The Ashes: Views from the Press

Andy Zaltzman is one of the best satirical comedians in the UK, and it has been gratifying to see his love of cricket, which he always shoe-horns into his topical work, get him much deserved exposure this summer. His blog at Cricinfo is always worth a read, especially for the comments left by readers who have completely missed the point and the irony. His latest effort is no exception, as summed up by this extract:

'England’s 2009 Ashes win is the 7th greatest heist in Test history... some way off Australia’s burglary of the 1891-92 Ashes, when they filched the urn despite averaging 21.6% less than England. The injustice still rankles today, and clearly motivated Strauss and his men at the Oval. In fact, as Graeme Swann celebrated the final wicket, lip-readers would have seen him screaming the words, “This one’s for WG Grace and his boys.”'

Meanwhile in Australia, controversial columnist Peter Roebuck has written an interesting piece on the series and the future of Ponting's captaincy. Whilst favourably assessing Ponting's record as skipper, he makes a passing comment about the make up of the England team:

'England seemed to have combed the cricketing world to raise a side.'

A common criticism of the English team in recent weeks after the selection of South African born-and-raised Jonathan Trott, it is nonetheless odd that it should come from Roebuck. He was an English county cricketer who in retirement relocated to Australia, and now proudly calls himself an Australian, on the basis that should one choose to relocate to a new country, one has made a greater commitment to it than anyone who happens to have been born there. By his own standards then, Trott should be able to call himself English. More on this debate in due course. Maybe Roebuck's views are best not picked apart in this way, he often courts controversy, and strikes seemingly contradictory positions, as he subscribes to his own particular brand of logic. Nonetheless, his views on the game itself are highly regarded and sought after.