Shane Watson: Makeshift Opener did well in its first outing

Shane Watson did well in its first outing as a Makeshift Opener. Australia should stick with Phillip Hughes, who is fantastic young player. A real raw talent, he need some time to get used to of Test Cricket. But despite all his failure in this Ashes series, he still average 52.44 in his 5 test career so far, and most of his dismissal were unlucky, in first test he got out on a wide leg stump delivery, which i believe 99 time out hundred he will deposit for a boundary.

He is a fearless openers, who just play his shots and believe in his ability to score on any bad delivery. He will come back soon stronger and harder as a player and i hope he will not stop his style which is attacking, people want to see good cricket, which is a combination of Good batting, good fielding and good bowling . I wish him good luck in his future.

Shane Watson is a wonderful cricketer, who can bat anywhere in a test or onday side, but i still believe in test he should bat at number six or seven.

SHANE WATSON: Sledge ban has harmed us

SHANE WATSON fears Australia’s competitive edge has been blunted since they were told to cut the sledging. Cricket Australia wrote to each member of the touring party ahead of the Ashes series ordering them to tone down the chat because as role models they had to set the right example.

But with England now 1-0 up in the series, fit-again all-rounder Watson warned Australia would pull out all the stops to retain the Ashes. he said: ‘One thing Cricket Australia have said to us is to make sure we know where the line is and don’t cross it. It is a sticky one because of course the general public in Australia want us to be perfect role models and the hardest thing when you play is to be extremely competitive and not cross the line.

‘It is a fine line between being perfect role models and being competitive. As a group we don’t want to lose the edge. That is the reason we have been so good in the past because of how competitive we are and we don’t take a backward step. We have got to make sure we do everything we can to win, in the end, because that is what Cricket Australia and the Australian public do want.’

Watson is set to play against Northamptonshire in a three-day tour match, starting tomorrow, and could be recalled to the side for the third Test at edgbaston in place of out-of-form opener Phil hughes. Watson said: ‘I have tightened up my technique a little bit more. I always believe I have the game and the mental game to bat anywhere in the top order.’

Hussey: Kevin Pietersen loss can swing series

MIKE HUSSEY believes the loss of Kevin Pietersen is a major blow to England’s Ashes chances. Hussey, who leads his country in a three-day match against his old county Northamptonshire today, thinks the absence of key batsman Pietersen with an Achiles injury for the rest of the series is a major boost for Australia after going 1-0 down in the series at Lord’s.

Three Tests remain for the tourists to turn the series around and Hussey said: ‘It’s going to be a big loss to England – Pietersen has obviously been a quality batsman for a long period of time. ‘They’re definitely going to miss him. It is a boost for us. He’s played well for a long time, and done it against Australia, and is probably the lynchpin of that batting order.’ The anticipated return of Ian Bell to fill the Pietersen role is an underwhelming prospect to some – but not Hussey.

‘They’ve got some pretty good replacements,’ he added. ‘Bell is a quality player, who has played very well for England before. We’re going to give him the same respect we give all the England batsmen.’ Australia themselves have form as well as fitness concerns to address before Edgbaston.

Fast bowler Brett Lee is unlikely to return from a side strain in time while seamer Stuart Clark and all-rounder Shane Watson hope to come in for out-of-form paceman Mitchell Johnson.

We can give Fred a perfect send-off

We all know how much of a difference a fully fit Andrew Flintoff makes to the side so yesterday’s announcement this ashes series will be his last in Test cricket is extremely disappointing. But all of us in the England dressing room are determined to make sure we can give Fred the send-off he deserves by winning back The Ashes.

That would be great not just for him but all of us. Fred’s had a tough career with injuries, he’s a

great person to have in the dressing room and we’re all hoping he can stay fit for the rest of the summer.

Looking at what happened in Cardiff, it was obvious for all to see we did not play well, there’s no hiding behind that. But we also have to take a lot of credit for saving the game. Many of us, myself included, didn’t contribute enough but, even though we failed individually, we stuck together as a team and Team spirit will be key if we are to reclaim the Ashes displayed the spirit which is within this group of players.

