SYDNEY - Oz skipper Ricky Ponting believes that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided not to host the first Ashes Test match at Lord’s due to Australia’s enviable record there.
Amazingly, Australia has not lost a single Test match at Lord’s since 1934.
The Lord’s has been hosting the second Ashes Test, however 2005 witnessed the home of cricket hosting the first Test, which was too pocketed by the Kangaroos.
Punter doesn’t considers it a mere coincidence that the England and Wales Cricket Board was not to keen to start the Ashes there.
This time around, it has been decided that first Test will be in Cardiff, despite the pitch there being rated as poor, and the second Test will be at Lord’s.
“There was a fair bit of talk about it last time, starting the Ashes at Lord’s, given our record. This time around, it will be the second Test match, and I’ve got no doubt they changed it on purpose,” Ponting said.
Some of the records as mentioned speak volumes of Australia’s dominance at the Lord’s.
-Twenty-one-year-old Bradman scored 254 in 1930.
-Bob Massie took 16 wickets in a Test in 1972.
-Allan Border made 196 in 1985, and averaged 100 in five Tests.
-Glenn McGrath took 8-38 in 1997 among 26 wickets at 11.5 apiece in three Tests.
-Despite losing the 2005 Ashes, Australia beat England by 239 runs in the first Test at Lord’s.
However, the present Oz contingent is by far the least experienced squad to have played in the Ashes with only four of the 16-man squad to have played a Test at the Lord’s.
And none of the biggies such as Ponting, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke,and Brett Lee have done well.
Ponting has scored only 69 runs at a paltry average of 17.25.
But Ponting has vowed to change the records and engrave his name on the big record board’s hanging around the Lord’s pavilion.
“There’s all these big boards up around the rooms, and you want to get your name on those boards at Lord’s.That’s one thing that I’ll be certainly looking to do because I haven’t done very well there. I’ve made a one-day hundred there, but not done so well in Tests,” The Sydney Morning Herald, quoted Ponting, as saying. (ANI)
Related News
England pacer Anderson tells Aussies to get ready to face his heatMay 24th, 2009 LONDON - England pace bowler James Anderson has warned Australia that he is only just beginning to fulfill his potential ahead of the Ashes series later this year. Anderson has taken 22 first-class wickets already this season in just three matches, including nine in a man-of-the-match display in the second Test victory over the West Indies last week, reports Sports24.
Rajasthan Royals to bring IPL League road show to Lord'sMay 20th, 2009 LONDON - Rajasthan Royals will bring the Indian Premier League road show to Lord's on July 6 before they face Middlesex in a charity Twenty20 match. Shane Warne will lead the 2008 IPL champions in what could be his last outing at the home of cricket.
Bring on the Aussies, says StraussMay 19th, 2009 LONDON - After handing out a 2-o series defeat to the West Indies, England cricket captain Andrew Straus is ready to take on the Australians in this summer's Ashes series. "Each time I think about the Ashes, I remember what it was like in the past.
England spinner Swann hoping for Ashes berth and MBEMay 11th, 2009 LONDON - England off-spinner Graeme Swann spent almost a decade drifting in the backwaters of cricket and was destined to be an unfulfilled talent. Now he is the world's leading Test wicket-taker in 2009 and dreaming of an Ashes series and maybe even an MBE.
Flower believes Poms will spin the Aussies out during AshesMay 11th, 2009 LONDON - England 's new coach Andy Flower has wasted little time publicly backing his troops in their bid to reclaim the Ashes following the three-day demolition of the West Indies at Lord's, and off-spinner Graeme Swann is seen as the man most likely to trouble Australia's top order. While Cricket Australia is forced to hold a spin summit and has no clear-cut favourite for the tweaking role, Swann has bolstered his reputation by terrorising the Windies' left-handers.
Shane Watson's fitness for Ashes in doubtMay 9th, 2009 SYDNEY - Shane Watson's chances of getting onto the Ashes plane are in doubt, though the injury-prone all-rounder makes light of his latest groin strain, saying he would be fit to play in the Twenty20 World Cup what to talk of the Ashes. The Queenslander, who broke down yet again during Australia's Twenty20 loss to Pakistan in Dubai Thursday,
described his groin injury as 'a very minor sort of strain' and insisted that it wouldn't keep him out of the World Cup.
Symmo could make way for Watson, McDonald in Ashes squadMay 5th, 2009 SYDNEY - Resurgent all rounder Shane Watson and newcomer Andrew McDonald may in all probability elbow out Andrew Symonds from this years Australian squad for the Ashes. Watson's stunning return to form in the United Arab Emirates, topping the one-day series run charts against Pakistan with 271 runs at 90, may have clicked one of the final Ashes jigsaw pieces into place.
Australia selectors gambling on Lee to perform at World Twenty20May 5th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australia's selectors have admitted that they have gambled by naming Brett Lee in the World Twenty20 without seeing him deliver a single match ball since his return from foot stress fractures. Lee, 32, has campaigned loudly to get back into the Australian squad in time for the Ashes, and will make his competitive return against Pakistan in a T20 match at Abu Dhabi on Thursday, reports Fox Sports.
Steve Waugh says Aussies just ahead for AshesApril 30th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former captain Steve Waugh believes Australia are entitled to be slight favorites in this year's Ashes series, but feels bowling selections will be crucial to the outcome. Waugh was part of four triumphant Ashes tours between 1989 and 2001, leading Australia to victory in his last series in England.
Gilchrist believes IPL teammate Symonds will play in AshesApril 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Adam Gilchrist has backed Indian Premier League teammate Andrew Symonds to continue his rebirth and force his way into Australia's squad for the Ashes. Symonds has been picked in Australia's one-day squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan and the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in signs the selectors are willing to forgive his tumultuous summer.
Change of IPL venue could stand Ashes aspirants in good steadMarch 27th, 2009 MELBOURNE - A change of country for the second season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) could benefit Australian cricketers Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh, all of whom are fighting to put their names in front of the national selectors ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes series. Lee in particular has his eyes on an Ashes berth, and his chances of impressing Andrew Hilditch and co will be greatly enhanced by doing so on the pitches of South Africa, as opposed to the dead and dry surfaces so prevalent in India.
Ponting wants Ashes specialist spinnerMarch 23rd, 2009 CAPE TOWN - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has appealed to the national selectors to provide him with a specialist spinner for the Ashes series. The appeal has gone out following the disastrous debut of Bryce McGain in Cape Town, reports The Age.
Symonds has to score in Sheffield Shield final to ensure Ashes berthMarch 12th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds will have one last chance to stake his Ashes claim when Queensland take on Victoria in this year's Sheffield Shield final. Fox Sports quoted Queensland Bulls teammate Martin Love as saying: "He (Symonds) probably doesn't have the runs on the board at this stage to warrant (Ashes) selection - but runs in a final always counts.
Vaughan should play in the Ashes: WarneMarch 1st, 2009 LONDON - Former Australian spinner Shane Warne said Michael Vaughan must play for England this summer if they wish to repeat their 2005 Ashes success. Vaughan, who was England captain for five years, stepped down from the position in August last year after the team's dismal performance at home against South Africa.
Australia likely to trim Ashes squad to 13December 28th, 2008 MELBOURNE - Cricket Australia (CA) is contemplating to cut down its touring party to England for the 2009 Ashes. After scrapping the conventional Ashes squad from 17 to 16 members, CA is all set to bring it down to 13 as it loath to have up to three tourists on the sidelines and starved of cricket.
Loading ...