Aussies May Miss Lee’s Service in the Ashes Opener

September 25th, 2009 LONDON - The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has released the itinerary for Pakistan's 'home' series against Australia which is to be played in England in 2010. The ECB has also announced the dates of the home Test and one-day series which the English team is scheduled to play against Bangladesh, Australia and Pakistan next year.

July 16th, 2009 LONDON - England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's decision to quit international Test cricket after the ongoing Ashes series has shocked quite a few Australian cricketers, including Nathan Hauritz and Marcus North. Hauritz and North had faced Flintoff for the first time at Cardiff last week, and were gearing up for Thursday's second Test match at Lord's, when they learnt about Freddie's retirement plans.

July 14th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting insists pace bowler Peter Siddle will be even more threatening at Lord's in the second cricket Test against England starting Thursday. A fired-up Siddle bowled his heart out in drawn first Test in Cardiff and struck scared tailender Graeme Swann on the body three times in four balls in a pace onslaught.

July 13th, 2009 LONDON - Former Australian spin wizard Shane Warne feels that charismatic England batsman Kevin Pietersen should learn to put the team first, not himself. Pietersen has come under heavy criticism for playing reckless strokes in the first drawn Ashes Test in Cardiff that almost put England on the verge of a loss.

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 MELBOURNE - If former Australian Test cricketer dean Jones is to be believed, the first Test in Cardiff will probably end before five days. According to Jones, it is a new pitch with a crusty surface and is likely to turn from day one.

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 - Australian captain Ricky Ponting claims that his team is itching to rip apart England in the First test to be held at Cardiff on Wednesday. Though, the Aussie skipper was disappointed with his squad's performance against the English Lions in a four-day game at Worcester, but he was delighted to see key players like Brett Lee finding form ahead of the tournament.

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.

July 4th, 2009 WORCESTER - Australia's national cricket selection committee has admitted it may have mismanaged the veteran pacer Brett Lee after his difficult marriage break-up last year. Selection committee chairman Andrew Hilditch now says that perhaps Lee should not have been sent to India last October with so little preparation as a result of his personal problems.

June 30th, 2009 WORCESTER - Australian captain Ricky Ponting appears to be quite desperate to get as much information about the pitch at Cardiff, the venue for the first Ashes Test against England, that he is preparing to send a spy to unravel the confusion surrounding the controversial Sophia Gardens pitch. Reports about how the new strip will play in the first Test, beginning Wednesday week, have been so contradictory that Ponting is desperate for more information.

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 24th, 2009 LONDON - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has said that he is prepared to call up a batting replacement to the Ashes squad because of Shane Watson's knee injury. The injury-hit all rounder was ruled out of the four-day tour match starting on Wednesday against Sussex in Hove after undergoing scans on his knee on Tuesday.

June 9th, 2009 LONDON - England's best batsman Kevin Pietersen admits he will carry his Achilles injury all summer, and insists he is not an Ashes doubt.ngland's star batsman, 28, says the only cure would be a lengthy rest and that option is a non-starter. The Sun quoted him, as saying: "The injury, which is related to my lower back, is no concern.