There's more than a month until the Ashes begins but the Aussies have limbered up with some prime smack talk.

With 38 days to go before battle commences in this year's Ashes series the war of words has begun and there are no prizes for guessing who has cast the first barb! The Aussies have embarked on one of their favourite pastimes - Pom baiting!

First out of the traps was skipper Ricky Ponting telling a packed press conference at Trent Bridge last week how "relaxed and rejuvenated" he felt having opted out of the IPL to ensure he is in peak condition to serve his country. He made specific reference to the fitness of England's two star performers - Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen and offered the opinion that a half-fit Freddy is unlikely to have a positive impact in the series.

Ponting chose his words very carefully but there was no denying the underlying message: England's star players had elected to take the pieces of silver instead of putting country first and as a consequence the team will be weaker in July. Flintoff and Pietersen will be vital to England's chances and the seeds of doubt that the Aussie skipper is trying to implant in the selectors' thoughts is classic mind games from the leader of our mailbag sewing cousins!

Next to occupy the verbal crease was rookie Mitchell Johnson who, though about to take part in his first Ashes series, offered his take on the three consecutive test centuries that Ravi Bopara has put together. Johnson admitted that he had seen Bopara's two recent tons in the West Indian series and that the English number three "looked good." However, just in case anybody is in any doubt he quickly added: "There is a big difference between a series against the West Indies and the Ashes."

Ah, the wonder of understatement! To believe that a 2-0 series win against the West Indies is likely to set England up for a successful summer is like thinking that a victory against the Dog and Duck reserves from the Wessex Sunday League Division 6 would put Manchester United in the right frame of mind to face Barcelona! The Aussies and the Windies are polar opposites as far as having the correct mental attitude to play in England is concerned.

Michael Hussey then chipped in to the fray and told the press that he is convinced he can rid himself of the 'dire' run of form that he is enduring. Hussey has not made a test ton since the Aussies tour of India at the back end of last year and comes to England with his test average in the mid 50s. That's an impressive tally but it was nearly 85 at the start of last year and he is confident that the English wickets will enable him to get back to a Bradmanesque average. Oh joy! The irony can't be avoided - here is a player moaning about a mid-50 average that most English batsmen would exchange a sister or a kidney for!

Ponting has also been moaning about the venue change for the first Test, carping on about how well his side has done in South Africa and how poor the West Indies were during their tour here last month. Blah blah blah!

The Australians talk a good game, unfortunately for the English - as their 2-1 victory in South Africa, their 5-0 whitewash of the touring English side in the last Ashes series and their number one world ranking proves - their ability more than matches their rhetoric!

Ponting will be available to back at around [4.5] to be the top Aussie batsman during the series whilst a match will be likely on Michael Hussey at [6.0]. Mitchell Johnson will be a much bigger price and once the market takes shape a match in the region of [80.0] should be attempted. Johnson is in the squad because of his bowling prowess but batted at number eight during the recent South African series and had a couple of very good knocks scoring 96 and 123. If he gets his wish of a further promotion up the order that might prove to be a very big price.

The Aussies are winning the war of the words but sadly for England it's not just bluster. They might be lacking Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne et al but their up and coming squad is more than capable of winning the Ashes.

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comment: