First Ashes Test may not go the distance, feels ex-player Dean Jones

September 5th, 2009 MELBOURNE - After Sachin Tendulkar, former Test cricketer Dean Jones has come up with a similar idea to save One-day cricket, which the Australian feels is in serious trouble. The growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket is fast eroding the base of One-dayers and cricketers worldwide feel the new version could sound death knell of the 50-over format.

August 25th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Spin legend Shane Warne would jump at the chance to replace Ricky Ponting and come out of retirement "in a heartbeat" if offered the Australian captaincy, former Test star Dean Jones has said. Ponting's captaincy is under scrutiny after he became only the second Australian captain to lose two Ashes series on English soil.

August 16th, 2009 LONDON - Injured England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that with the fifth and final Ashes Test taking place next week, it is time for somebody to stand up and be counted. In an article for News of The World, KP says: "It's time for a hero.

August 15th, 2009 LONDON - Australian cricket's "Mr. Fix It", Michael Hussey, whose Test batting average has more than halved in the past two seasons, is under immense pressure to score to retain his place in the national squad ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test to be played at The Oval next week.

August 15th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Former Australian batting greats Dean Jones and Mark Waugh feel that Mike Hussey is under immense pressure to save his place in the side. They feel that Hussey's Test batting average has more than halved in the past two seasons and was under threat to hold his position heading into the home summer, although both said he had the tools to climb out of the hole.

August 9th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne said before the Ashes series started that England No. 3 Ravi Bopara was a Test imposter, and according to the Herald Sun, he has been proved dead right.

August 2nd, 2009 BIRMINGHAM - Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee, recovering from a side strain, has said that he would most likely be back at full pace for next week's fourth Ashes Test at Headingley. Lee had suffered a side strain before the first Test at Cardiff and has been in sidelines since then.

July 28th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Former Australian captain Allan Border feels struggling seamer Mitchell Johnson needs to step away from Test cricket for at least a week to rebuild his game. Border said Johnson should be replaced by Stuart Clark for the third Test of the ongoing Ashes series, beginning Thursday at Edgbaston.

July 7th, 2009 CARDIFF - With a day to go before the first Ashes Test against Australia to be played here, explosive batsman, and 2005 Ashes hero Kevin Pietersen has said that England can win the Test and the series even if he has a bad run. "I think you guys (media) make the weight of expectation a lot greater than it actually is.

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 GLAMORGAN - England fast bowler Simon Jones has warned the Australian squad to prepare for five horrendous days at Cardiff, where the first test match of the Ashes series will begin on Wednesday. Jones, one of England's 2005 Ashes heroes, said that the crowd at Glamorgan's 10 million pounds Swalec stadium will be supporting the England team.

July 4th, 2009 WORCESTER - Former England pacer Simon Jones believes Australia's Brett Lee will swing the momentum in this year's Ashes series. Regarded as one of the world's finest proponents of reverse swing, Jones, 30, predicted reverse swing would play a significant part when Cardiff hosts its first Test on Wednesday.

June 30th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australia's injured all-rounder Shane Watson has been almost ruled out for the first Ashes Test after he did not train with the team in Worcester. Watson, who has an injured thigh, was confined to walking laps with team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris in a crucial training session in the lead-up to Australia's tour match against the England Lions starting on Wednesday evening.

May 31st, 2009 LONDON - Unlike his captain Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke, who refused to predict the outcome of the Ashes series, Australian fast bowler Brett Lee feels it would be pretty close. Its going to be tight again and its going to be played in the same spirit as 2005, said Lee who has returned to the squad after surgery to his injured left ankle in January.

May 30th, 2009 LONDON - Australian spin wizard Shane Warne has warned England's left-arm spinner Monty Panesar that his career will be in danger if he doesn't learn some new tricks. Warne, who has been England's nemesis with 195 wickets from 36 Ashes Test, feels that Panesar is a jewel but is not able to grow.