DianaEngland's Ashes chances in The Guardian
September 14th 2006 10:48
Yesterday's Guardian pitted a battle of opinions between the ex-Derbyshire talisman Dominic Cork and Australian's favourite totem for race relations, I mean portly middle-order batsman, Darren Lehmann. The subject was whether England are equipped to win the Ashes with their current squad.
Cork acknowledges the inexperience of the fruity newcomers like Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood - not to mention Monty Panesar, who I expect Australian fans will love but sledge to the high heavens. Cork also pays lip service to Australia by saying 'No one can deny how good Australia are and how they have responded since losing the Ashes.' But in true British style, the crux of Cork's argument is that England only need to do adequately: 'At the end of the day they only need a draw to retain the Ashes. Australia will need to do all the running because they have to win - how long have we been waiting to be in a position like that?'
Lehmann's article proposes that England are ravaged by injuries, and that on such a wicket as that in Brisbane, Australian bowlers will blow England away. He also points to Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Panesar as potential weaknesses. Most important though, is the factor that this is the last hurrah for some of the sagacious old Aussies: 'Age is not an issue. There are blokes in there who are determined to win back the Ashes before calling it a day.'
Cork acknowledges the inexperience of the fruity newcomers like Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood - not to mention Monty Panesar, who I expect Australian fans will love but sledge to the high heavens. Cork also pays lip service to Australia by saying 'No one can deny how good Australia are and how they have responded since losing the Ashes.' But in true British style, the crux of Cork's argument is that England only need to do adequately: 'At the end of the day they only need a draw to retain the Ashes. Australia will need to do all the running because they have to win - how long have we been waiting to be in a position like that?'
Lehmann's article proposes that England are ravaged by injuries, and that on such a wicket as that in Brisbane, Australian bowlers will blow England away. He also points to Paul Collingwood, Ian Bell and Panesar as potential weaknesses. Most important though, is the factor that this is the last hurrah for some of the sagacious old Aussies: 'Age is not an issue. There are blokes in there who are determined to win back the Ashes before calling it a day.'
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