You can’t quantify team spirit, it’s that magical thing which can make average teams good and good teams great. Many teams would have had their spirit broken in Cardiff given what we went through and the situation we found ourselves in on the final day. We weren’t broken and for that, we head into today’s second Test full of confidence. Yes, we need to up our game and our skills but we’ve got the chance to start afresh with a clean slate at lord’s and we intend to make the most of it.

May be part of the problem in Cardiff was nerves, there was such a big build-up to this series and that can sometimes affect you. But with that first game out of the way, we’re relishing this second chance.

Harmy has the X-factor but we love it at Lord’s

Alot has been said after the dramatic conclusion to the first test at Cardiff. We were obviously disappointed not to win the game but we were extremely happy with our performance as a team and go into the second test at lord’s full of confidence.

England look like they will make some changes to their bowling attack, depending of course on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff. And while losing him would be a big blow for England, it was interesting to see they have brought in Steve Harmison as cover. We don’t know whether Harmison could play even if Flintoff is passed fit, as Graham Onions has bowled well and justifiably gets his place in the squad.

But, as I said last week, we were surprised Harmison was left out at Cardiff. He bowled really well for the lions in our final warm-up game and at six-foot whatever-he-is, can generate bounce – which batsmen find difficult. that’s why I don’t think selecting him would be a negative step for England, as some people have suggested. Indeed, he is a bowler with that X-factor which every side needs. saying that, I don’t think conditions were great for England’s bowlers and looking at the wicket, maybe their batsmen should have got 500 after winning that toss.

But we were absolutely delighted with our bowlers. they put in an outstanding performance and while some of England’s batsmen will be disappointed with the way they got out, credit has to go to our guys for the way they went about their jobs. Looking at lord’s, we know England don’t have a great record there and also that Australia haven’t lost an ashes test at the ground since 1934. But that doesn’t really affect us. But there’s no doubt as an overseas player lord’s brings the very best out of you. speaking personally the history of the place inspires me and there is something about lord’s which brings out that extra two or three per cent in you.

You look at the names on the honors board and there’s no doubt it inspires you to go and put your own name alongside the legends. I have played one test there – in 2005 – and didn’t manage a century. this time, especially after getting to three figures in Cardiff, it would be great

to achieve that.

Finally, when we arrived in London on Monday we were greeted at our hotel by the Barmy army trumpeter playing the Great escape. I thought that was great and just shows how much the fans love their cricket. this an ashes series, it’s special and it’s great for Cricket.

Bopara: I’m not Superman

RAVI BOPARA has laughed off claims he is under pressure after a disappointing start to the Ashes, insisting it would be boring if he hit a century every time he plays. The Essex batsman scored a ton in three successive Test innings against the West Indies earlier this year but that run came to an end in the first Test against Australia last week when he was dismissed for 35 in England’s first innings.

He then made just one in the second, out to a questionable lbw decision, as Andrew Strauss’ men teetered on the brink of defeat before staging a heroic rearguard effort to save the game. Asked if he was under any extra pressure going into Lord’s, Bopara – written off by Shane Warne before the series – replied: ‘No, I just go out there and enjoy it. I am not Superman, I’m not a machine.

‘I can’t score runs every time. There’s going to be days I don’t. If I got a century every day it’d be boring.’ Bopara is looking forward to returning to Lord’s this week, where he scored 143 against the Windies earlier this summer in his first Test innings at No.3. That helped him make the position his own ahead of Ian Bell, Owais Shah and Michael Vaughan, who has since retired. Bopara added: ‘I have happy memories there from the beginning of the summer. It’s also a great feeling knowing we go there with this series still level. We were relieved we got away with a draw in Cardiff. It gives us confidence that we showed great fighting character. ‘We know we have to pick things up for the next game, it’s massive. We didn’t play our best at Cardiff but we’ll come back stronger at Lord’s.’

And Bopara claims the recalled Steve Harmison has lost none of his pace, saying: ‘He’s a dangerous bowler, even for guys on top form like Ricky Ponting. It’s never pleasant facing someone like Harmy.’

Cooky won’t crumble and Jimmy can swing it England’s way, says Vaughan

MICHAEL VAUGHAN believes Alastair Cook and James Anderson are the men who can inspireEngland to regain the Ashes. While most pundits focus on Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff as England’s main men, Vaughan is convinced opening batsman Cook and quick bowler Anderson are set to play starring roles this summer.

