by daniel
21. June 2010 16:13
The long wait is over. Sports fans the world over have been twiddling their thumbs during this long inactive summer, but finally the drama is about to unfold. The biggest sporting festival in the world is about to begin to the constant hum of the cor anglais. The arguments over whether KP and Morgan can play in the middle order together will recommence and controversy will reign over the swinging new ball. Yes, it's the random 5 match ODI series between England and Australia. The anticipation has reached fever pitch as these two teams have only played each other in 5 tests, 8 ODIs and 3 T20s in the last year.
The Aussies are smarting from a humiliating drubbing in the ICC T20 final. They're missing the Oedipal Johnson through injury and have axed their much vaunted pacemen, Nannes and Tait, though Ricky "pissholes in the snow" Ponting is back to lead the team. England have come to the astounding revelation that ODIs are quite like T20s so are keeping much the same squad with the exception of the injured Bresnan and the returning Strauss.
Whilst it's tempting to write off the series as a pointless exercise, that would be to forget that England at last seem to have a plan for limited overs cricket and the personnel to carry it out. The ODI world cup is 8 months away and for once there is a settled look to the side. However, it doesn't pay to beat Australia too often. They tend to go home, hatch a brilliant ruse and exact revenge with ruthless precision, so I shall be hoping we keep our powder a little dry with the Ashes around the corner. To that end Finn has been omitted from a squad that will, in most other cases, be travelling to Australia this winter.
It's the first chance for us to check out Champagne Dougie Bollinger and All Right Mr. Mackay, but in most other respects the Australian team has a familiar look. And I for one look forward to welcoming Dougie Howser, aka Nathan Hauritz, back to these shores if for no other reason than that he is wonderfully innocuous and drives Aussie fans insane with rage.
The last time these two teams met in an ODI series the Aussies annihilated England 6-1, but something tells me it will be different this time. There are only 5 matches for a kick off and the Aussies feel very beatable. And England have never lost a limited overs game to Australia while Jarrod of www.cricketwithballs.com has been on the Sofa. So I predict the English sporting summer will get off to a rousing start, as everyone abandons the world horn blowing championships in South Africa and gorges themselves on the entrails of beaten Australians. 5-0? Yeah, why not.