England rookie Trott will face ’stern Ashes examination’: Hussey

September 16th, 2009 NOTTINGHAM - England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has revealed how he planned the removal of Australia's big three-Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, and Michael Clarke - to win the fifth Test and Ashes series at The Oval last month. England exploited Hussey's confusion over his off stump and Clarke's tendency to drive in the air, Strauss claims in his new book Testing Times, to defeat an Australian side now described as "working-class" by Hussey.

August 26th, 2009 LONDON - The signed England shirt and cricket stump will not be the only mementoes on the walls of Jonathan Trott's Birmingham home.They will be given equal billing alongside his other most-prized sporting possession, his autographed Tottenham top from manager Harry Redknapp. Trott, whose brilliantly assured second-innings century on his Test debut helped lay the foundations for the triumph, is not just a cricket lover - he's a Spurs nut.

August 26th, 2009 LONDON - Six of England's Ashes-winning heroes flew to Ireland last night for a match that has left them angry and frustrated. They believe it is ridiculous they must play a one-day international in Belfast tomorrow in the same week as their epic win over the Aussies at The Oval.

August 24th, 2009 LONDON - England's new batting hero Jonathan Trott says he's no Kevin Pietersen, but his own man. The 28-year-old produced a debut Test century of the finest class to catapult his career - in the cauldron of the fifth Test decider at the Oval.

August 23rd, 2009 LONDON - Australian batsman Michael Hussey needs to play the innings of his life to prevent England from claiming the Ashes at The Oval and prevent his axing from the squad. The selectors appear to be running out of patience with the prolific-scoring left-hander, who has been struggling with his form.

August 23rd, 2009 LONDON - England's debutant batsman Jonathan Trott, who scored 119 runs in the second innings of the fifth and final Ashes Test match at The Oval, is related to a former Australian Test batsman, who played at the turn of the 19th century. Trott is related to Albert Trott, who played for both Australia and England and once managed to hit the ball over the Lord's pavilion.

August 20th, 2009 LONDON - Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has hinted strongly that the selectors are likely to keep faith in fast bowler Stuart Clark at the expense of Nathan Hauritz in the final Ashes Test beginning today What we see at the moment is what we expect," said Ponting who, at 34, will surely be playing his last Ashes Test on English soil. "We're going to have to see something really different to change the make-up of the side considering everything worked really well.

August 18th, 2009 CAPE TOWN - South African cricket team coach Mickey Arthur has said that Warwickshire opener Jonathan Trott is not good enough to play for South Africa. In a blunt assessment of England's newest Test batsman, Arthur said Cape Town-born Trott would at best be playing for South Africa's Second XI despite representing the same national under-19s side as Proteas skipper Graeme Smith.

August 17th, 2009 CANTEBURY - Australian middle order batsman Michael Hussey has admitted there is pressure on his place in the Test team, but is confident of crossing a fine line between a reasonable and match-winning total in the fifth Test match at The Oval. The tenacious middle-order batsman has experienced two substantially lean years compared to his emphatic arrival on the scene in 2005, and his Ashes form has been far below par.

August 16th, 2009 LONDON - Australian fast bowler Brett Lee's chances of making it to final eleven for the Ashes Test at The Oval have probably receded with his poor show against the England Lions on Saturday. However, all rounder Shane Watson and batsman Mike Hussey have made a case for themselves by spending some valuable time in the middle, reports the Daily Telegraph.

August 15th, 2009 LONDON - England will give Warwickshire opener Jonathan Trott a Test debut against Australia at The Oval next week as they seek to reverse the horrors of Headingley by pulling off a victory to regain the Ashes. Essex batsman Ravi Bopara is the only batsman to be dropped from the squad.

August 11th, 2009 LONDON - South African-raised Jonathan Trott has been handed a chance to claim a spot in England's feeble middle order for the Ashes decider at The Oval if he puts in a telling performance against Australia this weekend. The 28-year-old Warwickshire batsman will play for the England Lions in the two-day match at Canterbury and can make a case to replace the likes of Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell next week at The Oval.

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 11th, 2009 MELBOURNE - England's fast bowler James Anderson has admitted that they are trying to target Mike Hussey during this Ashes series. Hussey's 150 against the England Lions in Worcester last week seemed a distant memory after Anderson extended the left-hander's lean Test run in Cardiff on Friday.

June 21st, 2009 MELBOURNE - At 34, Australian batsman Michael Hussey is well aware of his shelf life and wants to play all the three versions of cricket despite the relentless international programme taking a huge toll on his body. As he prepares for his first Ashes series in England, the Australian wants to atone for a late start in international cricket.