Going into the first Test in Cardiff, which starts this morning, England’s former opener and triumphant 2005 captain said: ‘I fancy Alastair Cook to hit the most 50s for England in the series.

‘In 2005, when we won the Ashes, there were 18 England 50s, so hopefully Cooky and the boys will wrack them up this summer. ‘Cook and Anderson are both ready to move on to the next level after establishing themselves in the Test arena. ‘Jimmy has had a wonderful 12 months developing his swing while Cooky has been quietly getting on with his business. ‘A lot will depend on how he [Cook] faces Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark with that new ball. Clark troubled him in 06-07 but Cooky’s a very quick learner, he works things out and I think he’ll rise to the challenge and play his own brand of consistent cricket.’ Many say Cook is a future England captain but Vaughan does not believe the label is fair. ‘The England captain is Andrew Strauss and he has just started to roll with that position,’ he added.

‘When he finally decides it is time to step down Alastair Cook may very well be one of the candidates but it will go to the best person at the time. You don’t need to tag any young player like that, they just need to carry on with their job of scoring runs or taking wickets.’ Vaughan feels it will be a close series and warns it will be a mistake to write off the tourists because they have lost so many players to retirement.

‘They haven’t got a [Shane] Warne or [Glenn] McGrath in their ranks but they are a good team unit,’ he added. ‘They’ve changed the way they play and are very competitive so England need to get off to a good start.’ And he warned: ‘In 1989 Allan Border brought a young team here and everyone wrote them off, so dismiss Australia at your peril.’ As for the end result, Vaughan thinks Strauss’ men will edge it and said: ‘I can see it being close but England can win 2-0 or 2-1 as long as they take the chances.’

Hauritz out to escape the shadow of Shane

NATHAN HAURITZ insists he can establish himself on the world stage and play a major role in helping Australia retain the Ashes. The series gets under way this morning with the first npower Test in Cardiff and Hauritz has already encountered criticism as the Aussies’ sole frontline slow bowler.

The 28-year-old off-spinner may only have played four Tests for his country so far but he has already been condemned as a pale imitation of Australia legend Shane Warne. However, the New South Wales bowler claims it is unfair to compare any of the current side to their recently retired predecessors, such as Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and, of course, Warne.

He said: ‘Even when I’m 35 and playing my last game people will still talk about Shane Warne – after all he is the best-ever leg spinner. ‘It’s great Australia have had that but there are more guys coming through. ‘For me it’s a great vote of confidence to be the only spinner on tour. Ricky Ponting is a fantastic captain and has always shown faith in my ability.’ And Hauritz, who is expected to make his Ashes debut at Sophia Gardens today, laughed off claims the tourists’ lack of quality spinners will prove to be their Achilles heel. He added: ‘It doesn’t bother me if people think we’re not strong in terms of spin.

When I’m out there it’s just me against the batter, that’s all I’m interested in. I have to just concentrate on what I can do.’

Ian Bell senses relief for Australians

Ian Bell thinks Australia will be relieved Steve Harmison has not been picked for the first Test. Bell skippered England lions when Harmison produced an impressive performance against the tourists, removing Phillip Hughes twice with some hostile and short-pitched bowling and picking up six wickets overall.

But it is his Durham team-mate Graham Onions – plus Bell – who have been added to the 11 on duty against Warwickshire for the opening Test at Cardiff. Bell said: ‘Will the Australians be happy Harmison is not playing? With the new ball he can be pretty lethal with that extra bounce he gets. I am sure they will be relieved in a way. ‘When he is in top form he is one of the best in the world. ‘For me, if he stays in that sort of form there will be some sort of cricket for him this summer with england.’

Bell is happy to be back with the Test squad after being dropped during the winter tour of the West Indies. He added: ‘I’ve had to put the ashes to the back of my mind. ‘I had to get the runs in county cricket to give myself a chance to be part of the ashes – and I’ve done that.’

