Australia to check out pitch at Cardiff

July 18th, 2009 LONDON - Having lost eight wickets for a paltry score of 156 on the second day of the second Ashes Tests being played at Lords here, Australia has conceded that they have been outfoxed by England's short-pitched bowling plan. Should they lose the Test, it will be a first for the Australians after 75 years.

July 17th, 2009 LONDON - England captain Andrew Strauss has warned Australia that he has 'unfinished business' and he would try to grind them into the Lord's pitch today. Strauss, who batted through the opening day to reach an unbeaten 161, claimed there was more to come as he set his sights on his first Test double ton.

July 15th, 2009 LONDON - Cricket Australia had asked its players before start of the Ashes series not to indulge in sledging, but fast bowler Peter Siddle denied receiving any message from the board. Australian players, who are famous for their verbal taunts as their on-field brillance, had received letters banning them from sledging.

July 13th, 2009 LONDON - Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne feels that the Australian team is no longer in a state of transition and young players have stamped their own style in the first drawn Ashes Test at Cardiff. "The Australia team are no longer in transition.

July 13th, 2009 MELBOURNE/CARDIFF - A panel of Australian cricketing experts, including Nick McArdle, Damien Fleming and Mark Waugh, have concluded that Australian captain Ricky Ponting's tactics on the final day of the first Ashes Test at Cardiff, Wales, came up short, and this enabled England to salvage a draw. Former Australia fast bowler Damien Fleming said he was mystified by Ponting's decision to remove pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus just after he had taken the crucial wicket of Graeme Swann to leave the hosts reeling at 8-221.

July 9th, 2009 CARDIFF -Is KP serious about what he speaks? England batsman Kevin Pietersen brushed off his freak sweep dismissal on the opening day of the Ashes series, and said that England can win the first test match at Cardiff. "We mean business this time.

July 8th, 2009 LONDON - Former England fast bowler Bob Willis has said that the hosts must hammer home their spin advantage in Cardiff and get their Ashes quest off to a flyer. Willis, who claimed 325 wickets during his international career, and is now a Sky Sports expert, told Sun Sport that England can call on Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar to do the job that is expected of them, while Australia, on the other hand, have just Nathan Hauritz and part-timers Michael Clarke, Marcus North and Simon Katich.

July 8th, 2009 CARDIFF - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has urged Welsh fans to support his team as the Ashes series starts in Cardiff today. Ponting believes that old hostilities between the Welsh and the English could cause Cardiff locals to support Australia.

July 8th, 2009 CARDIFF - Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard has arrived in Cardiff to support Australia as the Ashes commences today. According to the Courier Mail, Howard has arrived with his wife Janette and has met the team and the selectors.

July 7th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg has said that the toss will be crucial in the first test of the Ashes series that begins in Cardiff on Wednesday. "The toss in the First Test starting on Wednesday is the most important Ricky Ponting will face," The Herald Sun quoted Hogg, as saying.

July 6th, 2009 LONDON - Australian fast bowler Brett Lee's chances of leading the attack in the first Ashes Test starting Wednesday at Cardiff looked doubtful as he suffered a rib-injury during a tour-game against the England Lions. The 32-year-old was in great touch during the game against the Lions but after the match he complained of pain on the left side of his rib-cage.

July 5th, 2009 LONDON - England skipper Andrew Strauss is unhappy over selection of Cardiff as venue for the first Ashes Test, as he wants to capitalize on the home advantage during the series. Strauss last played a first-class game at Cardiff in 2002, and the ground was known as Sophia Gardens.

June 29th, 2009 LONDON - The international career of Australian off spinner Nathan Hauritz is hanging in the balance after taking one wicket for 158 runs in a tour match against Sussex. According to Fox Sports, the Australian team management has conceded that they are seriously thinking of leaving Hauritz on the sidelines in Cardiff, on a pitch that was tipped to take spin for the match, beginning on July 8.

June 11th, 2009 LONDON - Injured all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has brightened England's chances in the forthcoming Ashes series against Australia by announcing he will be fit for the tournament. Flintoff has made a quick recovery from a knee operation and has revealed that he has suffered no ill-effects from strenuous bowling sessions over the past few days, adding he could return to playing for Lancashire against Durham by Friday.

May 28th, 2009 SYDNEY - Ricky Ponting's plans to field an extra player in Australia's two Ashes warm-up matches can go up in smoke with England reportedly opposed to the idea. England is unlikely to allow Ponting play an extra man in both games as he seeks to give returning quicks Brett Lee and Stuart Clark a chance for the Test selection.