Basil Fawlty
Don't Mention The War
England reverts to sloppy ways
Ben Dorries
07jun06
WOEFUL England has been lampooned as an Ashes lemon as the most-hyped cricket series ever threatens to turn into a multi million-dollar fizzer.
New system promises fair deal
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh said England had lost the killer instinct after it capitulated in the third Test against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge yesterday.
The 1-1 series draw maintained England's record of going without a series win since last year's famous Ashes victory. There are growing fears the lacklustre side will be a sitting duck for a hungry Australia this summer.
"There's no doubt they've lost the momentum they got out of the Ashes," Waugh said.
"They should have won the series against Sri Lanka 3-0. It's a poor result for them.
"They lacked the killer instinct, they were very casual and they fell back into some of their old bad habits."
Compounding the problems was an injury to Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff, which added to a casualty ward already as full as a Barmy Army songbook.
Flintoff will know today whether he needs an operation on his left ankle.
English newspapers have already turned against their cricketers and the story of the third Test loss was run under the headline "Crocked and Rolled" in the Mirror.
Former Australian cricketers fear the contest could turn into a one-sided romp.
"Put your house, and mine, on Australia to win, and win comfortably," Geoff Lawson said. "The Poms are going very poorly and Australia has the winter off. We will be fresh and jumping out of our skins to give them a thrashing."
Another former Test fast bowler, Rodney Hogg, said: "The Poms have got a lot of rethinking to do if they are going to be any good at all against us this summer".
England's batsmen were bamboozled yesterday by spinner Muthiah Muralidaran who took 8-70, causing the home side to lose 10-106 and slip to a 134-run loss.
The drawn series cost England one point in the Test championship table and it faces a scrap to hold on to its No. 2 world ranking.
The touring party could arrive in Australia rated only the world's fourth-best side.
As England battles to regain respect in a tough four-Test home series against Pakistan starting next month, Australian players will be resting.
Fans who splurged millions of dollars in an Ashes ticket rush last week could be left disappointed if they are hoping for a competitive contest.
England is battling a host of injuries with reverse-swing specialist Simon Jones of greatest concern. Jones, who took 18 wickets in England's Ashes triumph is in the US to seek advice about his dodgy knee.
Ben Dorries
07jun06
WOEFUL England has been lampooned as an Ashes lemon as the most-hyped cricket series ever threatens to turn into a multi million-dollar fizzer.
New system promises fair deal
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh said England had lost the killer instinct after it capitulated in the third Test against Sri Lanka at Trent Bridge yesterday.
The 1-1 series draw maintained England's record of going without a series win since last year's famous Ashes victory. There are growing fears the lacklustre side will be a sitting duck for a hungry Australia this summer.
"There's no doubt they've lost the momentum they got out of the Ashes," Waugh said.
"They should have won the series against Sri Lanka 3-0. It's a poor result for them.
"They lacked the killer instinct, they were very casual and they fell back into some of their old bad habits."
Compounding the problems was an injury to Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff, which added to a casualty ward already as full as a Barmy Army songbook.
Flintoff will know today whether he needs an operation on his left ankle.
English newspapers have already turned against their cricketers and the story of the third Test loss was run under the headline "Crocked and Rolled" in the Mirror.
Former Australian cricketers fear the contest could turn into a one-sided romp.
"Put your house, and mine, on Australia to win, and win comfortably," Geoff Lawson said. "The Poms are going very poorly and Australia has the winter off. We will be fresh and jumping out of our skins to give them a thrashing."
Another former Test fast bowler, Rodney Hogg, said: "The Poms have got a lot of rethinking to do if they are going to be any good at all against us this summer".
England's batsmen were bamboozled yesterday by spinner Muthiah Muralidaran who took 8-70, causing the home side to lose 10-106 and slip to a 134-run loss.
The drawn series cost England one point in the Test championship table and it faces a scrap to hold on to its No. 2 world ranking.
The touring party could arrive in Australia rated only the world's fourth-best side.
As England battles to regain respect in a tough four-Test home series against Pakistan starting next month, Australian players will be resting.
Fans who splurged millions of dollars in an Ashes ticket rush last week could be left disappointed if they are hoping for a competitive contest.
England is battling a host of injuries with reverse-swing specialist Simon Jones of greatest concern. Jones, who took 18 wickets in England's Ashes triumph is in the US to seek advice about his dodgy knee.
?