Onions in Harm’s way as England keep faith

England are poised to follow Steve Harmison’s blueprint for success against Australia despite overlooking the Durham fast bowler for the opening Npower Ashes Test. Harmison claimed six wickets for England lions last week, causing the Australians real problems in their warm-up match at Worcester.

That display was not enough to persuade the selectors to include him in their 13-man squad for Cardiff, although the short-pitched bowling he used to remove 20-year-old opener Phil Hughes in both innings will be utilised by those who do make the line-up. ‘Steve did come into the discussion but we’ve also got other bowlers who can do that as well,’ said national selector Geoff Miller. ‘It wasn’t just a fact it was Steve who did it, it showed us an area maybe Hughes has a problem with.’

England have picked Durham’s graham Onions and batsman Ian Bell alongside the team who drew with Warwickshire last week. ‘Steve bowled really well at Worcester but the thinking was graham Onions has got possession of the position and we are consistent with our selection policy so he got the nod,’ Miller added. Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar is included after taking three wickets against Warwickshire. Miller said: ‘It’s a strange thing, spin, because you can bowl well and not get wickets, then from nowhere you can just get a five-for and Monty’s that sort of performer.’

Hauritz must play waiting game for first Test

AUSTRALIAN coach Tim Nielsen has praised spinner Nathan Hauritz – but will not decide whether to play him in the first ashes Test until seeing the Cardiff wicket.

Hauritz is the only specialist spinner in the Australian squad and has returned combined figures of two for 260 from two warm-up games. But Nielsen said: ‘We won’t know until we get to Cardiff what side to select and the conditions will be critical. But Nathan has got better and better as we have gone on and there is no point in taking 12 wickets in two games now and not being right for the Test.’

Nielsen also expects opener Phil Hughes to overcome his problems with the short ball after twice being dismissed by Steve Harmison bouncers during the final warm-up game against England lions. He added: ‘South Africa bowled like that to him in the winter and he had great success. ‘Steyn, Morkel and Ntini all went hard at him. You have to be pretty precise if you are going to bowl that length to him.’

Anderson so fired up to face Aussies

James Anderson cannot wait for the ashes to start after claiming a five-wicket haul in England’s final practice match against Warwickshire. The Lancashire seamer took five for 34 as the home side were dismissed for 102 on the second day of their three-day warm-up game at Edgbaston and england will resume today 373 runs ahead on 185 for two.

Anderson’s display will have delighted captain Andrew Strauss as he draws up his plans for next week’s opening Test at Cardiff as the excitement among the players grows. ‘I think we just want to get started really,’ admitted Anderson. ‘The hype has been going on for so long now and we just want to get started.’

Playing in Cardiff will be a particularly special moment for Anderson, 26, who has played just three Ashes Tests. But after becoming England’s main strike bowler over the past 18 months there is a sense his moment has come. ‘I hope it is my time,’ he admitted. ‘I’m concentrating on my job, which is to swing the ball and take early wickets. I’m not thinking about how many Ashes matches I have played.’ Anderson shared top billing with Andrew Flintoff, who claimed two for 16, while Monty Panesar grabbed three wickets to put himself back in contention for the first Test.

Flintoff’s presence, particularly after his man-of-the-series performances from 2005, will be particularly welcome. ‘He brings something different,’ added Anderson. ‘We were guessing in the field he must have been pushing 90mph, so it’s fantastic to get him back and bowling aggressively.’ The only bad news for Strauss was Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal for six during england’s second innings, his second failure of the game with the bat after his first-innings score of one.

Shane warns England not to dismiss Hauritz

SHANE WARNE has stepped up his pre-Ashes war of words by­ claiming Australia’s much-maligned spinner Nathan Hauritz is a better bowler than England’s Graeme Swann. Hauritz is the latest in a long line of spinners Australia have called on since Warne’s international retirement in 2007 and is the only­ frontline slow bowler in their touring party­.

But the 27-y­ear-old has had a torrid time since his arrival in England, being written off by­ commentators and returning figures of one for 158 on a spin-friendly­ pitch during Australia’s first warm-up game against Sussex last week. He is also wicketless during his side’s current match against England Lions at Worcester.

