CRICKET:Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar believes Ireland's Eoin Morgan can help England become the first side to win an Ashes on Australian soil since 1986-87. EMMET RIORDANreports
ALONG WITH the usual nocturnal movements of foxes, badgers and hedgehogs over the coming six weeks is about to be added a curious breed of sporting fans that will happily while away the wee small hours glued to their TV sets or radios.
They’ll share many of the same habits: moving quietly to avoid disturbing anything, foraging for small amounts of food and an aversion to bright light, but don’t worry they’ll be gone back to their sets and dens by the morning.
And those you do see during daylight hours will stick out like a sore thumb, among the telltale signs will be bags under their eyes or constant napping attached to a caffeine drip.
The Ashes is here folks and for a whole legion of cricket fans it means all-night sessions tuned in to the goings-on Down Under of what has the makings of a great series.
Of course, English fans thought the same four years ago when their side arrived in Australia still high on their memorable home victory in 2005, only to suffer a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of the Aussies.
The defining moment of that series came with the very first delivery in Brisbane, when Steve Harmison’s opening ball to Justin Langer went straight to Andrew Flintoff at second slip.
It was so wide that a mischievous newspaper plotted its extended track and placed it eventually arriving somewhere on the west coast of the United States.
If the ball had travelled over off stump it would have touched down in eastern China!
England’s confidence was misplaced last time around in Australia: they rocked up late, played a couple of beer matches as an excuse for a warm-up and expected to roll over the opposition.
Those mistakes have definitely been heeded this time around, with three warm-up matches, two played at Test grounds, while England’s front-line seam attack was dispatched to Brisbane early to get acclimatised to the sub-tropical conditions in Queensland.
Their main reason to believe they can become the first England team to win an Ashes on Australian soil since Mike Gatting’s side in 1986-87 comes in the players that have hung up their baggy greens in recent years.
It reads like a who’s who of their golden generation: Langer, Hayden, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee and McGrath.
All six started the first Test in Brisbane four years ago when Australia won by a whopping 277-runs.
All six have retired to the commentary box, or in Hayden’s case swapping the dashing blade for a knife as a popular TV chef.
For Irish fans, there’s the added interest of Eoin Morgan’s inclusion in the England party.
The left-hander from Rush will start the series as batting reserve with Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell ahead of him in the pecking order.
But it will be a miracle if either side remains unchanged over a five-Test series, with form and injury bound to play their part.
And if Morgan gets his chance, how will he do?
Well Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar believes he can help England hold on to the little urn. And that’s no bad endorsement.
ASHES SCHEDULE
FIRST TEST
Dates:November 25th-29th.
Venue:The Gabba, Brisbane, Queensland.
Hours of play (Irish time):Midnight to 7am.
Capacity:40,000.
England record:P18 W4 D4 L10.
Lowdown:Hot and humid conditions could suit England's bowling attack, with James Anderson's ability to swing the ball in both directions.
SECOND TEST
Dates:December 3rd-7th.
Venue:Adelaide Oval, South Australia.
Hours of play (Irish time):Midnight to 7am.
Capacity:31,000.
England record:P29 W8 D5 L16.
Lowdown:Australia's most picturesque Test venue, and one with a rich history. Mounted police were required to control the 50,000-plus crowds during the Bodyline series in 1932-33.
THIRD TEST
Dates:December 16th-20th.
Venue:WACA, Perth, Western Australia.
Hours of play (Irish time):2.30am to 9.30am.
Capacity:24,500.
England record:P11 W1 D3 L7
Lowdown:England have only won once on the ground and that was 32 years ago. The hard, flat and fast tracks have returned and might just suit their seamers this time around.
FOURTH TEST
Dates:December 26th-30th.
Venue:MCG, Melbourne, Victoria.
Hours of play (Irish time):11.30pm to 6.30am.
Capacity:97,000.
England record:P54 W19 D7 L27 (1 match abandoned).
Lowdown:The St Stephen's Day Test sees Melbournites descend on the "G" in their droves and although capacity has dipped under 100,000, it is still one of the great sporting occasions.
FIFTH TEST
Dates:January 3rd-7th.
Venue:SCG, Sydney, New South Wales.
Hours of play (Irish time):11.30pm to 6.30am.
Capacity:44,000.
England record:P53 W21 D7 L25
Lowdown:England's happiest hunting ground, having won close to 40 per cent of their Tests at the ground. Spin-friendly, England will look to Graeme Swann to excel if the series is still alive in the first week of January.
ON TELEVISION
All matches live on Sky Sports, which will show extensive highlights during the day. ITV4 will show nightly highlights at 10pm.
ON RADIO
Test Match Special live coverage is available on BBC Radio 4 on longwave.
THREE STAR TURNS
AUSTRALIA
Ricky Ponting
The first Australian captain to lose two Ashes series in England, he won't want to be the first skipper to lose three. Not the force of old maybe, but his determination to succeed sets the tone for the side.
Shane Watson
Australia has suffered at the top of the order since the retirement of Justin Langer and Mattie Hayden, but Watson has adapted to the role well and can score quickly. Also offers a bowling option.
Mitchell Johnson
If the left-arm pace bowler can get his radar on target he could prove a real handful for the English batsmen. Excels on the hard surfaces in Australia, Johnson is Ponting's trump bowling card.
ENGLAND
Andrew Strauss
Has formed a great relationship with coach Andy Flower with the idea of team at the centre of their philosophy. The Middlesex left-hander will be also keen to lead from the front at the top of the order.
Kevin Pietersen
Came to prominence in England's 2005 success and averages over 50 in two series to date against Australia. Far from his best in recent years, the big occasion might be just what KP is looking for.
Graeme Swann
With Muralitharan and Warne retired, the England off-spinner can rightly claim to be the world number one twirler just now. Eats up left-handers and will benefit from the Decision Review System.
