LONDON, 2 July 2005 — England and Australia have met four times in the past three weeks but the serious business begins in earnest with today’s triangular series final.
With Bangladesh removed from the equation, the two teams go head-to-head in four one-dayers and five tests over the coming two-and-a-half months.
Until now, excuses and explanations have been available both to the world champions and their nearest challengers. Australia’s Twenty20 defeat by England, according to Ricky Ponting, was something to laugh off while the One-Day Internationals — one win each, with the rain claiming the third — were mere group games leading to Lord’s.
Today’s winners, however, will be able to claim the first genuine psychological points of the English summer. Some would argue things began turning serious on Tuesday.
The meeting at Birmingham may have been washed out but featured an altercation between Matthew Hayden and Simon Jones which suggested competitive tensions were on the rise.
In truth, it was no more than a spat, Jones making a shy at the stumps which hit Hayden just below the right shoulder. Hayden angrily brushed Jones’s apology aside.
Significantly, though, Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff was quick to move in, ready to barge their way into the argument in support of their teammate.
That suggested that the English, despite eight consecutive Ashes series defeats and 15 losses against Australia in 17 one-dayers, are geared up for battle.
The world champions, though, head for Lord’s as firm favorites, despite their slow start to the tournament which began with an extraordinary defeat by Bangladesh.
Australia have been steadily improving ever since. Strike bowler Brett Lee and all rounder Andrew Symonds missed those opening defeats but have both looked razor-sharp since. Symonds is averaging 94.5 with the bat and 15.16 with the ball.
Kevin Pietersen lived up to the hype with an extraordinary 91 not out off 65 balls against Australia at Bristol but key weaknesses remain.
Darren Gough has failed to take a single top-order wicket during the triangular series. Ashley Giles remains a canny defensive bowler, conceding 4.3 runs an over, but has only taken one wicket for his 168 runs conceded.
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West Indies have named a squad shorn of several leading players for their July tour of Sri Lanka as a result of the contract dispute dogging the sport in the islands.
Leading batsmen Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle were omitted from the 14-man squad named yesterday, although captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul will travel for the two tests and a one day-series also involving India.
