Brett Lee expects Ashes series to be tight

October 8th, 2009 LONDON - Andrew Strauss has already started to plot England's defence of the Ashes Down Under. After waiting 16 years to regain the urn under Michael Vaughan in 2005, England held it on loan for 463 days before they were whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2006-07.

October 8th, 2009 LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss has revealed that the Royal Armed Forces had inspired him during England's dramatic 2-1 Ashes victory against the mighty Australians. He also revealed how he wore a 'Help for Heroes' wristband throughout the series, which gave him the strength to lead from the front.On the Saturday, we were five wickets down in our second innings and still miles away from making Australia bat again.

September 4th, 2009 LONDON - Stand-in Australian ODI captain Michael Clarke has declared that paceman Brett Lee, who has had a frustrating tour of England so far, is raring to have a go at the England batsman. Lee, who missed the entire Ashes series, displayed a glimpse of frightening pace during their rain-affected Twenty20 series in Manchester, and is likely to be included in the first of the seven-match series, starting at The Oval today.

August 24th, 2009 LONDON - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has refused to rule out being back in England in 2013 after losing the Ashes here again. Ponting has probably played his last Ashes Test in England however he conceded he could have unfinished business here.

August 18th, 2009 LONDON - England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff says his retirement from Test cricket will not be a distraction for the team in the last Ashes Test at the Brit Oval. FLintoff expects to be fit for the fifth Test against Australia that starts Thursday as he continues to battle with the knee injury that forced him to call time on his Test career.

August 6th, 2009 LONDON - In an article for The Mirror, former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson has warned that time is running out for skipper Ricky Ponting insofar as retaining The Ashes is concerned. Thommo, a known baiter of Ponting's style of captaincy, said: "He's clutching at straws if he believes Australia are at their best in adversity.

July 8th, 2009 LONDON - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked his inexperienced squad to create its own Ashes legend following the upheaval of several retirements and injuries to senior men, including Brett Lee. Ponting's Australians have been preparing for the Ashes series for the last six months, during which they have rebuilt their team after seasoned players -Mathew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Damien Martin and Glenn McGrath- retired from international cricket.

July 7th, 2009 LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss is confident that his boys have the ability to handle the pressure of playing in the Ashes. Strauss believes that England cricketers have to stay calm even in a tense situation if they want to repeat the success of 2005, when they won the Ashes after 18 years.

July 7th, 2009 LONDON - In the absence of an injured Brett Lee, Australian captain Ricky Ponting has asked his inexperienced fast bowlers to become Ashes heroes. Australia's Ashes defence campaign suffered a major blow as Lee, making a comeback from an ankle injury, was ruled out of the first Test at Cardiff starting Wednesday after he pulled an abdominal muscle.

July 4th, 2009 LAS VEGAS - Shane Warne, former Australian Leggie, shares his Ashes experience: Anyone who uses the new ball better - Australia or England - 2009 Ashes series will be in their bag. "They have to take early wickets because they are going to be flat wickets," the Courier Mail quoted Warne as saying in the gambling capital of the world.e also said that this series would determine Ponting's captaincy? "After the 2005 series loss in England, I think he will feel there is some unfinished business.

July 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Ricky Ponting might be disappointed with John Buchanan's new job as an advisor in the English board, but the former Australian coach will be backing Ponting to win the Ashes. Buchanan said that Ponting can lead the team to a win in the series and atone for their loss in 2005.

June 29th, 2009 LONDON - Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie believes that Australian bowling spearhead Brett Lee, who has been struggling with injuries, is in danger of falling out of the Australian team, similar to the way that he was dropped after the 2005 Ashes tour. Gillespie, who was dropped after his dismal performance of just three wickets at an average of 100 in the first three tests of the 2005 series, insists that Lee would have to prove himself in the English conditions.

June 26th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian coach Tim Nielsen has warned his bowlers to stop bowling no balls or it could cost them a berth in the Ashes Tests. Nielsen was furious that his players were called for overstepping the mark 22 times in 80 overs during the four-day match against Sussex County in Hove on Friday.

June 23rd, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian star, Mark Waugh, has expressed confidence in the Australian squad ahead of the historic Ashes series, saying that Australia is well placed to retain the trophy in England. "Australia take a good form line from South Africa, winning the series over there.

June 10th, 2009 LONDON - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is backing veteran batsman Mike Hussey and fast bowler Brett Lee to find their best form in time for the Ashes. Ponting says he is satisfied with Hussey's efforts so far on the tour.