Ashes: Australia’s attack not ready for the real thing: Border

August 22nd, 2009 LONDON - Should Australia lose the fifth and final Ashes Test being played at The Oval, it could signal the end the side's domination of world cricket. According to the Courier Mail, only something very special, or days of unforecast rain, can prevent Australia losing the fifth Test, the Ashes and ultimately tumbling as low as fourth on the official world Test rankings.

July 29th, 2009 LONDON - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border says that left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson's form has become so poor that he needs to step away from Test cricket for at least a week to rebuild his game. Border wants experienced seamer Stuart Clark to replace Johnson as the only change in the team for the third Test, beginning tomorrow at Edgbaston.

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 25th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian Test opener Justin Langer has expressed his desire to play for the national team once again, saying he is ready to comeback from retirement to play in the third Ashes Test. Langer, who recently broke Don Bradman's record of scoring most first-class runs, said he is ready to play the third Ashes Test against Australia "for nothing".

July 23rd, 2009 NORTHAMPTON - Australia's competitive edge has been blunted since Cricket Australia ordered the team to stop sledging, feels all-rounder Shane Watson. "One thing Cricket Australia have said to us is to make sure we know where the line is and don't cross it.

July 22nd, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has defended Ricky Ponting's captaincy in the face of criticism following Australia's dismal performances in both the Test matches of the Ashes series. "When Ricky took over with the likes of Warne and McGrath, the team wasn't all that different and he kept the ball rolling after Steve Waugh.

July 16th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has declared that opener Phillip Hughes is twice as tough as he was at the same age, as the young Australian continues his gruelling Ashes examination on cricket's most prestigious stage. Waugh overcame a weakness against short-pitched bowling early in his career and Hughes faces a similar challenge, especially if England include Steve Harmison in their attack for the second Test, starting at Lord's today.

July 9th, 2009 CARDIFF - England's best batsman Kevin Pietersen has blamed his 'nut' for his suicidal dismissal in the first Ashes Test against Australia being played here. However, he said, he had no regrets over his moment of madness.

July 7th, 2009 CARDIFF - Former England star Graham Thorpe believes this summer's Ashes could shape up to be the battle of the new kids. In the Australian corner is opening batsman Phillip Hughes, who burst onto the scene in the recent win over South Africa, but England have their own batting prodigy in Ravi Bopara, who after a sketchy Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2007 is starting to look the real deal.

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.

July 3rd, 2009 LONDON - England all rounder Paul Collingwood has revealed his double century in the last Ashes convinced him he could cut it against Australia. The 33-year-old goes into his third series against the world's No1 Test side, having played a bit part role in the famous 2005 win.

June 24th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian cricket captain Allan Border has named Australia's best players to have played against England in the past 30 years in July's special Ashes issue of Alpha magazine. Border, who made his Test debut 30 years ago, was the skipper of the 1989 Australian team to tour England, and the ensuing 4-0 thumping set the tone for a 16-year Aussie dominance that lasted until 2005.

June 16th, 2009 LEICESTER - A spot in Australia's pace-bowling attack, it seems, is a more pressing issue for the team than strategizing plans to overwhelm the Poms in the Ashes. That's what pacer Stuart Clark says.

May 31st, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has warned England to not breathe too easily before the start of the Ashes campaign on July 8 in Cardiff, after the retirement of bowling greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Haddin enjoyed a view of the new-look bowling attack during the recent Test series win over South Africa, and was adamant that Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Shane Watson would help spearheads Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark could turn the tables on their old foe.

May 31st, 2009 LONDON - Australias cricket vice-captain Michael Clarke has showered fulsome praise on his captain Ricky Ponting underscoring his energy and enthusiasm. Making light of Pontings recent results and his own form, Clarke said the Australia captain remained at the top of his game as both player and leader.