With just over a week until the first Test kicks off in Cardiff, the war of words has begun. The usual suspects began proceedings, with Graeme Swann and now Shane Warne getting in on the act.
Not surprisingly, Swann went for Steve Smith, the cornerstone upon which Australia has built its innings in the last 18 months.
With Swann it seems more personal. Having been beaten to a pulp in his last series by the Aussies and meekly falling on his sword after the third Test in Adelaide, he has found a way to insert himself in the build-up to the upcoming series.
Questioning Smith’s technique against the swinging Duke ball and saying he hasn’t got the technique and resilience of former Australian Test stars won’t have caused too many sleepless nights for the unflappable Aussie.
When asked about Swann, Smith deadpanned his answers with the usual non commitment of the media-savvy sportsmen and women of today. However it’s more likely that the opinion of a man he took out of the game last year doesn’t mean all that much to the guy affectionately known as ‘Smudge’.
Warne, never too far away from the action, then suggested the Ashes will be different from the recent England vs New Zealand series praised by so many for its sportsmanship.
Not unlike Swann, Warne also had a go at one of the team’s main ingredients in Jimmy Anderson, suggesting that he might be in for some more heat, especially when he comes out to bat.
While not too much should be made of the comments by the former players, it will provide the media with some ammo in the build-up to what already promises to be an enthralling series. And with both men involved in commentary – Warne with Sky Sports and Swann with the BBC’s Test Match Special – one can expect the banter from the former spinners to continue.
Nor have things changed with Glenn McGrath, who is predicting another 5-0 series whitewash. The man who had so much success over England doesn’t think too much will change this time around, with Smith and Michael Clarke to lead Australia to victory.
New England coach Trevor Bayliss has been asked how he’ll plan for a series against not only his home country but also players of whom he has coached – and in Clarke’s case nurtured from a young age. In typical Bayliss manner he unemotionally batted away the loaded questions.
With Clarke more focused than ever to get a long-awaited series win in England, Smith his usual restrained self, David Warner appearing to have tempered his previous aggressive tendencies, and a fast-bowling unit far too concerned on winning a spot in the side, things are more subdued than usual this close to an Ashes battle.
However once the action commences on July 8 it will be all guns blazing, as Australia under Clarke’s aggressive captaincy try to impose themselves from the opening exchanges.
Bayliss may have England play more attacking cricket, brought about from his coaching career which has included stints for a couple of T20 domestic sides. A pub scuffle will not be needed to draw interest this time around, as both teams have scores to settle, Australia having not won in England since 2001 and England having been dismantled last time around.
Either way it will be a long wait for the loser as the next series is scheduled for the 2017-18 Australian summer.
Don Freo
Guest
Why is that? Is Mitch no good in your funny little world as well?
Don Freo
Guest
If you quote ICC rankings as a measure of a cricketer, there is very little you understand. AFL rankings have Nat Fyfe in thr 20s. Rankings are for mathematicians only, not cricket followers because they factor in a past that has no relevance to anything. Watch cricket. That's a far more accurate guide. Harris' impressive but brief clate career is almost over...probably is over now...and he will still rank up there 10 months after he has stopped playing. Your comments are a criticism of ICC ranking system, not of Shaun Marsh.
MJ
Guest
Go to Cricinfo and look at M. Marsh's test record.
MJ
Guest
There are players who step up when they make the international team. Harris has the 2nd best bowling average of current players in test cricket. Has been out of the side due to injury but is currently ranked fourth by the ICC. People revere him because he's bloody good. Marsh has had plenty of opportunities, including the luxury of playing weak bowling attacks on home soil (India, twice) to show his talent. Turns out he isn't that good. He's currently ranked 54th in the world by the ICC. To give that some context, Watson is 43rd, Haddin is 53rd, Philander is ranked 61st. Google ICC player rankings
JimmyB
Guest
Sorry what? Do you genuinely prefer Ch9 commentary/KFC promotion? It's an insipid cesspool of inanity and it's got nothing to do with a so called 'tall poppy syndrome'. One offers analysis, insight and a bit of whimsy. The other doesn't offer any of those things.
