the sly dog - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dz5mh
The Bundesliga was back with a bang this weekend with goals, goals and more goals. I fully recommend catching hour long highlights at 10pm Monday on ITV4
Hull City change their name to Hull City Tigers to generate more appeal oversees. Have the owners seen Hull play recently? I don't care what they're called nobody wants to watch them
Rafa Nadal wins in Toronto. The US Open has just become more interesting
Some interesting words from Stephen Fry who wants to see the 2014 Winter Olympics taken away from Russia because of their new anti-gay laws. I'm all with Fry, but there is one problem for me and that is who do you offer major sporting events to if you starting getting all political? How many countries are established democracies and liberal enough for an Olympics or a World Cup? I can think of very few who I'd like to see get these big events although admittedly Russia is very low down on the list of deserving countries
Sport this week...
It may or may not be the return of the Premier League
Seriously...
I'm still trying to work out how Nathan Lyon got four-fer on the first day at Durham
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