Indeed, Hauritz’s form has been so woeful, Australia are considering leaving him out altogether for the first Ashes Test next week despite the fact the wicket in Cardiff is expected to offer considerable turn. That is why­ England are weighing up whether to play­ two spinners in that match with either Monty­ Panesar or Adil Rashid lining up alongside Swann, who has established himself as England’s No.1 slow bowler over the past y­ear. Swann’s form has been so good the Nottinghamshire off-spinner is the leading Test wicket taker in the world this y­ear with 26 victims in five matches.

But Warne argues his compatriot Hauritz is a better bowler, say­ing: ‘In the last y­ear or so Nathan Hauritz has improved. He has developed flight and spin and I think he’ll play­ a huge part in the Ashes. I think he’s a better bowler than Swann so I don’t think England should underestimate him.’ Warne also likes the look of left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who is expected to lead Australia’s seam attack against England this summer. He added: ‘Johnson bowls a heavy­ ball at nearly­ 95 miles per hour and has got all the attributes. He’s really­ improved. He’s getting better and better, and I think he’ll enjoy­ the conditions in England.’ The leg-spinner, who took 708 Test wickets during a stellar career, will be commentating on the Ashes for Sky­ Sports.

However, before that, he will take part in a charity­ Twenty­20 match at Lord’s between his Rajasthan Roy­als Indian Premier League side and Middlesex on Monday­. The game is raising money­ for the British Asian Trust and Warne said: ‘It’ll be me play­ing at Lord’s for the last time and I will be able to bowl a few rippers. It’s going tobe great.’

I’ll walk away with no regrets, says Vaughan

MICHAEL VAUGHAN joked being bowled by his three-year-old son was enough to tell him it as the right time to retire from cricket. The former England captain, 34, yesterday at Edgbaston called time – as expected – on a glittering career that stretched back almost 17 years.

Vaughan pointed to his stewardship of the 2005 Ashes triumph against Australia as the highlight of his time in the sport. But having been overlooked for this summer’s series against Australia he feels the time is right to walk away. Vaughan said: ‘It’s been a hard decision.

‘My decision came two weeks ago at Worcester. I just started to realise there are younger players around that need to be given the chance to move the game forward. I’ve given it my best shot. I wanted to give it one last,hard effort to try to get into the Ashes squad. But I haven’t been playing well enough. ‘And I guess two weeks ago when in the garden with my little lad Archie,he bowled a ball, it hit a weed and it knocked my off stump out of the ground. I think that was the time; if a three-year-old is bowling me out, then it’s time to move over.’

Headded: ‘I’d like to be remembered as someone who gave my all. I don’t think I’ve left anything out there, I have no regrets.’ Current England captain Andrew Strauss said: ‘His achievements can’t be underestimated, the way he took the team forward, the relaxed way he was able to get us playing cricket.’

Flintoff warned there is a time and place to party

ANDREW STRAUSS admits Andrew Flintoff must learn when it is appropriate to hit the booze. But the England captain insists poortime-keeping, rather than alcohol,was to blame for the all-roundermissing Saturday’s team bus to anouting in Belgium.

Flintoff failed to make the start of the organised trip to the graves near Ypres to pay respect to servicemen who fought in World War One, instead getting a taxi to catch up with the rest of the squad. The 31-year-old has since been disciplined by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) but it is not the first time his off-field behaviour has come under the spotlight.

Flintoff lost the vice-captaincy of England’s one-day team after the infamous pedalo incident in St Lucia during the 2007 World Cup. And Strauss said: ‘It’s a punctuality issue. He missed the bus but played a full part in the rest of the day’s activities and seemed fine. ‘We had a team dinner [the previous night] and alcohol wasn’t banned but there’s no reason to suspect anything untoward happening.’

Strauss believes Flintoff is aware of his responsibilities and added: ‘I think it’s something he’s been working very hard on, he generally recognises when the times are to drink and when not to drink. ‘It’s important, career-wise, he stays on the right side of that. ‘The vast majority of the time he has done and as he’s got older he has become more and more aware of when the right times are. ‘Of course there have been incidents with Fred before but for us to start looking back on that would be completely wrong at this stage.

‘Freddie accepts he made a mistake and the appropriate action has been taken and we move forward. ‘Punctuality has been an issue recently with a few players and it’s something we’re trying to iron out.’