Australian captain Ricky Ponting, left, and bowler Brett Lee confer during the fourth day of the second cricket test match between India and Australia, in Mohali, India, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008. AP Photo/Gautam Singh
The Ashes promises to be one of the biggest sporting events of the year. It isn’t critical simply for the here and now, but also for the short to medium future of Australian cricket.
First and foremost, the legacy of Ricky Ponting is on the line.
He is already suffering from being the first Australian captain to have lost the Ashes since Allan Border in 1985. Sure he won them back, but losing them in the first place still leaves a stain.
Many people out there aren’t fans of his captaincy. They say his Plan A was to give the ball to Glenn McGrath, Plan B was to give it to Shane Warne, and Plan C was to go back to Plan A.
Luckily for Ponting, Mitchell Johnson’s stocks has risen immeasurably over the last year, because without him, who knows how Australia would bowl out a side.
Ironically, it could be the part-time trio of Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Marcus North which bails out the side.
Speaking of Clarke and Katich, they both had horror Ashes series in 2005 with the bat and will be eager to repent.
Is this tour going to be the coming out party for Phillip Hughes?
He burst onto the scene in South Africa, and until Stephen Harmison rattled him, looked to be unflappable. Mark Taylor burst onto the scene in 1989 and there is every chance that Hughes could do the same.
With the county cricket record he has, Michael Hussey was born to play an Ashes tour in England. But at 34 years of age, this is destined to be his first and last one.
He would be aware of this and shouldn’t be placing any more pressure than he already does. His recent struggles have been well documented and England will be looking to target him.
If they could remove him quickly, it will place pressure on the Australian middle order.
A wicket-keeper doesn’t normally have anything to lose. As long as he keeps well, all is cool. But every time Brad Haddin does anything he is going to be compared to Adam Gilchrist.
Gilchrist is to wicketkeepers what Warne was to spin bowlers, so any comparisons are simply ridiculous. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be happening every time he walks out to bat.
He needs to focus on being his own man.
It should be a fantastic five Tests. I can’t wait for them to start.
Osmond
Guest
I disagree with you David. Batting ability makes absolutely no difference to 'keeping ability. Gilchrist was a fantastic bat, and I'm not arguing that Gilchrist shouldn't have been picked, but his skill as a wicket-keeper is not even close to being in the same league as Warne's skill as a spin bowler. Gilchrist at his best is better behind the stumps than Haddin, and he was better than Wayne Phillips. I don't reckon that Gilchrist is a better 'keeper than any of the others that have represented Australia in the last 30 years or so. Actually come to think of it, I saw David Boon 'keep once. Gilchrist is better than Boony.
Colin N
Guest
"an incorrect umpiring decision decided the series. Kasper was not out when we lost by 2 runs." Well a lot of Australian's did blame Bowden considering he was voted as the 'worse umpire of the year' in 2005 by the Australian public. "However, from side on, it was clearly not out - the hand was not on the bat." And they say the English moan, and keep harking back to refereeing or umpiring decisions? Double standards I say. I personally didn't know there was such a rule that a hand needed to be on the bat for it to be out, as such an occurence was probably very rare. Certain the batter didn't, and I'm sure many people on here didn't
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Chop - agree 100% Jameswm - I dont think Australia can complain when it comes to dodgy umpiring decisions. They have received their fair share of the years. Sangakarra in Hobart????
Jameswm
Guest
Say whatever you want about England bowling well in 2005 - an incorrect umpiring decision decided the series. Kasper was not out when we lost by 2 runs. I don't blame Billy for that one, as it looked out from front on. However, from side on, it was clearly not out - the hand was not on the bat.
Chop
Roar Guru
David, I think that's what has me most excited about tonight, everything seems to be a bit of a mystery, the make-up of both sides, a new test pitch, the weather. This is going to be a close series and no one can predict with any certainty because there's so much that can go right or wrong....Let's hope that it's not a stinking umpiring decision that changes the tide or decides the result, without the referral system in place it could turn out that way.
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Given all the nerves - is is not better to bowl first like England did in 1997? England lost the toss but would have bowled out Australia before lunch on the first day had it not been for Warney.
Brian
Guest
Yeah wicketkeepers don't really exist anymore. Gilchrist, Sangakarra, Dhoni, McCullum are just batsman who field behind the stumps. On the subject of the Ashes I think this First Test could be the biggest worry for the Australians because of the following MJ seems to need a lot of cricket to get to his South African bowling best and he has not had it. The pitch is about as spin friendly as it will get Injury to B Lee Both KP & Freddie are playing and that may not be the case by the time we finish this series So the First Test should be close. If England win it will be a great tight series or if Australia win regardless of the above then they will proceed to an easy series victory.
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Oh yes, I'd forgotten about Chuck. Berry was only two years older than Gilly but yet seems a lot older. Like Brad Hodge, te was very unlucky in his timing. If he would have been around after Rod Marsh retired, he would have been selected for sure.
Chop
Roar Guru
Sorry that first sentence was meant to read had Gilchrist's batting been at the same level as Healy's
Chop
Roar Guru
As pure glovemen, I think Darren Berry was better than Gilchrist, Ian Healy would not have been punted for Gilchrist had Gilchrist's keeping at the same level. I think Chris Hartley and Manou are both better with the keeping gloves on than Haddin. I'm not saying that either Gilchrist and Haddin aren't good (they are actually two of my favourite Australian players in the last 15 or so years), just the added attraction of their batting has put them miles in front of keepers who don't bat at the level of Gilchrist and Haddin. Gilchrist really changed the role of a keeper to having a specialst batsmans skill who's fielding position happens to be the wicket keeper.
David Wiseman
Roar Guru
Brett - I agree! Charles - Thanks for that. His daily posts last time round were a highlight. He won't also be writing for Cricinfo? Osmond - Wasn't that flash? His wicket-keeping was solid but his batting took him to the next level. Starting with that game in Hobart against Pakistan, he won games with the bat. That makes a huge difference. Jameswm - I just said wicketkeeper because I feel you pick the best keeper and whatever else they bring to the table is a bonus - like Tim Zoehrer's legsin. Chop - Really? Who else would you have picked? Which keepers spring to mind that were unlucky not to have played during Gilchrist's time or now?
Chop
Roar Guru
I agree James, Gilchrist and Haddin are essentially wicket keeping all rounders rather than specialist wicket keepers. If batting is taken out of the equation then you would not have seen either of these two behind the stumps.
Jameswm
Guest
Maybe David should have said "wicketkeeper-batsmen". Haddin is an awfully good player and a considerably more consistent batsman than Gilly was for his final two years.
Osmond
Guest
Adam Gilchrist wasn't particularly flash behind the stumps. To say that he is to wicketkeepers what Shane Warne is to spin bowlers is a huge stretch.
Charles
Guest
Gideon Haigh is covering the Ashes online for Business Spectator instead of The Guardian this year. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/filter/The+Ashes+2009?opendocument
Brett McKay
Guest
Bring. It. On..