Sunday 9 August 2009

Can England win the Ashes?

It has been a funny series so far with one side dominating all the Test matches so far. Oddly the side that has dominated started as Australia in Cardiff, switched to England at Lord’s and then back to Australia at Headingly. Can England win the Ashes at The Oval? Well, given the form has flip-flopped in this series anything is possible. Whether The Oval will be a pitch England can win on is another matter. The last first class match there would suggest a draw is likely – or at least an Australian capitulation is unlikely: http://www.cricinfo.com/countycricket2009/engine/match/383021.html. In general Australia may bat badly once on a good pitch but rarely twice.

England need a 'result' pitch at The Oval and need to be in the state of mind to get a result! The Australian bowlers performed quite well at Headingly and will be confident at The Oval but England would do well to be not over awed - England played poorly and when put under a bit of pressure by Broad and Swann the Aussies reverted to type and fell to pieces for a while.

Flintoff's last Test [stand] of course...

No comments: