It's been a while since I've offered my two-penneth on sports stories here. But at last, Armchair Athlete is back. The name of this blog is especially pertinent at this time. This is where I will spend most of my nights sleep in the coming 6 weeks.For this is the time of the Ashes. The biggest event in cricket and the most important series England have contested under Andrew Strauss. This is because England now stand a real chance of beating the Australians in their own back yard.
Ashes series in Australia paint a picture of woe for England. Just four wins for England down under post-war and not at all since 1986-7. Last time out we were whitewashed 5-nil. Just as Glenn McGrath predicted.
But, this Australia side are not capable of such a feat again. They do not have the quality of bowling like McGrath, Shane Warne and the like. The confidence has gone. The bravado of Australia teams (and their media for that matter) of old has been replaced by in-fighting, underperforming (one win in their last 8 outings - and that was a dead rubber against Sri Lanka), and from the media, shots across their own bows.
In stark contrast, consider the advance of England. This squad has flourished under Strauss and Andy Flower. They've won the Ashes already, here in England, and the ICC World Twenty20 trophy followed the little urn into the Lord's trophy cabinet. This squad, in Greame Swann, also now have a bowler who is capable of dismissing any batting order in world cricket.
More importantly in context of this series is England's preparations. They arrived in plenty of time before Thursday's first Test at the Gabba. And Australia beware - because England have found their feet quickly since travelling to Oz - and won two out of their three warm up fixtures.
I'm not going to do a McGrath and predict a 5-nil drubbing. But I will be as brave as the former pace-man and make a bold prediction. England are going to win this Ashes series.
