British Lions out to make history with four-in-a-row

It will be no quarter asked or given or no punches pulled in five match Ashes series between the two traditional rivals-England and Australia when they meet in the First Test at the historic Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday.

I say historic because that was the venue where the first-ever 'tie' in a Test was played out by Frank Worrell's West Indies and Richie Benaud's Australians in that electrifying series that brought Test cricket to life in 1960/'61 in Australia.

This series, if the hype that has been going on is an indication, then it will be, like the Calypso, West Indian king sang when the West Indies beat England - cricket luvr'ly cricket at Lord's where I saw it.

While the cricketers will be doing their thing out in the middle, the beer guzzling supporters of both protagonists - the famous BARMY ARMY from England and the cricket crazy Aussie supporters who will jam pack every venue, will be vociferous and deafening shouting from the first ball bowled.

Aussies could have drawn first blood

The Australians are convinced that had all rounder Stuart Broad walked when he got a nick that bounced off wicket keeper Brad Haddin's pads to Michael Clarke at first slip in the First Test of the previous series, Aussies would have drawn first blood, won and taken the all important confidence going into the remaining Tests. The Australian coach Darren Lehman, in particular hit hard at Broad for not being a sport and walking, and called on the Aussie spectators to target Broad for special booing. This of course is "not cricket!

While the Aussie spectators target Broad for his cricketing sin and attempt to unnerve and unsettle him, he will not want for lack of support, because the BARMY ARMY will keep firing salvos and supporting him.

In the cheering and jeering, players from either side will not be spared. It would be interesting to watch the player or players who will succumb, lose his or their cool and lose form.

Sledging will be on show

While the supporters will do their thing, there is also bound to be sledging between the two teams out in the middle. Sledging is acceptable as long as it is kept clean. The Aussies who gave sledging to the world call it MENTAL DISINTEGRATION.

While England will delay naming the squad for the First Test, the Australian selectors headed by former Test player John Inverarity have picked a best available squad of 12 players. After watching limited over captain George Bailey's devastating big hitting and heavy scoring against India in the one-day series in India, writing in this column I said that the Aussie selectors must slot Bailey in the Test team and let him play an Adam Gilchrist like innings.

The Aussie selectors have dared and given Bailey his first Test cap and when he walks out to bat, the usual jitters for a debutant will accompany him. But he is tough enough to keep his nerve and deliver.

Geroge will be the second Bailey to play in the history of the Ashes, with the first being Trevor for England who was also tagged 'Barnacle Bailey' for his dour batting. Bailey must not change approach Bailey must not change his approach. He must carry the dash and daring that he shows in the limited over games and must endeavour to smash the England attack. Attack is his forte and he must remain that way.

Thanks to physiotherapy Alex Kountouri, Aussie skipper Michael Clarke has recovered well from his bothering back injury and is fit to lead the Aussie challenge. To recap Kountouri was Sri Lanka's physiotherapist when the country won the World Cup in 1995/'96 in Lahore beating Australia in the final.

Australia has also recalled the temperamental dashing opening batsman David Warner. Warner must now forget his problems and concentrate on the job ahead, that of being among the runs and giving his team a solid opening to build on.

Another who excelled as an all-rounder in India was James Faulkner. His efforts have not gone unrecognized and the selectors have named him in the 12. Although he is not likely to play in the First Test, could get his break as the series unwind.

Bright and exciting cricket expected

And so the pitch has been laid for an exciting series. Let's hope that both teams will endeavour to play bright and exciting cricket keeping the cricket world entertained and may the side that plays the better cricket proudly hold aloft the URN the ultimate of England-Australia cricket.

Former Australian leg spinning great who bowled England Captain Mike Gatting round his legs which delivery came to be tagged the ball of the century SHANE WARNE seems to love to hate England Captain Alastair Cook.

Cook is cooking his team to see that they roast the Australians in the coming back-to-back Ashes series 'down under' and create a record of having won four Ashes series in-a-row.

Previously Warne bowled skidders at Cook saying that his captaincy was unimaginative which could prove costly to England in the coming Ashes series with the first of Five Tests beginning at Brisbane on November 21.

Vicious attack on Alastair Cook

Not satisfied with that teaser and apparently unable to unsettle the England Captain, Warne has now launched another vicious spin attack on Cook saying that England cricket could spin to World's no one team if England is led by either Kevin Pietersen or Graeme Swann.

Writing in the 'Telegraph Group, London', Warne further states: 'If you put Mark Taylor, Michael Clare or Stephen Fleming in charge of that team you would see a completely different style of play; aggression combined with imaginative fields that would produce very entertaining cricket which is great to watch. It would also be the style of cricket that would possibly take England to No 1 in the world.

Warne reckons that South Africa born England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has the best cricketing brains in the team and that Swann too, is good as his Twenty20 success proves.

'Pietersen and Swann are both imaginative, good readers of the game and take the aggressive option first, whereas Cook retreats too quickly. He goes very defensive when he should be stamping his authority on the match', he further states.

Criticism sure to hurt England captain

Warne's criticism is sure to hurt the England Captain. Whether the criticism has stung and upset Cook or not would be known only once the Ashes series gets on the rails in Australia. If Cook succeeds, Warne will have to eat his own words. Cook is likely to face more criticism in the coming days.

With Warne lining up Cook for soup, the Australian media has joined in stirring of the soup by poking fun at England's 'fussy' dietary demands for their players during the Ashes tour of Australia.

[email protected]