Here comes one of the most anticipated, followed and keenly contested Cricket Battles, the Ashes. England up against Australia in their own backyard, who is going to rein supreme, we can speculate... guess, based by numerous facts, news and information thrown upon us by so called experts, ex-players and pundits. As for me, as a ardent cricket fan all I hope is for intriguing contest between bat and ball, lots of sledging, some spectacular performances and men rising to the occasion.
Playing for your country, be it any sport, is a dream come true. Many people crave for it, but few succeed, it took blood, sweat and every goddam thing you, as a human, can give. Its a pride unmatched by no other profession, except military, one can have... its like the fulfillment of one's birth as a human. This fact is known very well by professional sportsmen, let alone cricketers. For both English and Australian cricketers nothing is bigger than Ashes, they live for this, day in day out they think about it. Meetings are done, strategies are made, videos being watched again n again, media conferences n all, and then comes the day 1 of first test, players, spectators, commentators, forget all and lets play.
Australian cricket, to say the least is at its nadir. From the heydays of winning numerous Ashes, world cups its reeling under the shadows of past. Sacking of coaches, not enough talent coming to the top et al, its plagued. There is no lack of intent, no lack of infrastructure down under but still thats how it is. I know Australian supporters, they love their team in thick and thin and thus I feel for them. It has been said that they are going to get a mauling of 5-0 from the Poms. I love to disagree and there is no thin air about my opinion. Australia have some, if not all, players who I genuinely feel can raise to the occasion, backed by a captain who is creative and thinks out of the box and in Darren Lehman a coach who knows how to enjoy this game of Cricket, and that to me is most important in order to succeed. Watson, Pattinson, Lyon, Warner, Siddle, Clarke - they all are match winners on their day. They should keep their feet on ground, focus on game plan and who knows. Test match cricket is all about patience and perseverance and there are guys in Aussie dressing room, who are well aware of it. And they have Lehman. May be, just may be I sound little too much positive but then again, there is no harm in being positive and focusing on your strengths and in my view that's what Aussies should be doing.
Talking about Poms, oh well, never been such a summer for British sport, let alone cricket. A Wimbledon title (I hate it), Lions win (I hate it) and talks of nailing Aussies 5-0 down (I hate it), there was never a better time. They are all riding on such a positive wave. As a fact, they have a very good team, settled players, big match players (read Kevin Pietersen) versatile attack and home conditions. Its fair to assume they will win easily but, cricket is played on the field and not on paper. England do have a settled team but not a settled captain, who is also their leading batsmen. Cook, is a fresh captain, only 3 series old, have to face Aussies in ashes first time. It could go horribly wrong as well, that's all I am saying. Opening pair is new, un-tested so far. Bowling look settled but there is no Dale Steyn or Morne Morkel about their attack. Barring Cook, Trott and Pietersen there are no world class batsmen to be honest. England are known for grit and grinding not reining over teams. Their defensive attitude might be their nemesis.
We all know how English people react losing first test of Ashes - oh no, not again, there we go again - thats it. Momentum is a big thing in cricket and Aussies know better than me.
For cricket fans like me, this is one big series and we hope for some keen contest, some great performances, boys becoming men, people showing grit and coming out of their shells and emerge as Heroes for their Nation.
I want Aussies to win, though I hate them since I started watching cricket. I want them to win because they are underdogs, I want them to win because of characters like Warner, Watson, Clarke and Lehman, I want them to win because its Australia who is in more need of wins and heroes than England. May be some other time for Poms, but it has to be Australia.
Here is for, not a mauling for 5-0, who came with such non-sense in the first place... ?!?!?!?
