Journalism of Courage
The final chapter of the Ashes 2013 build-up ended in predictable fashion on Tuesday when opposing captains Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke played the straightest of bats ahead of the first Test at Trent Bridge.
Australia skipper Clarke was more than happy to accept his team were underdogs going into the start of the five-match series on Wednesday while England leader Cook was confident his side would handle the pressure of being favourites.
We have been favourites in other series as well and I think it sits well, Cook told a packed news conference in the pavilion.
But cricket is not played on paper and it is all about delivering on the pitch. Australia are a very,very good side. They have some world-class players and I think there is going to be a very good standard of cricket in this series.
Weve always known its going to be one hell of a battle, said Cook.
Australias preparations have been far from ideal,with Darren Lehmann brought in as coach to replace the sacked Mickey Arthur just over two weeks ago. We come here as underdogs but that wont affect our performances, Clarke said. Darren and Mickey are two completely different people. Personally I have enjoyed talking cricket with Boof Lehmann who I was lucky enough to play with. We are all embracing Darrens style now.
Cook said the England players could not wait to begin their defence of the Ashes. Everyone is desperately excited to be here today after such a long build-up, he said. There are a lot of nerves and excitement but its important not to blow it out of all proportion.
Root,a surprise
Clarke expressed surprise England had opted to promote youngster Joe Root to open the batting with Cook in preference to the more experienced Nick Compton. Joe has handled himself in every situation fantastically well, Cook said. He has managed to change his style to every situation and is a fantastic young player. Both captains said they knew their starting XIs but did not reveal them.
The pitch is expected to be dry and the weather conditions warm which might give the batsmen an advantage at a ground where swing bowlers usually perform well.
But Cook,leading England for the first time in an Ashes series,played down the significance of winning the toss.
The toss is important but how you play is more important, he said. Our group of bowlers have the skills and experience to hold us in good stead in any conditions.
Englands batting,however,in their recent home series win against New Zealand was not as dominant as some had predicted. Although,significantly,they were then without the injured Kevin Pietersen,now fit following a knee injury.
KP effect
Pietersen,after scoring a brilliant hundred against his native South Africa at Headingley last year,was briefly dropped by England for sending text messages allegedly critical of then captain Andrew Strauss to Proteas players.
England batting great Geoffrey Boycott,an equally controversial figure during an international career spanning three decades from the 1960s to 1980s,was once heard to remark they dont want me but they want my runs.
Although no one in the current England set-up would,publicly at least,use similar language to describe former captain Pietersens recall,it appears a hard-headed assessment of his worth has trumped all other considerations.
One of Alastair Cooks first acts as England captain following Strausss retirement was to bring Pietersen back on board for the tour of India where the South African born batsman scored a brilliant 186 in Mumbai,a win that helped England get on level terms with the hosts in the series they eventually won.
Pietersens average against Australia 52.71 is higher than his impressive career-mark of 49.01 and so long as he remains enthused by the challenge of Test cricket he remains a dangerous opponent.
He was exceptional in India not only on the field,but also he changed his demeanour off it as well and really became a positive part of the side, off spinner Graeme Swann said.
Live on Star cricket: 3:28 pm onwards
