Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
Australia are the Ashes favourites but losing Lee is a blow
England’s cricketers face a monumental task if they are to regain the Ashes they surrendered so meekly in 2006/07. Forget 2005 for a moment and take a longer-term view. Since the turn of the 20th Century, England have managed just 17 victories in Ashes series, compared to Australia’s 30, as they have regularly been confounded technically and mentally.
A 2-0 series win over the West Indies at the start of the summer buoyed England’s confidence but looks can be deceiving. The fact is, England have failed to beat a leading Test playing nation home or away since Pakistan in 2006.
The 74th instalment of the Ashes begins on Wednesday in Cardiff, two years after Australia humiliated England in a 5-0 series whitewash in Australia, claiming back the urn they’ve held for much of the past 100 years.
Can it be different this time around?
England:
Andrew Strauss has begun to guide England out of the mire the team found itself in following the tumultuous departure of head coach Peter Moores and resignation of former captain Kevin Pietersen at the start of 2009.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Can Owen revive career at Manchester United?
On the face of it, replacing world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo with an injury-prone forward whose side just got relegated does not seem like a great bit of business.
The British media is certain that Michael Owen, a free agent after leaving Newcastle United, is on the verge of joining Manchester United if he passes a stringent medical.
Graceful Vaughan lays down bat for a new generation
Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has confirmed the recent rumours and announced his immediate retirement from all cricket.
The move follows the 34-year-old’s failure to be called up for a training squad ahead of the home Ashes series with Australia.
Feeble England still can’t get to grips with Twenty20
England may argue that they were unlucky to exit the World Twenty20 following a five-wicket defeat by West Indies but the simple truth is that they batted poorly throughout the tournament.
With the honourable exceptions of Ravi Bopara and Kevin Pietersen, the batsmen completely failed to get to grips with the art of scoring runs in this form of the game.
India caught short by England in Twenty20 World Cup
In the end, few would have missed the irony. England, their feeble limited overs credentials torn apart after their opening defeat against Netherlands, knocking out holders India from the World Twenty20 with a brilliant execution of strategy.
India were pipped by three runs as England handed them their second defeat in the Super Eights on Sunday, eliminating them from the race for a semi-final berth.
England humiliated in Twenty20 opener
Extraordinary scenes in the first match of the World Twenty20, where England have lost the opening match by four wickets against the Dutch.
England went out of their last home one-day World Cup in the group phase … could the same thing happen here?
Australia look good but Symonds omission could weigh
In an earlier post, Julian Linden argued that Australia’s cricketers have all the firepower needed to retain the Ashes in England despite some relatively new faces in the squad.
Here Ed Osmond takes a different view, wondering if the absence of Andrew Symonds and Australia’s lack of spin options may help the English.
England cannot underestimate Australia’s new mix
The selection of Australia’s Ashes squad has compounded England’s worst fears. This is a team more than capable of successfully defending the little urn.
There may be no Shane Warne, Adam Gilchirst or Glenn McGrath in the lineup but what the squad lacks in star quality it makes up for in depth.
Test cricket scores spectacular own goal
The first day of the second test between England and West Indies unfolded meekly in front of a sparse crowd in Chester Le Street on Thursday.
England made smooth but cautious progress towards what they hope will be a match and series-winning first-innings score.
English shuttlers falter in bid to overtake China
Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy made what looked like a highly optimistic prediction last month when he said he thought Britain could eventually overtake China as the dominant power in badminton.
“There will be no compromise. China are the competition but we can be bigger,” said Christy, who is in charge of developing talent for the 2012 London Olympics and beyond.
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Resident Left Field Expert
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