England should be confident heading into the Ashes

As months have turned into weeks, and the weeks have turned into hours the tension, nerves and excitement have only become more intense in the lead up to the ashes. Despite Australia showing some signs that they have the ability to challenge England in the summer, overall the series win was relatively comfortable for the home side, winning 3-0 to ensure they retained the ashes yet again. As an England fan, any England victory, particularly in an ashes series, is something to savour, but I couldn’t help get the feeling after the five matches we hadn’t seen the best of what England had to offer. Moments of brilliance were book ended with relatively average cricket, from both teams. Players out of form, combined with slow pitches, resulted in ordinary test cricket. The five tests didn’t ignite the passion of the previous ashes series. The rivalry was still present but because the English were clear favourites, Australia just couldn’t keep up. The simple answer to why England didn’t play there best cricket is because they didn’t have to. This time against Australia however, they will need to perform.

(Photo credit: nic_r)

England’s batting looks promising. Cook and Trott piled on the runs in the last ashes series down under and there’s no reason why they can’t repeat their staggering performances again. The quicker, bouncier tracks should complement their batting styles and I think this is also true for the whole England batting line up. On the back of his recent performance, it’s likely that Michael Carberry will open the batting alongside Cook. Although relatively inexperienced at international level, he’s been around the domestic circuit enough times to form a wise head on his massive

Does England have players to call upon if injury strikes?

Injury concerns involving England skipper Alastair Cook and seamer Stuart Broad, although unlikely to keep them both out of the series, have raised the question of the quality of the back up players in the England side. With the series being the second half of two consecutive Ashes series, it is likely that injuries and rotation will play a considerable role which could have an impact on the end result. It is therefore more important than ever to have strength and depth in the squad.

England’s bowling unit is strong, the stand out performers of Broad and Anderson being well supported by Finn, Rankin and Tremlett. All tall, all fast and I have no issues with any of them making the starting eleven. Tremlett has proven himself before, having a successful tour of Australia in the 2011 series. It’s always a worry when a fast bowler has a career threatening injury, but Tremlett looks to have come back fitter and stronger, ready to play. Steven Finn, still young and learning his game, is a threatening fast bowler, even though he

ODI Series Finely Poised after India's Stunning Chase

India's brilliant run-chase in the second one-day international against Australia has lit the blue touch paper for the seven-match series that is now level at 1-1.  And, if the first two games are anything to go by, it is set to be a very entertaining few weeks between the two sides. Australia had won the first ODI in Pune by 72 runs after smashing 304 and they looked odds-on to make it 2-0 overall when they set India the daunting target of 360 to win the second clash in Jaipur.

The most expensive over ever !

Alauddin Babu of Bangladesh is now the unfortunate owner of the record for the most runs conceded in a single over in List A cricket. Playing for Abahani Limited against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Limited in the Dhaka Premier League, he conceded 39 runs in a single over, thus shattering Daan Van Bunge's record of 36 runs (which still is the record for ODIs).

Sequence of events, as follows

Ball 1 - No Ball, Boundary [Total - 5 runs, 0 Balls]

Ball 2 - Wide [Total - 6 runs, 0 Balls]

Ball 3 - Six [Total - 12 runs, 1 Ball]

Ball 4 - Boundary [Total - 16 runs, 2 Balls]

Ball 5 - Six [Total - 22 runs, 3 Balls]

Ball 6 - Boundary [Total - 26 runs, 4 Balls]

Ball 7 - Six [Total - 32 runs, 5 Balls]

Ball 8 - Wide [Total - 33 runs, 5 Balls]

Ball 9 - Six [Total - 39 runs, Over Complete]

And the batsman who was at the receiving end of these pleasantries - Elton Chigumbura, the former Zimbabwean captain.

Enough information for any trivia contest.

Nishant Kumar for DieHard Cricket Fans

Follow Nishant on Twitter @NishantSKumar

Australia in India Betting Tips

Australia in India too Close to Call

Fresh off the back of 2-1 ODI series victory against England the Australia one-day side are gearing up for a seven-game tour of India to kick start their summer.

Captain Michael Clarke has been named subject to fitness by coach Darren Lehmann, while Brad Haddin is back in the side and Mitchell Johnson get the nod after fruitful performances against the English this September. Clarke is suffering from chronic back pain, however, and with the next Ashes series just a few months away is expected to miss most of the tour.

Having won nine of their last 12 completed games this Aussie team don’t exactly require Clarke, although he could be useful against a rampant India ODI outfit.

Both teams are on form; separating India and Australia in the cricket betting odds will be difficult for many punters. A developing Virat Kohli-led team has just breezed past Zimbabwe and the team have lost just five ODIs all year.

Mitch Is Back With a Bang !!!

A much needed series win for the Aussies on Monday brought respite to both the team and their fans. After winning the Natwest one day series 2-1, the Australian team jumped to 2nd position in the ICC ODI Rankings. This ODI series was the “battle for Pride” for Australian Skipper Michael Clarke and his team, after the painful Ashes defeat. Mitchell Johnson, 31 years left handed pacer has made remarkable impact with his bowling in this series.

Johnson, who missed ashes selection earlier in this year, played a key role in Australia’s victory in this series. He took 2 wickets in his 10 Overs for 21 runs in the final ODI game, which included his 200th ODI wicket. With his remarkable efforts, Mitchell became 5th Australian bowler to reach 200 ODI wickets after Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Craig McDermott and Brett Lee.