Don Freo
Guest
Why would I do that? If I think they are superior in a given situation.. and it moves to so say...I will. As for the commentary, a national consensus has no impact on my opinion. If I like them, and others don't, why would that change my mind? You northerners think in strange ways.
JimmyB
Guest
Like i said, you're priceless. Don't take my word for it, a simple straw poll of your countrymen on this site would confirm it. I don't doubt that there's commentary talent hiding away in the Ch9 box, however it seems to stay very well hidden behind the blokey bravado and the discussions on 'dirty rotten pizzas'. Genuine question for you Don. Are you able to concede that Australia or Australians aren't intrinsically superior at absolutely everything? That should probably read West Australians first and foremost obviously.
Don Freo
Guest
Depends on who is making the judgement. I think the 9 team have been fantastic throughout and show no signs of weakening. They have changed the way we watch cricket and I love the access. The usual tall poppy put downs always say more about the person doing the put down than it does the subject of their derision.
JimmyB
Guest
Willis thankfully hasn't commentated on a test match in years and Boycott is to be located on TMS. Call it whatever you like Don, but the Sky team is light years ahead of their Ch9 counterparts.
JimmyB
Guest
It's touchy because it's a fairly innocuous comment. There's been an inordinate amount of chat on these boards related to Swann's comment which is fair enough I suppose in that there isn't really any real cricket to talk about, what I do find surprising however is how seemingly offended most of you guys are by his comment. Comments such as his are routinely made by pundits before any series, especially in relation to strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. Smith being Australia's best player means that he will be very much in focus as far as England are concerned, indeed it's typical for teams to 'target' the oppositions best player - Australia have been doing it since forever and no doubt they have special plans for Root. Whilst I'm a little surprised by Broad's comments, given the anodyne nature of most sports men's responses to journalists questions, in a way I think fair play to him. He's made a rod for his own back, but Broad not unlike some Aussies seems to play better when he's in a battle.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Did Broad really say that? I find it strange that those two have the gall to question Smith's capacity in any way after one quit because he was getting belted and the other confessed to having nightmares about being hit... seems a bit absurd really. PS I am in no way trivialising Broad's comments or injury, that was a serious blow and a completely appropriate reaction.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I think with the England Sky commentary, they do a good job at reporting the goings on of the game... the likes of Gower and Willis (albeit the latter is quite dour) have great insight, Bumble's good for a laugh and I find Hussain and Atherton alright too... Boycott can be a bit overbearing, but you know what you're getting. I think more than anything it comes across as natural from them, as opposed to the C9 group where aside from the absurdity, it just comes across as being too staged from those clowns. Not sure if you get access to Test Match Special on the BBC, but that's a really good listen if you get a chance.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Still less likely to make me want to take an impact drill to my temple than the conga-line of boofheads on Ch9
Don Freo
Guest
That would be the "wonderfully dry" commentary of Atherton, Hussain, Strauss, Botham, Knight...?
Red Kev
Roar Guru
I think the biggest part of the verbal warfare front has been overlooked so far - Channel Nine are sending their own commentary team over to England and have exclusive broadcast rights to Australia. That means instead of wonderfully dry British commentary or at least semi-professional commentary on Foxtel, we're stuck with the cavalcade of clowns that is the Wide World of Sports Cricket Commentary team. Slater, Taylor, Warne, Healy, Brayshaw and Chappelli stinking up winter the same way they do summer.
CT
Guest
Broad was very cocky Jimmy. Almost arrogant. Just mind game as I posted earlier. Could also be a bit of tit for tat after what they thought Smithy said earlier in the year.
CT
Guest
This bloke tried this side on another post. Is having no better luck here I see. Shaun Marsh at #3 and no Voges. A joke.
CT
Guest
Nothing but minds games with Smith. They see him as the danger man. Trying to just get into his head. Will not happen.
CT
Guest
Right on Jimmy from Adelaide.
Don Freo
Guest
I've got no problem with Shaun missing out. Australia has 25 to 30 players who would all step up to Test ranks with success. My issue is with the constant bleating about a career average determining what a player is like now. Marsh now is not the same as Marsh then. Strangely, however, these same Marsh critics revere Ryan Harris, whose career before he turned 30 was very average. He was an average conveyance in a very ordinary SA Shield side. Now many Roarers consider him to be better than Lillee and McGrath